Betsy, a Certified Photographer and member of the PPA Council has spent years using social networking to maximize her business and client contact. Speaking around the country Betsy also uses the site to share her valuable information with the photography community.

So if you haven’t seen it yet, visit http://www.learnwithbetsy.com see her new design and read here why she made such a dramatic change to her site. Be sure to follow her on twitter too at @learnwithbetsy

If retouching your images is something you spend too long on, or simply don’t feel you understand, then you won’t want to miss this step-by-step demonstration of Photoshop techniques for the portrait & wedding photographer. Join Jeffrey as he shows you how to enhance some real world portrait examples, and how to develop a retouching strategy to improve the quality and speed of your portrait enhancement workflow.

During his portrait enhancement demonstration, Jeffrey will guide you through looking at the raw image with a systematic eye, analyzing and mapping out the most effective workflow to streamline the enhancement process. You will learn all the tips, shortcuts and trade secrets you will need to polish and perfect the image while decreasing your time spent in post processing.

Some of what will be covered:

• When to Use Levels and Curves
• Determining Which Facial Features Should Be Accentuated or Minimized
• Analyzing the Image for Distracting Contrasty Items
• Refining Lighting and Focus
• Which Color Space to Use: Adobe98 vs. sRGB
• Different Retouching for Different Subjects (Families vs. Children vs. Seniors)
• Using the Portraiture Plug In to its Full Potential

About Jeffrey:

Jeffrey McIntyre began his photographic and Photoshop work in 1997 during his High School and College years. He began his professional experience at The Portrait Place in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. It’s here where his interest in portrait photography and digital portrait enhancement really started to grow. After working there for 3 years, and also spending a year at a Detroit area pro color lab, he became the digital artist and printer for Angela Carson Photography in Northville, MI. He currently is the digital artist for Naturally Photography by Monni in Sylvan Lake, MI, and operates his own portrait studio Jeffrey McIntyre | Fine Art Photography in Royal Oak, MI.

Don’t miss this opportunity to go home with a proven set of portrait enhancement steps and take back the hours of time you’ve been wasting on unnecessary tools and techniques.

Where: Your Computer Online

When: October 6th at

Time: 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. (Pacific Time)

Cost: $30 (Before September 22nd) $39 (After September 22nd)

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The most beautiful baby in the world was just born, according to the new parents, and they want pictures. In the ABC’s of Newborn Photography, you’ll learn everything you need to know about newborn portrait sessions and how to create images that those new parents will cry over. We’ll discuss finding newborns to photograph, how to prepare your studio (or their home) for the session, posing, and final products.

Liz Vance has been working as a photographer in the Washington, DC metro area since 1987. Her first paying job was as an elf at the brand new Potomac Mills, capturing that special moment between terrified toddlers and an underpaid overweight man in a hot, itchy red suit. Liz won several awards for her fine art and documentary work while living and working in Boston in the early 1990′s, which is also where she got her first taste of real studio work while assisting in a busy portrait studio. After moving back to DC, she established a small boutique studio specializing in fine art maternity and newborn portraits. Liz is a member of the Virginia Professional Photographers Association, and a certified member of the Professional Photographers of America.

Missed this webinar? Rent the recorded version NOW!

Creating marketing materials in Indesign offers a chance to layout and edit you materials in a simplified and design oriented manner. Join Stephanie Millner (CPP) as she guides you through the ins and outs of Adobe Indesign CS4, coupled with her years of design experience to create the perfect press-ready marketing pieces.

What you’ll learn:

• Intro to InDesign CS4
• Marketing Layout Basics
• Ready your material for pre-press

Length: 75-90 min

Registration:

Before March 28th – $19

After March 28th – $29

REGISTER HERE: http://photographyconnect.com/webinar-registration

It’s amazing how fast time can pass – how days spent studying for exams or cramming for that last final in advanced thermodynamics can speed by in the blink of an eye…

But now as a photographer, your PhD in Aboriginal Linguistics, albeit impressive, doesn’t really apply to your new craft. You start wondering how to show your clients that you’re not just another photographer – you’re a professional.  Luckily the gang over at PPA (that’s shop talk for Professional Photographers of America) have created many avenues of advancement for your photography career. This includes the CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) designation that you might see after the name on a few of the contributors to this website and on many professional photographer websites.

What Is a Certified Pro? Who is already Certified? How do I become certified, and who will help me on this journey?

It’s simple! Pop on over to LearnWithBetsy.com where my awesome friend and fellow PhotographyConnect.com administrator, Betsy Finn, has created an entire section of her website completely devoted to this whole big (sometimes complicated and often confusing) “CPP” thing.  She’s already got a nice little study guide, complete with recommended reading and a walk through of the process that includes some tips on lessons she learned while completing the process herself.  Plus, she’s always happy to answer questions; I even hear she’s added a few new articles based on request!

Please check out LearnWithBetsy.com for more about studying for the certified professional photographer exam.  Remember to leave her some love in the comments section!

It’s been an “IT” word for a few years now but I’m still surprised how many people haven’t heard the word “Webinar”. Well what is it?

A Webinar is exactly as it sounds. Using a geeky math formula describes this elusive word best (Website + Seminar = Webinar). It’s any class, seminar, presentation, etc. that are delivered via the web. Simple enough, but why am I creating this whole article about the subject?  Well, that’s simple too!

Why do we care about these “Webinars”?

