2 Continued on page 8

3

The theme for this year’s Eastern Guild is “Advanced Business and Sales 2.0”

There’s still room at the two-day event slated for Sun-day-Monday, May 6 and 7 at the Raleigh Marriott/Crab-tree Valley Hotel.

On Sunday, from 1 until 9 p.m., Ron Nichols will offer workflow solutions for profes-sional photographers.

Nichols will offer tips and tricks and processes and procedures that will iron out the wrinkles in studio work flows, create better products and increase photographers profit.

On Sunday night, PPNC photographers Adrian and

Heather Henson will walk participants through their workflow process and demon-strate how they achieve some

of the highest salves averages in the state.

Photographers are also encouraged to bring a back-ground to exchange with another.

On Monday, PPA’s “dean” of the photography business, Ann Monteith, presents an all-day program on portrait and wedding photography marketing and financial man-agement for home-based stu-dios, retail studios and bou-tique studios.

For hotel reservations, call the Raleigh Marriott Hotel at (919) 781-7000.

The Eastern Guild is less

Eastern Guild offers business help

Ann Monteith

Adrian Henson

Ron Nichols

Heather Henson

4

Shortened convention is a ‘hit’By FULLER ROYAL

Focus Editor

It was a busy convention. For the first time, the convention was shortened by one day and with the exception of the auction – no fewer speakers or events than last year.

With a compressed schedule, there was little time to be bored. PPNC’s Face-book page offered glowing reviews of the convention and trade show.

“I enjoyed trying out the new equip-ment at the shoot out at the PPNC con-vention,” wrote Mona Sadler. “ I really wish the vendors would post of list of what we were using. There are a couple of things I’d like to get.”

Cindy Smith said Sheraton Imperial manager Mike Martino was impressed with the new Club Merit room.

“He didn’t know what was going on but he loved the setup and had to pull out his camera, photograph it and share it with the sales department,” Smith said. “He said he had never seen Bull Durham set up that way before. He actu-ally he says that a lot when PPNC is at the Sheraton.

Shawn Hooper said the photographer shoot out Saturday night was “Fantabu-lous.”

Cathy Yount said that Jen Hilenga was her favorite speaker. “Please bring her back,” she added.

Anne Grant said it was hard to pick just one favorite speaker.

“The Husdons, Travis Gugleman and Coleen & Co. laid it out there on market-ing, pricing and time management.

Charles Graham said his favorite thing about the convention was seeing old friends and making new ones.

Angela Dawn Blankenship said she loved Club Merit and print competition.

“I learned so much,” she said. Her favorite speakers were Adrian Henson, J.B. Sallee and Alycia Alvarez.”

“My first year was awesome at the convention,” posted Katelyn McKay Soderlund. “The shoot out was pretty sweet, but meeting everyone was amaz-ing! I’m going to say Travis Gugleman was my favorite speaker. He was great, but then they all were, so it’s hard to pick just one.”

Chuck Hill said seeing everyone is always the best part.

“Scott Lim was my favorite speaker,” he said.

Bob Henderson agreed with Hill.“The info he presented about expo-

sure, light control and flash control was

great. I hope the audience realized that they did not have to buy his stuff to apply the principles.

“Great lineup and I really liked the way you left time for the trade show without classes interfering,” Henderson said. “Great job Karen and Rhonda.”

George Joell said it’s tough trying to figure out the best part of the conven-tion.

“That is like asking me what was the best flavor in a box of chocolates,” he said. “It was all good.

“I would put Club Merit, Travis G, Scott Robert Lim, Jen H., Bruce and Josh H, Mark G and Jennifer G, the critiques, and just seeing everyone again at the very top of my list.

“I was so impressed with the whole event,” he said. “I think I could have used another day or two. Great job.

“My only beef was I had to make some tough decisions on who to see and I think I missed some great information,” he said.

Meredith Cornett Hart said the best part is hanging out with her friends and making new ones.

The party was awesome and I was glad to see people staying later than in past years,” she said. She said her favor-ite speaker was Scott Robert Lim.

“He was hands-on and I love seeing speakers in action and showing us things versus just telling us how they do it.

