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April, 2008

Template catalog makes it easier for you to design albums

Have you ever wanted to show your customer all the different template layouts available in ROES or LabPrints without showing them the program? That's why we created the Template catalog. This 6-page catalog allows you or your customers to quickly scan through all the templates that are available by default in our order entry software.

Watch for your new template catalog included with your print orders over the next few weeks. If you need one right away, pick one up at our front counter, or send an email to chris@jdphotoimaging.com in shipping.

Small single prints removed from sports packages

As of June 1st, JDPI will remove all prints smaller than half unit from our ROES Event Packages Catalog in the Sports Packages category. This includes 4x5, 3.5x5, and 2-wallets.

This change will move orders through the lab more quickly, and speed up packaging. You are encouraged to plan your orders using the half and whole units provided, many of which include these smaller sizes.

If you use ROES Packager or ROES Records with one of the small print sizes, this will affect you. You will need to change your packages accordingly before the change is made.

Questions? Contact Robin@jdphotoimaging.com

UV Flood Coater added to lab services offered

In response to your requests, the lab recently purchased a 24" UV flood coater from Advanced Finishing Solutions. The flood coating gives a high-gloss protective finish to any press-printed product: brochures, sports cards, holiday cards, posters, or event tickets, or virtually anything needing enhancement and protection. For example, according to our informal customer survey results, the coated sports cards have much more apparent value than before.

Unlike our current print coating, this new coating is especially formulated to give a high-gloss and UV-resistant finish to press-printed products. However, it can also be used to give a high-gloss protective finish to photographs. For example, metallic prints with the new coating do not stick together when creating wedding albums.

Best of all, the new coating will be available in ROES, LabPrints, or from our Package catalog for the same price we currently charge for photographic print coating.

Selling your Art Online

Eventually every professional photographer considers selling his or her work as fine art. I don't blame them. I have seen prints in my customer's studios that I would gladly display in the lab, or even in my home. And today the Internet makes it easy to sell fine art online.

However, selling online is the last step in the process. Think of any famous artist: they developed a unique style, created an exciting and desirable "body of work" (an art term), and presented it to influential buyers. The same rules apply to fine art prints.

To build your body of work, I believe you should start by making a commitment to yourself to become a Master Photographer. Becoming a Master is not about the title or the ribbons -- it is about honing your craft as an artist. The skills you learn will both improve your fine art prints, and make your photography more valuable to your business.

Once you have a body of work, you need to show it to buyers. According to Nancy Markoe, faculty lecturer at the Art Business Institute, the only way is to exhibit at retail art shows and galleries. Although difficult and time-consuming, talking directly to buyers will teach you which colors and themes are desirable, and how much people will pay for your prints. One of the most exciting jobs at our lab is to make fine art prints for a photographer's first competition or show.

While the Internet made it easy to put your photography in front of thousands of customers, the same old rules still apply: it takes years of work and effort to become a successful (and profitable) artist.

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March, 2008

PPM Essentials for Women April 20-22

PPM will host the Essentials for Women Seminar Sunday April 20 through Tuesday April 22 at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan. JDPI is a platinum sponsor of this event.

During the seminar, women photographers will have the opportunity to listen to several nationally-recognized women speakers describe professional photography and studio management from a women's point of view. In addition to the classes there will be breakout sessions, round table discussions and many social functions. Many women photographers report that this is one of the most important conventions they attend all year.

The seminar costs $99 for PPM members and $199 for non-members. Special rates for hotel reservations are available. To register online click here.

JDPI Sponsors Kathy Falls at IPAS

JDPI is sponsoring the Kathy Falls Corel Painter class to be held at the International Photogaphers Arts School in Indianapolis, Indiana from March 30 through April 2nd. The cost of the class is $399.00

Using Corel, Kathy will teach you how to actually create an oil painting from a photograph without losing the likeness of the subject. You can be a realist, abstract, or impressionistic artist in this class.

We have held one-day versions of Kathy's class twice over the last year in the lab's training classroom, and every student who attended was impressed at the quality of the instruction as well as the value of the information.

Because of the hands-on training, class size is limited. To reserve your seat, contact IPAS here

New Folded Greeting Card Sizes, Paper Available

JDPI now offers 5x7" folded greeting cards and more paper choices In our Fine Art/Press Printed catalog. The 5x7" folded greeting cards are in addition to our original 4.25x5.5" cards.

In addition to the new card sizes, both are now available on Pearl and Linen papers. Order some samples today.

Diamond Albums Now Available

JDPI now offers Diamond Albums through ROES or any of our digital ordering products.

Because of their lay-flat design and virtually seamless pages, Diamond Albums are perfect for photographers who create albums using primarily panoramic prints and layouts. In addition, each print is bonded to a thin poly-blend leaf to create flexible, yet durable pages that will not warp or cup. These books can hold up to handling without losing their "brand new" look.

Funny Wedding Photos

I found a link to some funny wedding photos on the Internet recently, and several of them made me smile. If you've ever shot a wedding, I'm sure you have collected a few of your own. All images courtesy of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. They have several more great galleries to browse through if you don't mind wasting some time.

