Newsletter November 2006
-- Finger Lakes Meeting Reminder --
Wednesday, November 15, at Nonna's.
Business meeting 2:00 -- program at 3:00
The November meeting of the Finger Lakes PPSNY is next Wednesday
November 15, at 2:00 PM at Nonna's Trattoria in Geneva.
Our guest speaker will be Local radio and television personality Mike
Rusinko. Mike was recently appointed Executive Director of the Finger
Lakes Tourism Alliance.
Since tourism is the number two industry in the Finger Lakes just
behind agriculture, any photographer who would like to get their share
of this multi million dollar market should attend. Mike's program is
guaranteed to motivate and enlighten us.
We will also be having an 8x10 print critique to get feedback before the upcoming print competition season. The fee will be $1 per 8x10 with a maximum of 4 prints.
Please remember to bring prints for critique! And please help keep our
meeting room free -- plan to stay for dinner!
For more about Mike:
http://www.fingerlakes.org/press_releases/articles/02-28-06.htm
Message from the Editor
On the page below you will find an excerpt from the Blog of David Jay, a photographer from Santa Barbara, CA. I have recently joined the forum he created called OpenSourcePhoto. This forum is filled with great photographers from around the world, who come together to share ideas. I have to warn you though, it is addicting.
It's kind of like the Finger Lakes Forum, however with 2000+ members, there is always someone online to talk to and exchange ideas. It is also a great way to see what is going on in different areas of the country first hand.
Here is a link to the OSP... http://www.opensourcephoto.net/
- Steve Chesler -
Chesler Photography
Membership News
"If everyone took the time to personally invite one member..."
Its the obligation of everyone in the organization to work on membership!
-Herb Jones, Membership Chairperson
Message from the Section Chairperson
Kevin Carlson
Carlson's Studio
2110 Sayre Road
Wyoming, NY 14591
Ph 585-786-2871
Fax 585-786-2124
CONTACT INFO:
Finger Lakes Officers
Delegates to PPSNYS:
- Vince Aiosa
- Herb Jones
- Roger Smith
Dates for Council Meetings are Sunday October 8th for Exe. council meetings with the regular session on the 9th. The meeting location is also being change to Turning Stone Resort, in Verona, NY.
PPSNYS Business Service:
Karen Dyer, PPSNYS Business, 388 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12207
518-434-8830
Fax - 518-434-0072
e-mail - headquarters@ppsny.com
PPA (404) 522-8600
Update from Program Chair, Vince Aiosa:
- Nov 15 - Radio Host Mike Rusinko motivational talk
- Dec - Social Gathering
Mark them on your calendar RIGHT NOW so you don't miss anything in 2006!
Minutes of the October 2006 Meeting:
Attendance:
Dan Runfola, Russ Graham, Vince & Lyn Aiosa, Neil Sjoblom, Kevin Carlson, Ameka Cooper, Herb Jones, Bonnie Saunders, Honey DeLapa, Daryn Backal, Steve Chesler, Clarence & Nancy Williams.
Guest speaker: Robert Stone
Secretary's Report:
Although not in attendance at the October meeting, Lois Miller called in a correction to the August minutes. She said that Jean Rodabaugh does not intend to retire from the Blair - Rodabaugh scholarship oversight committee but would like to add an active Finger Lakes member to help oversee it. Another correction: Honey was listed as a TEP committee member but she said she is not. Also, Vince may have said he would help with the TEP brochure, but didn't volunteer to produce it as was stated in the minutes. Motion to approve August Minutes as corrected on a motion by Honey, second by Vince.
Treasurer's Report:
Motion to approve the Treasurer's report by Dan, second by Vince.
Old Business:
Nominating Committee to report on slate of officers at November meeting.
TEP: Committee members are Hank, Kevin, Vince and Mark,
Print Committee: Craig, Neil and Mark.
Kevin reported that he has verbal commitments from speakers Steve Bergano and Ernie Tramposh to do the program Tuesday February 13, 2007 at the Presbyterian Church in Batavia. He said he will get a written contract. Discussion of the brochure: Honey said that we need to know registration, vendor?and print?fees? ? ?? ? before we can make brochures. Kevin said that the committee should meet soon at a Batavia location.
Conference:
It was noted by Linda that the section with the highest number of registrants by February 1st wins $500.00.
For the Good of the Order:
- Bonnie reported on her Equine photography workshop.
- Quarterly Print Critique was announced and members are encouraged to bring prints 8x10 or larger to November meeting for critique. Cost is $1.00 per print, limit 4.
Meeting adjourned at 2:55 on a motion by Herb, second by Vince.
Respectfully submitted,
Neil Sjoblom, Secretary.
News and Notes:
New Section: This is a new section of the newsletter for anyone who wants to share something of interest. It could be a birthday, a milestone, something new you're doing that you want to share, the sky is the limit. Send your News and Notes items to Steve@Cheslerphoto.com.
- Don't forget to register for the 2007 State Conference.
