PMA announces call for DIMA 2014 and 2014 PMA@CES speakers

PMA@CES_logo_vertical-300x257

PMA@CES_logo_vertical-300x257We all know how amazingly brilliant you are, so why not share it with the rest of the industry? Here’s your chance… PMA is now accepting applications for 2014 DIMA and PMA@CES 2014 Conference speakers. Proposed topics should fall in one of the following categories: retail strategy, photo publishing, consumer video, camera phone imaging, social media, or professional imaging.

DIMA is the source for education on innovative technologies that have advanced the imaging business. We look forward to hearing from companies who want to introduce DIMA_logotheir imaging innovations to our business, retail, professional photographer, digital output service provider, and media attendees.

PMA has a long history of offering cutting edge education to attendees of its annual convention. With the co-location of PMA and CES in 2014, PMA will be providing its well-recognized education content in a series of sessions planned during the first days of the PMA@CES trade show.

Interested speakers can complete the application form  available at http://pma.informz.net/survistapro/s.asp?id=12284 by June 30, 2013. Questions? Email Jeff Frazine at jfrazine@pmai.org.

What price for a guide to pricing photography? Free!

photoshelter pricing guide

 

photoshelter pricing guide

Just how much should you charge for that photo session anyhow?

For those just starting out at professional photography, it can be a challenging question. Now online service PhotoShelter is offering a free guide on the subject.

It’s the second edition, and features insights on the rates photographers typically charge, the company says, as well as the four main factors that influence a shoot’s value, and how to find corporate clients. “This is an essential go-to for those who are currently working with corporate clients, or are considering entering the space.”

The free guide is here.

 

CPI files for bankruptcy; Imaging Spectrum encourages employees to start photo businesses

cpi imaging spectrum

 

cpi imaging spectrum

St. Louis-based portrait studio operator CPI — which last month closed its Sears and Walmart operations — filed for bankruptcy last week.

The company will turn its remaining assets over to a court-appointed trustee for liquidation, reports the local newspaper. CPI listed $10.4 million in assets and $135 million in debt.

CPI once had more than 2,700 locations in the U.S. and Canada, the Post Dispatch reports.

The spun-off Canadian operations will operate 358 stores.

The full story is here.

 

Meanwhile, printer distributor Imaging Spectrum and photo workflow developer Darkroom Software say they want to assist professional photographers that formerly worked for CPI start their own photography business.

The “Business in a Box” bundle includes the latest version of Darkroom’s software, an Epson inkjet printer, one hour of training, and a one-year Photoreflect.com subscription for e-commerce.

“Putting photographers back to work in their own small business is good for our industry,” the companies say. “We are acting out part of our mission statement to help photographers run a successful business.”

More information is here.

 

Pre-registrations for The Big Photo Show surpass 17,300; event begins today

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TheBigPhotoShow_verticalFor months, all my fellow PMA staffers and I have been planning for and telling you about The Big Photo Show, May 4-5, 2013 — the first in our new series of photography trade show for consumers, and the “Big” day is finally here! With more than 17,300 photo enthusiasts and advanced amateur photographers already registered to attend, The Big Photo show opens this morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Of course, attendees can also register onsite both days of the show, which runs through tomorrow. I am so excited about the huge response from photography consumers in Southern California — and they are going to love the fantastic event we have put together, which offers:

  • The Education Zone, with 15 top professional photographer instructors including Jefferson Graham from USA Today, celebrity photographer Erin Manning from the DIY Network and Lee Varis, bestselling author of “Skin.”
  • The Shooting Zone, with live models in settings like film noir, burlesque, belly dancers and muscle men — and real-time advice from our team of pro photographer instructors, who will be photographing the scenes right alongside attendees.
  • Popular Photography and American Photo magazines, which will also host live model shoots, where attendees can take pictures and learn from pro photographers from these two iconic magazines
  • Exhibits of all the coolest new equipment from top manufacturers and retailers, which attendees can see, touch, try, and buy
  • The Creative Photo Products Zone, where attendees will discover everything they never knew they could do with their photos
  • “Photo Doctors,” who can diagnose problems with images or equipment
  • The Take it to the Wall Zone, whch will offer demonstrations on framing like a pro
  • And so much more! Read about all other exciting things we have planned here.

What 20,000 photo enthusiasts will experience at The Big Photo Show

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TheBigPhotoShow_verticalYou probably saw our announcement yesterday that MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR THE BIG PHOTO SHOW! We are expecting 20,000 attendees at The Big Photo Show, going on this weekend, May 4-5, at the Los Angeles Convention center. Pre-registration for this event is free and available here: http://thebigphotoshow.eventbrite.com/ Admission at the door is $25.

Wondering what these legions of passionate photo enthusiasts will see, hear and discover?

