VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS’ ASSOCIATION VOL. 18, #4!

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Did You Get Left Behind?

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Monday, March 18:“Traditional Studio Lighting & Posing” byTracy McGee & Jeff Kaiser at Kaiser Studios in Chesapeake -7pm APRIL 1st: SEPPA DEADLINE FOR DISTRICT COMPETITIONApril 15: TBA at Anne Companion's Studio, Hampton  May 20: Program by Charles Lawson- at Hobbs Studio, ChesapeakeSunday, June 2: Program by Gordon Kreplin in Virginia Beach - beach portraits

Tidewater DistrictMarch 2013

By Erin L. Clark, CPP-Tidewater VPPA Secretary

What a great time we had at our 2013 Convention! It was fantastic to hear and learn from all the speakers, laugh & sing with old friends, and get to know new ones! It truly didn’t disappoint-

Thanks to Jim Carpenter & his crew for doing such a great job.

There were lots of great competition images- many of which our own Tidewater members won blue ribbons for and then some! We’ll share those entries over the next few months with you. The list of Tidewater winners is listed on page 4 - Next on the agenda for those interested in competition is District Competition at SEPPA- entries can be entered now through April 1st- http://www.4seppa.com/photographic-competition

There’s Shout Outs! A job offer in the Classifieds, info about Tracy & Jeff’s program on the 18th and special peek at featured photographer- Mollie Isaacs’ SIX blue ribbon winners (we’ll be featuring each of our blue ribbon winners each month) So check it out! Make sure to invite a member you haven’t seen in awhile or a potential new member as a guest to our TW program on the 18th!

Happy Shamrock Day & If we don’t see you before April- HAPPY EASTER!

Tidewater Officers 2013

Governor:Keith Forrest,

M.Ph.,Cr.,CPP,FPfsp25@aol.com757-464-6800

Lieutenant Governor:Richard St. Peter, FPrstpeter@charter.net

757-238-8121

Treasurer:Tracy McGee, CPP!!

tracy@kaiserphoto.com757-513-0388

Secretary:Erin L. Clark, CPP

images@enephoto.com757-472-2955

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TW MEETING: MARCH 18 - 7pm Kaiser Images - 401 Waters Rd. Chesapeake, VA 23322

(757) 382-9537

“Traditional Studio Lighting with Jeff & Tracy”

Do you struggle with your studio lighting? Not sure what someone means

when they talk about "lighting ratio"? Or MAYBE you just want to see how someone else does it for a refresher-

Please Join Jeff & Tracy in their studio as they discuss traditional studio lighting.

Along with digital photography came a variety of different styles, but it's always good to know the basics. Jeff and Tracy will show you how they work in their studio with their lighting equipment, and they will also get into a little traditional posing while they are at it. If you've attended a print judging or print critique, you're sure to have heard the saying, "you have to know the rules first, and only then is it okay to break them." Now is your chance to learn (or refine) those rules.

Growing up in Virginia Beach with a darkroom in his house, Jeff Kaiser developed a strong skill in photography at an early age. Jeff attended the University of Richmond, where he became an assistant darkroom instructor during his freshman year. Also during that time, he worked for the school newspaper and was published in Richmond Times Dispatch. After graduating from Old Dominion University in 1986 with a degree in Economics, he spent eight years working for Allstate. Soon his love for photography took over, and in 1996, he decided to go full time. Jeff went on to attend classes at the Mid-Atlantic Regional School of Photography and studied with several nationally known masters of photography. In 2004, Jeff was received the AFP

degree from VPPA. In 2013, he received his Master of Photography from PPA. Jeff and his wife, Lyn, have a 6 year old daughter, Samantha.

Tracy McGee was born and raised in the small town of Shiloh, NC. She was always the kid in school with the camera and she was employed by and also did freelance photography work for her small town local newspaper when she was 18. A couple of years out of high school Tracy went into banking, while continuing to practice and learn photography on the side. She was a bank manager by the time she was 23 and loved her 8 year career in banking. After the birth of her first child in 2003 she and her husband decided that the schedule of a bank manager wasn't conducive to spending quality time with their child, so she left banking and used the additional knowledge that she had attained over the years to start her photography business. Tracy has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Information Technology. Tracy and her husband, David, have two children, a 9 year old son, Riley, and a 6 year old daughter, Olivia.

