Category Archives: ImagingUSA

IUSA to Feature Celebration of Smiles Panel

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Learn how your studio can benefit from participating in PPA Charities’ 2013 Celebration of Smiles Day scheduled for April 6, 2013. This panel presentation will feature organizers and top donors of the 2012 Smiles Day promotion. They’ll highlight the strategies that helped to make their events successful and reveal how their businesses benefited by standing together with photographers throughout the country to raise funds that support the work of Operation Smile and earn recognition through the promotion’s Portrait Awards contest. Panelists will include Meggan Harper (Florida), Clark Sanders (Arkansas) David Grupa (Minnesota) and Tina Timmons (Michigan); moderators will be Ann Monteith (Pennsylvania) and Britney Fullgraf (Florida), co-chairs of the 2013 event.

The Good Times Rolled at Imaging USA!

pasted-graphicThe good times definitely rolled in New Orleans at the January 14 PPA Charities Celebration Gala at PPA’s ImagingUSA national convention, which included fun, food, raffles and a host of auction items. It took a team of high-energy volunteers to make the Celebration such a success. They set up the room; handled check-in and check-out; provided photo-booth photography; sold beaded heart necklaces, raffle tickets and t-shirts. Plus they served as silent-auction table captains and Spotlight Item assistants. In short, the Celebration Gala happened because of wonderful volunteers headed by Trustees Britney Fulgraff and Randy Taylor, assisted by retiring Trustee Cindy Romaguera, who will be sorely missed!

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The evening’s very special guest was Dr. Bill Magee (left), who, together with his wife, Kathy, founded Operation Smile. Dr. Magee was accompanied by his sister-in-law, Beth Marshall, (second from right), who is well-known to attendees of PPACH Celebrations, and who serves as director of Operation Smile’s Southeast Region and Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America. Beth’s sister, Kathy, was attending an Operation Smile fundraiser in Dallas. Also shown are PPA members who have played significant roles in PPA’s support of Operation Smile. They include (top row from left): Bert Behnke, founder and Executive Director of PPA Charities; Doug Peninger, who along with Rick Gibbons (far right) brought Operation Smile to the attention of PPA Charities; Laurie Weaver (second from left), the most recent PPA member to document an Operation Smile mission; and at center, Angie and Matt Weedon, who were honored with the PPA Charities Legacy Award for their outstanding philanthropic efforts on behalf of Operation Smile. The Weedon’s personal and studio donations since 2005 total an astounding $44,000!

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The evening’s high point was an address by Dr. Magee, who expressed appreciation to PPACH and PPA photographers for their continued support of Operation Smile, and the presentation by PPACH trustees and PPA President Don Dickson of a check for $100,000 to Dr. Magee and Beth Marshall. In thanking PPA members for this donation, Beth pointed out that this $100,000 donation brings PPA’s total donations to Operation Smile to $500,000! The importance of this milestone, she added, is that this amount translates to 2,000 children who have been helped through the generosity of PPA photographers.

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Special thanks go to WHCC and SuccessWare for their sponsorship of the Celebration Gala; to booth photographer Jamie Hayes and event photographer Peter Horn; and to Wild Sorbet Frame Company for supplying the frames used by PPA at the Gala and IUSA trade show. Most of all . . . thanks to the hundreds of PPA members who turned out for the fun, fellowship and festivities in support of PPA Charities and Operation Smile!

IUSA to Spotlight Charitable Marketing Program

When PPA’s Imaging USA national convention is held in New Orleans on January 15-17, attendees will learn what some of the top-earning studios in the nation already know: Charitable Marketing is one of the best ways for all photographers — from rookies to veterans — to connect with the kind of consumers who are willing to spend disposable income on photography. So mark your calendar NOW for this can’t-miss program:

The Power of Charity – Sunday, January 15 — 9:00 – 10:30 A.M.

What You’ll Learn . . .