“I really enjoyed Jen, too,” she said. “She was just so funny and had great info, too, as did all the speakers classes I attended.”

Tim Hester said all of the speakers he saw were great.

“I could take a little bit from each of them,” he said. “I have to admit Scott Lim and the Hudsons were my favor-ites.”

“My favorite was the ‘other’ print judging room headed by Stephen Dey,”

said Emily Angle. “Great job. And the entertainment by Chuck Hill – I laughed so hard. The worst part was having to choose between classes.”

Lisa Carter said she loved Club Merit.“We’re gonna need a bigger room next

year,” she said. “Kay Eskridge, Richard Sturdevant, Scott Lim were my favorites. Awesome convention Karen.”

“I was really impressed that so many Masters of Photography were willing to give their time and experience to cri-tique images,” said Mark Jacoby. “Great benefit to our membership. Thanks so much.”

Rich Cox said he loved Club Merit. “I spent way too much time there

and lost $20 because I’m a lousy judge,” he said.

Robin Cotten said she loved Club Merit.

“The speakers were great,” she said. “The best part is seeing all of my pho-tography family. I love you guys so much. I’ve always learned just as much between the classes as in them.

“I don’t think we realize just how special our North Carolina group is,” she said. “You can really ‘feel the love.’”

Heather Michelle said Club Merit was “genius.”

Rhonda Lester said she had an “extra-special ‘ginormous’ thank you” to Louis Tonsmeire (former PPA president) for driving all the way from Georgia to em-cee the awards banquet this year.

“ It wouldn’t have been the same with-out him,” she said.

Lisa Carter called Richard Sturdevant an “amazing talent.”

“I am still in shock over the speaker line up that (former) President Karen Goforth brought to PPNC,” she said. “You guys really bring the big hitters to us. Amazing job, Karen,”

“I don’t sit through many classes, but I sat all the way through (Sturdevants’s),” Chuck Hill said. “I was so impressed and motivated after his class.”

“I can’t wait for his next class com-ing up,” said Robin Cotten. “I am very inspired by Richard’s class. It was awe-some, and he was an excellent speaker.”

“We at Mid-South Color Labs ap-preciate all the support and hospitality given to us at PPNC Trade Show,” Dick Witt said. “What a great group. Kudos to members and the hard-working vol-unteers.”

Angela Dawn Blankenship said Adrian Henson’s preconvention lighting workshop “rocked. You are so generous, Adrian,” she said.

“Rooming with my dad (Ed Jordan) at the PPNC State Convention this weekend. He has not missed one in over 40 years. I’ve tagged along with him to most of them. It’s been cool growing up in this group of N.C. artists and watching all the changes in the photography industry. What a great journey it’s been!

Kevin Jordan Facebook post

f/’s stopBy FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.

ConventionWhat a fantastic convention.Karen, Rhonda and the crew were

on target with speakers and events. A day shorter with just as much

to do. In fact, I will say that I enjoyed this convention as well as any other. I liked having the trade show dinner on the first day and the party on the second. There were more people at the party and they were not as tired from travel or weddings.

Gail and Melvin Clark and com-pany did a top-drawer job creating a beautiful awards banquet.

The speakers were on the mark. I sat down and rewrote the 10 best ideas I heard and have fully imple-mented them into my business plan.

There was something for every-body.

If you left this convention with any new ideas you simply did not hear the speakers or attend their talks.

Club Merit was awesome. It will definitely need a larger venue next

year.The shoot out was a terrific

idea. It also needs a larger venue. What a great opportu-nity for the vendors to show what their wares can do and for photographers to have hands-on experience.

That’s how you sell props, backgrounds and equipment.

I enjoyed the appointment with the master photographers. It was a fantastic way for us “old farts” to meet newer, younger members and get to know them. I hope all of these new ideas will be a part of next year’s convention.

An Open InvitationIn this issue, I feature PPNC

photographer Anne Grant. I want to feature four or five photogra-phers each issue, but it’s like pull-ing hen’s teeth to get responses. Clearly, everyone’s businesses are taking all of their time and that’s good.

When you get an online ques-

tionnaire from me, please respond. I will also need an image of you as well as four or five images from your business.

