Uncovering the Mysteries of Print Competition!

When:

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
10:00 am-3:00 p.m.

Noon Lunch Break!!!

Where:

Mitchell’s Photography
1325 Miller Road Suite I
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864-467-1777

Upstate photographers…it’s our turn for some friendly competition and an opportunity to learn from some of the BEST!

Do your images have what it takes to succeed in Print Competition? Are you willing to find out? Entering prints in competition and listening to judging is arguably one of the best ways to improve your photography.

Lonnie Hoke, Mark Howard, Gregg Martin & Mitchell Richardson will be our facilitator/judges.

Gregg will begin with a presentation on the 12 elements of a merit print. This will be an in-depth overview of what judges are looking for in print competition.

Lonnie, Mitchell and Mark will go “Behind the Curtain” answering the following “everyone wants to know” questions.
• Have you ever wondered why your print didn’t look the same under the competition lights as it did in your studio? How can you know what it will look like?
• Why did my print score higher than theirs and they received a first place?
• I think all the judges are crazy and I’m not going to enter again. (Is this a good statement or bad?)
• How are scores tabulated?
• How can I win photographer of the year?
• What happened to my print? There were no marks on it when I sent it in.
• What is the First Timer Award? How can I get it?

You will also learn more "how to's" on entering print competitions and the differences in State (PPSC), Regional (SEPPA), and International (PPA) competitions. Information will also be given out on what it takes to earn awards and degrees at each level.

We will have a **MOCK** Print Competition. This competition will be conducted just like a real print salon. The images will be displayed one at a time and will be scored by the judges. This competition will be as anonymous as you want it to be, but after an image is scored it will also be critiqued and you will have an opportunity to ask the judges questions about their comments (unlike a real Print Competition), and this will probably blow your cover! Print critique is the best time to learn. Please stick around and listen to all critiques. There just might be something in it for you.

Non members are welcome to submit images for the competition. If you are visiting your first meeting it is free. Regular visitors (i.e. soon to be members) you need to pay a $10 fee--a small price to pay for this level of education and experience!

If you are interested in participating in this Competition, please make note of the following:
• submit at least 2-4 digital, print competition ready, images via a jump drive or CD. • sized 4x5 at 300 dpi. (Do not worry about printing or changing the density for f16 lighting)
• name the file as the name of the image. EX. Pawpaws_passion.jpg
• email me directly if you are going to submit images for the print competition! kwphoto@charter.net

Please let us know as soon as possible (via simplelist) if you plan to attend. The more members participating the greater the learning experience for all.

Meet our Facilitator/Judges
Lonnie Hoke & His wife Yvonne have owned and operated their successful full time studio for 13 years specializing in family, children, high school senior and wedding imagery. Since entering South Carolina print competition in 1997, Lonnie has earned numerous first place awards, 8 Kodak Gallery Awards, 7 Fuji Masterpiece Awards, 3 Best of Show Awards, and is a two time South Carolina Photographer of the Year. Lonnie is also a past president of the Professional Photographers of South Carolina and holds the degrees of Master Photographer - Photographic Craftsmen with the Professional Photographers of America.

Mark Howard has been an active photographer for 14 years and specializes in weddings, families and children. He has received numerous First Place Awards, Kodak Gallery Awards, Fuji Masterpiece Awards and has been named SC Photographer of the Year. Mark holds the SC Fellow degree and the degree of Master Photographer with the Professional Photographers of America. He is also this year’s PPSC Print Salon Chairman.

Gregg Martin has been in the photography industry for over 20 years. He has just earned the sought after 2009 PPA Platinum Photographer of the Year. He also holds the Certified Professional Photographer credential from PPA (Professional Photographers of America) along with the Associate Fellows Degree from PPSC (Professional Photographers of SC). Gregg's images have graced the pages of national publications such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, USA Today, and Forbes. In additional to these accolades, Gregg has photographed over 350 weddings in the past 20 years. He is a fun, energetic, outgoing photographer whose style is a combination of traditional and photojournalism. Gregg also photographs for the University of SC Athletic Department. He is about his 20th football season on the sidelines for Carolina.

Mitchell Richardson has owned and operated Mitchell’s Photography in Greenville, SC for 16 years. The studio specializes in children, family and high school senior photography. Since entering SC print competition Mitchell has earned numerous First Place Awards, Best of Show Awards, 6 Kodak Gallery Awards, 10 Fuji Masterpiece Awards and named SC Photographer of the Year 2 times. He has also received the Bronze and Silver PPA Photographer of the year. Mitchell is a past president of the Professional Photographers of South Carolina and holds the SC Fellow Degree. On the national level, he holds the degrees of Master Photographer - Photographic Craftsmen with the Professional Photographers of America.