The program will include the following speakers who will explain how charitable marketing is a key strategy for keeping their businesses in the public eye and for driving qualified consumers to their door:

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Sarah Petty enjoys a worldwide audience of boutique studio owners whom she helps to grow their small businesses through her keen insights and enthusiasm for marketing. A highly acclaimed speaker, author, MBA and coach who has literally inspired thousands of photographers, Sarah will show you how to generate publicity through charitable marketing. She’ll discuss how to build your brand and have your market fall in love with you while also helping your favorite charity. Her expertise is based on over 20 years helping build the Coca-Cola brand, meeting the marketing goals of a top regional advertising agency’s clients, and building her own successful boutique photography studio into one of the most profitable in the country within just five years in business.

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Beverly Walden is known internationally for both her photographic artistry and her sales and marketing expertise. She explains how charitable marketing fits into the high-end studio: “The Mission of Walden’s Photography is ‘to leave others better than we found them.’ What we have discovered is that we are changed for the better as well.” Beverly will explain how their work on behalf of Daniel’s Care, the pediatric division of Hospice of the Bluegrass helps to fulfill their mission by providing portraits of critically ill children and raising money for the indigent fund, which helps with medicines, supplies, gifts, car seats or whatever these families need that insurance doesn’t cover.

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Mary Fisk-Taylor owns and operates two busy and successful studios in Richmond, Virginia. As President of PPA Charities and a proud wife and mother, her days are consumed with sessions, consultations, carpools and homework, but she still makes time for charitable marketing. Mary will discuss some quick and fun ways to create year-round charitable marketing promotions in your very own studio. These great tips are designed to keep sessions on the books, orders in house, and a great resource to fund their charity savings account. Mary and her team make it a goal each year to save as many smiles through PPA Charities and Operation Smile as they can, this year they are well on track to impact the lives of more children, all through the art of charitable marketing.

What You’ll Hear . . .

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Former PPA President Ann Monteith will introduce a new nationwide charitable marketing promotion “Celebration of Smiles,” set for April 21, 2012, which is available to all PPA members. Be among the first to sign up for this vibrant charitable marketing event that is designed to:

  • Gain the personal satisfaction that comes from knowing that you have taken a leadership position in your industry by standing together with like-minded professionals who have made the world a better place through their art.
  • Establish your business as one that chooses to benefit a very appealing charity. Many well-qualified consumers prefer to do business with those who care about others, especially children.
  • Attract new clients and encourage repeat business from existing clients.

Why You Will Be Inspired . . .

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PPA is honored that Wiliam P. Magee Jr., DDS, MD, humanitarian and co-founder of Operation Smile, will be on hand to explain the impact photographers have made on the lives of children served by Operation Smile, the charitable partner of PPA Charities. Dr Magee is a leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon who founded Operation Smile in 1982 with his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, and serves as the organization’s Executive Chairman. In 2005, PPA Charities named Operation Smile as its charitable partner, noting that the organization is a perfect fit for photographers, whose daily business is creating smiles for their clients: Operation Smile’s mission is repairing childhood facial deformities including cleft lips and cleft palates through its network of global volunteers. To date, Operation Smile has treated more than 160,000 children worldwide and currently has programs in more than 50 partner countries, and Dr. Magee himself has trained thousands of physicians worldwide. A featured guest on many network television programs, Dr. Magee is also a keynote speaker at many corporate and national meetings.

Dr. Magee received the D.D.S. degree from the University of Maryland; the M.D. degree from George Washington University Medical School; served his general surgery residency at the University of Virginia Medical School; and received his plastic surgery training in Norfolk, Virginia. Awarded the Hays-Fulbright Scholar Grant from the Franco-American Commission, he studied in France with Dr. Paul Tessier, the father of craniofacial surgery. He has been published in numerous medical journals and medical texts and was honored by the American Medical Association and the American Plastic Surgery Society. Dr. Magee has received honorary doctorates from six universities; the American Medical Association honored him with its 2000 Pride in the Profession Award; and he received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Magee maintains a private practice in Norfolk and is Co-Director of The Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery in the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. He is an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Eastern Virginia Medical School.

In 2007, UNICEF presented the Magees with a special recognition on behalf of Operation Smile.

