Member of the Month
From Buildings to Brides:
Joanne Bening

By Linda L. May

Professional photographer Joanne Bening of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, combines a rare talent for storytelling with seven years experience in architectural work, which makes her perfectly suited for one of her specialties--wedding photography. In addition to maternity and engagement photography, Joanne also shoots portraits of babies, children and families upon request. Most of her work is done in Philadelphia, New York City and New Jersey; however, Joanne has also traveled to exciting locations such as Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, London, Mexico and Rhode Island to shoot destination weddings.
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Studio of the Month

Hearing and Seeing Images: Jane Morba Life Photography

By Margaret Lane

Jane Morba picked up a camera in her early 20s and soon found that photographing the essence of people came very naturally to her. "I started to intuitively find the decisive moments needed to make great photographs," she says. A passion for interpretive dance and time spent in the dance studio also fueled her. "The most exciting dancers move with impact," Jane explains. "I am influenced by their movements; my life focus has become photography that makes a bold statement with a fresh and unique perspective."
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Business Landscape
Store Makeover: Smart Design Sparks Sales

By Phillip M. Perry

Great ads and a good reputation draw shoppers to your store. Once they've arrived, though, customers need inspiration to open their wallets, and that's where smart decor pays off. Your retail interior can be a silent salesperson that turns browsers into buyers.

"A great retail look is critical in today's market," says Barbara Crowhurst, a retail makeover specialist based in Toronto, Canada. "The interior of your store is more important than ever because shoppers have more choices as to where to shop."
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In the Studio & On Screen
Cell Phone Slideshow

By Greg Bumatay

Here's a really easy way to put up a mini slideshow on your cell phone. It's pretty cool to do at weddings so people can see images from earlier that same day. I've been successful at creating a buzz during receptions with this technique. Even better, enthusiastic guests can share the slideshows by sending them to other cell phones via Bluetooth.
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Member News
Important News for WPPI Members

• Although it's still six months away, the WPPI 2008 Convention and Trade Show is already shaping up to be our best ever. A few details have already emerged. For example, our lineup of Plus Class instructors has been announced; it includes Jerry Ghionis, Bambi Cantrell, Yervant, Fernando Basurto, Mike Colón, Matthew Jordan Smith and Christian Lalonde. Some of our MasterClass instructors will be Michele Celentano, Jim Garner, Mike Larson, JB and DeEtte Sallee, Kevin Kubota, and many more. Platform speakers will include Rodney Bailey and Dan Doke, Eric Meola, Tom Muñoz, Ken Sklute, Eddie Tapp, Nancy Emmerich and Catherine Hall, to name just a few.
  
  
• WPPI members Pete and Lillian Wright recently took an exciting trip to Manila, Philippines, to participate in the 2007 Photo Summit. Pete describes the eye-opening experience below.
  
  We experienced a life-changing and personally rewarding event. Traveling across the globe to a region that we never envisioned was bound to be an adventure we would never forget. We were one of two husband-wife teams invited to give a program, the other team being Don and Nancy Emmerich, and together the four of us were given an opportunity to experience the incredible Filipino culture and amazing hospitality.
  
  The kindness and humility of the people of the Philippines were not anything we had experienced before, and we already have grown to miss each day. We will forever cherish their courtesy and hope to visit our new fellow photographers and friends again in the very near future.
  
  
• The best of the WPPI 2007 Awards of Excellence Print and Album Competition is now available for pre-order. Plus, for the first time ever, the new edition of the Album will also feature a DVD of the Album Competition winners. The special pre-order price is $64.95 (plus shipping and handling). You can pre-order online at www.wppionline.com today. (Offer expires 11/30/2007)
  
  
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Featured Books

Up To Speed: Photoshop CS3
By Ben Willmore
Peachpit Press, www.peachpit.com
May 2007, $29.95, 168 pages

Digital Photography for Children's and Family Portraiture, 2nd Edition
By Kathleen Hawkins
Amherst Media, www.amherstmedia.com
October 2007, $34.95, 127 pages

The Painter X Wow! Book
By Cher Threinen-Pendarvis
Peachpit Press, www.peachpit.com
May 2007, $59.99, 415 pages plus CD-ROM