January 12th: Jerry Weiner of PWD Labs

Happy New Year!!!!!!
I’ll try to avoid the usual cliches but time really has flown by! Once again, it’s PUG time and we’ll ring in the new year with some sound marketing and business advice from co-founder of PWD Labs, Jerry Weiner. Who couldn’t use some marketing help with their photography business to start of 2012 with a bang?!

We’ll be meeting Thursday, January 12th from 7 to 9 at the Pictage East Headquarters in Decatur.

Business of Marketing for Photographers The single most important factor in your ultimate success or failure is how well you implement a well-thought out marketing strategy. Doing so requires a well-organized approach to understanding your market and yourself, and doing the things it takes to be successful. This discussion will provide an overview of the business issues that have to be considered when creating and implementing an effective marketing strategy.

About Jerry: Jerry Weiner has a history of understanding changes in technology and how to leverage them for the future. In January 2007, Mr. Weiner co-founded PWD Labs to provide digital image processing services and traditional lab products to professional photographers. Since that time, PWD has developed a reputation for providing quality services and products backed by friendly, knowledgeable and responsive customer service. Mr. Weiner is a 1973 accounting graduate of the University of Connecticut and spent the first four years of his career as a CPA. In 1982, after almost six years of working for a large, Atlanta-based bank, Mr. Weiner started a business that developed, marketed and maintained bank accounting software for PCs. In 1997, Mr. Weiner sold that business to a public company and retired in 2001. From 2001 to 2007 Mr. Weiner began active community and philanthropic work that continues to this day. In 2007, he co-founded PWD Labs. Mr. Weiner has been married to April since 1985. He and April have two sons, Matthew, 25 and Jonathan, 22, both of whom live in Atlanta. Matthew is a 2008 graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts with degrees in film and music, and works as a musician, song writer and sound engineer. Jonathan is a 2011 graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in photography and works in the industry. Mr. Weiner enjoys scuba diving, underwater and nature photography, astronomy and travel with the family. He also coaches high school boys’ recreational baseball in the spring and fall, and college-age players during the summer.

We Have A New Home!!!!: I’m really excited to tell you that we will be meeting at the Pictage East headquarters from now on unless otherwise noted. Pictage East is located in the same building where some previous meetings have been held at the Atlanta Wedding Loft and ShootQ locations. Located in downtown Decatur at the ACME building: 533 West Howard Ave • Decatur, Georgia 30030 Directions From points North of Downtown Take I-75 or I-85 to the Downtown Connector. Take exit 248-C (as you enter the Grady Curve). Follow Freedom Parkway until it terminates at Ponce de Leon Ave. Turn right on Ponce de Leon Ave. Follow Ponce de Leon until you enter the downtown Decatur area. Turn right on Commerce Dr. At this intersection, you’ll see a CVS, SunTrust, Ted’s Montana Grill and Taco Mac. Commerce Dr. will terminate at W. Howard Ave. Turn Right on W. Howard Ave. Follow W. Howard Ave. On the right, look for the “ACME” sign. Turn right into the parking lot near the “ACME” sign. The entrance is on the side parking lot in the middle of the building. We’ll have a few directional signs posted to guide you to the right door.

RSVP’ing our PUG meetings: We really want everyone to come without feeling like they have to commit with an RSVP but the truth of the matter is, RSVP’s help! Without them, we can’t plan for food, drinks, and even our guest speakers (we get some really cool opportunities to hear great guest speakers if our numbers are good!). So, if you would, please take a moment to let us know if you plan on coming by replying to this email OR on our PUG Facebook page. This also applies if you RSVP’d “yeah, I’m coming” but now you cannot, let me know. ;o)

NEXT MONTH: February 2nd – To Be Determined but mark your calendar!

June 23rd: Lightroom Workflow with Jared Platt & BONUS!

How much is your time worth? If you’re like me, you have very little and so every moment you spend editing, you feel as if you could be doing something else. Expanding your business? Networking? What about just enjoying your LIFE?

Well, I am so excited to tell you all that Jared Platt is coming to Atlanta! Jared demonstrates skills and techniques that EVERYONE can gain to take your editing into high speed – ok, WARP speed if you ask me! After taking his Lightroom workshop in New Orleans last fall, I cut down so much time with my culling alone. Not only will he be visiting our PUG on Thursday, June 23rd, but he is also offering his Lightroom Workflow Workshop the following day, June 24th as well.