Here are just some of the event highlights:

The Education Theaters

Hosted by emcees and pro photographers/instructors Mark Comon and Rob Comeau, the two Big Photo Show Education Theaters will provide fast-paced, information rich and fun-filled sessions on topics like:

  • Sports and Action Photography
  • Travel Photography
  • Wildlife and Safari Photography
  • Landscape and Scenic Photography
  • Macro and Close-Up Photography
  • Kids and Family Photography
  • Star trails and night photography
  • Video 101
  • Mastering mobile photography
  • Becoming a professional photographer
  • Selling Fine Art photography
  • Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom made simple

In addition to previously announced pro photographers/instructors like Jefferson Graham from USA Today, celebrity photographer Erin Manning from the DIY Network, and bestselling author/photographer Lee Varis, these seminars will be taught by top pros and educators in the field, including David Bever, Duane Cassone, Mary Cliva, Rob Comeau, Mark Comon, Mark Crase, Luis Escobar, Robert O’Toole, Cheyenne Rouse, Rob Sheppard, Colin Smith, and Robert Vlach.

Several exhibitors will also be offering events, seminars and workshops on The Big Photo Show floor, such as the LA Photoshop Users Group (LAPUG); Photographers and Digital Artists of Los Angeles; McKenna Pro; Amazing Image; and Erin Manning Media.

See a printable schedule of education opportunities and events at: http://www.thebigphotoshow.com/media/76168/tbps_schedule_0429.pdf

Shooting Zones

In the Photo Shooting Zone, The Big Photo Show’s stellar lineup of instructors will demonstrate tips and techniques with live models in an array of shooting arenas, with settings like burlesque, film noir, belly dancers, ballet dancers, muscle men and musicians. Then, in the Hands On Shooting Zone, attendees will take over the arenas, shooting the live models themselves, with the pros on hand to provide guidance.

In addition, in the Popular Photography/American Photo booth on The Big Photo Show floor, photographers from those two iconic magazines will be doing live models shoots, and offering instruction to attendees – who are welcome to shoot right alongside – throughout both days of the event.

Attendees also won’t want to miss the Sony-sponsored exhibit of Hollywood legend and TV personality/producer Fireball Tim Lawrence and his stable of Hollywood Show Cars, including: the 1966 Batmobile, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch, the 1968 Mustang from Bullitt, the 1977 Firebird from Smokey and the Bandit, “Rod Riguez,” a hot rod built in Japan, a 2013 Camaro convertible, a 2013 Mercedes SLR, and a 2013 458 Ferrari Italia. Fireball will be presenting seminars on proper techniques for photographing and videoing vehicles, and inviting attendees to use his suggestions while they shoot these amazing vehicles themselves.

Event Exhibitors

Whether attendees are looking for cameras, photo equipment, accessories, output services, assistance, advice, or anything else, they will be sure to find it among The Big Photo Show exhibitors – and talk one-on-one with the companies that make and sell these products. Attendees will discover, touch, try and buy the latest tools to make their photographs better than they ever thought possible. There will be so much going on in their booths. Learn more at http://www.thebigphotoshow.com/more-events-at-the-big-photo-show.aspx.

Creative Products Zone

The Creative Photo Products Zone will amaze and inspire attendees. Here, they will discover everything they never knew they could do with their pictures. On display for attendees will be the very latest, most innovative ideas to use images to create home decor, make unforgettable gifts, design one-of-a-kind works of art, and share memories with family and friends – all in ways they’ve never before imagined.

Take It To The Wall Zone

At The Big Photo Show’s Take It To The Wall Zone, professional framers will show attendees how to display photos with dazzling framing designs from contemporary to traditional. The Big Photo Show framers – all members of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) – will also provide mat-cutting demonstrations throughout The Big Photo Show – see what a difference professional mat boards make when highlighting and preserving photos.

Photo Doctors Zone
The Photo Doctors are in – and ready to diagnose and treat anything ailing attendees of The Big Photo Show, when it comes to taking pictures. Equipment problems? Photos not turning out quite right? Any attendee who has ever wondered why they are not getting the results they want can find the cure in The Photo Doctor Zone.

And lots more!

Attendees will also see and experience so much more, like PMDA’s Portraits of Love, which provides free professional family portraits to active duty members of the military; live broadcasts from the event by Popular Photography Radio, The Drive with Alan Taylor, Parenting Magazine Live, Sound + Vision Radio, and Popular Science Radio; and a number of photography exhibits, including “Seven Decades of Photography,” presented by the International Photographic Council (IPC) and the United Nations, all sure to inspire attendees to take their own images as far as they want to go.

For more information about The Big Photo Show, contact Jeff Frazine at jfrazine@pmai.org.

Berlin-based Global Microstock Expo provides imaging opportunities

microstock expo

 

microstock expo

Opportunities to produce your own high-end stock photos and footage will be offered at the Global Microstock Expo 2013 — with fully produced shoots with models, sets and stylists.