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February, 2008

White Balance Class Monday March 10th

John Hicks will teach a White Balance Class on Monday, March 10th at 1:00 p.m. in the JD Photo Imaging Lab Classroom. Directions to the lab are here.

The ability to manually set the white balance on your camera is fundamental to achieving consistently high-quality digital images for your customers.

During the class, you will have the opportunity to practice white balancing your camera both outdoors and in a studio environment. By the end of the class, you should have the ability to quickly white balance your camera "on the fly" under many lighting conditions.

You must bring a digital camera with the ability to set the white balance in manual mode, and a copy of your camera's manual. A laptop is not required.

John has worked with dozens of different professional digital cameras over the years. His practical teaching style ensures that this will be a very informative class.

Because of the hand-on training, class size is limited. To reserve your seat, contact the lab at 810-239-8671.

"Out of Memory" Error Work-Around in LabPrints

When working on a very large composite or template in LabPrints, you may get a "cannot save" error message when you attempt to save your work. We have traced this problem to a memory issue caused by running LabPrints on a PC that has been running for several hours. Although the error message instructs you to adjust your memory allocation, this option no longer exists in LabPrints Version 5.

However, there is another workaround. With the composite open, delete image nodes one at a time, starting with the largest image first. After you delete each node, try to save the composite again. Keep deleting nodes until the composite is saved. Once you have successfully saved your work, close LabPrints, reboot your PC, re-start LabPrints, re-open the composite, and re-add the deleted image nodes. The problem will usually be resolved.

PPA Online Branding Seminar

Ever wonder why some photographers can get away with charging so much more? The truth is, small businesses hear the term "brand", but few understand it -- or the fact that nothing is more important to your success.

Listen and learn from PPA's Chief Executive Officer David Trust as he explains the 10 realities of understanding and building your studio's brand strength. During this program, he will take a look at several companies that "get it" and discuss how you can apply their secrets for success to your business.

There is no need to pay thousands of dollars for high-level marketing advice. As a PPA member, you can get it right here. We at JDPI have attended these PPA online seminars, and can guarantee you that you will receive more than your money's worth from this training.

• David Trust, CEO
• Thursday, February 28, 2008
• 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST
• PPA Members only: $49, Register online now or call 800-786-6277.
• SEP, CPI and SPS Members: $49, but you must call 800-786-6277 to register.

PPO Hosts Mideast States Regional Print Competition

PPO will host the Mideast States Regional Print Competition Wednesday, February 27 - Monday March 3 in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to the print competition and guest speakers, over 170 vendors will be on-hand at the trade show. For more information click here.

What Impression Does Your Studio Make?

Recently I visited the home of a young woman I do not know very well. As I entered, I immediately formed an impression of her. From the huge turn-of-the-century French bicycle poster reprint on the wall, to the extensive collection of hardcover books, to the Santa Claus on a Harley Davidson statuette, I felt I was in the home of an educated "free spirit" with a style all her own.

My impression was correct. I learned she was a professor of literature at the local college, only recently having completed her master's degree. Although she did not have expensive furnishings, her unique sense of style created an "experience" that I will remember when I meet her again.

All of us are aware of the importance of first impressions and the impact they have on others. However, this is especially important for photographers who must sell both themselves and their art. The experience your customers receive when they enter your studio has a direct impact on the amount your customers spend.

I suggest every photographer take a five-second tour of his or her studio. That is, open the door, walk in, look around, and walk out. What was the feeling you received? Was the experience warm and inviting, or cold and sterile? Did you see one major piece of photography that said, "Wow - this is a great photographer?" Did you feel like you were in the business of an artist who commands hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their work? If not, I urge you to work on the first impression your business makes. It does not need to cost much, but it will add directly to your bottom line.

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January, 2008

JD Photo Imaging rolled out their new website to correspond with their 2008 Price Catalog. This combination of catalog and website represents the work of several people over several months. We at JD are especially indebted to the many fine professional photographers and studios that shared some of their award winning art with us for the website and catalog. Thank you everyone for your help!

The PPA Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op is back for 2008. The sign-up deadline is January 31, 2008. Why would you join, you ask? Consider the following:

• The Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op is a darn good deal. Your one-time $100 fee (helps cover the administrative costs of the co-op) lets you offer one of the 2008 sweepstakes (your own customized marketing materials are an additional cost). Imagine...for just $100 you might be the one giving away a car, a cruise, a Disney vacation, 50'' Plasma TVs, and more in 2008!
• The Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op is a great way to get some powerful publicity. The sweepstakes itself will generate some buzz for you, but imagine if one of your clients is one of the winners! Just ask Randall Tucker, a photographer (and JDPI customer!) who awarded one of his clients with $20,000 (in lieu of the Jeep) earlier this month. This is the kind of story local news snaps up. View a local news article or the PPA article. Next year it could be you who's known as one giving even more than great photography.
• The Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op gives you something exciting to build your marketing campaigns around something that will get your clients' attention. The sweepstakes you join becomes an event that draws clients into your studio, and provides fuel for your marketing campaigns.
• Get the word out to your local newspapers and they may help spread the word in the community. Plus, it's a great hook for a referral program. And do you feel lost among the photographers at bridal shows or other events? You won't be if people can sign up for a cruise as they browse your displays!
• The Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op offers even more in 2008. I'm talking updated, redesigned Marketing Guides, pre-designed brochures and postcards you can print off the CD (or use for ideas), bigger and better prizes (televisions, Wii gaming systems, navigation systems, etc.) and so on.

