2012 Imaging USA after Conference Report

Not long ago I returned from PPA’s Imaging USA which was held in New Orleans, LA. It was my first photography conference because until now I could not convince myself that it was worth the effort. My wife and I made a snap decision to attend just a few days before Imaging USA was to begin. She and our son went for the food and the city (hosted in New Orleans) and of course I went for everything photo related. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew there would be some vendors there and that there were a few classes offered.



I was amazed at just how many vendors were present and how many classes were offered. Almost any type of vendor you could think of was there ready to talk about their products (past, present, and future). There were 70+ classes offered with subjects ranging from lighting to business methods. There was certainly a lot to be learned at these classes and a lot for me to consider going forward.

In addition to what was being offered some of the most prominent photographers in the industry were there giving lectures or just meeting and greeting. I had the chance to rub elbows with individuals I have followed through books and the internet for years. I got to shake hands with Bill Fortney (http://billfortney.com/) and spend a bit of time talking to him! If you don’t know who he is then you are missing something.

Perhaps one of the coolest things that happened was meeting Gavin Seim (www.seimstudios.com). I have followed his work and his podcast (ProPhotoShow) for a couple of years now. He and I met at the conference and even managed to get out one night for a group photo walk. All around the conference was a great educational experience and a great networking opportunity.

The bottom line is this: Try to make it a point to attend at least one photography conference every year. It will help you keep the pulse of the industry and will allow you to meet folks you might not otherwise have had the chance to meet.

Getting that Grunge Look Video Tutorial

This tutorial covers the basics of getting the dirty grunge look on your photographs.  This image was taken while I was at the Imaging USA expo in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago.  I hope you enjoy it and if you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me or call.

Side Note:  This individual was a very interesting character and we hung out talking to him for a good bit of time.  If you take the time to get to know your subjects the images come naturally.

Imaging USA 2012

I joined the Professional Photographer’s Association (PPA) this past year. Each year they host the Imaging USA photography trade show and conference. This year there are 650+ vendor booths and hundreds of classes. It is located in New Orleans, LA which in and of itself is a “photographer’s” location. The pre conference classes start on Jan 12th-14th with the main expo starting on Jan 15th. Up and to this point it was something that I just wanted to do but never thought would be possible. This past Monday I got a wild hair and decided to try and put a quick trip together.

I was successful! The three of us (me, wife, and son) will be headed out Friday night and arriving on Saturday. I am in the process of putting together a list of classes that I want to attend while my wife is putting together a list of places her and Zackeal can go while I geek out.

If you are planning on attending send me an e-mail or give me a call and maybe we can meet up and do some after hour photo shoots. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!

e-mail: jason@eldridgestudios.com
Phone: 305-989-3279

You can find out more information about PPA and Imaging USA here: http://www.ppa.com/ and http://www.imagingusa.org/.

Professional Photographers Association (PPA)

I have been looking at the Professional Photographers Association (PPA) for a couple of years but haven’t been able to pull the trigger on the $323 price tag. I wasn’t sure that it was worth that amount of money for what you get. They have always had offerings that were of interest, such as the photographer profile that people (clients) can use to find you. They offer a very high quality magazine with the membership as well. I purchased that separately and it is by far my favorite photo magazine. They have forums and webinars (free and/or paid). PPA offers help with financing new equipment and if you are a studio that has been in business for a couple of years they will do an assessment and give you advice on improving your business. They also have the Imaging USA convention hosted in New Orleans. With all of this I still wasn’t convinced.

Just a few days ago I finally decided to join PPA. Why? Well, they started a new program that I just couldn’t say no too. They now offer $15,000.00 of equipment insurance for all their active members…free!!! In addition you get Indemnification Trust insurance. That is the insurance that helps you if you mess up a photo shoot or your memory cards get eaten by dogs. Basically, if the worst happens Indemnification Trust helps with all the legal stuff.

They also offer a payment option of $27.92 per month. What a great deal!

So, if you are a photographer (professional or otherwise) you should get this just for the insurance. The rest is all gravy… and I like gravy.

You can find out more about them HERE.