2011 PPA Charities Celebration Gets Imaging USA Started With A Bang!

January’s 2011 PPA Charities Celebration at PPA’s ImagingUSA national convention in San Antonio was just that: a Celebration of the fun and fund-raising successes of PPA Charities during 2010. Eager participants broke the Nashville record of 500 with a full house of between 700 and 800 PPA members, which helped boost the evening’s fund-raising profits to $26,000! The fund-raising events included raffles, over 80 silent auction items and an exciting live auction.

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This year the Celebration was co-sponsored by Texas School, and one of the auction items that created the most excitement was the Texas School Instructor “Goodie Basket.” The 35 instructors for the May 1-5 edition of Texas School donated the raffle items to benefit PPACH and Operation Smile. The basket included instructional DVD’s, CD’s, books and other photography-related items worth over $11,000. Twenty dollar tickets were sold throughout the evening and at the IUSA Trade Show. These instructors’ generosity raised $4105! The super-lucky winner was Allison Bordlemay, from Nashville, TN.

It took some 60 high-energy volunteers to make the Celebration such a success. They set up the room; handled check-in and check-out; provided photo-booth photography; sold blinky hearts, raffle tickets, water bottles, kisses, t-shirts and hoodies. Plus they served as silent-auction table captains and live-auction assistants and as rovers to help where it was needed. In short, the Celebration happened because of wonderful volunteers headed by Trustees Cindy Romaguera and Randy Taylor!

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Special thanks go to WHCC and SuccessWare for their sponsorship and to auctioneer extraordinaire Louis Tonsmeire. Cheers to photo booth suppliers Denny Manufacturing and Image Spectrum and to booth photographer Jamie Hayes and event photographer Peter Horn. Thanks also to Sam Puc’ who raffled off “A Day With Sam” to lucky winner Stephanie Conrad from Sam’s own home state of Colorado. Since Sam won’t have to fly to Stephanie’s studio, she’s going to treat her to “a mani/pedi session and a few “fun girl things”, too! Most of all . . . thanks to the hundreds of PPA members who turned out for the fun, fellowship and festivities in support of PPA Charities and Operation Smile!

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The evening’s high point was the presentation of a check for $100,000, which represents funds raised by photographers for PPACH’s charitable partner, Operation Smile in 2010, which brings the total raised by PPA members to $350,000. This translates into over 1,450 smiles that have been saved through the generosity of PPA photographers. In the photo below, PPA Charities Trustees and Texas School Board members surround Beth Marshall, director of Operation Smile’s Southeast Region and Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America (center left). Beth is the sister of Kathy Magee, cofounder of Operation Smile.

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To relive the sights and fun of the 2010 PPACH Celebration, check out the video below:

To make sure you’re a part of the 2012 PPACH Celebration event,
mark your calendar NOW for January 14, 2011.

SEE YOU IN NEW ORLEANS!

Don’t Miss Out On Fabulous Auction Items at PPA Charities Gala Auction at ImagingUSA in San Antonio on January 15!

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Join us at the FREE PPA Charities Celebration event at ImagingUSA on January 15, 2011 in San Antonio! Here’s the most recent list of items to be auctioned:

LIVE AUCTION: Richard Sturdevant’s “The Deadman’s Hand” 30×40 Framed Canvas
Click here to learn more.

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LIVE AUCTION: Spend a Week at Deep Creek Lake!

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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 7-13, 2011, 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.

LIVE AUCTION: Doug Gordon – Package of all Doug Gordon Products – $1700

LIVE AUCTION:

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PPA Board Member Carol Andrews and her husband Greg Jensen, of Greg Jensen Originals, have donated a one-of-a-kind sterling silver charm cast from the fingerprint of a child who received the gift of life-changing surgery during an Operation Smile medical mission photographed by PPA Charities Executive Director Bert Behnke. According to Carol the charm represents “the healing gift given through the generosity of PPA Charities participants: This simple symbol artfully personifies a touch of gratitude from the children and their families whose lives have been healed.”

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RAFFLE: Sam U to You

 

The “Sam U to You” raffle will provide you with chances to win a visit to your studio from marketing and management guru Sam Puc.’ To learn more click here.

