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Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends
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WPPI Announces Speaker Lineup for WPPI U

Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) announced today its speaker and instructor line-up for WPPI U, taking place Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at WPPI 2013 in Las Vegas. This university-style, two-day workshop provides the fundamentals of photography to help today’s up-and-coming photographers strengthen their shooting skills and learn how to be successful in their business and marketing practices, according to WPPI.

Educational seminars for professional photographersScheduled to teach at WPPI U are renowned professional photographers Jerry Ghionis, Kevin Kubota,  Henk Van Kooten, Doug Gordon, Moshe Zusman, Lindsey Adler, JP Elario, Jared Platt, Tim Meyer and many more.

All WPPI 2013 classes, events and trade show will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from March 7-14.

WPPI U classes will include topics such as:

  • Lighting and Posing
  • Business and Branding
  • Marketing
  • Postproduction (Lightroom and Photoshop)
  • Social Media
  • Weddings, Portraits, and Seniors

Each class is two hours and a Portfolio Review and Reception for participants will be hosted at the conclusion of the first day. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion from WPPI and a WPPI U T-shirt. The advance-purchase price for WPPI U is $125 for the two-day program if purchased online by March 6. The onsite price is $150. WPPI U sponsors include: Graphistudio, Bay Photo, Sigma, Millers, Adobe and more.

Registration (Http://registration3.experientevent.com/ShowWPP131/?flowcode=ATT) for WPPI 2013 and is open now. Registration rates are $275 for WPPI members and $399 for non-members. These rates include one free guest, all Platform classes, special events and a three-day pass to WPPI.

For more information about WPPI 2013 and all of its workshops and events, go to: www.wppionline.com/wppi-show.shtml

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends
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WPPI’s Awards of Excellence Now Accepting Entries

Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) is now accepting submissions for its annual Awards of Excellence 16×20 Print and Album Competitions. In related news, professional photographer Ken Sklute has been appointed Consulting Director, WPPI Print and Album Competitions, and will oversee the competition rules, submissions, judging and the Awards of Excellence ceremony during the WPPI Conference and Expo.

Photography competitionKen Sklute has been honored as one of Canon’s Explorers of Light, a designation shared by only 60 top photographers worldwide. During his 38-year photographic career, Ken has been named Photographer of the Year a total of 32 times between Arizona, New York, and California. Ken spends much of his time teaching and lecturing, both nationally and internationally.

Photographers are welcome to submit their 16×20-inch Print entries for consideration in the following categories…

Wedding Division: Bride and Groom Together (Wedding Day), Bride and Groom Together (other than Wedding Day), Bride or Groom Alone (Wedding Day), Bride or Groom Alone (other than Wedding Day), Bridal Party; Engagement, and Wedding Details.

Portrait Division: Children, High School, Senior, Individual, Group, Animals/Pets, and Glamour/Boudoir.

Commercial Division: Scientific/Individual, Illustrative/Editorial, Advertising/Fashion, and Landscape/Nature.

Photojournalism Division: Wedding and Non-Wedding.

Composite Division: An entry comprised of multiple images or layers to create a single image.

For more information and to enter the WPPI 2013 Award of Excellence 16×20 Print Competition visit: www.wppi16x20.com.

Photographers are also encouraged to submit a series of digital images presented as a story for consideration in the WPPI Award of Excellence Album Competition. The categories include: Event/Informal Division, Engagement Division, Wedding – Multiple Photographers Division, Wedding – Single Photographers Division, and Videography Division.

For more information on the Album Competition visit: www.wppialbum.com.

The Grand Award for any given division of 16×20 Print and Album Competitions will receive a $2,000 cash prize (U.S. dollars), a complimentary Full Conference Pass for WPPI 2014 Conference and Expo, and complimentary entry into next year’s Awards of Excellence Print Competition (10 print maximum). Grand Award, First, Second and Third Place winners will receive custom-designed, engraved crystal awards.

Entry fees are $40 for WPPI Members and $60 for non-members. Return postage fees are separate and based on geographic location for the option of having prints returned. The deadline to register images online is Jan. 25, 2013. All prints and albums must be received at WPPI headquarters by Feb. 1, 2013. Judging will take place on March 9-10, 2013 and is open to all WPPI 2013 Full Conference attendees.

All WPPI 2013 classes, events and the expo will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev., from March 7-14, 2013. Registration (http://registration3.experientevent.com/ShowWPP131/?flowcode=ATT) for WPPI 2013 is open now.

The early bird registration rate for access to the WPPI 2013 Conference and Expo is $199 for WPPI members and $379 for non-members through Dec. 14. On Dec. 15 registration rates increase to regular prices online: $275 for WPPI members and $399 for non-members. These rates include one free guest, all Platform classes, special events and a three-day pass to the expo. For more information about WPPI 2013 and all of its workshops and events, visit: www.wppionline.com.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Tips & Tricks
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X-Rite Annouces December Color Management Webinars

X-Rite Photo Marketing announces its schedule of December 2012 Webinars developed to address specific color management topics and designed to appeal to both professional and serious Color calibration webinarsamateur photographers and videographers…

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, Professional Monitor Calibration for Still & Video: As more still photographers move into videography with DSLR cameras the need for color management solutions specific to those output environments has become obvious. X-Rite’s i1Profiler software now includes video presets for popular video formats including NTSC, PAL-SECAM, and Rec. 709. The introduction last year of the new i1Display Pro colorimeter combined with these presets in i1Profiler makes the X-Rite i1Display Pro the perfect solution for calibrating and profiling monitors for video editing and output.