Remember, though, that you first have to sign up. Go to ImageSweepstakes.com and sign up before January 31, 2008. Who knows, next year we could be talking about you and your client winning a grand prize!

Join JD and Kathy Falls at Michiana

JD Photo Imaging will be at the MPP Convention Trade Show in Elkhart, Indiana on Saturday, January 19th. In addition, JD Photo Imaging is sponsoring Kathy Falls class "PhotoPainting using Nik, Lucis, and Painter X with PhotoShop" on Sunday, January 20 from 9am till noon and from 1pm till 5pm at the convention.

Kathy has taught this class in the lab's Training Classroom for the last two years. We believe it is one of the best classes available for aspiring digital imaging artists. To sign up for the class contact Grace Lechlitner via e-mail or call her at at 574-773-9109.

Thoughts on a $51 8x10" Print

I had an opportunity to listen to an outstanding PPA online pricing seminar this week, and thought about how my customers must feel when listening to an expert tell them when labor was included, the true cost for an 8x10" print that cost $3 from the lab is about $51 dollars".

As I listened, I thought about how so many photographers consider all the time they spend copying, sorting, color correcting, and uploading digital files as "free", then consider the $1.80-$3.00 paid for the actual paper print as the most expensive part of the order. The pricing expert argued that a photographer's time is worth much more than an 8x10" piece of paper.

The expert is right.

I tell photographers that they should spend all their time either taking photographs, selling them, or marketing their business. While they can do other things like make CDs of files, the time spent isn't free - it is taking money out of their pocket. 10 cents for a minute's work here, a dollar for 10 mintutes of work there, and pretty soon the photographer is feeling so broke, even a $3.00 print looks expensive.

If you only make one resolution this year, I suggest that you vow to consider your time as too valuable to waste on anything that doesn't grow your business in 2008. After all, aren't you worth it?

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December, 2007

Beginning January 1, we will combine portrait and candid prices into a single full-service product line that includes our JD Deluxe service on each print. At the same time we will introduce JD Econo print pricing for photographers who want to take responsibility for color and retouching.

These changes are described in detail in the 2008 JD Photo Imaging Portrait catalog. You should have already received a new catalog in the mail or with your most recent print order, or you can download a PDF version here.

Although we have combined portrait, wedding and candid product lines, we understand that this work is still much different from underclass and sports work. Therefore, we have also included a separate "Package" catalog, available here.

The decision to revamp our pricing was not made lightly. Our old catalog reflected years of experience with optical printers. Portrait and candid work was handled differently in the lab, requiring different prices. However, with our complete changeover to all-digital printing, all work now goes through the same high-quality printing process. Differences in price are now based on either the level of service provided or the volume of prints per image.

The obvious question is: how will these changes affect your studio? After reviewing dozens of recent orders, we believe that for most studios this change will result in only a small difference in their lab bill. However, in every case, we believe that this simplified pricing structure will make it easier for you to control lab costs and place orders.

Please take a moment to look through our new catalogs. We encourage your feedback. If we can answer any questions, please send us an e-mail or call us at 888.858.8084

New Folded Greeting Card Options for Holidays

Now you can order press-printed folded greeting cards with more options than before. For example, you can now choose from a pre-written greeting or type your own message. You can add a "signature" line at the bottom with variable font, and on some cards you can even customize the color and message on the front of the card.

In addition, you now have more control over your custom designed greeting cards. All custom or blank cards are in their own section called "Design Your Own Cards." You can select a four-panel custom design (inside, outside, front and back) or a single-panel custom design (your design on the front, then choose custom or standard greeting options inside).

Look in the "Fine Art/Press Printed" catalog under "Folded Cards" for all the newest features.

Custom Wedding Album Design

If you need to create a unique, one-of-a-kind wedding album for a client but don't want the hassle of designing each page in Photoshop or another software application, consider JDPI's custom album design service.

Our professional graphics artists will design a custom album to your specifications. You will receive on-line proof pages before the final order is placed so that you can review the design with your client as if you had designed the album yourself.

For more information, see page 9 of our new price catalog.

Marketing Tip: Which Size Postcard is right?

Every day you find one or more postcards in the mail. It isn't surprising: postcard advertising is one of the most cost effective ways to contact potential customers. However, if you look carefully you will also notice that most advertising postcards are 5.5 to 6 inches tall and 9-11 inches long. So why would an advertiser bother with a big postcard when the small 3.5x5 postcards can be mailed for so little money?

The simple answer is that little advertising postcards don't work. They are great for reminding customers of appointments, or for telling them something they already care about like their birthday. However, studies show that only the larger size postcards work for direct advertising.