This issue also contains a fea-ture written by Chuck Hill. For his submission, he will receive a PPNC credit. For those of you working toward a PPNC Fellowship Degree, this is a good way to speed up the process.

Write about a technique you use in your business. Write about an interesting session you had or the bide’s mom that caused you to pull out all of your hair.

I will edit and clean up your copy and make you sound like a Heming-way or Rowling.

nDeadline is July 2.

APPA’s International Photographic Competition (IPC) is a world-renowned photographic competition, where entries are evaluated against a standard of excel-lence (not against each other).

2012 International Photographic Competition Judging Date

August 12 - 15, 2012Judging will be held at:

Gwinnett Technical College5150 Sugarloaf ParkwayLawrenceville, GA 30043

Read the 2012 Rules Read the 2012 Master Artist Competition

RulesEntry Deadlines & Fees

Online registration will open May 29,

2012July 2, 2012: Online registration deadline

for digital and print submissions. Case must be received by July 10, 2012, or will be subject to late fee.

$95.00 for PPA members registered by midnight (Eastern Time), July 2, 2012

$160.00 for all non-members registered by midnight (Eastern Time), July 2, 2012

July 16, 2012: Late deadline for digital and print submissions (late fee required). Case must be received by July 23, 2012 (late fee required).

$130.00 for PPA members registering July 3, 2012 through midnight (Eastern Time), July 16, 2012.

$220.00 for all non-members registering July 3, 2012 through midnight (Eastern Time), July 16, 2012

Why Enter?Increase your skill and confidence in

your craft. Preparing to submit entries to the IPC (gathering images, tweaking im-ages, discussing choices with peers) forces you to look deeper at your own photography. It helps you see techniques to improve and ideas to try.

Earn merits towards a Master’s Degree. If your entry scores above a certain level, you will earn a merit, which adds up to a PPA degree. And those degrees recognize a level of commitment to and skill in pho-tography.

Go “Loan.” Your image could score high enough to secure a spot in the International Traveling Loan Collection, which travels to different exhibits and is published in a book.

PPA’s International Photographic Competition coming soon

You may look at the title of this article and say to yourself, uhhhhhhh … ok … yes, we are the professional photogra-phers of North Carolina. ...

But have you really stopped to think what this means? What this REALLY means?

I have accepted this for many, many years. It is the name of our state organi-zation, which happens to be a part of the Professional Photographers of America. And, it is a member of SEPPA, the South-eastern Professional Photographers Association.

So, you’re probably still sitting there wondering what or why in the heck I’m making a big deal of this. Well, because as important as PPA and SEPPA are to me, I recently had the opportunity to really, really think about who and what PPNC is.

Many of you, by this time, are aware that I had an “event” in my life that has turned my world upside down.

I was somewhat suspect at our awards banquet that I was having a heart attack. I don’t know, maybe it was the mild tight-ness in the chest, the sweats (it was hot in that room) the radiating pain in my jaw.

It came and it went all through that evening. So, I dismissed it. Even through the early morning those symptoms came and went.

Deciding that this was not normal and I did suspect the worst, I decided AFTER the convention and AFTER the board meeting (because I had new resolutions and plans to present to the new board) I would go see my doctor.

To make a long story short, friends came to me urging me to go to the doctor NOW or go to the hospital NOW.

I really love all those people and their concerns for me BUT I had some small things to finish.

Finally, and not to embarrass her, Loretta Byrd basically said you ARE going to the hospital. I have called the ambulance and you ARE going!

Wow! I was the new president. How could she make such an executive deci-sion over my life?

She did and I’m grateful ... it probably saved my life. To spare you all the longer details, basically, I did get to the hospital in time, it was immediately determined

I did have a heart attack the night before and I had a quadruple bypass the follow-ing week and now, as I recouperate, I am writing my first article to you as presi-dent of one of the greatest organizations in our industry.

I am experiencing this great orga-nization through a new dimension and perspective.

First, let me say with all the confusion and craziness going on in our industry, I hear a lot of negative comments regard-ing how we are not going to survive.

I hear the disdain for the newbies coming on board. I hear the concerns of how the Internet is bombarding potential photographers with tons of information … some of it great and a lot of misinfor-mation.

