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AZPPA Membership Benefits

Did you know that for less than 19 bucks a month, as a member of the AZPPA, your benefits include:

• On-line Membership Listing on the AzPPA website accessible to fellow members
• Free Monthly Meetings on Photography Educational and Business topics
• Free Studio Tours - Get great ideas for your own studio
• ATTEND THE 2010 Southwest PPA Regional Convention and Affiliated Judging
September 17th-21st, 2010 Arlington Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center.
FREE as part of your AzPPA Member dues!

but wait there's more.....
Find more reasons you should choose to Be an AzPPA Member here

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Message from the Board - August 2010

The Power Of One By Bob Zimmerlich, CPP

Although not often realized at the time, there are certain people that we meet that have a profound impact on the direction our lives take, both personally and professionally. We never know when or where these key moments will occur. Whether you call it fate, kharma or just coincidence, there is no doubt that even just one person can have an exponential effect on your life.

As I was giving thought recently to the path our photography business has taken over the last 4 years, I realized how important certain photographers and instructors have been to us. Not only in helping improve our technical and business skills, but also through their encouragement infusing a sense of confidence in ourselves that we can attain our goals if we put our minds to it.

For Connie and myself, all roads lead back to AzPPA. We knew in 2006 when we made the decision to start a photography studio that we wanted to surround ourselves with a community of talented professionals so that we could attain the level of proficiency needed to be successful. To say we were rookies at our first AzPPA meeting is an understatement, feeling like a fish out of water and not knowing anyone. But members like Bob Coates made us feel so welcome at that meeting and never once looked down at us because of our inexperience. One month later as we attended a studio tour being hosted by Bob in his Sedona studio, he provided us with sage advice that to this day serves us well – don’t be afraid to seek out help from other members. The purpose of AzPPA is to elevate the profession of photography and as such it’s a community designed to offer advice and support to each other. Due to Bob’s kindness and willingness to share, we knew AzPPA was an organization we wanted to join and participate in. We found later that this spirit of sharing was common amongst members of AzPPA.

Shortly thereafter we attended AzPPA’s Fall Festival in Bisbee. As we were walking around ‘photographing the alphabet’ we came across a lone photographer on a side street. The three of us struck up a conversation, comparing the differences of Canon vs. Nikon. What we didn’t realize at the time was the tremendous influence AzPPA member Christina McMaster would have on us professionally and the close friendship we enjoy today with her and her husband Mike. To our surprise, Christina shortly thereafter entrusted us to assist her at several weddings, and shared her experiences as a photographer with us. To this day, Christina is our support system – something which is so vital for every photographer to have.

Recently we had the pleasure of dining with Arthur Rainville during his recent visit to Phoenix to teach at an AzPPA full-day seminar. His personal stories and heartfelt thoughts on the art of photography that he shared with Connie and myself that evening were extremely inspiring. We were then fortunate to spend a week with Arthur in San Diego. Although he is only one of many instructors, this one man touched an emotional chord inside us that has already started to resonate through our photography. We also forged an unexpected friendship that I feel will last for many years.

Sometimes sitting alone in a studio, it’s hard not to feel isolated. Where will the next artistic inspiration come from? How are other studios dealing with changes in the industry? Who can I speak to in order to elevate my skills? You never know where, or from whom, these answers will come from and how they will change your business… It only takes but one person.

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Arizona PPA Fequently Asked Questions

Find the answers here

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