Webinars are one of the cornerstones with which we will be putting the Connect into PhotographyConnect. Using the online meeting place we can connect 10, 100, 1000, or even more photographers together in the same room but hundreds or even thousands of miles away from eachother! Want to catch that speaker talking about his latest lighting technique, what about that one photographer across the country that’s selling in a way that you just don’t understand but she’s making $1000 averages? Using the online meeting place allows us to do this and SOOOO much more.

With this software we can connect everyone via chat, video and even share computer monitors. Presenters can display their screen, with everyone  or even share a private chat with a single member.

Do I have to download any software to attend a meeting?

Short and simple answer is, as long as you have the latest Adobe Flash Plug-in installed, then you’re all set to go. If you signed up for a meeting you’ll recieve an email that will link you to the class where you simply login and let the meeting begin. It doesn’t get any easier, and the savings to your business could amount to thousands in travel costs saved each year. You can even attend in your PJ’s.. YES  THAT’S RIGHT! You don’t even have  to expend the energy to dress yourself for the meeting!

What happens after the meeting?

Fill out the questionaire so that we can improve the quality of our meetings, we can’t get better if we don’t find out where we can improve first! After that, hop on over to the PhotographyConnect.com Community and dive into a special section, review the meeting (some meetings will be available to re-watch as a video after the meeting has ended) and expand on the disussion and lessons learned.

Don’t miss Betsy’s webinar on PhotographyConnect: Blogging Basics @ 6pm EST on March 4th, 2009.

Betsy Finn owns and operates Betsy’s Photography Studio, located in Michigan.  She was named 2008 Photographer of the Year, Michigan’s Top 7 Photographer of 2008 + 2009, and received Detroit PPA’s “Best of Show” award in 2008 + 2009.

While her training is in the field of photography, Betsy developed a knack for working on websites when she set out to design her own from scratch in 2005.  Since then, her website has undergone a series of changes, improving the visual appeal, and making the content search engine friendly.  After being asked to speak to photographers about blogging and websites, Betsy created LearnWithBetsy.com — where many of her how-to articles were finally able to find a home (including a series of book reviews she wrote to help photographers studying for the Certified Professional Photographer exam).

Betsy regularly updates both of her blogs: Betsy’s Photography Blog + Learn With Betsy Blog.  You can also follow her on twitter: @bphotoart.

Tell us about yourself?
Well, I am 42, I have a wonderful wife and three beautiful children. I love grilled cheese sandwiches and cheesecake (although they don’t love me very much). I have a very dry sense of humor. Most things I joke about no one else finds funny, which makes me laugh even more. I also have a pet project called “LuluBelle” that I work on in my spare time. Those who know me personally…know LuluBelle.

How did you get started in this business?
I started later in life with photography, but the “artist” side of me I have been exploring since the age of two. I always excelled creatively growing up. As a kid I was always called Michael. I spent 12 years in the Infantry and was never called Michael, just Imus. I went into the corporate world and climbed the ladder, but was always called Mike. But the Michael side of me was always inside demanding to be let out. So in 2002, I let Michael out and jumped head first into this industry.

What makes you unique?
I create a lot of client specific images. These are images that tell a story deeper than most, all about the client. And since everyone is different, I end up with a lot of different images. I also tend to put a lot of myself in the images as well.

Who or what inspires you the most?
Ansel Adams has always been an inspiration to me even though I am not a landscape artist. His images are not what inspires me, but his method. He first created the images in his mind and then went out to “get the shot” as well as documenting how he created them. I am also inspired by all my surroundings. Different things I see and feel, I put into my work. TV, Magazines, Movies, Stories people share, these all inspire me.

What kind of goodies are in your camera bag and how do you shoot?
I have a ton of stuff in my bag; all Canon, but not what most assume. I use my lenses like painters keep paintbrushes. There are some good expensive ones and there are some that are super ugly, but do the trick. I nick name all my lenses as well. Everything from “fishy” my 15mm fisheye, to “ol’ trusty” my 70-200 2.8, to “pepe the wonder lens” which is a 50mm 1.8 super cheapo lens that I can make sing. It is funny when I shoot with a group of photographers, I will have my 5D with a battery pack and jam on there, little bitty “pepe the wonder lens”. They usually laugh until they see the end result. I also get a lot of looks because of how I hold my camera sometimes. I can handhold a 70-200 2.8 without IS one handed and still get some great images. I also like to cradle my lens over my elbow with my hand on my shoulder to steady aim.

Care to share a few of your favorite images and maybe tell us something about it?
I always loved this wedding couple. Their theme for the wedding was very outdoors. The butterflies had a deep meaning to them, and was used in everything. I saw the image in my head, had them act as if they were holding a butterfly, and took a butterfly from another shoot I did in Seattle and blended it together. The lighting is not perfect. It is not that dramatic of an image compared to other things I do. But to this couple, it is the most perfect image that will still be on display long after I am gone. It reminds me of why I am in business. It makes me remember that one single image can speak an entire novel.

 
I love this image because minus some color correction it is straight out of the camera. When the light hits, you can see the individual particles of sand blowing in the wind. It changes all the rules; sometimes you have to get sand in your camera and clothes to get the image. It reminds me that you can’t shortcut what comes from your heart.

How about a favorite quote that would help others in this industry?
My Dad has always told me from a young age, “always remember who you are”. This used to bug me, because I could never figure out what he was trying to say. I would always try to over analyze the meaning. And then finally about three years ago it just hit me. The more I tried to follow others and do what I thought my clients wanted, the less I became me and my sales decreased. When I did what I was good at, and what I enjoyed, my sales increased. I finally figured it out.