Hearing all of this makes me wonder if an organization such as ours has in relevance in the future.

Yes, things are “interesting” and, as always, things are changing ... whether we like it or not.

One thing we can always depend on and that is change.

For me, what makes it so difficult is that change is coming at rocket-like speed, unlike before.

That scares many of us and we don’t know what to do or to whom to turn. It is so much easier to point a finger and blame. Certainly it is easier ... maybe even get legislators to “level the playing

field.”There are so many options for us and

I still ask the same question: “Is or will PPNC continue to be a viable and rel-evant force in this industry?”

Will it still be able to help shape our future photographers?

And the other question I have is: “How is the Professional Photographers of North Carolina?”

Let me back up to my recent situation and answer this last question first.

PPNC is a group of people with vari-ous levels of experience that spans the ages from the young to the older genera-tions.

This group has many of the same goals … to take photographs, to mingle and enjoy one another’s company, to come together at seminars or studios or by phone or Facebook or texting to share and gain information as to how we can better our craft and better serve our clients.

When we get together we want to talk shop, discuss our competition images or our work in general.

We want to hug and laugh and share personal experiences. We want to bond and when one of our fellow photogra-phers is having problems, health issues or some personal crisis. We want to be there and see them through it.

Sorry, but you don’t get this on the Internet – not that personal touch – that which the soul is in great need of. And when one of its fellow photographers is in need, you, the PPNC member, is there ready to help in any way you can.

As to the first question … is or will PPNC continue to be a viable organiza-tion that has relevance in this industry?

I would say this. As long as we con-tinue to reach across the lines of age, race and gender and levels of experience; and as long as we all have the common desires and bonds that I had previously mentioned; and as long as we continue to work together for the excellence of all; and if we as an organization continue to look for ways to better serve our member-ship and the industry as a whole; then the answer is “yes.”

We will continue to be relevant be-cause we are the Professional Photogra-phers of North Carolina.

President’s MessageBy PAUL WINGLER, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.

We are the Professional Photographers of North Carolina

6

The 84th annual convention of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina is now history.

With the cost of everything going up, I hope that attendees realized the “membership value” of this great or-ganization.

At the convention there were success-ful pre-conference classes; new and re-nowned exciting speakers with creative ideas and new marketing strategies; the loud, electrifying and exciting Club Merit Lounge during print competition that included digital print entries for the first time; the opportunity to use of some of the latest equipment; print re-view by master photographers’; a trade

show with great vendors offering deals and savings, and some of the nicest peo-ple that you will find anywhere that are willing to help and share information.

Congratulations, Karen, and your team on a great convention.

The success of our recent convention was the result of a lot of hard work, creative thinking and willing to make some changes.

There is a old quote, “If you keep do-ing things the same way, you’re going to get the same results.”

The future of our association de-pends on our willingness to “think outside the box” and change some of the ways that we are doing things.

For example, there has been some discussion regarding reduced seminar rates and having them at a location other than a hotel.

Perhaps at a local community college with lunch catered by a restaurant or lunch on your own. Another example of change is that our recent convention was reduced by a day.

I have not heard of any complaints. As our association moves forward, there will be other similar decisions to make.

You, as a PPNC member, should let your executive board know of ways to improve our association and “member-ship value.”

President-Elect’s MessageBy Bruce Williamson, CPP, Photo. Cr., F. Ph.

Convention was result of hard work

Upcoming CPP prep classesCertification Preparation Class

July 9-11, 2012 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.in At-lanta, Georgia. Cost: $299

PPA Members re-ceive two merits for attending.

Planning on tak-ing the Certified Professional Photog-rapher (CPP) exam?

First, take this three-day intensive class to dive into the technical topics covered in the CPP Certification Exam, explore the Image Submission Review ... and gain a more thorough working knowledge of photography.

This in-depth study of photogra-phy’s technical side could almost be considered to equivalent to a se-

mester of college, so be prepared to study. Topics in-clude the follow-ing: The Inverse Square Law, Filter Factors, Bellows Factor; Lenses and

Filters; Color Theory and H&D Curves’ Lighting Ratios, Corrective Lighting and Posing, Depth of Field, Angle of View; The Zone System (and how it helps you understand the digital histogram)’ Difference

between a Bit, a Byte and Bit Depth and much more.