While it is painful to pay double the postage and printing costs for every piece of mail, you should avoid the temptation to mail small-sized post cards. They are less expensive, but research shows you'll see less response.

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November, 2007

JD at PPO Fall Show November 11-12

JD Photo Imaging will be at the Professional Photographers of Ohio Fall Two-Day Conference, Trade Show, Folio Competition and Exhibition at the Easton Town Center Hilton in Columbus Ohio. In addition to the many nationally-recognized guest speakers, the conference will feature a tradeshow from 10:00am until 5:30pm Sunday November 11th and from 9:00am until 3:30pm Monday November 12th. Join Tom and Molly just off the center isle in booth 22 on the tradeshow floor as they showcase the many new products and services JD Photo Imaging has to offer.

New ROES Proofing Features

Now when you order proofbooks through ROES that show your file names, you will no longer see the extra digit (as in "-1.jpg") that ROES appends to every file name. This will help you keep your proofing file names in sync with original file name.

Also, our Brag Books now include the option to "Show File Names" on the front, instead of only on the back. If you want ALL of your Brag Book pages like this, be sure to select the option "Show File Names on Front and Back" on your first page, then select "Hold Options" so all the remaining pages will have that same options without needing to choose that option every time.

PhotoVision Videos are a Great Value

Recently I purchased a subscription to the Photovision video DVDs. Even though I am not a working photographer, I am constantly looking for ways to help photographers improve their business and photography. I thought the Photovision videos could help.

I was right. Each DVD, hosted by Ed Pierce, contains two hours of video training by some of the best photographers in the industry. For example, I was particularly interested in the video walk-through of Adobe's new Lightroom software. After a single 25 minute video, I felt I understood how the product could benefit several of the lab's clients. The time was much better spent than reading a manual or playing around with the software. During another video I enjoyed listening to Julia and Jeffrey Woods as they explained the tricks they use for keeping a clients energy level up during a photo shoot in order to make more exciting photographs.

A one-year subscription (bi-monthly) to the Photovision DVDs is $149. Think of it as paying an expert about $12 an hour to help you improve your business and photography. It's a deal you can't afford to pass up.

Orphan Works: Legal Theft of Your Images?

Last year the United States Congress debated "Orphan Works" legislation. This change in the copyright law would allow works to be released into the public domain if the author or artist was long-dead or could not be located. Many professional photographers worried that the proposed legislation would enable art directors or stock image houses to use their copyrighted photos after a cursory attempt to find the original owner. Although the legislation was tabled in 2006, experts are recommending that you add your contact information and copyright into the metadata fields in each image you distribute...even low-res proof images you show on the web.

The Orphan Works law has many supporters, so it is just a matter of time before some version of the law is enacted. Click here to read an interesting article (a PDF file download) in After Capture magazine by Ethan Salwen about implementing a RAW workflow to brand all your images so that you can avoid losing copyright once Orphan Works becomes law.

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Wallbusters are the newest way for you to transform your favorite digital photos into life-sized cut-outs that adhere to any smooth surface.

WallBusters are great for: Athletes, Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, Retirements, Corporate Events, Graduations, Pets, Mascots, Marketing, Fan Art, Trade Shows, Children, Sports Teams, Vehicles, Corporate Logos, Gifts

For more information about this product go to www.wallbusters.com. Click here to see our TV commercial on YouTube.

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If you sell wedding albums, you know it isn't enough to take great shots. Today's demanding bride also expects a "one of a kind" album that uniquely captures the most important day of their lives.

Wouldn't it be great if you had a digital album designer on staff to work with you?

Now you do, with our Custom Digital Photo Albums. When your work ends, our work begins. Our in-house professional designers will create a custom wedding album from your images, bind it, and ship it -- ready to deliver to your customer. Think of the convenience -- it's like having a full-time digital album designer on your staff.

• Send your non-cropped and non-color corrected images to the lab in the approximate order they should appear in the album.
• Order the images with a numeric prefix (for example: 001-smith.jpg, 002-smith.jpg, 003-smith.jpg, etc).
• Images can be submitted using the ROES dropbox, CDR or DVD.
• You should submit approximately 3 images for each side of a page.
• Due to design choices, not all images may be used.
• You should submit an "EXTRAS" folder with approximately 10 additional images to be used for backgrounds, jacket, etc.
• A proof album will be placed in a private area online for approval by you and your client before printing and assembly.
• Albums may be bound in your choice of Romanco or Superior Mount style. You can also choose to have the loose prints shipped to you and use your own binding.

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Every student this year will want their own image on a personalized notebook. Each unique 8.5x11 front and back cover is bound with 70 pages of lined notebook paper. Choose from one of our custom templates or your own creations. These are great for package add-ons or studio promotions. Available in ROES.

