Member of the Month
Victor Sizemore:
Creating a Field of Dreams

By CharMaine Beleele

When Victor Sizemore left his Kentucky home to play baseball for Azusa Pacific University, little did he know that he would find the two great loves of his life in sunny southern California. In California, he met and married his wife, Rachael, and discovered his passion for photography. Cameras intrigued Victor even as a teenager, but his Kentucky high school had no such program. From the moment he stepped into the darkroom as a college student in 2001, he had found the exact medium to express his artistic vision. He began photography by capturing landscapes and travel images. As time passed, his intense love of family life with Rachael and their four children, Asa, Elijah, Evie and Sammy, quickly led him into lifestyle and wedding photography. By 2004 he had transformed his passionate pastime into a profession, and photography became his personal field of dreams. Victor says, "I want to capture great images in the first place, but then I love to enhance them and make them more powerful through my art in Photoshop. I want to create the drama that I see and evoke a surreal setting or mood. In a sense, that makes me a storyteller too."
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Studio of the Month

Anthony Vazquez:
A Cutting Edge Talent with an International Flair

By Mary McGrath

It isn't often that I view a photographer's website that embraces so many varying cultures. Such is the case with Anthony Vazquez, whose specialty for large international weddings has helped him carve out a unique niche in this highly competitive terrain. Anthony's images feature Muslim, Persian, Hindu and Orthodox ceremonies, to name only a few samples of his clientele. But Anthony doesn't just focus on international ceremonies. He has a large local following thanks to his affiliations with wedding planners, his website and strong word-of-mouth.

Having a father from Puerto Rico and a mother from Italy, Anthony was immersed early into an international culture. Although he was born in Oklahoma and moved to New York City when he was only a year old, he's fluent not only in English, but also Spanish and some Italian, and dabbles in many other languages. But, it's his openness that has helped him embrace the many cultures of the weddings he's shot. When he undertakes a wedding, Anthony truly becomes a part of the family he's shooting. His convivial nature and high energy endear him to his clients--putting them at ease and adding fun to the event.
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In Studio & On Screen
To Black & White Or Not To Black & White

By David Beckstead

It used to be so simple. When asked to, most photographers would just shoot black and white here and there at weddings and just charge a little more for their trouble. A few wedding photographers have told me that they can visualize what would look good in black and white and shoot accordingly, but not many of us share this talent. Most wedding photographers including myself just shoot black and white here and there at the bride's request. There's never really any true art or creativity in how, why, or when we use black and white.

Then along came digital cameras, which have changed the artistic compositional concepts of black and white forever--opening up a whole new monochrome world for many photographers. For me, the art of black and white became truly apparent after the wedding, during my workflow on the monitor.

Using monochrome as a compositional tool is not new. Some of the most well known photographers photographed in monochrome. They chose black-and-white film over color because of its unique compositional impact. Only unique artists can show us something dynamic and different in the monochrome medium. The rest of us just seem to be playing around with nostalgia. I would like to introduce some key concepts and elements that make a case for choosing to convert to a monochrome medium or not: depth, emotion, mood, lines, light and a quirky one--mistakes.
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Business Landscape
Smart Tactics for Tough Times

By Phillip M. Perry

The economic environment has become more challenging than ever and for most retailers this means additional effort is required to keep things above water. Now is the time to take a fresh look at every detail of your business, retool your operations to reflect the new realities and, in the process, reposition yourself for a rebound when the economy snaps back.

"Start by thinking of your business as a living organism," suggests Francis Bologna, a CPA and president of Francis Bologna & Associates, a consulting firm in Gretna, LA. "Like any living entity, your business is bound to catch cold from time to time. Your job is to return your business to a healthy state." He continues, "You have to get rid of the fat in your business first. Then trim the muscle and make it leaner, and then strengthen the bone." Bologna explains, "Items on your profit-and-loss statement represent the fat and muscle. Items on your balance sheet are the bone."
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Member News
Important News for WPPI Members

• WPPI 2009: Save the Dates
  
  

  February 12th and 13th:	Plus Classes
  February 14th:	Business Institute and All About Schools program
  February 14th and 15th:	16 x 20 Print and Album Competition judging
  February 15th:	Opening Platform programs and a huge Mock-Wedding Welcome Reception!
  February 16th-18th:	Our biggest Trade Show! Platform and MasterClasses!
  February 19th:	Closing Program

  
  
  
• For photographers who are heading to Las Vegas for WPPI 2009, check out the blog Flying With Fish (www.flyingwithfish.com). Flying With Fish is regularly updated with travel information relevant to photographers who travel and those who seek to travel. Flying With Fish keeps photographers informed about travel-related topics.
  
  
• Jose Villa and Gene Higa were recently named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine. A fine art wedding photographer, Jose's approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. For him, it is all about making something beautiful.
  
  
• Here's a 14-city tour you won't want to miss. It's Landon and Kristi Darr's workshop focusing on marketing to the high-end bride. Sponsored by Boda, Marathon, BluDomain, Calumet, Alien Skin software and getmarried.com, it's a program designed to help you develop and fine-tune your selling skills, branding, web presence and essentially create the buzz necessary to attract higher-end clients.
  
  
• Hanson Fong has just joined the already talent-filled speaker lineup for Light Pro Expo 2008, and Jed Taufer will be joining the Photoshop and beer evening classes! Free lecture series registration with purchase of hands-on full access registration. Space is limited to 200. Sign up today!
  
  
• Mitche Graf and David Beckstead have announced they will team up to teach a one-day intensive seminar on Monday, November 3 in Phoenix, AZ. The workshop will focus on the importance of blending the art of photography along with the art of business into your studio.
  
  
• Power Marketing 101 is proud to announce the cities and dates for Mitche Graf's west coast "BootCamp Tour." The west coast leg will include seven cities and will begin on Tuesday, October 12 in Portland, Oregon.
  
  
• The Las Vegas Experience With Robert Lino & Michele Gauger: Two great styles, one great experience! Get the lighting and posing right in the camera while cutting back on computer and production time. Capture great images while shooting at dunes in Death Valley, Rhyolite (a ghost town) and Amargosa because it's all about location, location, location--and what locations we have!
  
  
• Seminario de fotografía con Fernando Escovar, uno de los fotógrafos latinos con mas éxito en Estados Unidos, se llevará acabo en una mansión de los 1900's en 10933 Paramount Blvd, Downey, California, el 14 de Septiembre de 10 am a 4:30 pm. La inversión será de 79 dólares. Habrá un cupo limitado de 50 personas, con regalos y rifas de los patrocinadores.
  
  
• It's time for the 2nd half of WPPI's 2008 8 x 10 print competition so get your best prints together. Registration will open September 5th and mailed entries are due by October 3rd.
  
  
• The International Contemporary Art Fair For Photo-Based Art, Video and New Media, features top U.S. and international galleries showcasing artwork by established and emerging artists during Art Basel Miami Beach (Midtown Miami, FL / Wynwood Art District).
  
  
• The 18th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition features galleries from around the world showcasing artwork by renowned and emerging photographers (Barker Hangar Santa Monica, CA).
  
  
• The New Los Angeles International Contemporary Art Fair celebrates the thriving art world of Los Angeles. ART LA features the most prominent international and Los Angeles-based galleries showcasing the best of emerging and established artists (Barker Hangar Santa Monica, CA).
  
  
• Let there be light--in the September issue of Rangefinder. This month's issue is chockfull of profiles of modern-day lighting masters, new techniques, lighting systems and accessories. See www.rangefindermag.com for more.
  
  
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