Annual Christmas party.  details to follow…

Edward Holmberg – “What Works For Me”.  Klassy Glass @ 7:00pm.  details to follow…

Surprise! – details to be announced…

September HOTPPG Meeting

Our September meeting will be Tuesday, September 11th in Cameron Park at the picnic area near Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place – 2602 Sturgis Rd, Waco. This will be a Pot Luck Supper beginning at 7:00 P.M.

We will not have print competition this month. This will be a time to share good food and good fellowship.

Please RSVP to me by Friday, Sept. 7th by email (whitesphotography@embarqmail.com) or telephone (254-675-3426). If you plan to attend please let me know what dish you plan to bring. Gladys has volunteered to coordinate this and we want to make sure we have a variety of foods.

Looking forward to seeing you then.

Don and the BOD

Melanie Hall, CPP “Off Camera Flash – My Way”

Melanie has taken many different forms of flash on location techniques and has made a hodgepodge system that works. Small flash to large strobes, it doesn’t matter. Light is light. She will explain her tried and true way of lighting to provide consistent results every time.  She will discuss when to use Pocket Wizards and when to use Radio Poppers and break down the daunting flash so that it will be your friend. This seminar will get you to get over your hesitance to using your flash off-camera.

Melanie Hall, CPP is the owner of Melonhead Photo which was established in 2004 in Willis, TX. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Photography from Sam Houston State University in 2007 and a year later earned her Certified Professional Photographer degree. Before moving her photographic focus to portrait art, she worked as the only full time photographer for a daily newspaper. Her business is now a home based portrait studio in Conroe, TX. Melonhead Photo is a diverse company photographing babies to brides, as well as commercial, schools, and sports. She photographs in her small camera room using her Virtual Background system as well as on location using off camera flash.

Time & Place: 7:00pm, 8/14/2012, Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

 Our Third Annual HOTPPG Shootout will be held Tuesday, July 10^th.  This will take the place of our regular monthly meeting.  Everyone is encouraged to participate.  Even if you don’t shoot in the shootout, come and watch and socialize.  The location will again be at the Earl Harrison House on 5^th Street.  Parking is on the north side of the house and across the street.  The Shootout will begin at 6:00 P.M. and last approximately two hours.  We will have five sets of models – a family, a bride, a bride & groom, a senior, and a maternity model.  We will place these models in five different locations and rotate photographer groups at appropriate time intervals. We will encourage you to explain to the other photographers how you are shooting so that this will be an educational experience for all.  You may bring whatever equipment or helpers that you feel you will need. Those who will be shooting can enter an image for a special contest and will be independently judged before our August meeting.  Ribbons for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Place will be awarded, but these points will not be included in the “Guild Photographer of the Year” totals.

 As soon as we finish shooting, we will move to the tent area and have our July Image Competition.  So, bring your competition entry.

 Please try to be at the Earl Harrison House (1901 North 5^th St, in Waco) at 6:00 P.M. for a quick rules meeting and then begin shooting. 

 Any questions, call Don White at 254-675-3426 (studio) or 254-386-6658 (cell).

Laura Ann Pollard & Randy Pollard, CPP • “Unleash the Inner Sexy”

The Italians call it “Bellezza” – beauty.  Women want to feel beautiful.  They chase it all their lives.  Laura Ann at L-Ann Imaging believes ALL women are beautiful if they allow their inner beauty to blossom.  Shooting Pin Up, and what she calls “Bellezza” sessions, encourages that inner sexy within all women to break out and soar!  At L-Ann Imaging, they unleash that inner sexy – to let their clients giggle, and blush, and flirt, and then amaze themselves!  Their greatest compliment is when they hear “WOW!  Is THAT really me?”  Join them as they teach how to unleash that inner sexy within all women.

Laura Ann and Randy will cover everything you need to know to get started in your studio, including marketing these sessions, pricing them for everyone AND profit, preparation for the session, partnering with hair and makeup artists, and of course the session itself.  They’ll share their experiences and give you some real tips including the 5 keys to success and the one big mistake you must avoid!  It’s taking the inner sexy on a journey – helping it reveal itself.  Pin Up and Bellezza parties began in their studio over the course of the last year and has evolved into one of their most popular sessions.  Incorporating after-hours parties with professional hair and makeup, refreshments, a great soundtrack, and beautiful women surrounded by their gal pals has proven to be a winning combination.

Laura Ann Pollard and Randy Pollard, CPP, own L-Ann Imaging in Victoria, Texas.  Laura Ann began L-Ann Imaging in 1997 and shot her first wedding while 8 months pregnant.  Her business grew as her son, Dylan, did.  After seeing a seminar in Kerrville by The Ramackers, Laura Ann and Randy were hooked!  In late 2004, Randy left Dow Chemical after 16 years to partner with his wife.  They were married 25 years last month.  Shooting Pin Up, Children, Babies, Seniors and Weddings, they have over 20 years combined experience.  Their website is www.L-Annimaging.com.

