Time for Essentials

Just a reminder that the PPM Essentials Seminar is coming up April 26 - 28 in Petoskey. People who have attended in the past feel that is the best seminar PPM offers. This is a great opportunity to relax, rest, and reinvent yourself. The intimate atmosphere provides ample opportunity to get to know attendees and speakers ... and just look at this speaker lineup.....
You don't have to be a member...or a woman! to attend. For more information check out the ppm website and the PPM blog. Register soon!

March letter from the President

Here is March's letter from the President!

Well, there is no doubt that times are tough. The plight of the economy has his us, and has hit us hard. So, I want to ask you, what are you doing to help the local economy? Are you making any conscience decisions about it? Or, are you just going on with your daily life, hoping that it will get better?

I have made a conscience decision to help OUR LOCAL ecconomy. How am I doing this? I am choosing to shop locally. I am choosing to purchase everything that I can from a local business. Sometimes that means paying more.

From a photography business standpoint, there are many local businesses that we can support. We have three great Michigan labs that have business memberships at PPWM.  They are Allied Photographic and Imaging, JD Photo Imaging, and Prolab Express. I have chosen to keep my printing at a Michigan company. Why send it out of state when you can get it done locally?

We also have some great camera stores in Grand Rapids. I have chosen to buy all my camera gear and supplies at Norman Camera. They really know their products they sell, and they do it with great customer service. I know that I could probably find a product for a couple dollars cheaper online, but it doesn’t come with the customer service that Norman Camera gives me. I feel better knowing that I am helping MY LOCAL economy. There are also several other local camera stores in the area, including The Camera Center, Marks Photo and Video, and Lakewood Photo and Imaging.

One of the other local companies I support is Great Lakes Albums. I use Renaissance albums, and I order them through Great Lakes. I know they have quite a range of albums including flush mount, self mount, and traditional.  Call them and see what they have!

Do I buy everything locally? No. I wish I could say I did. There are a few things that I have found that I still purchase from companies that are not local. But, I do think about everything I buy. I ask myself if I can buy that product locally. If I can, I will. I want to challenge you to do the same, not only with your business, but your personal life also!

Cliff Mautner Seminar!

We had a GREAT seminar with Cliff Mautner on Monday this week.  We had a good turnout with guest as far away as Detriot and Chicago.  Cliff is a nationally recognized speaker and photographer, and we were fortunate enough to have him come to West Michigan for a seminar.



Cliff taught us reception lighting techniques as well as great techniques for shooting in full sun on the afternoon of the Wedding!

Cliff really gets into his work!

A special thanks to Deb Sportel of Sportel Photography for being Cliff's host while he was in town!  

Check it out!

Happy Friday!

I came across the blog and thought that I would share it with you all.

There are a lot of different topics from pricing to lighting.  Check it out!

Click HERE for the link.

See you all on the 16th!  Remember, print of the month "COLOR"

MARCH Print of the month theme

Just a reminder that the theme for the 8x10 print of the month

for March is "COLOR"

See you all there on Monday March 16th.  I've heard from several people now

that Cliff rocks the house!