RAFFLE: Chicks Who Click Conference Registration
June 23 – 26 – Firesky Resort, Phoenix, Arizona

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RAFFLE: Texas School “Bonanza Basket”
This amazing treasure trove (worth over $8,000!) contains educational products donated by these 2011 Texas School instructors: Click here to see the entire list of instructors and their donations.

SILENT AUCTION: Bid On Workshops, Equipment, Software, Mentoring and More!
 

  • Adobe – Lightroom 3 – $299
  • After Dark – 4 tuitions – $499 each
  • American Photographic Resources toy basket (with all APR toys) – $165, plus certificate for 25% off any prop
  • Animoto – 3-month pass
  • Animoto – 1-year pass
  • Asuka Book – $250 Gift Certificate
  • Backdrop Outlet – Theme Basket – 7 items
  • Backgrounds by Maheu – 10×20 Fine Art Background
  • Barbour Background – 6×8 Stratton Backdrop
  • Beth Forester Photo Duds design package $500
  • Chromaluxe – 16×20 Metal Photo Float Mount – $250
  • Collages.net – Album design – $350
  • Collages.net – $250 printing credit
  • Collages.net – $150 high-gloss books credit
  • Collages.net – $150 – card credit
  • Craig’s Actions – gift certificate – $150
  • Dahle trimmer 20″ and 12″
  • Digital Anarchy – Plug-ins, Designer Toonit – $654
  • Drurys – Radio Poppers PX set – $500
  • Excel Picture Frames
  • Firesky Resort, Phoenix, for 3 room nights during “Chicks Who Click” conference – June 23-26, 2011
  • Gina Alexander Bag – $273
  • Kimbra Studios – Photo Wine Stopper – two charms – $65
  • Kobota Image Tools – Full Creative Pak – $899
  • Kodak Film 3-$765.00= $2295
  • Larson Enterprise – 4-$250 gift cards
  • Leather Craftsman
  • Lens Baby $125 gift card
  • MAC Group – Temba Sling Bag
  • MAC Group – Temba Messenger Laptop Bag
  • MAC Group – Temba Messenger Camer Bag
  • Marathon Marketing & Design Workshop
  • Marathon Make Money Now! Workshop
  • Mid-South Color Labs – Back-lit 24×36 print
  • Millers Professional Lab – Album $750
  • New England Institute of Professional Photography – Gift Certificate for a week-long course at the 50th anniversary of the 2011 New England Institute of Professional Photography, Resort and Conference Center, Hyannis, MA, April 10-15, 2011. See course listings at www.neipp.com.
  • Neil 6899 Briefcase and album
  • NIK software – $599
  • Oklahoma City Thunder NBA game – 4 on-the-floor tickets
  • PPA – 2 PPA memberships
  • Precision Camera and Video – $300 photolab credit
  • Professional Photographers of Oklahoma – Oklahoma School Tuition – $400 – June 5-9 – June 14-16
  • Send-Out Cards – $49
  • Showcase Photo & Video – Lowepro Magnum 400 AW – $230.00
  • Sigma $350 Flash EF-530
  • Simply Canvas $100
  • Snap Totes 100 Gift card
  • Special Kids Photography Workshop
  • SuccessWare – 1 year of leasing
  • Texas School scholarship (May 1-6, 2011) even for sold-out class. See course listings at www.texasschool.org.
  • Tamrac Zipshot tripod- $60, Evolution Backpack-$200, Rally 5 bag-$80.00
  • John Travolta – Signed print
  • Rick Trummer – Geeks Tour Workshop – $59
  • Think Tank – Airport Takeoff Backpack – $299
  • Viewfinder Masks (formerly CropLines) – Sensor cleaning
  • Wacom Intuous 4 mediumTablet – $349
  • Wescott lighting kit – $750
  • WHCC – 4 theme baskets including $500 lab credit
  • WHCC – 2 theme baskets including 3-month Pickpic Pro
  • Wicker by Design – $50 gift certificate
  • Wild Sorbet – $200 gift certificate