From the Work of Love to a Work of Art

Kindred Charms, of Houston Texas, has created a one-of-a-kind sterling silver bracelet (similar to the one shown above),which will feature four charms cast from the fingerprints of children who received the gift of life-changing surgery during a recent Operation Smile medical mission to Paraguay. PPA member Bert Behnke documented the mission and created the wax impressions from which the charms were cast. These fingerprints now represent the healing gift given through the generosity of PPA Charities participants: These simple symbols artfully personify the touches of gratitude from the children and their families whose lives have been healed, and a tag charm bears the PPA Charities identity. This exceptional bracelet was handcrafted in Texas, with love, by Greg Jensen and Carol Andrews of Kindred Charms.

Spend a Week at Deep Creek Lake!

The high bidder will win a week-long stay at Jim and Ann Monteith's lake house at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, a 4-seasons resort in the mountains of Western Maryland (Garrett County). Offered on May 1-7, 2010, the lake-side home has 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, sleeps 12, and would be perfect for a family vacation, business meeting or for hosting your own workshop.

Bid On Workshops, Equipment, Software, Mentoring  and More!

Photoshop CS4 from Adobe

After Dark Miami package including registration, lodging & equipment

Animoto offers an Annual ProPass & a 3 month ProPass

A 40"x90" retractable banner stand from Buckeye Color Lab

A Day of Hands On learning with a Burrell Professional Imaging Mentor

Carl Caylor's 4 DVD Educational Set

Collages.net gives a Free Album and gift certificates

Professional & Personal Rolling Trimmers from Dahle NA

2 Instructional DVDs from Greg Daniel

DriveSavers "Back Up" basket

ExpoDisc from Expo Imaging

Set of 3 designer handbags from Gina Alexander

John Hartman's QuickProofs Palette

NHL star Bret Hedican's autographed print

Jennifer Hudson's DVD Action sets

Jen's Fabulous Stuff Fundamental Posing Guide

Kimbra Studios Alexis solid sterling silver photo bracelet

Sterling Silver bracelet from Kindred Charms, commemorating Operation Smile

Kodak's Professional Film

Kubota Imaging Tools ProPack

A class at the 2010 Lamar Williamson School

Larson Enterprises Gift Certificates

An artistic background from Madcamp

Backgrounds by Maheu Scenic Muslin

Two Marathon Press Workshops

Metal Mural's 9 Square mini metal mural & a 12" metal square

A Fine Art Mural from Miller's Professional Imaging

Zion Camera Backpack from M-Rock Camera Bags

Musicians Hall of Fame basket

Nashville Attractions/Parthenon/Carnton Plantation/Zoo/Symphony

Nashville Restaurant certificates/Sole Mio/Chaffan's Barn Dinner

Nations Photo Lab Gift Certificates

NIK Software's Complete Collection Ultimate Edition

Nikon's D5000 Body w/AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 lens & kit

Full tuition for the 2010 Oklahoma School

Tuition to the Oklahoma School Arches & Moab Landscape Workshop

Operation Smile set of Scrubs from the 2009 Paraguay mission

Tim Ostermeyer's Childrens Books & Fine Art Prints

Breeze Album from PictoBooks

2011 Buddy Pass for Imaging USA from PPA

One year PPA membership

Ron Nichols Studio Palettes

RNDS Fine Art Enhancement Palette

Two domestic airlines tickets from Safe Harbors Travel Group

Send Out Cards Box Software

Simply Canvas Gift Certificates

Southpoint Photo Imaging sends a Mitsubishi 3020 Printer

"Polar Bear & Camera" Ltd Edition 29/30 from Jay Stock

Suzette Allen's Sarabella Template Series

Tamrac's Aero Speed Pack Backpack/Ultra Pro case/Velocity 9x Sling Pack

One week class at the Texas School in 2010

Time Exposure's ProSelect Basic or Pro Upgrades

ProSelect Room View Collections I & II

Autographed John Travolta Aviation print

Tim Walden's BW Darkroom Palette

Gift basket & Gift Certificates from WHCC

WHCC PickPac themed baskets

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi sends an autographed print

Helen Yancy Artist Palette

The Charities Celebration and Auction is FREE this year 

thanks to our major sponsor, WHCC. 

The first 200 attendees will receive a free drink ticket 

compliments of SuccessWare. 