When i1Display Pro is combined with X-Rite ColorChecker Targets the combination provides a capture to output solution for video editing that allows exceptional control over white balance in any scene, says X-Rite.

This brief webinar will review how to access and utilize the video presets in i1Profiler software and will briefly look at use of ColorCheckers in the video footage as a visual reference. For those shooting, editing, and preparing video for output this webinar will provide the insight into X-Rite color management solutions that can streamline color control in video.

To register for this webinar at 10 a.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/353699538
To register for this webinar at 1 p.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/790441482

Thursday, Dec. 13, 3 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET, Simply Amazing Color. Take control of your monitor, printer and camera! The ColorMunki Family of color management solutions provides advanced control for a photographer’s digital workflow. This webinar will review the individual ColorMunki solutions including software demonstrations and discussions of how each solution is used.

This live webinar gives users the opportunity to ask questions and understand each solution in detail so they can make the right decision on what ColorMunki family solution is for them. Attendees will also enjoy special discounts.

To register for this webinar at 3 p.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/646822754
To register for this webinar at 7 p.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/779781170

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, Raw Color Power – The Benefits of Custom Camera Profiles with the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport: ColorChecker Passport is a “capture to edit” color solution for any photographer looking for more accurate, consistent color and creative flexibility. And when combined with Adobe Imaging solutions users can gain even greater benefits. 

Host Joe Brady will show step by step how to bring digital photography color to a new level. Attendees will learn how to quickly and easily capture accurate color, instantly enhance portraits and landscapes, create their own color look with one click and maintain color control and consistency.

To register for this webinar at 11 a.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/827810818
To register for this webinar at 1 p.m. ET, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/656185274

For more information on all X-Rite Photo webinars visit the Webinar page found under the Learning section on XritePhoto.com. All webinars are also archived for online viewing any time.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Prints that Win: Something Old, Something New

Portrait photography

Lightning does strike twice, or at least the LexJet Sunset Award for outstanding photography did. Ann Naugher was honored earlier this year with a LexJet Sunset Award at PPA’s Southeast District competition for her portrait entitled Windswept, and most recently added another to her collection with another portrait entitled Monet’s Garden at the PPA’s Southwest District competition.

Naugher’s specialty is children’s portrait photography enhanced with Corel Painter, printed on fine-art canvas, embellished with oil paints and then finished with a lacquer. What results are classic yet timeless pieces of art that have gained a nationwide following of enthusiastic and appreciative customers.

Though Naugher has carved a popular and award-winning niche with her style of portrait photography, she likes to share credit with the artist who paints her backgrounds – David Maheu of Backgrounds by Maheu – and the subjects of the photos.

For the Monet’s Garden portrait, Maheu painted a rendition of Monet’s Rose Garden at Giverny, which Naugher then used as a background and the key element from which everything else in the photograph flowed.

“My business is primarily based on high-end, classic children’s work. When I do ‘classic’ I never want it to be stodgy, boring or monochromatic; I want to incorporate contemporary with classic,” explains Naugher. “The old master’s work at the time was very contemporary and the colors used are very much in vogue today. I wanted to give my client something new and vibrant, but born of something old and timeless.”

When Naugher visited with the judges following the PPA Southwest District competition, her goals were corroborated by their comments, such as that it’s a classic portrait that incorporates good lighting, balance and composition. “That’s what I was hoping to accomplish,” she says.

Monet’s Garden garnered a 99 out of 100 at the competition. Previously, at the Oklahoma competition (Naugher is based in Tulsa), it scored a 100.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends
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Free Webinar: Secrets of Great Portrait Photography with Brian Smith

PhotoShelter and X-Rite are co-sponsoring a free webinar geared toward portrait photographers on Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. ET.

Photographer Brian Smith and portrait photographyThe webinar will be hosted by Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Brian Smith, who has spent the last 30 years photographing celebrities and people from all walks of life, including Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Gates, Donald Trump and Anne Hathaway, among many others.

In the live webinar, Smith will share his best tips and techniques for mastering professional portraits. Smith’s insights are geared toward helping photographers create meaningful portraits for everyone. Among other topics, Smith will discuss:

  • How to really connect with your subjects and tell their story through portraiture
  • How to find the perfect shoot location and get the ideal pose
  • How to best capture emotion and gestures, and light the scene just right

Click here to register, and find out more about Smith’s work at his website, including a preview of his new book, Secrets of Great Portrait Photography.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends, Tips & Tricks
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X-Rite Announces October Color Management and Photo Webinars

X-Rite Photo Marketing announces its schedule of October 2012 Webinars designed to address specific color management topics for both professional and serious amateur photographers. Note that there is only one left in October. However, X-Rite archives its webinars (see the end of this post). Webinar attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions to the live trainers…

Portrait photography editing with PhotoshopThursday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET
Enhancements for Creating Beautiful Portraits with Photoshop CS6: Photographer and educator Joe Brady will guide attendees step-by-step through techniques that will add shape, beauty and polish to portrait photographs using Photoshop CS6. From simple blemish retouching, to skin smoothing techniques, to amazing eye enhancements, learn how to add drama and shape to create portraits clients will love.

To register for this webinar at 11 a.m., visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/461053186

To register for this webinar at 1 p.m., visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/916976138

For more information on all X-Rite Photo webinars visit the Webinar page found under the Learning section on XritePhoto.com. All webinars are also archived for online viewing any time.