Recommended reading: Photogra-phy by London and Upton.

To take the exam is optional, but if you wish to take it, you must first declare your candidacy and register for the exam. Complete details can be found here: CertifiedPhotographer.com/cpp-certification/get-certified/

HotelHilton Atlanta255 Courtland Street NEAtlanta, Georgia, 30303For Hotel Reservations click herePlease note the cut-off date to

make reservations is June 30, 2012

SEPPA has approved a degree program and and is offering the Southeastern Photographic Fel-lowship.

SEPPA members can earn the SPF Degree in two categories.

The orange ribbon is earned with

a concentration in print credits, the purple ribbon with a concentration in service to the organzation.

The requirements for both op-tions are completed with education and/or service credits.

Members can also earn both de-

grees represented by a purple and orange ribbon.

SEPPA will post the Credit Chart and submission forms at a later date. Be sure to check back.

All events, beginning April 1, 2010 will be eligible to submit for credit.

SEPPA offering degrees

This was a question posed to me by my g o o d f r i e n d and fantastic photographer Fuller Royal.

I had asked him that while attending one of his Extreme Senior classes at his studio in Whiteville. I had noticed a stately tree

about a mile outside of town that I thought would make a great photo-graphic subject for an art piece. I asked Fuller if he wanted to go photograph the tree with me and got his now famous answer.

But now I ask, why do I want to go pho-tograph a tree? Sev-eral rea-sons come to mind.

F i r s t , i t ’ s a chance to get out of t h e s t u -

dio and do some “no pres-s u r e ” photog-raphy.”

S e c -o n d , I t h i n k trees are b e a u t i -ful and m a g -nificent l i v i n g

‘Why would I want to photograph a Tree?’By CHUCK HILL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.

8

things.Third, and what

might be most im-portant to most peo-ple, I sell a lot of tree images.

People like well-done photographs of trees. They seem to like to put them on their walls and on their desks.

I think trees have a calming effect on most folks. Trees bring back lots of great memories such as being lazy under the shade of the out-stretched limbs of a friendly tree on a summer’s afternoon.

Climbing a tree and finding out how far toward the top you can reach is practi-cally a right of pas-sage for most boys.

I prefer to photo-graph trees at sun-rise or sunset.

A tree silhouetted in front of the sun can be very dramat-ic.

A tree with billow-

ing clouds behind it can bring a feeling of awe to the viewer.

My favorite time to photograph trees is in the fall and winter.

During the fall trees are ablaze in color – in the winter, the bare limbs of trees make for a great study in shapes.

Here’s another reason to photograph trees.

With the high price of gas, you won’t have to go far because trees are all around us.

I have an image of a tree I photographed from my backyard one morning that became an award winning PPA National Loan print.

So get out, relax, have a picnic, spend some time with a photogra-pher friend and photo-graph a tree.

I leave you with a few of my favorites.

PPNC member Chuck Hill periodically speaks at PPNC events, and hosts ProShare classes in his Hendersonville studio.

‘Why would I want to photograph a Tree?’By CHUCK HILL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.

10

By FULLER ROYALFocus Editor

PPNC Member Anne Grant, who owns Anne Grant ~ The Village Photographer, has been in busines since 1994.

She became a serious hobbyist in the early 1990's after taking several photog-raphy and darkroom classes at local art center and then joining a local camera club.

“I had won awards in our camera club, and took field trips and workshops all of the time on nature and landscape photography,” she said. “At an Art Wolfe weekend conference, although he pri-marily photographed nature and wild-life, he presented a new body of work named ‘Eyes’ with a lot of portraits from his travels.

“It was as if a light switch turned on,” she said. “I was mesmerized and at that moment, I was drawn toward the emotion shown in the human face.

“Until this point, I waited until the people got out of the frame before I pressed the shutter,” she said. “Funny how studying with one of the top nature and wildlife photographers was the beginning of my love of portrait pho-tography.

Grant said that after taking more and more classes, reading, studying, talking and dreaming about photography, she came across PPNC from a flyer at the camera store in Winston-Salem.