At our PUG meeting which is open to everyone, he will give an abbreviated version (2hrs) of some of his work flow short cuts and really helps you to dig into how you make image choices.

PUG Meeting: Work Faster with Better Results

Take your photography portfolio and your individual events from good to great and save time in the process. Come and learn the how to tap into the power of perception through positive selection.

Learn the power of positive selection to speed your workflow and improve your photography.
Learn how to become a better photographer durring post-production.
Learn how to elivate your brand by controling public perception.
Learn some tips and tricks for increasing productivity inside of Lightroom 3.0.
Question and Answer Period – (bring your toughest post production delimas to discuss)
Door Prizes

If you feel bogged down in post-production or just need to boost your photography to the next level but don’t know where to start, then you need this time with Jared Platt. And you will learn the latest and greatest in Adobe Lightroom 3.0 at the same time! Learn More about the PUG Lecture at www.jaredplattwprkshops.com.

Jared Platt’s full day Lightroom Workflow Workshop will be held the following day. Register now at www.jaredplattworkshops.com.

The Lightroom Workflow Workshop:

The Lightroom Workflow Workshop: Cut your workflow time in half and use that time effectively to increase the quality of your work, strengthen the impact of your portfolio and ultimately to push your skills as a photographer to a higher level. The Lightroom Workflow Workshop is a full day workshop on post production in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.0. At the workshop you will learn how to maximize your post production workflow experience and increase the quality of your work. Cut Your Workflow Time in Half Fast Selection Methods Fast Develop Methods and Techniques Advanced Adjustment Syncing Methods Positive Selection Editing Techniques Proper Lightroom Preset Creation Using Key wording and Metadata Making Books and Albums from Lightroom Burning and Dodging Color Management Import and Export Methods Using, Sharing and Syncing Multiple Lightroom Catalogs Photography Tips for Faster Workflow Digital Asset Management (DAM) File Security Using Lightroom and Photoshop Together Automating Lightroom with Photoshop Lessons in Composition Entire Lightroom Workflow New Lightroom 3.0 Tools And Much More… If you feel bogged down in post-production or just need to boost your photography to the next level but don’t know where to start, then you need this time with Jared Platt. And you will learn the latest and greatest in Adobe Lightroom 3.0 at the same time! Learn more and register now at www.jaredplattworkshops.com Workshop Fee: $300 Enter the Pictage Discount Code for a 50% Discount: “pictage” The Lightroom Workflow Workshop is normally $300. By using the coupon code “pictage” at checkout, you will receive a 50% discount, making the workshop the incredible price of only $150. At this rate, this work shop will fill up FAST. Do not hesitate if you want to join us!

Meeting location TBD Our meeting location at this time is to be determined. However, we always keep our locations central and located in Atlanta. Check back with our Facebook group and look for an email with the updated location information. The free PUG meeting will be Thursday, June 23rd from 7 to 9 pm. The workshop is going to be held the following day, Friday, June 24th from 9 am to 5 pm. Those that sign up will be kept up to date on the location and times.

RSVP’ing our PUG meetings: We really want everyone to come without feeling like they have to commit with an RSVP but the truth of the matter is, RSVP’s help! Without them, we can’t plan for food, drinks, and even our guest speakers (we get some really cool opportunities to hear great guest speakers if our numbers are good!). So, if you would, please take a moment to let us know if you plan on coming by emailing me at szphotography@mindspring.com and put JUNE PUG in the subject OR just reply to this email. This also applies if you RSVP’d “yeah, I’m coming” but now you cannot, let me know. ;o)

NEXT MONTH: July – Meeting date and topic TBD

May 4th: Contract Law with Jeff Woodward

You are  a super  creative,  talented photographer, and all of your clients love you, right?  Some day it may not matter as much as how you present your business on paper–in the form of a customer contract or event agreement.

Find out how to protect your business, provide stellar service to your clientele and leave less to change than you probably do now when it comes to conducting good business.  Make sure your contract includes all of the essentials, and hear about new laws and protections that are essential for everyone in Special Events in Georgia to know about.

Come join us on Wednesday (yup, different day this month) and get some Free Legal Advice fron a leading attorney in contract law. We will have the pleasure of hearing from NACE member, Jeff D. Woodward who is an Attorney with Stites and Harbinson, PLLC.

Some of the topics he will cover are:

Legal Issues in Starting and Financing a Business.