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Artist Canvas Gallery Wrapped Prints are printed directly onto a canvas material rather than on photographic paper that gets bonded to canvas. The print will include 2" on each side of your image that is hand stretched around 1½" stretcher bars. The prints is stapled to the frame, with framing paper to finish the back. Hangers and bumpers are also applied. A Gel coating is applied to protect your image. The canvas material gives your photo a texture that is similar to a painting. They are more fragile than traditional photographs and need to be handled with care. Order now through our ROES software. Click for Larger View

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Bevel mounted prints are an elegant way of presenting your images. They can stand on an easle, or attach to a frame. Available in Gold or Black on print sizes 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10. (Approx. 1/8 of an inch will be trimmed from each edge, so crop accordingly) Order now through our ROES software.

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ROES is now better than ever with these new features and products:

• ROES Pager lets you create and save your own composites.
• ROES Packager is for setting up and ordering your studio's custom packages.
• ROES Presenter is a presentation tool can use with your clients.
• The DVD slideshow is a movie of your images, set to music, and made for TV.

For more info, help, and samples, click here.

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If you haven't seen prints made with Kodak Professional Endura Metallic Paper, you should give it a try. Its "pearlescent" appearance adds a contemporary, cutting-edge look to color prints, creating an almost 3-D effect that makes images seem to jump off the page. You can order Metallic paper for any size print. Just order your products as you normally do, and specify "Print Entire Order on Metallic Paper" in the instructions. The cost is 25% above the regular print price (Due to special handling needs, the entire order must be either metallic or standard print paper).

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Apple has recently released an update for Quicktime that stops Digital Studio LP from working. To fix this problem please download and run this update: LabPrints-Quicktime Fix.

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Kodak made it official this month: ProShots will be shut down by the end of the year. For those who’ve been with ProShots since the start this was bittersweet news. Although other programs have overtaken ProShots, no other software transitioned more professional labs and photographers from optical to digital photography.

Ironically, ProShots didn’t start out as a soldier in the digital revolution. In the mid-nineties Ray Hicks, President of Hicks Equipment, was looking for a way to adapt the productivity of school work to wedding labs. V7 “wedding” printers each required an operator with a stack of carded negatives, while VP2 and CP2 “school” printers automatically printed from 50 foot long rolls of film using pre-entered package orders. Hand-carding negatives might be a nuisance in a studio, but they were a real productivity killer in a pro lab.
 
For Ray the solution evolved after contracting to build a film capture station for a new company called FloppyShots. They needed a device that could quickly scan a roll of 35mm film and save the images on a 3.5” diskette.

As Hicks engineers designed the image capture station Ray became intrigued by the “crop box” feature in the free FloppyShots image viewer saved on each diskette with the images. This feature let users drag the box with a mouse, crop an image, and save it as a new file. Ray reasoned that if the software captured the X-Y coordinates of the crop box and passed them to a wedding printer, you wouldn’t need to card negatives. Wedding film could stay in long-rolls after proofing, orders could be pre-entered, and the lab wouldn’t need an operator for every printer. Ray believed this new idea could bring real productivity gains to wedding labs.

Ray described his vision to Jerry Mathis, Chief Mechanical Engineer, and Steve O’Lear, Chief Programmer at Hicks Equipment. Over the next several weeks Steve wrote the first ProShots image viewer to capture the crop and print order information, while Jerry designed an auto-cropping riser block and 3-axis long-roll film drive to read the information and automatically produce the required prints. The prototype system worked, and ProShots was born.

Entrepreneurs know that coming up with a new idea is one thing – selling it is another. For over a year Ray was known as “the guy handing out free diskettes” at every photographic convention and trade show in the country. However, it took three more visionary businessmen to make ProShots a real product for photographers.

The first was Richard Miller. In 1996 Richard made the bold move of purchasing the first ProShots system for his lab. In the original system, Miller’s captured the images from film, copied them to a stack of diskettes or a CD, and mailed the disks to the studio along with paper proof prints. The processed film was stored in long-rolls at the lab. After creating an order in ProShots the photographer could upload it to the new “Internet” or they could mail an order diskette back to the lab.

The second person to support ProShots was Keith Piccione, Director of Technology for Art Leather Albums. Art Leather’s Montage album ordering software worked best with digital proofs, and they encouraged their customers to ask labs for ProShots images. Ray Hicks met several influential wedding photographers in the Art Leather booth at trade shows.

One of the photographers Ray met, and the third visionary businessman to embrace ProShots, was David Ziser. David was both an accomplished photographer and an expert at marketing wedding photography. He had spent years using slide projectors to create a high-impact studio sales experience for newlyweds (“if they cry, they buy,” he often said). For David, ProShots presented an opportunity to help design the ultimate wedding photography marketing tool. ProShots and the Ziser system would turn any photographer into a super salesman, ordering became quick and easy, and the software was free! Thousands of photographers flocked to hear David explain his sales techniques using ProShots.

To evolve ProShots from an ordering program into a sales tool, first David - and later Michael Jonas and Jerry Arstingstall - spent literally hundreds of volunteer hours working with Hicks programmer Tao Wang on every detail of the software. Together they introduced new features to the industry like the light table, groups, instant image compare and zoom to get the best expression, framed portraits in rooms, slide shows with fades and music, drag-and-drop album design, and more.