The expo in Berlin, Germany on November 16 and 17 will have a keynote presentation from Bruce Livingstone, founder of iStockphoto and now CEO of Stocksy. In attendance will be artists and agents in video, photo, and illustration.

“As the microstock industry enters its second decade, several seismic shifts are happening in the art and business of stock,” the conference organizers say, “with recent industry developments …and unprecedented changes in the exclusivity landscape.”

More information is here.

 

APA joins copyright infringement lawsuit against Google

APA logo

APA logo

It’s a tough call: on the one hand, civilization benefits when we can all access more information; on the other, well, all artists, writers, and photographers want to /need to be paid for their work.

The American Photographic Artists national organization joins 15 plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Google alleging the “Google Book Search” program violates the copyrights of numerous photographers and other visual artists.

The lead plaintiffs include: The American Society of Media Photographers, Graphic Artists Guild, Picture Archive Council of America, North American Nature Photography Association, Professional Photographers of America, and the National Press Photographers Association.

Google contracted with libraries including the Universities of California, Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Stanford as well as book and periodical publishers to create digital archives of books and periodicals by electronically copying them in their entirety.

“These books and periodicals contain photographs, illustrations, graphic art, and other visual images protected by copyright law.” The plaintiffs claim, and Google has “copied, stored, electronically distributed, and publically displayed without the authorization of the exclusive rights owners of the visual works.”

 

Blackmagic features 4K & Pocket Cinema

blackmagic pocket

 

blackmagic pocket

Blackmagic Design wowed many videographers with its expanded dynamic range camera last year. Now it’s putting that capability into a much smaller package, and also offering higher-resolution 4k model with that wide DR.

The Pocket Cinema Camera has a Super 16-sized sensor to capture 1080 HD with 13 stops of dynamic range at either 23.98/24 and 29.97/30 frames per second. It has an active Micro Four Thirds lens mount, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen.

It’s “small enough to keep with you at all times, so you’ll never miss a shot!” the company says.  “The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is a true high dynamic range film look camera in an extremely portable size, so now you can shoot cinema quality in situations never before possible.”

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What is “digital cinema?” Well, regular video cameras, Blackmagic says, shoot limited dynamic range, “which is why their pictures look like video. Digital cinema cameras have a much wider dynamic range and is the reason why high-end television commercials and feature films look so beautiful. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera delivers a true film look because it captures a wide dynamic range of 13 stops, so your images look truly cinematic.”

The camera has a solid magnesium alloy chassis for a “lightweight, elegant design that fits into your pocket — all the high quality features of a professional digital cinema camera packed into an incredibly small size.”

It will sell for $995 in July.

 blackmagic-production-camera-4k

Meanwhile, the Production Camera 4k has a larger Super 35-sized sensor for native 3840 x 2160 resolution, with 12 stops of dynamic range.

It has an EF lens mount, and a 5-inch touchscreen, for $3,995.

It’s billed as the most portable 4K digital film camera, for shooting Ultra HD — which is four times the resolution of 1080 HD. “You get a large Super 35 size sensor with professional global shutter combined with precision EF mount optics,” the company says, which provide “familiar framing and behavior from the lenses you already own.”

 

More information is here.

 

Cutting-edge camera stabilizer debuts

movi screenshot 1

 

movi screenshot 1

Demonstration video showing the results from a new handheld 3-axis digital stabilized camera gimbal is wowing videographers.

Freefly Systems says the MoVI M10 is “so advanced, it redefines the possibilities for camera movement.” The custom-designed device “will empower a new era of stabilized cinematography,” the Seattle-based company adds. It has “built one of the lightest weight, highest performance, cinema ready 3-axis gimbals the industry has ever seen. This allows the operator to run faster, jump higher, and capture more compelling footage than ever before.”

The MoVI is smaller and will be perhaps 1/10th the cost of a full-fledged Steadicam system, but duplicates many of the smooth camera moves that device made possible. Prices reportedly range from $7500–15,000, varying primarily by the size of device supported.

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This is really a case of seeing is believing: check out the impressive demonstration videos here.

 

School photography: TSS celebrates 30 years

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tss MainHeader

A Duluth, GA-based photography franchise marks three decades of a growing business.

The firm was first established in 1983 as school sports photography company The Sports Section. It opened its first franchise a year later, and in 2005 expanded into additional youth markets as TSS Photography. It now operates in 42 states with 225 franchised locations, photographing close to 2 million people every year.

The company also runs its own lab “to ensure all products maintain the high level of quality that customers expect,”  with products such as posters and custom trading cards.

TSS Cheri

TSS notes its first franchise owners have been with them for almost the entire time: Scott & Cheri Hamilton “started 30 years ago when there was no training, no procedures, or anything else — just one camera, film, a typewriter and a 10-key adding machine to send orders to the lab.” Cheri adds that “there is nothing better than being able to run your own show if you have the support of each other for the common goal, and can keep yourself focused. We are looking forward to making memories for our customers for many years to come.”