Employment Issues:

Contracts:

- management contracts

- getting paid

- insurance and indemnity

- permits and Local Regulations

Tax:

- business tax issues

- personal tax planning for owners

Owners/Partners and Shareholders

Touching on Copyright laws and protections

Jeff will be answering questions at the end of his presentation, however we are also inviting you to send in questions ahead of time for Jeff to research (if necessary). Please email me at szphotography@mindspring.com with your specific legal or contract question and we’ll forward it to Jeff prior to the meeting.  Please send questions before April 27th.

Don’t miss this informative meeting and learn ways to further educate yourself, and your staff on how to protect your current and future business from contractual discrepancies!

We will be meeting in the upstairs room of Java Vino in Virginia-Highland on Wednesday, May 4th from 7 to 9.

Java Vino is located at:

579 North Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Please RSVP with “PUG” in the subject to szphotography@mindspring.com so we can have enough food & drink!

April 7th: Henri Cartier-Bresson at the HIGH

Happy Spring Atlanta Photographers! We have been blessed with some pretty early warm weather and I don’t know about you but it’s really making me SING! I’m loving the beautiful light this time of year so going outside and shooting has been so much fun.

We are also blessed with an amazing exhibit that recently debuted at the High Museum – Henri Cartier-Bresson! Since this exhibit will only be at the High for a brief time and closing in May, I thought that we should take an opportunity as a group to view this amazing body of work from an incredible photographer. In the digital era in which we now work and play, what Cartier-Bresson accomplished with film will simply make you awestruck.

I have arranged a special group rate AND a docent tour guide for our attendees for the low rate of $7.50 per person. That’s more than HALF off the usual admission! We’re going to start a little earlier than usual due to the museum closing at 8:00 pm. We will meet at 5:30 in the museum plaza (near the ticket sales entrance). If you RSVP’d and are running late, PLEASE call me at 404-992-4885 so we can hold the tour for you.

After our tour and the museum closes, we’ll go grab some dinner near by so feel free to join us for that, too!

About Cartier-Bresson:

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) is one of the most accomplished figures in the history of photography. For more than three decades Cartier-Bresson was the keenest observer of global human affairs and one of the great portraitists of the twentieth century. His groundbreaking work of the early 1930s redefined the role of photography in the modern world, straddling the divide between art and photojournalism. From ancient traditions in foreign lands to urban post-war Europe, Cartier-Bresson demonstrated his uncanny ability to create telling images from fleeting moments in everyday life. A masterful storyteller, he created picture stories by combining a series of photos and captions and building narratives from many small, individual observations.

In 1947, after his first exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Cartier-Bresson helped pioneer Magnum Photo Agency, making it possible for photojournalists to reach a broad audience and maintain control over their work. He was a constant traveler, and in one trip to Asia that lasted three years he produced remarkable picture stories on the independence of India and Indonesia as well as the Communist takeover in China. He was also a filmmaker, and from 1969 to 1970 he made films about California and the American South.

RSVP’ing Our PUG Meetings:

We really want everyone to come without feeling like they have to commit with an RSVP but the truth of the matter is, RSVP’s help! Without them, we can’t plan for food, drinks, and even our guest speakers (we get some really cool opportunities to hear great guest speakers if our numbers are good!). So, if you would, please take a moment to let us know if you plan on coming by emailing me at szphotography@mindspring.com and put APRIL PUG in the subject OR just reply to this email. This also applies if you RSVP’d “yeah, I’m coming” but now you cannot, let me know. ;o)

Next Month:  May 4th – Contract Law with Jeff Woodward!

Mark your calendars for this must-attend event!

March 3rd: Movie Night!

Winter is almost over!!!!!  And with that change of seasons, we’ll head outside for some shooting really soon. ;o)  For now, let’s bunker down for a movie night!  I give the idea credit to another PUG leader in Seattle, Airika Pope, for us to watch a movie with great cinematography. We should – as artists and photographers – find inspiration from all sorts of media and I know movies are especially good for me to get my creative juices flowing.  So, if you are a cinema buff, come out and join us!

When I posed the question of what movie to watch, something that would be cinema-goodness and inspire our visual creativity, this movie, Amelie, was suggested to me by one of our members.  I had not heard of it but yes, it is on the list of the top 100 movies for great cinematography!  Then, by some weird twist, another photographer in another state mentioned the story-line and got me really intrigued!

We will be meeting at Java Vino again!  Pizza, chips, cookies, wine and sodas on Pictage!