She attended trade show at its conven-tion in High Point.

“As I remember, it seemed much small-er than our current trade show, but it was absolutely magical being around real working professional photographers,” she said. “I met several PPNC members and just hoped to blend in a little.”

Meanwhile, her co-workers at a large medical practice were asking her to pho-tograph them.

“One paid me to do their wedding,” she said. “I had no idea how foolish they were to ask, nor how foolish it was for me to accept the job.

“In reality, they just paid for the film

and processing, something like $95 and fortunately nothing went wrong,” she said.

“Not long after, I found myself at my first PPNC event as a new member and quickly immersed myself into under-standing business practices and how to take my business seriously, in addition to learning about lighting and posing.

“It was fascinating (still is) and I couldn't learn enough (still learning),” she said. “Two years later, my 20-year nursing career ended as I entered a new chapter in my life as a full time studio owner at age 40.”

BIOGRAPHY PPNC: Getting to know our membersAnne Grant - The Village Photographer

MARKETING TIPFROM ANNE

Get out from behind the computer and go to Chamber of Commerce and networking meetings, set up booths at com-munity events and portrait displays around town. Always ask where a new prospect saw your work or heard of you and hope they say, “I just see you everywhere!”

Continued on page 12

Anne Grant

Take scissors to your old photo magazinesIf you are like most photographers –

including me – you read through your Professional Photographer, Photoshopuser and Rangefinder maga-zines and then care-fully stack them in a corner somewhere – never to be looked at again.

I’m here to tell you that they will do you absolutely no good sit-ting there.

You are not a library nor are you an archives.

It’s time to take scis-sors to your magazine collection, no matter how painful.

I had done this for a long time, but I had slipped some.

So, on a recent rainy after-noon with some good movies playing, I went through all of my existing magazines and found articles that were rel-evant to my business and style. Using an X-acto knife, I cut whole pages out.

Pieces on marketing, busi-ness, promotions, Lightroom, Photoshop, tips, shortcuts – they made the cut.

I was amazed by how many technology articles were out-of-date, after even a year or two.

I placed the articles in a notebook, separated into the proper categories. The note-book sits ON my desk where I can access it when I feel like learning something new or reviewing something I had seen earlier.

It’s amazing what you “rediscover.”You will find articles that you thought

had some really great ideas, but in the day-to-day shuffle, they were pushed out of your short-term memory to make room for new things.

This process lets you condense to the core the things you need to improve your photography, marketing, service and business skills.

I don’t do weddings so I let those ar-

ticles go. I don’t photograph babies so I let those articles go.

Some of the articles in all of the magazines make no sense at all and they, of course, are sent to File 13.

This exercise forces you to look at everything again in pretty good detail.

Good, creative mental exercise.Slump removal

Speaking of good, creative mental exercise – from my earliest years as a newspaper photographer, I always found a way to pull myself out of a creative slump or rut.

While driving throughout our county,

if I found myself having trouble finding good feature photographs for the paper, I would tell myself – “Okay, when the odometer clicks back to zero, I will stop my Isuzu Trooper (the best vehicle I ever owned) wherever I am. I will grab my gear, explore and not get back into the truck until I have five good images.”

Sometimes it would take hours. Other times, it would all happen in 30 minutes.

An exercise like that forces you to work “outside the box” as the cliché goes.

I had an arsenal of lenses at my disposal – 16mm, 20mm, 35mm, 50mm f/1.2, 55 micro, 85mm, 105mm, 180mm, 300mm and a 1,000mm catidioptric.

Other times, I would limit my-self to the 20mm or the 50 f/1.2.

I still do a version of this with my portrait work. You can, too.

Invite someone for a session and use only one lens. Invite someone to a session and only photograph them with the clothing they arrive in. Go to someone’s house and only use natural light and one lens and only what they have on.

Go to a home and only use time exposures on a tripod-mounted camera.

Make yourself a spinner (like Wheel of Fortune) and create 10 challenges. Spin it and carry out the challenge.

This would be a great opportu-nity for a guild meeting.

Provide 10 models. Have 10 groups of photographers. They each draw a card with a specific challenge and then as a group and as individuals within the group, meet those challenges.

