Since you're making the trip to Imaging USA, why not take things a step further? Enhance your photography business and broaden your scope and take some classes outside of your focus to learn new techniques and be more. Each track comes complete with live hands-on and demo sessions to see the skills you'll be learning in action!

People often describe Imaging USA as the Mall of America for photographers. This great mix of attendees, exhibitors and connected (well-respected) speakers from around the country forms the backbone of an expanding and evolving photographic industry and we're proud to be a part of it with you!

Mixing and matching is a great way to find new approaches, uncover some easy solutions and get beyond inspired. Many people tend to stick to what's familiar when operating a business. The conference is your platform to safely learn and explore new opportunities, options, products and solutions to take your photography business (and your craft as a whole) to the next level.

Here are the nine distinct areas to explore while at Imaging USA:

1.       Portrait: Tips to skillfully capture the essence of an individual, young and old, male or female. There are different strategies for everyone! Get tips on workflow, post production, editing, client management, posing, lighting and how small tweaks in your process can relate to a big bump in your bottom line.

2.       Senior Portrait: Get the latest posing, marketing and sales techniques in this ever-changing specialty. Get creative tips on working with your clients (and their parents) to boost your buzz and increase sales.

3.       Family/Children Portrait: If newborns, baby packages, children and family portraits are an area you'd like to discover, these courses are right up your alley! Finding quality maternity clients and working with them through the stages of newborns, baby packages, childhood milestones and then start the process all over again. You'll have clients for life!

4.       Wedding: What are the images, albums and products that today's brides are demanding? Learn how to make your brides feel beautiful, maximize your profits, streamline workflows and create the memories for a perfect day!

5.       Business: Pricing, sales, brand and marketing are all essential to making your business soar. Engage with speakers to see how they took their studios to the next level and see how their successes (and failures) can help you up your studio.

6.       Technique: Refresh your fundamentals and gain new skills that will take your images and business to the next level. Watch live shoots, get in depth knowledge about lighting and get the inside track on creating your most dynamic images yet.

7.       Inspiration: Reinvigorate your passion for photography and find new direction for your art and business. It's always important to take time to fall (back) in love with your work--so take the opportunity to kick start your motivation, feed your creative soul and watch how the rest falls into place.

8.       Schools, Sports & Events: See techniques for posing, lighting and workflow for teams and individuals, sports action, dances or events. These are all great opportunities to expand your business, create additional lines of revenue and make customers for life.

9.       Hash It Out: Share your questions, ideas and solutions during these daily, interactive smart talks via tweet, text or in person. Think of it as a group brainstorming where you can be a part of all of the solutions! Commiserate over problems all studios face, find creative solutions and make new friends in the process!

Become an expert in what you do best, but also treat yourself to the opportunity of exploring new terrains. This is the safest place to experiment; approach new techniques and test drive some new ideas! All of this (plus the networking, parties and awards) is only $129 for current PPA Members. Not a Member yet? You can "Join N' Go"- meaning you join PPA and get to attend Imaging USA your first year for free!

For more information on Imaging USA or to register, visit www.imagingusa.org! Early bird pricing is through December 4, 2013. 

When you're looking for professional services, you pay attention to any certifications or designations the business may have, right? Well, the same can be said for your potential customers searching for a professional photographer.

That's where PPA's Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation can help you out! While a consumer may not know much about professional photography, having the CPP designation for your business tells them that they can expect professional quality services and goods from you.

It may seem easier to ignore the certification process, but it can greatly help you and your business' image. Several PPA members weighed-in with their thoughts on the worth of the program.

In a former life, Mary Buck, CPP, was in real estate. As such, licensing and keeping up with the credential requirements was a must in her line of business.

"Even before I started turning photography into my full-time business, I could see how some people could resist the certification process, because there is such a low barrier to entry into the field," she said. "I believe there should be a certain bar, in any industry, and certification does that for us photographers.

"The clients who care, and the ones I want, are the ones that respect me for making a commitment to my profession."

Studies have shown that having professional certification is the most widely recognized consumer credential, so certification can turn into a big advantage over your competition.

However, the CPP designation has more advantages than just giving you a leg up on your competitors. It will also make you a more confident photographer.

"What happened to me on the business side wasn't nearly as profound as what I found on the inside," said Stuart Husson, CPP. "The process to become certified was personal. I thought it would enhance my business, but that turned out to be secondary.

"I simply wanted to see if I was good enough, but the boost in self-confidence was such that it gave me the assurance that it was okay to turn down potential clients who did not meet my preferred client profile."

As you might expect, earning a CPP designation does take some effort and work on your part. In order to become a CPP, you must pass both a written exam on photography techniques and skills as well as the image submission review, where you'll submit your own photographs to be accepted by the Certification panel.

The process can also help fill in any gaps in your photographic knowledge, as 2013 first time CPP, Andrea Taylor, CPP, shared.

"I decided to become certified because I didn't go to photography school," she said. "I'm an emotional photographer, so it forced me to study and do things I wouldn't have done otherwise. I really tapped into a lot of technical parts of photography and I expect this process to impact my business because of my personal feelings about the whole process. The more confident I am, the better I can serve my clients."

To help you along the way towards becoming a CPP and to prepare you for the challenges of the exam, PPA hosts Certification Preparation classes. There's one coming up July 15-17, at PPA's headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

If you've ever considered taking the CPP exam, this class is for you. In fact, during these three days we will review all the technical topics covered by the exam. It's an in-depth study of the technical side of photography, almost equivalent to a semester of college!

Topics covered during the class include:

• 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

Are you 100% familiar with these six topics? Taking the Certification Preparation class is sure to make you more relaxed and confident when it comes time to take the exam. Better yet, you'll be able to choose to take the exam at the end of the class when all this information is fresh in your head.

If you're nervous about the image submission portion of the certification process, there is an optional fourth day of class on July 18 that will explain the submission criteria and show you some examples of certifiable images.

If you're ready to become a Certified Professional Photographer, sign up for the Certification Preparation class in Atlanta July 15-17! And don't forget about the optional Image Submission Preparation class on July 18.

Need more? Check out how becoming a CPP can help your business. 

Are you planning on entering PPA's International Photographic Competition? Having your work judged can be intimidating, but it's well worth it to receive feedback so you can continuously improve your photography.

Better yet, if your image scores high enough you can become part of the PPA Loan Collection and have your work displayed to over 10,000 of your peers and the general public at Imaging USA, January 12-14, 2014, in Phoenix, AZ.

In an effort to inspire you to enter the competition and to show you how some of these loan images are created, we'll be sharing some past loan collection images.

Check out 'Golden Arches' by Steve Jessee, M.Photog.Cr, CPP, and read the story of this images' creation below!

Jessee, a specialist in landscape art photography and senior portraits at his studio, Associated Photography, in Princeton, WV, created "Golden Arches" while exploring shooting locations in Washington, D.C.

"I stepped into this beautiful hallway (part of the U.S. Postal Service building) to get out of the rain," says Jessee. "The leading lines and the arches woke up my senses to capture the moment."

Are you wondering what equipment was used to create 'Golden Arches'? Well, read on for the nitty-gritty on camera, lenses, lighting and software used in the creation of the image.

Camera & Lens: Nikon D7000 camera, Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED (2.1X) lens

Exposure: f/5.6 for 1/125 second, ISO 800

Lighting: Available light

Software: Processed in Adobe Photoshop 6 with a Topaz Adjust 5 specify filter to bring out the full color range. Jessee applied a glow to the hanging lights, and that's when the title of the image came to him.

We hope to see your images entered in this year's International Photographic Competition, held July 29 to August 1, 2013, at Gwinnett Technical College just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Be sure to enter your images by June 28 to avoid late fees!

Want to learn more about the criteria on which a competiton image is judged? Read about the 12 elements of a merit image.

Judging is open to the public, so feel free to come and hear your image judged in person. You'll get tons of valuable feedback that will only help you in the future.

So, don't be scared - enter the competition today!

IMAGE © STEVE JESSEE

Michael and Nikki were awarded scholarships to attend the Illinois Workshops, which will be held June 9-12.

Although he has been taking pictures for a long, long time, Michael List only went pro three years ago, when he and his wife, Honey, launched their studio, M-K Photography, in January, 2010. Ever since, Michael has photographed senior, family and maternity portraits and even branched out to sports and wedding photography.

However for Michael, photography is a part-time profession. By day, Michael works as a supervisor of quality control at a railcar plant in Danville, Ill. But his passion is photography, and for the past two years he has honed his craft at the Illinois school.

"Every year it sets my work apart," said Michael. "It's a phenomenal class and I learn something new each year."

Michael says it was a fascination with lighting that attracted him to photography.

"Just how you can capture the look on a person's face through different lighting," he said. "That's always been a challenge and a joy for me."

Michael shared his appreciation and looks forward to what another year at the workshop has to offer.

"I'm very excited to have won the scholarship," he said. "I'm thrilled to be a member of PPA and the honest truth is that I'm a better photographer because of these workshops. If it wasn't for them, I would just be a guy with a nice camera. My harshest critic, my wife, even says so!"

Last year was Nikki Winklemann's first time attending the Illinois Workshop, but it left a lasting impression.

"The information I learned was invaluable," said Nikki. "It's an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I was so excited that at the end of the week, I joined PPA!"

Nikki's mother was a photographer, and Nikki fondly remembers spending hot summer days in their basement dark room together, making butterfly shapes with their hands and placing small hot wheels on the photo paper to see what designs they could develop. Nikki's early exposure to photography inspired her to focus her studies in college on becoming more than just a photographer. She focused on not only photography, but Graphic Design, Digital Media and Psychology and graduated in 2008.

Shortly after, she started Dinnius Photography with her business partner--mom! With her skills and her mother's years of experience, Nikki hopes to take their business to the next level and capture memories in a studio outside of their home.

Another goal is to help her mom retire, a goal she says the Illinois Workshops will help her reach.

"I realize that while my mom is our main photographer now, someone has to step in and take the reins eventually," she said. "Illinois Workshops along with PPA are large contributors to the success of our business, we wouldn't be here without them."Another goal is to help her mom retire, a goal she says the Illinois Workshops will help her reach.

Music can set the mood for your photography business, whether it's setting the mood for a client's slideshow or setting the tone on your website. Musicians, much like photographers, only make a living doing what they love... if or when they receive the proper credit.

Remember the hubbub with Napster or LimeWire? People were sharing music files without having the right to do so. It's possible some of you might be currently breaking the same laws without even knowing it, and as photographers (and business owners) it means your rights are even more sensitive.

Think of it this way; when you give your client their images on a CD, they own the rights to the CD, but not to the photos. When you download an album on iTunes, you own the album, but not the rights to the music. This holds true for any audio file including MP3, .WAV, or other musical medium. Here are some quick tips to make sure you aren't violating any music licensing or copyright laws.

 
There are a few easy resources to use to help keep you on the music copyright straight and narrow:

• Read up on the "The Photographer's Guide to Music Licensing" and "Pause Before You Play" for general information on how to use music.
• Watch "Are You Tuned in to Music Licensing?" a free PPA-Member Essentials webinar on music licensing.
• Need more specifics? How about a step-by-step guide for using music in your studio?

We can also help you for your specific situation.

If you are like many photographers and want to combine copyrighted music with your images, you must obtain two different types of copyright licenses. Yes, two. First, you'll need a "master use" license which can be granted by the record label for use of the actual recording. Then, you'll need a "synchronization license" from the songwriter or music publisher to cover the use of the music in conjunction with images. (Sounds complicated, right? But don't worry; it's much easier than you might think, just read on!)

A few pieces of information to keep in mind: the music authors/owners are under no obligation to provide you with a license. The decision of whether or not to license a song (and how much to charge) always remains at the discretion of the copyright owner. Also, the licensing departments of these companies are geared primarily toward working with members of the motion picture and television industries, so be prepared to educate them regarding your particular use for and in your photography business. A little bit of explaining will go a long ways.

Here are the five steps involved in securing the appropriate music licenses:

1. Finalize which song(s) you wish to use on your slide show or videos.


2. Determine who owns the master use rights to each song (or songs) you will use. This is normally as simple as looking at the CD liner notes or at any online music service for the label information, such as iTunes. Contacts for the major labels are listed on the Music Licensing section of ppa.com.


3. Next, find out who owns the synchronization rights to the musical composition you have your eyes (or ears?) set on. This will likely be a publishing company representing the songwriter. But if you don't find the liner notes from the CD or on iTunes, you can find that information by matching the song names with publishing companies on ASCAP's ACE database (www.ascap.com), BMI (www.bmi.com) or through the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov). It takes a few minutes of manual labor, but you as a photographer understand more than anyone else the importance of that extra careful step.


4. Contact the owners of both the master use and synchronization rights. In some cases, this will be the same company. You will need to explain your project and ask for the appropriate license. Expect questions regarding the number and geographical distribution of your project and be prepared to negotiate on price. It's not complicated, but takes putting a little bit of time into connecting with the right people.


5. Sign the various licensing agreements and tender payment. Remember to keep copies for your records should any questions come up in the future and you are set!

If you (or your clients) are flexible with your musical selections, royalty free music is a very cost-efficient and time-saving alternative. There are many options out there, so unless you are set on a very specific piece, you can dive in and explore the musical horizons and pick and fancy at your leisure.

Last tip on this topic: remember to leverage your PPA Perks & Savings on music licenses (this is a PPA-member exclusive). You get access to great deals with a discounted rate on XM for Business, 20% off royalty-free music with Stock20 and 10% off songs with Triple Scoop Music, so... Enjoy! 

Are you stalling to take your photography business to the next level? Running out of ideas, time, or motivation to make the plunge? Then the SMS Business Breakthroughs series is for you. These workshops target the business side of photography--the behind-the-scenes stuff that, you know, helps YOU make some real money!

The next Business Breakthroughs workshop will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, from July 15 to 17 with instructors Allison Rodgers, Cr.Photog., and Beth Forester, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. These well-established and respected photographers will lead the three-full-day hands-on workshop while helping you increase your sales, take more money home and get your life back.

OH! And there's a bonus!

The first 10 of you who register for the workshop will receive their choice of a blog template from Rockstar Exposure (this freebie will keep your blog fresh with completely customizable Photoshop® blog templates).

Allison and Beth's Business Breakthroughs workshop will cover a variety of topics that will help you maximize profit and streamline your business. Here's some of what will be covered:

 

Marketing & Promotions

·         Effective ways to get the word out

·         Attract your ideal client

·         Refine your brand and promotions

·         Partner to grow your client base

Business & Financial Management

·         Evaluate your overhead spending

·         Hone an effective price list

·         Implement a price increase and keep clients

·         Set a realistic salary

·         Keep more of your tax dollars

Sales & Customer Service

·         Match your studio style to client experience

·         Encourage customers to spend more

·         Provide top-notch customer service at no cost

·         Tips to get you comfortable with selling

 

SMS Business Breakthroughs workshops have been organized for years and continue to receive raving reviews and referrals. Here are some examples:

 

"I attended the SMS Business Breakthroughs workshop. After the class and the guidance I received from my one-on-one consultations, I am recording record monthly sales! I would have never guessed that I would be able to say I brought in over $18,000 in one month, but I did! AWESOME! We wouldn't have been able to progress this much without what we learned with SMS!"

-Callie Page - Callie Page Photography

 

"We attended the 3-Day SMS Business Breakthroughs Workshop and were so impressed with the instructors and information! The information was so practical and relevant that we were able to put it into use immediately. In under a year, our studio went from breaking even to record profits that have changed our lives and allowed us to do things we had only dreamed of doing. We recommend SMS to every photographer, starting out or established. It will improve your business as well as your life."

-Matt and Allison Ragsdale, CPP - Allison Ragsdale Photography

 

"The 3-Day SMS Business Breakthroughs Workshop was a huge help to our business--I can't say enough about how important it was. And it just made sense to attend a one-on-one consultation to make sure we were on the right track. I will be talking with my PPA accountant every year for her wise advice; and hopefully, I'll still be learning and changing and growing!"

-Debbie Riggs - Pure-Photography

 

Business Breakthroughs workshops are your chance to address your most pressing issues and areas of concern, get questions answered, develop priorities, and identify actions to launch your business to the next level. There's more money to be made! Let us help you cash it in.

 

For more information on this particular photography business workshop or to register, please visit the dedicated page for this PPA SMS Workshop.

By Doug Bennett

"Competition? Yikes!! I could never handle the criticism, it would be too nerve wracking. I know I am not good enough yet."

These are just a small sample of the things I have felt myself and heard others say with regard to print competition. But let me share my experiences to include one thing I did that I strongly recommend you not do.

Three years ago I entered my first print competition at the Professional Photographers of Colorado (PPC) annual convention. I had all the emotions mentioned above with the overriding one being that I didn't belong in a competition like this. I was hoping my prints would get a quick score (with no challenges being made by the judges that would involve discussion of my entries) and that I could then quickly slip out the back door!

Earlier that morning, my wife Laura and I stopped off at a favorite Mexican restaurant for breakfast. I had a spicy burrito built around chorizo (a spicy Mexican sausage) and New Mexico style red chile. My thinking was that on this day of potential embarrassment, I was going to at least have one thing I really enjoyed! The anxiety of my first competition in front of professional photographers drifted away as I savored the rich flavors of that burrito.  

During the print competition that day, all four of my entries had juror challenges with one of them having no less than four separate challenges! The impact of my anxiety and excitement on my digestive system along with that burrito was very unpleasant. Not to worry, I will spare you the details of that drama and its resolution. But notice in addition to anxiety, I mentioned "excitement.""

As those juror discussions occurred, rather than feeling embarrassment, I was feeling excitement as they discussed things they liked and things that needed improvement. I had never received this kind of valuable input before and the learning it represented was exciting to me! In a single day, I learned things that would have otherwise taken many years to learn, if ever. Rather than saying, "I can't believe the maker did this to this image", their comments were to the point and professional. I was elated to be learning so much.

So now, two years later, in addition to entering the Southwest District Competition to which I belong, I entered the West, Northeast, and Southeast District Competitions while varying my entries some in each competition. And most importantly, I opted to pay the extra $35 for critiques of my entries. Of course any merit scores I received outside of the Southwest District can't count towards automatic merits by entering them under seal to the IPC.

But what I was after was the learning, and there is no better way to learn by experience than by participating in these print competitions. With the convenience of being able to enter digitally, I could gain all this knowledge and experience without incurring the cost of preparing prints and shipping them off to all these competitions. It's a great deal!  

The digital age of photography has raised the benchmarks and the entrants into this profession. This is a good thing in my opinion, but the one thing that can't be debated is this is the reality. If you strive to be competitive in this market, you cannot afford to not be a PPA member and benefit from all the educational opportunities that PPA offers.

So, with the deadline approaching for the 2013 International Print Competition, be sure and submit your four entries and by all means be sure and opt for the video critiques! Then compete in your state PPA affiliated and PPA District competitions as they start up in the fall and next spring. I guarantee you will be glad you did!

And for my final word of advice, skip the spicy burrito on competition day! 

ALL IMAGES © DOUG BENNETT

By Mariah Ashley

"You can't put the dollars before the heart. The heart has to come first and then the dollars come later." - Ziggy Marley

Trish and I were tired when we stumbled into the PPA Charities event at Imaging USA. We wanted to hunker down in our hotel room that first night but the excitement to meet our SMS mentor, Mary Fiske Taylor, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI, API, was enough motivation to get us out the door and downstairs to the party. Well, that and Trish insisting I get my lazy butt out from under the covers.

We arrived just before Ann Monteith, M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, ABI, API, A-ASP took the podium to talk about PPA's involvement with Operation Smile. Although we didn't know a thing about Operation Smile before her talk, it took only a few minutes for her to move us to tears. As she spoke about the lives of all the children that had been helped, Trish turned to me and said, "You know we're here for a reason don't you?" I smiled and nodded at her uncanny ability to read my mind. There was no question that we would be involved with PPA Charities, the only question remaining was how.

PPA Charity's Operation Smile is a fabulous idea, but seemed more suited for portrait photographers with studios. How could we as wedding photographers tweak the idea to work for our business model? Trish and I wracked our brains, but nothing seemed to quite make sense; kids, dogs, families? None of these traditional ideas fit our brand or, for that matter, our expertise. One of the wonderful things about Operation Smile is that it creates buzz and attracts potential future clients for the portrait photographer as well as contributing a nice donation for Operation Smile. We needed to figure out a way to make it work for us too. And then as usual being the idea girl, Trish came up with a brilliant plan.

Instead of children's portraits, we would offer professional headshots for...wait for it...all the other wedding professionals in our market! That's right, florists, caterers, wedding planners, etc, etc. Who doesn't need a fabulous headshot for their website, Facebook page, or heck... even dating site? In another stroke of genius, she decided we should host the event at one of the high-end venues in our area, and they happily and generously agreed to do it. Not stopping there, Trish asked some of the vendors to donate floral arrangements, sweet treats, and stationary to our "Smile Shop," hoping that participants might pick up a "goody to go" as a way of generating more money for the event. She even asked a friend and local videographer to film the event and make us a little documentary (below) to share with other photographers in the future. Trish was off and running with her idea, and I steered clear of her brainchild given that after my fear of heights, my second biggest fear is that I will throw a party and no one will show up.

The 2013 Hot One Awards are currently being compiled by Professional Photographer magazine (look for the results online August 1), honoring the hottest products for professional photographers. From hundreds of entries received, a panel of judges who are all professional photographers name their top choice in cameras, lenses, software and much more. There's only one opinion missing -- yours!

For the first time, Professional Photographer has added Readers' Choice Awards to the Hot One Awards series. It's your chance to have your say on what you think some of the best photography products are! The categories you will be voting on were very close when our judges made their decisions, so the competition for the Readers' Choice Awards will be high.

From now until June 9, you can vote on PPmag.com for your preferred DSLR camera in the $1,000 - $3,000 price range. Will it be the Canon EOS 6D or the Nikon D800/D800E? The choice is all yours. Let us know what you think; it's super easy to cast your vote.

Better yet, you'll also have a chance to share with Professional Photographer your choice of products in the Macro Lens, Business App, Presentation Software and Background categories. Here's the complete voting schedule:

• Digital SLR: May 28 - June 9
• Macro Lens: June 10 - 23
• Business App: June 24 - July 7
• Presentation Software: July 8 - 21
• Background: July 22 - August 4

Don't be shy, start voting now! Daily voting is permitted and it takes a few seconds at most.

If you just started reading Professional Photographer magazine and want to view the 2012 Hot One Awards (or if you just want a refresher on last year's winners), you can find the complete results at www.ppmag.com/hotone_2012/.  

Jen Hillenga, M. Photog. Cr., was kind enough to join us in the PPA Studio to film some upcoming PPAedu segments. While not wowing us with her endless creativity and knowledge, Jen took the time to answer your questions submitted to us @OurPPA (Twitter) or /OurPPA (Facebook). From practical advice on photography to the best sno-cones in the world, we learned all about the oh-so-creative Jen Hillenga.

Mary Lou Guinn asked: Studio management software - any recommendations?

Keep it simple. We use a combination of Quick Books and Google calendar. It has color coordination and a quick glance feature that makes our lives so much easier. It's also really great for marketing plans and counting out from deadlines. We haven't had a need for a big system, but use additional things like PhotoBiz to see who viewed images and incorporate that into the sales process. Pro Select is also great for sales. We're kind of old fashioned with client traveler, but it works for us. There's no "one stop shop" for what we do, so we put together our own system with a variety of software.

Denise Hasty asked: Having trouble with lighting, especially with darker subjects. What is the best setting for my camera when shooting in the studio and how do I avoid grainy and shadowy photos? / I have a Canon XSI450d

To create the best image, it usually works best to use a low ISO to minimize the grain and make sure you're using enough light. It helps to utilize the best equipment and tools to capture the best image. If you're in an indoor setting with limited light, investing in a camera that can go to a low ISO setting will greatly reduce the granularity in the image. In the outdoors with plenty of light, it's not as important, but you definitely need it in darker situations.

OurPPA asked: What are your thoughts on digital backgrounds?

I think there's a great place for digital backgrounds! I use them more for composite images. For example, we will photograph individuals on white, create the composition and drop in the digital background when working with a group setting. They can be nice with the right situation, but it's not a fix-all. It can be easy to get carried away and the digital can be overdone, not as natural.

OurPPA asked: Favorite color?

Black! It's the absence of color with light, and all of the colors with pigment.

OurPPA asked: Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?

Mint chip.

OurPPA asked: Early bird or a night owl?

Night owl.

OurPPA asked: Favorite food:

Sushi!

OurPPA asked: Favorite (clean) word:

Clean? Oh man. Probably "Yes."

OurPPA asked: Where did you attend college? What did you major in?

I graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. I double-majored in Fine Art and Graphic Design, with a double-minor in Art History and English.

OurPPA asked: What was the worst job you've ever had?

I worked concessions at a stock car track one summer. I did the sno-cones and nachos and it was a mess. It was the worst combination of salty and sweet--just the worst.

OurPPA asked: You love to travel - What's your favorite place to visit?

I spoke to the Photography Association in Denmark a few years ago, and that was wonderful. I also enjoy going to Hawaii--they have the best shaved ice! I also did the first trip down to Ecuador with Travis Gugelman and Lori Nordstrom with Dando Amor, photographing orphans.

Jen Hillenga, M. Photog. Cr. is the co-founder of Jen's Fabulous Stuff and a PPAedu contributor. You can find her educational videos, along with many industry greats on PPAedu. PPA members can easily access PPAedu by logging-in and watching the 150+ online videos. Not a PPA member? You can create your own personalized educational program by completing the Self-Assessment tool and subscribing to PPAedu!