Jeff and Tracy met at the VPPA convention in February 2007 and quickly learned that they work

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very well together and have very compatible and complimentary skill sets. They are now business partners, in addition to being best friends, and the two have over 30 years of combined full time professional photography experience. They moved into their new location in May of 2010, which is a 3,000 square foot studio on 3 acres of land in Chesapeake, Virginia. Kaiser Custom Images received the Gold award and was voted the "Best Photography Studio" in the Virginian Pilot's "Best of Chesapeake" awards.

Even if you are a seasoned pro who knows all about lighting - please join us for fellowship -

We’d love to see you!

Please invite a member we haven’t seen in awhile and/or bring a guest!

SHOUT OUT to JEFF KAISER & TRACY MCGEE-

They are now Certified Professional Photographers! Making a grand total of approx. 14 CPP’s in Hampton Roads-

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SHOUT OUT!!Send Your Accomplishments & Announcements - or if you know of someone that should be recognized-

Let us know so we can SHOUT IT OUT! We are Proud of Our TIDEWATER VPPA MEMBERS!

CONGRATULATIONS JEFF KAISER

He received his Master Photographer Degree in Atlanta this January PLUS is the Incoming Secretary for VPPA

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TIDEWATER RESULTS - 2013 VPPA COMPETITION:

Member: # of Blue Ribbons: ADD’L AWARDS: Erin Clark 2

Earl Dashiel 2 William Grace 1 Court of Honor-Photojournalism Eric Green 3 Best Creative & Polaroid Illustrative Award Pat Hansen 5 Court of Honor-Creative

Mollie Isaacs 6 Court of Honor- Illustrative Court of Honor-Pictorial Court of Honor- Art/Artistic

Tracy McGee 2

Shirley Whitenack 1

CONGRATS TO ALL THOSE WHO BROUGHT HOME BLUE RIBBONS!

We’ll share everyone’s images over the coming months by featuring a couple of you each month- SEE PAGE 6!

“In so many cases the photograph is a momentary thing that is soon going to change.

Once it’s gone, it’s gone. We have to put it in the box when it happens.” ~William Albert Allard

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A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO MOLLIE ISAACS SIX BLUE RIBBONS! PLUS:

Court of Honor- Pictorial Court of Honor - Illustrative Court of Honor - Art/Artistic

Each month - We’ll feature one or two of our Blue Ribbon winners- Mollie was kind enough to answer a few questions for us- Read along and check out her award winning images:

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER? ! “I have been a professional photographer since 1977. Well, I called myself a professional, but I did not know much at that time. Things began to take off when I opened a storefront studio in Old Town Alexandria in the mid-1980's.”

WHAT KIND OF PHOTOGRAPHY DO YOU DO? “I started out doing weddings primarily, and some portraits. The business plan was to eventually taper off on weddings and increase our portraits, and it took about 10 years for that transition to happen. By the mid-1990's we were no longer doing weddings.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF VPPA? “I joined VPPA in 1983, and it was the best thing I could have done. Most of what I know about portraits and weddings, I learned by attending the annual convention and the seminars. They provided me a great photographic education. And I made some great lifelong friends along the way. It is a great organization, one of the best in the country.

WHY DO YOU ENTER COMPETITION? “Ah, competition - a blessing and a curse! It is a fantastic way to improve the quality of your work, both technically and esthetically. By putting yourself out there with others who are competing, you get a better sense of how your work stacks up. BUT you have to be careful that you do not surrender your style just in the interest of doing well in competition.”

The judges do not have all the answers, and they are flawed human beings just like everybody else. I can say that because I am a nationally affiliated judge with PPA, so I am putting myself down along with the rest! Judges have to make snap decisions in just a few seconds, and images with quiet subtlety or deep artistic merit often do not get their attention compared to the more "in your face" images with immediate impact. Doing well in competition is a high, I do not deny that. But you have to be careful not to feel unworthy as a photographer when your images do not do well. Competition is a crap shoot, and you have to be prepared to deal with the good as well as the bad.”

WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO COMPETITION? “Show your work to as many other experienced photographers as you can to get their input. They can help you decide which images are "competition worthy" and can guide you through the process of preparing prints. I also like to show my images to non-photographers to get their input as well. I have found that in most cases, the images that appeal to both photographers and non-photographers have universal appeal and will do reasonably well in competition. Also, encourage your District to devote at least two monthly meetings each year to critique sessions. This allows photographers to show their work to many peers at once, and get input from everyone. That will not only help them determine which images to enter, but it will also trickle down into their day-to-day work and improve the quality of their client work.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE OR TIPS TO SHARE? “Professional photography is a wonderful endeavor, and I have always loved it. It combines a variety of disciplines including artistry, business acumen, marketing, and most importantly, working with all kinds of people of all ages. To run a successful business, you have to be able to deal with and enjoy a variety of personalities. You have to find something you like about each and every client in order to make him or her feel comfortable with you. -CONT’D Page 7-