Boys and girls, this is where the rub-ber meets the road.

The skills and inherent talent of a photographer comes into play on an activity like this.

Go ahead. Test yourself.I dare you. I “d-double-dog” dare you.

The Creative EdgeBy FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.

PPNC Photographer Adrian Henson is responsible for this issue’s cover – “Lost.” “It was taken outside of Vegas in Nelson Ghost Town,” he said. “The model – Worthy – was arranged by Pete Write. This shot was made near a staged plane crash that was left from a movie set. The wardrobe was Worthy’s idea.”

The next issue of Focus on Carolina is the Awards and Membership Issue. It will feature the list of print salon winners and honorees as well as an updated awards list. It will also feature a wealth of images taken by the cam-era crew at this year’s PPNC Convention and Trade Show.

It will also feature an in-depth story on the upcoming East Coast School and a sneak peek at the Western Guild.

All guild chairmen and the East Coast School director are asked to send Focus on Carolina their materials for publication – not the final pdfs, but the raw materials such as written copy and jpegs.

The deadline for materials for this issue is June 10 with a publication date of June 25.

Deadline for the East Coast School issue is July 10 with a July 25 publication date.

Deadline for the Western Guild Issue is Sep-tember 20 with an October 1 publication.

Deadline for the Central Guild 2013 Issue is December 10 with a December 20 publication.

Deadline for the 2013 Convention Issue is January 25 with a February 8 publication date.

Next Issue

12

Grant said the best part of being a professional photographer is having the opportunity to own a family business and creating income doing something she would do for for free anyway.

“Oh, and hanging out with other pro-fessional photographers – what wonder-ful people they are,” she said.

She concentrates on wall portraits for families, seniors and children a her primary targets

“We do a baby's first year plan to fill in the calendar year-round,” she said. “On the other end of the spectrum, we also love doing school pictures, cheer teams and a some events.”

Grant said the most important tool inher arsenal is the telephone.

“We like email, but our first real con-nection with a client is on the phone,” she said.

She said the best photography in-vestments she has ever made include PPNC membership, East School School

tuitions and attending conferences and conventions.

“The education, support from other professionals and deals from the vendors make it all so worth the investment,” she said.

Grant is a PPA Certified Professional

Photographer and a Fellowship Member of PPNC. her images have appeared in the PPA’s Loan Collection and Gallery books. She also holds a First Place honor for in children’s portraiture.

She has served on the PPNC Board for the past two years and for the upcoming

Anne GrantContinued from page 10

SEPPA resultsThere were 935 entries at SEPPA this

year inclusing 244 physical prints and 691 digital submissions.

Overall, 24.17 percent scored 80 or above.

Distinguished Awards went to An-nell Metzger for “Spirited Beauty” in the category of Pets and Animals; to Randy McNeilly for “Family Ties” in the category of Groups and to Brian Allen for “Decades of Wisdom and Toil” in the category of Men.

First Place Illustrative went to Adrian

Henson for “Reaching.” This print also won Best of Show Illustrative.

First Place Groups went to Janet Boschker for “Three Kids and a Dog.”

The SEPPA States Photographer of the Year went to Adrian Henson.

Five PPNC members were among the top 20 scores: Adrian Henson, Reaching, 95; Brian Allen, Decades of Wisdom from Toil and Strife, 93; Annell Metsker, Spirited Beauty, 92; Janet Boschker, Three Kids and a Dog, 91 and Heather Bjoershol, Tempest, 91.

Adrian Henson had the third highest print case average. Brian Allen had the eighth highest while Annell Metsker had the 11th highest and Heather Bjoershol the 14th.

Congratulations to all of the SEPPA winners. Listed below are the prints and their makers who scored 80 or bet-ter. SEPPA members who are also PPA members can submit their 80 or better prints with PPA Seals for automatic merits and for further consideration for the PPA Loan Collection.

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Brian Allen Waiting for the Three Bears 84; A

Million Miles of Long, Hard Road, 81; Finding a Pearl in the Sea of Affliction, 83; and Decades of Wisdom from Toil and Strife, 93.

Emily AngleHeading Home, 81.