By 1999 ProShots version 3 was arguably the premier lab ordering and studio marketing product in the industry. The new “photojournalistic” photographers could easily merge their 35mm and medium format work to create a full presentation to the bride in the studio, and moments later send multiple print orders via the Internet to the lab. Wedding photographers liberated from proof prints and carded negatives began shooting more film. Destination wedding photographers placed hundreds of proof images online for their customers to preview. By 2000, twenty-one pro labs across the U.S., Australia and Canada along with most of the major album companies supported ProShots.

Ironically, with its success introducing thousands of photographers to the convenience of digital proofing, ProShots helped spread the seeds of its own destruction.

At the peak of ProShots success, a few users tried to combine digital camera and film print orders. ProShots required backward compatibility with orders on floppy disks and could not support them. Without additional programmers to rewrite the software, in 2001 ProShots version 4 was released with limited support for high-resolution digital images. It would be two more years before the software would completely support scanned film and digital camera orders combined. By then, several competitive products supported an all-digital workflow, and ProShots began to lose market share.

Yet even as it made the transition from optical to digital, ProShots still had promise. There were several thousand enthusiastic users, an active online discussion group, and in-depth training materials including online videos. ProShots was free to the photographer, feature rich, and was offered by many of the best pro labs in the country. When Kodak purchased Hicks Equipment in 2001, hopes were high that ProShots strong reputation would make it the flagship for Kodak’s Professional Photographic Division.
 
Unfortunately an early decision by Kodak to charge photographers for the software created a furor among both labs and users (ProShots was never really free – the labs paid for every image and print ordered using the system). New products were able to compete with Kodak on both features and price. ProShots labs began to offer and later promote these alternative products.

To cut costs, in 2002 Kodak shut down the ProShots headquarters in Michigan. At the same time Kodak released PS5, the first version of ProShots not backward compatible with a floppy disk workflow. In 2004 PS6 was launched using developers in India. Today, only J.R. Harrison from the original ProShots team remains.

In retrospect, it would be simplistic to attribute the end of ProShots to any single decision. Like the success of ProShots, the end was a combination of many people and events. What can be said is that ProShots is like Photoshop or the Brownie camera: it has earned its place in the history of photography. For that, it deserves to be remembered.

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One of the best parts of my job at JD Photo Imaging is that I get to talk to photographers -- lots of them.  Some have been in business for many years, while others are just starting out.  But regardless of experience or type of work, most photographers have one thing in common: they trust word-of-mouth advertising to build their business.

When I visit a studio, I usually ask “How is business?” If the photographer says “great” we talk about new products.  If the photographer says “rotten” I ask about their marketing plan.  Most of the time their answer is “I don’t spend a lot on advertising – my business relies on word-of-mouth.”

My experience tells me that this answer can spell trouble for a studio.  If you rely on word-of-mouth to advertise your business, you are limiting your ability to grow and profit.

I like to use JD Photo Imaging as an example.  Our lab has served Mid-Michigan for over 35 years.  We’ve printed thousands – perhaps millions - of wedding, senior, and underclass images, and yet at local trade shows I am regularly approached by photographers wanting to know what it is we do!  Even large corporations like GM, Ford, FedEx and Coca-Cola continue to advertise long after everyone in the country knows their name and what they offer.  Why should a smaller business like a photographic studio be any different?

I understand the aversion people have to advertising.  We all see a thousand advertisements a day - many of them are cheap and tasteless.  In the best possible world, we shouldn’t even have to advertise.  Customers should hear other people talk about the great products and services we offer, remember the conversation, and find us later when they need us.

It isn’t that simple.  The truth is, some customers will be influenced by a phone book ad, some by a flyer or coupon, others by a web site, and some will depend on a recommendation from a friend.  Therefore, one of the goals of advertising is to make sure our name and phone number is available to every customer - no matter where they look for us - when they are ready to buy.

But being easy to find is only part of advertising.  The best ads don’t try to sell something – instead, they present a solution to a problem the customer is trying to solve.  For example, some of my customers became frustrated trying to create unique, one-of-a-kind wedding albums using Photoshop.  So I introduced a service that uses our lab’s in-house graphics department to custom design each album.  Telling my customers about this service with a postcard is advertising, but because I’m trying to solve their problem it’s the kind of advertising I’m proud to do.

Here’s another example.  If I was a senior photographer I’d imagine a teenager standing in front of me asking, “Can you make me look pretty/handsome/cool even though I think I’m not?”  Isn’t that a real problem teenagers have?  To solve it, I could promise to take many more shots than average to ensure that they would find a pose they were happy with.  But having a solution to their problem isn’t enough – I need to let my potential teenage customer know about it.  Again, that’s the kind of advertising I would be proud to do.

I’m not saying that word-of-mouth doesn’t work – it does.  It’s cheap, powerful and cuts through all the advertising clutter we see every day.  Recommendations from others are always more valuable than advertising alone.  But having customers advertise for you should only be one part of your total marketing plan.

Tom Hicks is co-owner at JD Photo Imaging.  He can be reached at tom@jdphotoimaging.com.