  

A DJ will provide entertainment compliments of Marathon Press.

Join us at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel at 8:00 P.M.

Most successful studios employ one or more charitable marketing strategies in support of worthwhile causes. Why? Here are two of the top benefits:

• Personal satisfaction from giving your time and talent to those in need.
• Increased business profits/goodwill because many consumers simply prefer to shop with a business that gives back to the community.

Each year, Operation Smile awards a photographer from the highest grossing Family Portrait Month studio the opportunity to document an Operation Smile medical mission. Read about these life-changing experiences from past Family Portrait Month winners, and you see how important it is for photographers everywhere to support PPA Charities' effort to raise funds for Operation Smile. Read these stories by clicking here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To be eligible for the cash drawing and the Operation Smile mission, your donations must be received by December 15, 2009.

How Important is My Participation in Family Portrait Month?

Every $240 donation to Operation Smile makes it possible for another surgery to be performed by Operation Smile's volunteers. To date, PPA Charities' donations to Operation Smile have totaled over $150,000. That translates into hundreds of operations made possible because photographers did what they do best: create images for families to treasure.

Think of all the smiles these portraits made possible--in your hometown and throughout the world--and you'll know how important your efforts are!

Next: How Family Portrait Month Works

How can I participate?

Any PPA-member studio can participate in this promotion if they:

• Make a minimum donation of $25 to PPA Charities (an annual donation, payable each year that you choose to participate in the promotion).
• Contribute a minimum donation of $25 per session made during the national Family Portrait Month promotion.
  
  

What are the requirements?

The only requirement is those minimum $25 donations to PPA Charities for each family portrait session occurring during October. Otherwise, you are free to decide how much to contribute--an entire session fee, part of a session fee, a percentage of each sale, or a specified amount of $25 or more. If you choose, you can even accept donations for Operation Smile year-round, not just in October. 

Other options?

If you prefer, you can make a personal donation PPA Charities on behalf of Operation Smile. Remember that it takes only $240 to buy the gift of surgery for a deserving child. So ask yourself: How Many Smiles Can I Buy?

What information or help will I get?

Once registered as a participant (and your $25 minimum donation to PPA Charities is processed), you will receive helpful information and ideas, and your own information will be listed in several places.

• You will receive an e-mail that provides password-protected access to marketing tips, written resources, and downloads. On this site you will also find real-world information on how different photographers have used Family Portrait Month in their own marketing programs, and other ways in which they have contributed to Operation Smile.These online resources are for your inspiration and use.
• We ask that you check this site often to learn about additional promotional ideas and news items about PPA Charities, Family Portrait Month, and Operation Fee. By subscribing to our RSS feed, you will be notified whenever no items are posted. To do so, click here.
• You also will receive PPA Charities  and Family Portrait Month news through a periodic PPACH newsletter and email blasts.
• Your studio's information will be listed on www.familyportraitmonth.com, on Family Portrait Month materials, and through Operation Smile's promotional materials and Website (www.operationsmile.com).
• As a participant in Family Portrait Month, you will have access to special offers made by industry vendors as they become available.
  
  

What are the important dates?

Remember that Family Portrait Month fund-raising activities can take place year-round and are not limited to October:

NOW!

• Start planning your 2009 Family Portrait Month marketing strategies.
• Download resources from the Marketing Ideas section.
• Order promotional materials so you can have handouts ASAP. You'll need them to encourage clients and prospects to book early.

ANYTIME

• Mention Family Portrait Month in upcoming newsletters or online studio entries.
• Put promotional cards in finished orders as a low-cost way to spread the word.

AUGUST

• Complete your media schedule, including direct mailings.

OCTOBER 1

• Start your Family Portrait Month sessions.

DECEMBER 1

• Final date to forward Operation Smile donations to PPA Charities.

How do I send in Operation Smile donations?
Your Family Portrait Month clients should make all payments directly to your business. Once each week, calculate how much you wish to contribute from each client's session. Write a check for that week's total contribution, making it payable to PPA Charities. PPA Charities will compile the funds for Operation Smile. Send it to:

PPA Charities
Attn: Bert Behnke
20600 S. Old Wolf Road
Mokena, IL 60448

NEXT: Family Portrait Month Marketing Ideas

Here, you'll find a wealth of marketing tips, written resources, and real-world information on how specific photographers have used Family Portrait Month to benefit their marketing programs. To download items, you will be asked to log in with a password (received in an e-mail after your donation to PPA Charities is processed).

