It was the perfect time to get together and reflect on the past and discuss the future with other APA members and guests.  Members’ work were being projected on the wall and attracted everyone’s attention.  It was interesting to see what people had been up to recently.  There were a lot of fresh creative ideas being shown.

APA-LA Holdiday Party 1

APA-LA Holdiday Party 2

APA-LA Holdiday Party 11

APA-LA Holdiday Party 4

APA-LA Holdiday Party 9

APA-LA Holdiday Party 8

APA-LA Holdiday Party 5

APA-LA Holdiday Party 6

APA-LA Holdiday Party 10

The Manfrotto 055 Magnesium Photo-Movie Head has solved the problem by being a hybrid.  The photo-movie head has all the functions of a traditional fluid head and still photo head.   In what Manfrotto refers to as the photo mode, part of the head is released so it can move in a 90 degree arch allowing the camera to be locked at any angle from completely horizontal to completely vertical.  It is like a ball head but with resistance controls added.  Then by simply turning the photo/video selector to video mode, the camera is locked into a horizontal only position with all the functions of a traditional fluid head.

Some of the features that are very helpful are the bubble levels, degree markings and reversible pan bar.  There are bubble levels that work both for the vertical and horizontal positions, a must for video but helpful in stills.  The reversible pan bar allows you to choose which hand you want to use for panning.  I switch back and forth depending on the camera I’m using.  The degree marks help when shooting panoramas and matching shots in compositing.  It’s the best of both worlds, especially when shooting with the HD DSLRs.  It looks cool, too.

Manfrotto 055 Magnesium Photo-Movie Head

La Catrina © Linda Mason

A Photography Exhibit by Linda Mason, November 17, 2011 – January 16, 2012.  Las Fiestas, Latino cultural celebrations, are a total sensual experience immersing one into sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Fiestas have their rich and vibrant origins in ancient pagan rites that became the pomp and tradition of the Catholic Church. They are important occasions during which cultural values are shaped and spread.. Through color, texture and movement, the images in this exhibit capture a glimpse of the excitement, pageantry and the glorious rituals of Las Fiestas.

Artist Reception: December 1, 2011  7pm – 9pm

APA_LA Portfolio Day ©Tom Saputo

On Saturday October 15, The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Photographic Artists asked me to participate in a portfolio review. I was one of eight marketing industry professionals that consisted of art buyers, artist representatives, photo editors and creative directors that were asked to review portfolios and websites of about 15-20 LA based photographers. It was a well-timed, round robin, event where a new photographer would come to my table every 15 minutes to present themselves.  I have never attended a speed-dating event but I imagine it’s a lot like this – minus the stiff drink and nervous conversation. The big questions from every photographer were. From what you see of my portfolio, how do I attract more work?  How do I get people to answer the phone, or my emails? What do you do?

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Panel and moderator Anthony Nex Photo©David Zaitz

As photographic artists, we mostly started into the business of creating visual content to feed the artistic desire we have.  We get up in the morning excited about what we might create that day not what business function we might perform.  But to survive and thrive as photographic artists, we must realize we are also creating a business.  Businesses require attention to a number of areas we as artists are not well versed in so APA collected a number of experts in various fields that also know the challenges specific to photography.

The APA event “Mind Your Own Business” was provided to help the photographic artist to navigate through some of the unfamiliar waters of running a business.  It provided suggestions and answers about issues you could start using immediately regardless of how long you have been in business.

Ed Gillman, APA insurance adviser, gave some insights in to covering yourself for possible losses.  He pointed out the value of Errors and Omissions coverage which provides protection beyond what a standard business insurance might protect you from.

Tovert Tzall of Photocredit Associates LLC discussed how factoring might be used in your financial planning.  Tovert talked about the two different kinds of factoring.  He gave the audience a view of how his company approaches working with the photographers.

Harold Nelson, a CPA and long time friend to APA-LA, pointed out the importance of keeping good records of the right type.  He suggested that not only does good record-keeping  keep you out of trouble with the various governmental taxing agencies photographers have to deal with but it also maximizes the deductions that can be taken.

Ashley Thayer, now a financial advisor and formerly a photographer and photographic instructor brought up that photographers need to think about their financial portfolio just like their photography portfolios.  She showed how just starting a year later in investing in retirement can make a huge difference in the end result.

Eileen Smith and Alvert Lai of the Board of Equalization rounded out the evening with a lively discussion on sales and use taxes.   What seemed like it might be a very dry subject stirred a lot of passion as to when to pay sale or use tax and when to charge tax.  They brought a very useful handout for those attending that included information on the hot topic of electronic transfer and sales tax.

APA LA wants to thank Smashbox for the use of one of their studios and the other sponsors Coco Cafe and Out of Frame for their help in bringing this very informative evening as a free benefit to our members.

Ashley Thayer talking about financial planning Photo ©David Zaitz

Bring your appetite! We will have food trucks in the back parking lot, music, drink and an ongoing slide show running in our studio space.

http://juliadean.com/backyard-bbq/

APA Event@Universal Studios

Member Discount Announced!

On Saturday, June 11^th, Astor Morgan, APA-LA Board Chair, Heidi Goverman, Executive Director, and the APA board welcomed 80 members to a reception and tour of the Universal Studios lot.  After enjoying a taco fiesta, APA members boarded a Studio Tram.  The tour included the rebuilt New York Street, Spartacus Square, European, Western, Mexican, Colonial streets and through the War of the Worlds/747 crash site.  During the tour, Mylo Baca, the Universal Studios Production Representative for Still Shoots, covered working on the lot and announced the APA Member Discount on location fees for 2011.  The tour made a stop at Elm Street, one of Universal’s two suburban residential streets and members explored the tree lined street of house facades.  All of Universal Studios is a shooting location including offices, lobbies and parking structures.

For more information or to schedule a scout at Universal, please contact Mylo Baca at 818-777-3000 or mylo.baca@nbcuni.com.  To view locations online, please visit http://universal.filmmakersdestination.com/content/still-shoots.

Join Creative Suite video experts for a free, in-depth seminar that features the new Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.5 Production Premium, the high-performance leader in video production software. Learn how you can produce your best work with game-changing innovations like the blazing fast Adobe Mercury Playback Engine in Adobe Premiere Pro, the new Warp Stabilizer in After Effects, and a high-performance audio tool, Audition—now included in CS5.5 Production Premium.

The Road Show will cover:

HDSLR Editing with Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium:
Little cameras are bringing big changes to your production toolset. Learn how native support for DSLR cameras in Adobe Premiere Pro gives you a competitive edge. You’ll also learn how Adobe Premiere Pro is an integral part of your core editing workflow enabling you to deliver productions faster than ever.

Open Workflows with Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium:
See how Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium makes it easier than ever for you to use the right tool for the job. With easy project exchange between Final Cut Pro or Avid editing tools and Adobe Premiere Pro, you can easily integrate Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium into your current workflow.

Keynote Speaker Jim Guerard
Jim Guerard, vice-president and general manager of Professional Video at Adobe, will discuss challenges and opportunities facing the production and broadcast industries and how Adobe is equipped to help you meet those challenges.

What’s new in Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium:
Deliver exceptional results in less time. Productivity enhancements include powerful new audio editing capabilities, workflow improvements, and advanced compositing effects.

Grand prize drawing and giveaways will be raffled throughout the evening. Space is limited so reserve your seat today!

http://createasphere.com/En/adobe-road-show.html?utm_source=ATTEND&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=adoberoadshow

The final totals for the evening were 125 reservations with 33 “no-shows”. Some members and non-members did show-up and were placed on a waiting list, but all 16 were eventually admitted when others did not show.  Please, in the future if you make a reservation, call Heidi at APA if you cannot make it. Do not e-mail the day of the event.  APA has may exciting events coming up and several of them will have limited space, so get your reservations in early. Some of the events will give initial reservations to members only, so if your not a member yet……JOIN.

This panel event was moderated by Andrea Stern, Sternreps.  The lively panel included Jigisha Bouverat, Director of Art Production TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, Rob Haggart, Creator APhotoEditor.com, Owner of APhotoFolio.com, Mike Kohlbecker, Associate Creative Director/Art Director Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Los Angeles

APA LA was thrilled to bring their membership this important event.  Andrea as the moderator was brilliant in her questioning of this amazing panel.  The questions were relevant and timely and the panel responded with straight talk, humor and genuine understanding of the issues photographers face in today’s market place.  This event was a positive and helpful and our attendees are already clamoring for more events like these… stay tuned

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