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October 2007

In This Issue
Corel Painter Classes
Price Drop on Pop-up Banners
New Modern Sports Templates
Free Color Calibration DVD

Corel Painter Classes with Kathy Falls Oct. 22 and Nov. 5

JD Photo Imaging is excited to again sponsor Kathy Fall's Corel Painter Training class.
Class 1: Introduction to Corel Painter X, Lucis and Nik Class 2: Corel Painter X - Level II In the first day-long class you will learn how to use the various filters in Lucis to enhance your photographs. With Nik you will learn how to add soft focus, control lighting, and create great vignettes. Using Corel, you will learn how to actually create an oil painting from a photograph without losing the likeness of the subject. You can be a realist, abstract, or impressionistic artist in this class.

Both hands-on classes (bring your laptop) will be held at the lab's training center in Flint (see map).

The cost is $99.00 for each class, and is limited to 20 people. You can also pre-register for both classes for $179.99. Photographers who attend both classes will also receive a special discount on competition-level artwork printing by JD Photo: order four and receive two free.

These popular classes filled up very quickly last year, so don't wait to reserve your place. Call the lab at 888-858-8084.

New Lower Prices on Pop-up Banners
To make studio marketing more affordable, JD has reduced the price on floor-standing portable display banners printed from your digital files. The banners & stand combination, originally $225 each, are now available for
$175 each or two for $300.

The banners are printed on satin cloth and come pre-mounted on I Banner 920 stands. They are lightweight, come in a carrying case, and are great for bridal show displays.
To place an order you can use the ROES http://www.jdphotoimaging.com/roes/
Pager tool http://www.jdphotoimaging.com/roes/pagerhelp.html to create the banner, or you can create a single JPG image 80x35.25 inches at 150 dpi in Photoshop and order it from ROES in the Fine Art/Press Printed Catalog, using the Pop-up Banner Stand product.

Sports Template Products
Our art department asked us to remind you that they have significantly upgraded the templates in ROES. If you haven't taken a look at the templates recently, you're in for a surprise. Many of the new templates have been professionally designed by a commercial graphic artist, creating a whole new modern look for your clients. Check out the Events Catalog in ROES.

Free Color Calibration DVD
The sales manager for Photovision stopped by recently to make sure we were stocking their calibration targets in our showroom. We like the 24" digital target, and always recommend them to professional photographers.

However, recently we had the opportunity to view Ed Pierce's free Instructional DVD that comes with each calibration target. In short, we were amazed. The information on the DVD is worth more than the price of the calibration target - it's like getting a private training class from Ed for free!

From the DVD you learn - step-by-step - how to insure that you have consistent color and density on every photograph, regardless of camera, lighting conditions, or type of photography.
You can order any of Photovision's targets online here http://www.photovisionvideo.com/ or you can purchase the popular 24" target with instructional DVD in our showroom.

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August 2007

In This Issue
Competition Prints Classes
Upcoming Print Competitions
Sports Template Updated in ROES
New Dry-Erase Photo Products
Should you Upgrade to Windows Vista?
Holiday Hours

Competition Prints Classes Sept. 10 and 17 A highlight of any professional photographer's career is to be recognized as an artist by their peers. For many this recognition comes in the form of award-winning competition prints. Yet many photographers lack either the confidence or knowledge necessary to submit their work to print competitions.

To help motivate and inspire photographers, JD Photographic Imaging has partnered with Michael & Tina Timmons, owners of The Portrait Gallery. They will teach photographers the secrets to submitting award-winning competition prints. During the classes in September photographers will learn:

Class 1: What Makes a Competition Print? - September 10 Class 2: Preparing your Print for Competition - September 17

These classes are designed for photographers who have participated in dozens of competitions as well as those submitting their first competition print.
By the end of the second class you should have one or more prints ready to be submitted to the several area competitions between October 7, 2007 and March 8, 2008.

Classes are $29 each. You can pre-register for both classes for $49.
Photographers who attend both classes will also receive a special discount on competition-level artwork by The Portrait Gallery and printing by JD
Photo: order four and receive two free.

For more information visit our news page, or to register for the classes call 888.858.8084.

Upcoming Print/Portfolio Competitions
Oct 7-9: PPofM Fall Convention Folio Competition Oct 15: PPWM Western Michigan Critique Oct 22: MMPPA Mid-Michigan Print Competition Nov 11-12: PPofO Ohio Fall Convention Folio Competition (Nov 5 CD image deadline)

Nov 13: MTPPA "Triangle" Print Competition Nov 20: DPPA Detroit Print Competition Jan 6-8: PPA Imaging USA (view 2007 winners) Jan 6-8: SEPCON Feb 1-5: PPM Professional Photographers of Michigan Convention Feb 27-Mar 3: PPO Regional Competition Mar 8-11: PMA

Sports Template Products
If you haven't taken a look at the sports & events templates in ROES in the last few weeks, you're in for a surprise. Over the summer our art department has been hard at work significantly upgrading the templates. For example, a soccer package can include several products from prints to magazine covers to key chains with a unified theme and background to make it a great looking package for the customer. Same for baseball, basketball, hockey, and dance.
In the "Event Packages" catalog in ROES. Check it out!