Heather BjorsholA Freehand Watercolor of Jasmine, 89

and Tempest, 91.Angela Blankenship

Num Num Num, 80 and Girly Giggles, 85

Janet BoshckerLittle Miss, 82 and Three Dogs and a

Kid, 91.Elizabeth Burgess

Bolder Creek Basin, 80.Lisa Carter

Anticipated Arrival, 81; Watchful Guardian, 82 and Solitude, 89

Rose Mary CheekOne Hundred and One Freckles, 81 and

Scent in Blue, 82.Richard Cox

Daddy’s Girl, 81; Classical Swimmer,

80 and Tobacco Road Bale Out, 80.Bill Goode

Summer’s End, 81.Rebekah Gray

First Lady of Fashion, 81 and Unp-ligged, 82.

Sam GrayAlmost Home, 88 and Lost in Thought,

86.Patricia Hansen

My Sunshine, 81 and Lady Perfection, 80.

Adrian HensonEarly Birds, 89; Tiny Gem, 81; White

Knuckle Ride, 81; Reaching, 95; Moon-light Maiden; 85; Looking Deep, 80 and Creeping, 84.

Mollie IsaacsFeathered Elegance, 85 and Autumn

Mist, 80Connie Jarzyna

Ethereal Immersion, 81 and Teddy & Me, 81.

Debbie JohnsonRiverfront, 80

Gordon KreplinDancing in the Desert, 81

Ellen LeRoyDog Daze, 81 and He Is Her Shelter,80

Randy McNeillyFamily Ties, 84 and Bashful Baby

Boy, 85Annell Metsker

The Bicycle, 80; Spirited Beauty, 92; The Chef, 84 and French Quarter Musi-cians, 81

Beth NiserMichael, 81

Peggy RogersonReady to Sail, 81

Fuller RoyalHawaiian High School Hoops Hero, 81

and Footbal Star, 80.Mona Sadler

Bandit, 81; Luigi and Friends, 80; The Fujimagari Rescues, 83; A Wonderful Friend, 81; Ode to the Rescued Hound, 82 and Sit ... Wait ..., 81

Shannon TurnerSurgeon Rifles, 85 and Ultimate Ac-

curacy, 81James Woltjen

Parasol Princess, 81

What does your camera room look like?Really, what does your cam-

era room look like. Send us a jpeg of your camera room and describe how you use it.

Is it exactly how you want it or do you long for something else? Tell us what your “dream camera room would be like.”

Proud of thisDo you have an image made

for a client that you are particu-

lar proud of. Send it to us and tell us about it. Tell us how and why you made it.

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Write a story and include some images.

Send your images and write-ups to fullerroyal@mac.com.

Melanie & DerekKaren Goforth

Parasol PrincessJim Woltjen

The2012 PPNC

Loan Collection

14

What Are YOULooking At?

Janice Clewis

Silk CascadeEllen LeRoy

The2012 PPNC

Loan Collection

Summer BrideBeth Niser

TreesSue Rakes

16

The Grieving OnePaul Wingler

Bridge Over WaterGregory Georges

GuardianAdrian Henson

ReachingAdrian Henson18

The Koi LegendAdrian Henson

DetailAdrian Henson

LostAdrian Henson

Spirited BeautyAnnelle Metsker

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Window Shopping ManhattenLiyun Yu

Time Bent PathConnie Jarzyna

The ChefAnnelle Metsker

Bow WowShane Greene

22

QuianaThomas McCabe

SnapTim Hester

What’s in My HeadKen Tart

He is Her ShelterEllen LeRoy

24

Nathan’s CoolFuller Royal

Girly GigglesAngela Blankenship

SolitudeLisa Carter

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Upcoming eventsPPNC Eastern Guild Spring SeminarSunday-Monday, May 6-7Raleigh Marriott/Crabtree Valley

East Coast SchoolJuly 29-August 2Downtown Sheraton in Raleigh

PPNC Western Guild Fall SeminarSunday-Monday, October 21-22Gastonia Convention Center

PPNC Central Guild Winter SeminarSunday-Monday, January 13-14, 2013

PPNC Convention and Trade ShowMarch 1-7, 2013Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham