Some great opportunities for 2009 have come to my attention, and I’m pleased to pass the information on to you.  The Tots 2 Teens seminar is on April 1st in Salt Lake City.

Sandy Puc, owner of Expressions by Sandy Puc’ in Littleton, Colorado, is a nationally acclaimed photographer and businesswoman who shares her wisdom and techniques with photographers at all stages of their careers by traveling and lecturing nationally and internationally at seminars and schools. This year she is presenting a national seminar tour called Tots 2 Teens. You may have heard of Sandy and the tour she conducted last year, the Bellies & Babies Tour.

The Tots 2 Teens Seminar Tour covers all aspects of creating, executing, and marketing a successful program that covers children 18 months old to young teens, such as:

*Marketing strategies to attract and retain the ideal clients

*Client consultations—getting the most of your session and increasing your sales

*Posing tips and techniques for increased sales

*An entire session walk-through, including posing and lighting techniques

*Ages and stages—a thorough guide to the best and most flattering poses, sets and backgrounds for each age from toddlers through seniors

*Super tips and tricks—little shortcuts and words of wisdom that will give you greater confidence and comfort behind the camera

*Working with siblings and multiples—rise above the chaos to create family heirlooms

 

The seminar will tour through 50 locations, and one of the stops will be in our area. For more information, please visit tots-teens.com.

Sandy has graciously offered us a complimentary table at the Tots 2 Teens seminar so that we can promote the IPPA. We have also been invited to provide a slide to be included in the tour’s slideshow. By establishing a presence at the Tots 2 Teens seminar, we can reach out to new photographers who may be looking to affiliate with a local group.

 

The Tots 2 Teens seminar sounds like a great way to acquire top-notch education at a reasonable price, and it’s in our own backyard. It would also be wonderful to have some of our members on hand to meet photographers who might want to become acquainted with other professional photographers in the area.

As an IPPA member, you may use a discount code that will save you $20.00 on registration for the seminar. The code is AFF09.

 The other opportunity that I want to share is the National Charity Model Search campaign. The National Charity Model Search is a campaign that will select “America’s Cutest Kid,” raise funds for charity, and will help photographers make money now! This program is designed to generate business for local studios and is a great way to compete for fun and prizes. This campaign will help bring business and money into our studios during the lean months of the first quarter.

Photographers who enter the contest receive a completely pre-designed modeling campaign that can be customized for their studio. Included in the marketing kit is a blog announcement post, five different comp card templates, an introductory email blast for clients, a follow-up email blast, a model release form, a press release, a model thank you gift certificate, studio poster, and a promotional tips and how-to document. You can download the poster and print it yourself or have it printed by Marathon Press. Marathon is also offering a pre-press postcard available at a discount.

The photographer who submits the winning portrait earns national recognition and up to $10,000 in prizes including a Canon EOS 5D Mark II kit with EF24-105 f4.0 L IS. The national model winner receives many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

 

Any professional photographer may enter. Photographers who purchase tickets for the Tots 2 Teens seminar tour are automatically qualified to participate and are not required to pay additional entry fees. Photographers not attending the Tots 2 Teens tour who want to enter can pay a $79 entry fee. Ticket purchase or National Charity Model Search registration can be taken care of at http://tots-teens.com/event_registration.php.

 

This campaign a win-win for all involved. Photographers receive a complete marketing campaign, drive business to their studios, give their clients the opportunity to win fabulous prizes, and raise funds for a worthy charity.

 

Participating photographers submit portraits of local children, ages 18 months to 14 years, for online preliminary voting. City finalist will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from each vote benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). Photography and modeling industry experts will select the national winner.

 

I hope you consider these opportunities to advance your education and grow your business for the upcoming year.

 

Happy New Year, and cheers to a successful 2009!