New Dry Erase Photo Products
We've been showing this new product around to the ladies, and everyone who sees it wants one. The dry-erase message board with a calendar is perfect for a busy family to put on the side of the refrigerator.

Each board starts with an opaque metallic paper print mounted to a beveled board. The bevels can be black or gold. The board includes a dry erase marker and clip. They can be mounted using either double-sided tape or adhesive magnetic strips. Several sizes of dry-erase boards are available in ROES. Sell one at your next family portrait session, and you'll soon be showing them to every family that comes in your studio.

Should you Upgrade to Windows Vista?
It has been several months since Microsoft's new operating system began shipping on new PCs. We've had an opportunity to work with Vista in the lab, and have some pointers for you if you're thinking about purchasing a new Windows PC .

For most users, Vista is not a good upgrade on an older PC. Most PCs even a year old are not powerful enough to take advantage of all Vista's graphical goodies. It will not speed up any of your software programs. In some cases you may not be able to find drivers for your printers, scanners, or digital cameras.

If you are purchasing a new PC, ask to have XP pre-installed. For example, Dell now offers XP on many of its business PCs and laptops. Microsoft has recently admitted that it will now support XP until 2010, and they recently released a new service pack, so don't worry about XP becoming obsolete before you purchase your next PC.
If you must purchase a new PC with Vista, you should be able to run all your current lab software including ROES and LabPrints. In some cases, you may need to use "compatability mode." If you need instructions e-mail max@jdphotoimaging.com and put the words "compatability mode" in the subject line.

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June 2007

In This Issue
New Sports Templates, FunPacks
Profitable K-12 Classbooks
Speed Up Big Jobs in ROES
Is Online PhotoShop Training Right for you?
JD at GLIP June 10-15

New Sports Template & Fun Packs
Our graphics artists have been hard at work this spring creating several new products for our sports photographers:
- All-new modern baseball, dance and equestrian coordinated graphics sets.
Fun Packs with same graphics.
- Paper Trader Cards - double sided, just like the kind that come out of a Topps Fleer pack (except the gum!).
- Gym Bag Tags with plastic lanyard to identify book or sports bags.
- Sports Photo Tickets - designed to look like a real ticket from a ballpark or stadium.
- Scrapbook pages - ready for mom or grandma to put in a scrapbook.
Of course, all these (and many more) products are available in ROES.

Make Classbooks a Profit Center in your Studio Are you still doing old black and white K-12 classbooks? If so, now is the time to make the move to color with JD Photo Imaging. Using Adobe InDesign (or Pelican) and Acrobat, you can submit up to a 60-page classbook as a PDF file. JD will take care of imposition/pagination, and return your saddle-stitched classbooks within ten working days.

Best of all, with our 100% digital workflow JD Photo Imaging now offers even more competitive pricing. Some customers are reporting up to $20 profit per classbook! For more information, see our Package catalog.

Speed up ROES with Big Jobs
ROES will sometimes take a long time to open a folder with hundreds of images. To speed up this process, before opening the folder in ROES, click "Preferences" and un-check "Show Image Thumbnails." Now when you open the folder you will see a generic icon for each image, but ROES will load them much faster. You can still highlight the image icons and drag them into the product window to order proofs, folios, etc. The only draw back is that you cannot edit or rearrange the images with seeing what they are. But if you proof every image, or if you edit images before opening them in ROES, this tip could save you up to 15 minutes per job.

Is Online Photoshop Training Right for You?
With the huge growth in high-speed Internet connections, there are now virtually thousands of free on-line tutorials to teach Photoshop. After having reviewed several of them, below are some recommendations:

-If you are brand new to Photoshop, you should start with a class that starts with the basics like menu options and keyboard shortcuts and builds step-by-step into using Photoshop for everyday tasks. A good example of this training can be found at www.lynda.com. They have hundreds of Photoshop training videos broken into 5-7 minute downloads. Many of the basic videos are free - if you want to see videos that are more advanced, a membership
($25 per month) is required.

-A slightly more expensive alternative is to use Adobe's official online training at adobe.elementk.com. For $129 you get a year's worth of access to over 30 courses in Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and GoLive. Adobe has partnered with ElementK (the top supplier of online education to Fortune 500 companies) to produce these videos, so you can be assured of their quality.

-If you already know your way around Photoshop and are looking for a specific advanced technique, go to www.tutorialized.com or www.pslover.com.
Both of these sites are collections of thousands of free tutorials submitted by Photoshop professionals. These sites assume you have a good working knowledge of Photoshop and are just looking for a "trick" to accomplish a specific special effect.

JDPI at GLIP
The Great Lakes Institute of Photography (GLIP) will hold summer classes June 10-15 on the Northwester Michigan College Campus in downtown Traverse City. JDPI has been a proud sponsor of GLIP for many years. If you plan to attend GLIP, stop by the trade show and say hello to Tom from JD.

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