Java Vino is located at:

579 North Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307

We will be in the downstairs room at Java Vino in Virginia Highland.   join us at 7:00!

Please RSVP with “PUG” in the subject to szphotography@mindspring.com so we can have enough food!

February 3rd: Best Business Practices with Jason Aten!

Thanks to everyone that came out to No Mas for our first PUG meeting of 2011! While a bit noisier than we had hoped for, I know several of you left inspired and ready to tackle the new year with fresh creativity! We discussed new meeting ideas as well as some thoughts about our upcoming Movie Night! Still looking for input on great films that will inspire us so drop me a line and let me know what you think would make a great flick for some great photographers to watch. And now to unveil our first “business” PUG meeting of the year!

Come join us for Best Business Practices with Jason Aten! I’m so honored to have Jason come speak at our PUG this year! Having met him last year while he was touring his One Day Intensive, Jason and I connected and I found him to be a wealth of understanding and knowledge about our industry. This is a PUG meeting not to be missed – whether you are just starting out or still trying to find yourself after several years in business, Jason has great information for all levels of photographers in business. Starting Out Right: Top 10 things for your first two (or ten) years. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been doing this for ten years – whether you shoot 5 weddings a year, or 30 – there are best practices and business principles that you can use to help you build and grow your photography business. We’ll get practical, and talk about things you can put in place right away to help you do things like: manage your numbers, develop an efficient workflow, streamline your client processes, and create effective systems that save you time and money. Jason has been a Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer for 9 years, and is based in Grand Ledge, MI. He has built a nationally known boutique studio that caters to clients looking for a documentary approach to their wedding photography. Jason’s style and images have been recognized as a member of Wedding Style Magazine’s Platinum List, and the exclusive Cake and Pictures Directory. Jason’s images have been published in national and regional magazines including Brides.com, Brides Michigan, InFrame Bride, Lansing Bride Magazine, and more. In addition, Jason is known for his commitment to helping photographers build better businesses. Jason teaches the Starting Out Right: ONE DAY INTENSIVE, and publishes the Starting Out Right blog (www.startworkshop.com/blog), with information designed to help photographers as they grow and develop their business. Jason has been a speaker at regional and national events, including Pictage’s PartnerCon and WPPI. Prior to starting a successful photography business, Jason was a Sr. Director of Marketing and Sales Effectiveness for FedEx Corporation, and earned an MBA from Stanford Learn more about Jason at his various sites here: web: www.jasonatenphotography.com blog: www.jasonatenphotography.net twitter:  www.twitter.com/jasonaten You can also learn more about the ONE DAY INTENSIVE: ATLANTA at www.startworkshop.com/workshops

This month’s meeting will be held at ShootQ headquarters here in Atlanta! I want to send out a big Thank You to Rachel and Andrew for allowing us to use their space for Jason’s presentation. 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Located in downtown Decatur at the ACME building (where we also met at the Wedding Loft for a few meetings last year): 533 West Howard Ave • Decatur, Georgia 30030 Directions From points North of Downtown Take I-75 or I-85 to the Downtown Connector. Take exit 248-C (as you enter the Grady Curve). Follow Freedom Parkway until it terminates at Ponce de Leon Ave. Turn right on Ponce de Leon Ave. Follow Ponce de Leon until you enter the downtown Decatur area. Turn right on Commerce Dr. At this intersection, you’ll see a CVS, SunTrust, Ted’s Montana Grill and Taco Mac. Commerce Dr. will terminate at W. Howard Ave. Turn Right on W. Howard Ave. Follow W. Howard Ave. On the right, look for the “ACME” sign. Turn right into the parking lot near the “ACME” sign. The entrance is on the side parking lot in the middle of the building.

RSVP’ing our PUG meetings: We really want everyone to come without feeling like they have to commit with an RSVP but the truth of the matter is, RSVP’s help! Without them, we can’t plan for food, drinks, and even our guest speakers (we get some really cool opportunities to hear great guest speakers if our numbers are good!). So, if you would, please take a moment to let us know if you plan on coming by emailing me at szphotography@mindspring.com and put FEB PUG in the subject. Thanks!