Inspiration:
From the BLOG of David Jay:
Four years - wow - I can hardly believe how God has guided this journey. Yesterday closed out another year for me so I've been reminiscing a bit...
I've been thinking a lot about how every three or four years a huge change occurs in our life...elementary school, jr. high, high school, college, marriage (for some :) and so I've noticed the urge to continue that pattern in many of my friends. Over the past year many, almost all, have left their jobs and become self employed or are thinking about it and others have gotten married.
This is an exciting time and I'm excited as well because although I haven't had a career change or been blessed with a wife my business is changing a lot. I've tried to control the weddings I shoot for the past two years and next year my goal is to hold it to 10, I have 9 now so we'll see if I can be disciplined about that. I really want to be careful about shooting too much because my relationships do suffer and I recognized that this year with only shooting 20 weddings. My time in community and fellowship with all of you was limited and that's a big priority for me. I also have learned the value of just spending time thinking because when I spend too much time doing I find myself offering less of value.
- I spent the 1st year of my career learning "how" to shoot and then shooting anything and everything because I loved it.
- I spent my 2nd hear learning "how" to get work.
- I spent my 3rd year learning "how" to handle that work.
- I spent this past year learning "how" to get free from that "work" and get back to shooting for the love of it.
So next year I'm planning to revisit those "Why" questions that I often talk about because they are the important ones. They are the questions that I believe really shape who I am and it's too easy for me to get trapped in the "How" questions and never get back to the purpose of why I'm doing what I'm doing.
I want to encourage you, no matter where you are in your business, to take some time to ask some of those "Why" questions because if you find those answers first you will find that the "How" questions get answered a lot easier.
Blessings,
DJ
David Jay is the originator of the Open Source Photo forum. You can view the forum at http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index.php
FINGER LAKES FORUM:
If you haven't signed up for the Finger Lakes Forum, now it the time. By signing up with an e-mail, automatic reminders of upcoming events will be sent to you. There is also a calendar listing all events. Sign on and see what's happening. There are listings for jobs and equipment also. If you have something you would like to sell please feel free to post it there. Several members have uploaded photos for you to look at. There are also a few photos from Conference.
Thank you Steve Chesler for getting this started. I hope it will become a place where our members will get together to share information.
TIP OF THE MONTH:
YOUR IMAGE - DEALING WITH CLIENTS
by Lois Miller
It is so important: YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.
- Whenever someone enters your studio, always greet them cheerfully, using their name if you know it. Names are important. Find out their name and use it in the conversation.
- Make any client entering your studio feel at ease. Many times if it is a cold walk-in, they really do not know how to start the conversation to find out the information they have come to gather. You can ease the conversation into the areas you want to know about your client's needs.
- Listen to them. Do not interrupt. This is not about you - it is about them. The easiest way to get them to make appointments if to make them feel important and comfortable.
- Interruptions while talking with clients - if someone else comes in, excuse yourself, acknowledge the new person, state that it will be about _____minutes before you will be free. Finish with the first person.
- Telephone interruptions - state that you are with a customer and you will be happy to call them back as soon as you are finished. Be sure to get their number. Suggest checking your website in the interim. Do call them back as soon as you are finished.
- Make sure your answering machine has an up to date message. Be sure to return all calls as soon as you can. When you wait until the next day to call, the client thinks you are not interested.
- If you have a "hold" on your telephone system, be sure not to leave clients on hold for very long. I once was left while a person went to lunch.
- Personal calls should be short while you are with a client. I now some teens think they come first, but they will soon learn that you will answer them and return to your client quickly.
- When dealing with a client NEVER SAY NO. Answer with a question or give them a choice of responses. Look people in the eye. As with a firm handshake instead of a fish-like handshake, it tells your client you are sincere and trustworthy. It is also much easier to know what they are thinking when looking at their eyes. You can see assurance, hesitation, and many times have a strong feeling for the truth.
- Do not send sloppy Emails or ones with spelling errors. This is a window to you and does reflect on your business.
- It is wise to talk about your pricing system up front. Then it will be clear what is expected of the client. "Your camera charge is ____and is due___".
In the words of Charles Lewis: "EVERYONE LOVES A WINNER AND THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNERS AND LOSERS IS THAT WINNERS KNOW HOW TO SELL THEMSELVES".
The Finger Lakes Section is a section of the Professional Photographers' Society of New York State, Inc. (PPSNYS) which is an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).
The PPSNYS is a not for profit association formed in 1905 solely to instruct its members and the general public in photography; and to create, foster, promote and encourage the exchange of information among its members and the public.
The PPA is a worldwide association that exists to assist its members in achieving their professional, artistic and fraternal goals; promote public awareness of the profession; and to advance the making of images in all of its disciplines as an art, a science and a visual recorder of history.
PPSNYS (518) 434-8830
PPA (404) 522-8600
E-letter contact info:
Honey DeLapa
thelakehouse@mac.com
(585) 392-3886
Steve Chesler
steve@cheslerphoto.com
(585) 393-9242