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More than many other professions, we often are thrust in the role of psychologist with our clients. If they are having a bad day, it shows in their expressions and we have to coax them out of it. If they are nervous on their wedding day, we have to roll with the punches and help their day go as smoothly as possible. If they are frustrated with their kids during a session and threaten to throttle their behinds, if they don't cooperate, we have to help the kids and the parents come to a meeting of the minds. We have to know just what to say and when to say it. We have to know when to sit back and not pressure a client for a sale or a booking. And throughout it all, we have to keep our own heads on straight.

THANKS AGAIN MOLLIE - For sharing so much- we have so much we can learn from you. Mollie can be reached via telephone 755-773-0194 or her websites: F2 Photographic Design at  www.obxportraits.com or Awake The Light Photo Tours and Workshops at   awakethelight.com

Sheltered - Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 82

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By Dawn’s Early Light - Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 90

Court Of Honor-Pictorial

Scoring at District (and State) CompetitionsImages at the PPA District Photographic Competitions can receive scores up to 100 points, dependent on how they meet the 12 Elements of a Merit Image. See what the scores mean:

100 - 95Exceptional

94 - 90Superior89 - 85

Excellent84 - 80

Deserving of a Merit79 - 75

Above Average74 - 70

Average69 - 65

Below Exhibition Standards

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Shell Game - Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 82

Court Of Honor-Art/Artistic

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Wings On The Wind - Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 80

Sunset Silhouettes- Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 87

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Up, Up and Away - Mollie IsaacsSCORE: 87

Court Of Honor-Illustrative

DON’T FORGET! SEPPA DEADLINE - DISTRICT COMPETITIONS IS APRIL 1st!

ENTER NOW: http://www.4seppa.com/photographic-competition

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Great Grandpa's Church - Pat HansenInternational Merit Print

General Collection

Icy Harbor - Pat HansenInternational Merit Print

General CollectionShowcase Collection

CANON in CHESAPEAKE is HIRING: Currently recruiting for openings in our Pro-Support group. This is a technical support help desk position assisting our high end DSLR users. The start date for this position is 3/11/13. For those interested in applying, please refer them to our website: www.cits.canon.com. I have provided a position description below, this is also located on our website. _____________________________________________________________________Overview:Responsible for answering telephone and written inquiries from customers regarding advanced amateur and professional level products. Analyze problems with hardware and software products to identify problem areas) and recommend possible solutions. Recommends solutions to customer application questions. Maintains log of problems using CRM application so that recurring problems can be reported. TSRIIs are expected to maintain the highest level of professionalism and create a positive impression of Canon and their department.Responsibilities:

• Provides technical support to advanced amateur and professional level customers via telephone and written communication (direct and escalated contacts).

• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of situation requires evaluation of identifiable factors.

• Exercises judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

• Enters call information into call tracking database. • Assists in testing and evaluation of current and new products.

Qualifications:An Associates Degree is required or post high school technical or specialized education which may be obtained in the first two or three years of college technical school or business school.

• Two to four years related experience • General computer knowledge• Demonstrated verbal and listening skills• Attendance is an essential function of the job

Submit your Shout Outs, classified or articles to twdistrict@yahoo.com - APRIL Newsletter Deadline: April 1, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS

Have Items You’d Like to SELL, TRADE, RENT or BUY in TIDEWATER?

POST THEM HERE - SEND YOUR EXACT TEXT TO Twdistrict@yahoo.com

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“I had such a wonderful time meeting new friends and learning new techniques and tips from all the Speakers. They were all so incredible and Inspirational!

It amazes me that in this cutthroat world, the members of the photography community are so eager to share their success stories & encourage other photographers growth and success in their businesses. I am grateful to be a VPPA member!!”~Laurie Bateman

Just a few of our Tidewater Members who attended the Safari Party- VPPA Convention 2013

“I really enjoyed the convention. I signed up, not sure what to expect and only knowing one person. What I found was a group of people who are so supportive of each other and truly passionate about the industry.

There was a great mix of formal and informal opportunities to learn and get to know others. The print competition was far more interesting than I expected it to be. I also really like the relatively small size of the convention and found it to be more conducive to learning and relationship-building. I'm really looking forward to seminar and the next convention!” ~Timorah Beales - New Member (Pending Image Review)

Thoughts on this year’s Convention: