Roll Call - who went to SWPPA?

[shanstu]

I ran into Don Barnes, Tom Thompson and Brad Barton yesterday as I was leaving Dennis Craft's presentation. I recognized them right off the bat because of their avatars (well, not so much Brad, but, hey). Good to see you guys!

Who else came to Arlington this week?

Shannon

[brad]

hehe, hey, you recognized me when I held my hand up. LOL

Its always good to meet someone from the forum.

I'll be at the Adobe presentation this morning... yes, if you know my workflow at all, you know I do not use any Adobe products, but I'm always open to options.

If anyone sees me after the presentation this morning and wants to grab lunch to talk about all the info we've had crammed into our brains this week... just grab me and ask.

[bondarnes]

I met a lot of TPF members and my big question is do you feel that your money was well spent? As an officer of TPPA we value the opinions of our members and we truly listen to suggestions. As a for instance I have booked Tri-Coast (Mike & Cody) for a day and a half program at the TPPA Summer Seminar June 22-25 in Kerrville. This is because our members asked for new talent on our program.

[shanstu]

Don,

I think it was absolutely money well spent - I didn't know it was part of my membership at TPPA, so being FREE if I just renewed early enough, it was great!

Now, seriously...here's the long version

I went to Robert Faust, Don McGregor, Dennis Craft, Ann Naugher and Julianne Kost. I got quite a bit out of McGregor, Craft and Naugher. Not so much from Faust and Kost.

McGregor was excellent - great educator, and he had a few pop quizzes at the end asking us how we would re-work the group posing to make it better.

Craft was very good as well, and fun to listen to. Got a lot from him that I can use.

I would have loved to have seen a video of Naugher actually working with the children on a shoot, and a little more time with her. I felt a little rushed (or that she felt she was rushed.) Excellent samples shown, and gives me a lot of ideas to implement.

Faust billed himself on showing us how to provide better fill flash outdoors, and the seminar was held at 6:30am before the sun came up. I could have slept in an hour to get the best kernels of his bit just because I learn by watching someone work. He did emphasize the inverse square law, and I got a refresher course on that.

I left early from Kost because 1) she said she had all her tutorials on her website, and 2) she started with Lightroom and I don't use that (yet.) Had she started with Photoshop (yes, I know it would have defeated the purpose of workflow), or had I not just finished shooting youth basketball leagues on Saturday and didn't have 250+ orders to process, I would have stayed for Kost. She brought up a very valid point, and so you can blame her for my leaving early - she emphasized that our time isn't free. I then thought about the work I had ahead of me, and promptly skedaddled. Yes, the very same work I'm procrastinating about this very minute....

My $0.02

Shannon

[brad]

I enjoyed... went to as many as I could manage (6:30 was out for me... but I'm sure lots felt that way). Even on those that I didn't really need (I don't want to shoot Large Wall portraits for clients that are paying $5000 for a session.. and I don't really want to shoot weddings all the time).. I went anyway because there are usually little tidbits that are inspiring -- and that was the case here.

The one thing I would like to see more of is getting started kind of marketing... how to reach NEW markets.. not just how to maintain the markets you've been using.

[CaptainTom]

I'll join this little group.
I was out of town all weekend, so started Monday morning with the Timmons's presentation on fine art photography. A great presentation and seminar. I was called just last week by a local restaurant to provide some fine art prints of local attractions. Very timely, and they covered a whole lot of info in a short time. Made it worthwhile, even if I didnt' go to any more. But, I went to Larry Peters seminar in the afternoon. Even though I don't have a thriving seniors business, I got lots of good information about marketing, etc. He didn't provide a break, and it was needed. I didn't go back to the evening seminar (maybe because of being uncomfortable at the earlier one) ?
I got up before dawn to see Robert Faust talk about Louisiana. I enjoyed his explanations, and especially enjoyed the few minutes when he was shooting his gorgeous, young, voluptuous, ....excuse me,, his new wife.
Dan McGregor had a marvelous presentation. I realized that doing these high dollar portraits is not rocket science. It has a lot to do with the personality of the photographer, and of course the final product needs to be exceptional. I got some great ideas.
Dennis Craft's seminar on child photography was OK. I don't have much work in this area, but did enjoy his passion. I won a door prize. Cool !
I attended the TPPA general membership meeting. Short and sweet. Well run organizations don't need extended meetings, and this was a prime example.
I missed getting up in time for Wednesday early bird program. I also saw the program description on the board outside the ballroom for J.Kost's Adobe seminar and believed it would start at 9am. When I got there at 8:45 I had missed the actual 8am start... Somebody goofed. I left early because it was getting too technical for my current ability level. I also had a last minute call to shoot some heads in Ft. Worth.

If the TPPA magazine doesn't impress you, and the Texas School is not your thing, the trade show ( I bought a much needed background support system) is worth going to Arlington. The free seminars make it even better. Just one seminar is worth the TPPA dues.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by brad

The one thing I would like to see more of is getting started kind of marketing... how to reach NEW markets.. not just how to maintain the markets you've been using.

If we could find someone doing that kind of program that we could afford we would bring them in. The two or three that I know of do two or three day workshops and the price is usually $800.00 + per attendee.

Thanks to all for your input

[LIPstudio]

I did attend SWPPA, I thought it was great. One thing is I wished Ann Naughers time frame could've been replace by Dennis Craft. I didn't really get anything from Dennis, and I don't think he was that funny and his images we're all that. I did leave at half time. As far as the others and Ann Naugher they were great. Because of Ann I got so inspired and I'm heading to Texas School at A&M.

Just my two cents.

[shanstu]

Trying to implement it is not as easy as she thinks it is -

http://www.pbase.com/sh_photo/image/93417777