January 6th: New Year Inspirations

Happy New Year to you all! First off, let me say that I really appreciate everyone that participated in our online survey! This was very helpful in seeing what you want most out of your PUG meetings and how we can plan the best year of meetings yet! That being said, we ARE set to meet the first Thursday of every month (unless a fabulous guest speaker appears on the horizon that needs an alternate date). We have reserved our downstairs room at Java Vino for March 3rd , April 7th, and May 5th so mark your calendars! Also, I will announce details later as they become available as we are welcoming Jason Aten to our PUG meeting on February 3rd at the ShootQ headquarters in Decatur!

Inspriations: What image(s) inspired you? What image(s) did you take that are inspirational to you?  We all began our photographic journeys differently. Where did you start yours and was it inspired by an image? What image or images continue to inspire you? And now that you are a photographer – no matter what level, skill, or age – what images have you taken that you are proud of and make you continue your journey? We invite you to send or bring at least two images to our next meeting and tell us your inspiration stories! One from your past – that you did not shoot – that inspired you to become a photographer, and one from your present work (last year or very recent) that drives you and makes you continue to be a photographer! YOUR images may inspire someone else!

No Mas Cantina We are going to be meeting this month at No Mas Cantina in Castleberry Hill district – the same restaurant we met at last yer for our “Meet & Eat”! We will be ordering some hors d’oeuvres to share and even a few drinks so please join us! Thursday January 6th at 7:00 to whenever (since we sometimes go out to eat afterwards, we’ll just eat here!). **No Mas Cantina 180 Walker St. SW Atlanta GA 30313 404-574-5678**

RSVP’ing our PUG meetings:
We really want everyone to come without feeling like they have to commit with an RSVP but the truth of the matter is, RSVP’s help! Without them, we can’t plan for food, drinks, and even our guest speakers (we get some really cool opportunities to hear great guest speakers if our numbers are good!). So, if you would, please take a moment to let us know if you plan on coming by emailing me at szphotography@mindspring.com and put PUG in the subject. Thanks!

Survey for the New Year!

For those of you interested in attending Atlanta PUG meetings, please take a moment to answer a few questions in this quick survey so we can continue to improve our Atlanta PUG!

Thanks in advance!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MC3MVKB

Holiday Celebration! December 9th

Happy Holidays!!!!

Can you believe it’s been another year?  We’re in the full madness of holiday chaos but we hope that you’ll join us for just a few moments next Thursday night, December 9th, from 7 until 9 at Java Vino in Virginia Highlands.

If you’d like to share some favorite images you’ve shot this year, bring them on a usb thumb drive and we’ll load ‘em up and put on a slideshow we can all watch.  Show us your inspirations from 2010!

We’ll have some sodas, wine, and snacks but if you want to bring something to share, we’d love that, too!  Just drop me a line at szphotography@mindspring.com and let me know what you’d like to bring!

JAVA VINO

579 North Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307

We will be in the downstairs room at Java Vino in Virginia Highland.   join us 7:00 to 9:00.

September 14th – Anna & Spencer Clark

Hey Atlanta!  Where has the time gone!  We are going to be working on a little bit different schedule for the next few meetings as we are working around a certain wedding of a certain photographer and Pictage’s PartnerCon in New Orleans! So, we will try to keep everyone updated on the crazy meeting schedule.

This month as a follow up to my presentation, Marketing to Vendors, we are featuring our own Anna & Spencer Clark with Shooting for Vendors!  So mark your calendar for Tuesday, September 14th at 7:00.  I will confirm the location (working towards Java Vino again) tomorrow.

Shooting for Vendors

Our session will cover:

- Knowledge about image rights
- Shooting Techniques
- Mentality/Perspective of the other Wedding Professionals
- Image Delivery

To summarize, we’ll cover image rights, shooting techniques, perspective of the other wedding professionals, as well as image delivery to wedding vendors. For image rights, we’ll discuss when and why photographers should give rights to use images in portfolios versus giving full commercial rights. There are times both types are acceptable – it’s good to know when it is best to give which type. Shooting techniques will combine with the perspective of the other wedding professionals. We’ll cover lighting (on-camera flash, soft box, umbrella), composition (for print media vs portfolio usage), and lens choices (which lens to use when and why). Last, we will discuss image delivery to the vendors, to media (editors), acceptable time lines, and setting expectations with the other vendors at the wedding.

Atlanta-based wedding photographers Anna & Spencer  have been married for over 4 & 1/2 years and have been shooting together as wedding photographers for over 3 & 1/2 years.  After several years shooting for the industry in their primarily documentary style, Anna and Spencer created a sister company called Vendor Photography,  which focuses on providing professional images with commercial rights to wedding vendors.