• General Info
  
• Marketing Webinars
• Marketing Ideas
• Other Marketing Resources

General Information

Marketing Webinars

Learn how to make the most out of PPA Charities' Family Portrait Month promotion from the these hour-long Webinars:

• Angela Weedon
• Terry Farmer

Spark your fund-raising creativity for Family Portrait Month by seeing how top contributors have used their ingenuity to benefit Operation Smile and increase their own studio profits.

"Smile Cards" Raise Funds and Gain Attention

Want a basic year-round fundraiser that will not only benefit Operation Smile, but also raise community awareness of your studio?  Try selling "Smile Cards." 

Smile Cards are folded stationary notes with a favorite image from a client's session on the outside, blank on
the inside, and with your studio's logo and the Operation Smile logo on the back. Simply sell the cards in a pack
of 10 for a predetermined price, and donate all proceeds to Operation Smile through the Family Portrait Month campaign. Dallas photographer Angela Weedon, the originator of the Smile Card concept, sells them for $15 per pack, and her studio generates over $5,000 per year on this fundraiser alone! 

Angie's studio prints the cards to keep cost down, and limits clients' purchases to 3 packs each. The back of the card features the Operation Smile logo and this statement: Sales of this card benefit Operation Smile (operationsmile.org)

To read Angie Weedon's article about her success in raising funds for Operation Smile, click here.

You can download templates for Angie's vertical and horizontal Smile Cards here: 

Smile_Cards.zip.

Terry Farmer Partners with Local Dentists

Illinois photographer Terry Farmer became the top contributor in the 2007 Family Portrait Month by creating a win-win marketing partnership with local dentists that reaped rewards for his family portrait business. 

To read Terry Farmer's article on partnering with dentists to benefit Operation Smile click here.

Laura Novak Creates Smiles Through Halloween Fun

Delaware photographer Laura Novak used her considerable media savvy to market Family Portrait Month. Laura used a studio newsletter and emails to get the word out. She also sent a press release to which a network person responded by suggesting that she try for a listing in USA Today's weekend edition website. By following up on this lead, Laura secured a listing under "Make A Difference Day."

In addition to raising funds for Operation Smile, Laura used the promotion to introduce her upscale studio to consumers she might not see during the regular course of business. She added an intriguing twist to the month-long promotion by offering an October 31 Halloween shoot for only $75, which included 5-8 online proofs of each child in costume, from which parents could purchased finished prints. The fee went to Operation Smile and represented one-third of the studio's eventual donation.

To publicize this special event, Laura posted a flyer at a luncheonette and also added it to her Internet blog. To facilitate fulfillment of this special session, clients ordered their images online. Later her blog featured some of the charming images the promotion produced.

Charlene McKay Uses
Family Portrait Month to Introduce
Her New Studio

When veteran photographer Charlene McKay opened her new studio in El Dorado Hills, California in 2005, she decided to use Family Portrait Month to kick off her most aggressive promotion of the year. She began by creating 10,000 4x9 postcards that a local service delivered to each home in her small town for only 10 cents per home. She also participated in two different local business fairs and distributed the cards there as well. The promotional offer Charlene chose was: "Make any donation of $25 or more to PPA Charities' Operation Smile and receive a free session and a 16x20 print." Her plan was to upsell the 16x20 to a larger canvas and sell additional wall prints, gift portraits and frames. 

Charlene photographed 28 sessions for the month and had many clients donate more than the minimum $25, and only two did not upgrade. Most spent over $1,000, and her highest sale was $4,000. Best of all, the promotion allowed her to spread the word about her new business through a very low financial commitment that didn't cheapen her work. "By supporting a charity, it provided a reason for me to offer such a low price for a very valuable product," she said. "I think Operation Smile is a perfect fit as a charitable partner for photographers."

Sandy Puc' Gets an Early Start Through Her Studio Newsletter

Colorado photographer Sandy Puc' utilized early promotion of Family Portrait Month in her newsletters to generate community awareness. This motivated her clients to get in for their holiday portraits. She donated a portion of her session fees during the month of October.

Get More Marketing Ideas From "PPACH Pacesetters" by clicking here.

Marketing Resources