Time & Place: 7:00pm, 6/12/2012, Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

Lance Johnston “Is Photography Art of Science?”

Now that everyone who owns a digital camera is an aspiring photographer, it is important to carve out your niche and figure out how you are going to stand out in a sea of “unique and creative” photographers.  This program will focus on ways to differentiate your business by mastering three areas: craft, style, and branding.

Lance Johnston Studios opened in 1994 in the garage at Lance’s parents’ house. Eighteen years later, Lance Johnston Studios has locations in Conway and Little Rock, AR.

Lance’s style has been described as comfortable and timeless. He would describe his style as “The New Classic.” He spends time every year teaching his techniques and business practices to young photographers.

Lance obtained the degrees of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman from the Professional Photographers of America. He is an eleven time recipient of the Kodak Gallery Award. He has also received the Photographer of the Year award from the Professional Photographers of America – 2005, Professional Photographers of the Ozarks – 2006, Arkansas Professional Photographers – 2007, as well as Wedding Photographer of the Year – 2009 and was awarded Best Portrait of a Child by the APPA. In addition, he is a former president of the Arkansas Professional Photographers Association.

Time & Place: 7:00pm, 5/8/2012, Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

Don Castello “Vacation Special”

Don Castello did free lance photography while in High School at Vivian Louisiana and worked his way through Baylor as a student publication photographer. He attended Brooks Institute of Photography In Santa Barbara Calif. where he learned commercial and studio portrait photography.

After his return to Waco Castello ran a small studio on the Baylor campus during the day and worked as a news photographer for the Waco Trib on the night shift. When an opening occurred at the Owens Illinois glass plant as a industrial photographer and editor for the plant newspaper he made a move there. He used his photography in manufacturing as well as public relation.

During an economic down turn there was a reduction in work force and Castello decided to work for HOT Region MHMR as a job placement person who found jobs for people with Disabilities. The remainder of Castello’s working career he did in house photography and was given an opportunity to learn Photoshop.

Nature and travel photography and as well as some free lance work have kept Castello busy during retirement.

Time & Place: 7:00pm, 4/10/2012, Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

Some samples of Don’s travels:

Suzy Roberts-Fulton “From Shooting To Selling”

The first thing anyone who meets Suzy Roberts-Fulton notices is her spark. She is filled with a passion for life that carries over into her art. She approaches every project with the same zeal that flavors her everyday life, and she has an uncanny knack for bringing out that same enthusiasm in all her subjects. Her journey in the photographic world began years ago in a small, cramped darkroom as she worked with black & white film. As the digital revolution shook up the industry,Suzy adapted and learned, ahead of the curve every step of the way. Her proficiency with Photoshop and her confident knowledge in digital equipment have taken her craft to a whole new level; one that she hopes to share with other photographers on a similar path. Whether she is teaching, demonstrating, or working, her joy and love she has for her art is contagious. Though she admittedly misses the comforting smell of fixer, Suzy has embraced the digital age and strives to help others do the same.

With this program you can learn the ins and outs of the TriCoast senior business from lighting to posing to selling. Find out what techniques we’ve discovered are the most successful in securing the session and winning client loyalty so they keep returning year after year.

Suzy has effectively taken the TriCoast senior business from virtually non-existant to a thriving enterprise in only a few short years. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t do that, my town is too small” Suzy has proven it can be done. In a population of a mere 25,000, she is pulling in averages of over $1500.00 per client. Through a variety of business practices including effective marketing through social media, consistently delivering an outstanding product, and utilizing innovative technology, TriCoast has streamlined the photographic experience.

Time & Place: 7:00pm, 3/13/2012, Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

Some samples of Suzy’s work:

This Month Only. Our Meeting is on MONDAY night

Steve Kozak Presents “Come Into The Light”

at The Gallery, 25th & Austin in Waco

He is returning for his 12th year at the prestigious Texas School of Professional Photography. He is also returning for his 9th year to present his two day pre-convention class for Imaging USA. He recently taught at Image Explorations in near Victoria, BC, and at the Mid America Institute of Professional Photography (MAIPP).

Steve’s articles have been published in The Professional Photographer and Texas Professional Photographer magazines. His motivational and informative programs make him a popular speaker and lecturer on the program circuit.

Tuesday night, January 10th at 7:00pm our speaker is Beaver Randolph. Beaver is a professional photographer who’s main line of interest consist of wildlife and landscapes throughout Central Texas. He does business as CSIT Photography or “Creation Stopped In Time”. Beaver is skilled in portrait and family photography. He also does assignments for ministries, bands and church camps. See some of his work at csitphotography on smugmug

Its the first meeting of the year. The slate is clean! Bring an image for the competition and start working towards the HOTPPG’s Photographer of the year for 2012. Images MUST be submitted by 6:45 on cd or thumb drive. One image only on the disk or drive. Title the file.

As usual, the meeting is at Klassy Glass, 723 Austin Ave.

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