FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             
June 1, 2007                                                  
www.pmai.org

SPAA Sports Photography Traveling Seminar to teach winning techniques in Long Beach

JACKSON, Mich. – A stellar lineup of outstanding speakers covering solid content marks the fast-approaching tour stops of the SPAA Sports Photography Traveling Seminars. This will be the second year SPAA has taken its efforts on the road to educate attendees who have been involved in sports photography for years and those just starting out. Attendees will learn techniques that will help them achieve higher gross sales, better net margins and greater customer satisfaction.
  One of those seminars will take place at the Long Beach Marriott (http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/lgblb-long-beach-marriott/) in Long Beach, Calif., on Wednesday, June 27. The seminar takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and costs $95 (including lunch).       
   With more than 52 million participants in youth sports and a purchase rate for packages of more than 80 percent, sports photography is one of the fastest growing and most profitable business opportunities in the photographic market.
   Whether you want to expand your current operations or are looking for a new profit opportunity, the team of experts speaking at the seminars will share with you a winning strategy for success in this lucrative market.

   The SPAA Sports Photography Traveling Seminars are perfect for those who are:

• Looking to build their current sports photography business into an even more successful venture.
• Just starting in the sports photography market and looking to develop a successful business.
• Searching for a new profit opportunity to expand and grow business.

   Here is the SPAA Seminar Speaker Starting Lineup …

Jeff Gump, Owner, Gump’s Sports Photography
Jeff Gump was introduced to youth sports almost 20 years ago. Since that time, his company, Gump’s Sports Photography, has photographed more than 800,000 athletes; but it’s not just about the number of athletes photographed, it’s about customer retention. Thanks to participation in numerous seminars and conventions on sports photography, Gump’s Sports Photography has put together an exciting and well-oiled picture-day experience, something Gump is very passionate about. As the official photographer of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mascot and cheerleaders, it’s not all work and no play.

John Pittman, CEO, Sport Stars Inc.
John Pittman, a native of Pennsylvania, is CEO of Sport Stars Inc., a respected photo manufacturing company of 30 years that specializes in the youth activities market. Sport Stars Inc.’s state-of-the-art finishing labs produce photographic products for photographers all across America, while their photographic division, Pittman Photography, photographs some 75,000 children in Pennsylvania alone. Since introducing baseball cards to the Pennsylvania youth market in 1977, Sport Stars Inc. has provided professional trading cards to not only American children, but also to world class athletes of the former communist block region.

Frank Harrison, Owner, Time Piece Photography
Frank Harrison’s photography experience has included 10 years of extensive travel as a family portrait photographer for a national company. Eventually Harrison retired from the road, taking a sales/technician position at a local camera store. During this time, as his children began participating in youth sports, Harrison began regularly photographing them and their teammates. Realizing the need for a sports photographer in this area, he opened Time Piece Photography, which now employs five full-time and 15 part-time photographers, specializing in the youth sports market.

Your Playbook for Success
In one day, you will experience the complete package needed to operate a successful sports photography business. Learn what the experts are doing as you are empowered with an understanding of the following topics:

• Sports Photography 101
  Get into the profitable business opportunity that is sports photography by first learning the basics.
• Posed Action
  With so much motion, action on the field can be difficult to cleanly capture. Take a different approach to action with posed shots.
• Photo Shoot Logistics
  The use of tents or various backgrounds can enhance the images taken during a shoot. Ensure a smooth shoot by making a plan and fully understanding the logistics.
• Developing a Professional Photo Envelope
  An effective photo envelope can lead to more sales and, thus, higher profits. Learn how to make more money per envelope.
• Posting Images Online vs. Distribution On-Site
  Which sales strategy is more profitable and better serves the needs of your customers – distributing images on-site or posting them online? Determine the pros and cons of each strategy.
• Effective Sales Strategy to a Youth League
  Giving a presentation to a league board can be daunting, but an effective strategy can lead you to close the sale.
• When You Really Mess Up, What Do You Do?
  With more than 50 years combined in the business of sports photography, our speakers have seen it all. Learn from their experiences and pitfalls what to do when a mistake occurs.
• SPAA: Your Association
  The debuting SPAA accreditation program will separate your company from the competition and give your leagues confidence in who’s photographing their athletes. Hear more about this new benefit, along with full details on your member association – the Sports Photographers Association of America.

   To REGISTER for the SPAA Sports Photography Traveling Seminar, visit:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?4W,M3,16d3b4b1-ec3d-4684-9f4b-bcf997e7dd41.

    For any questions, contact Tom Crawford at 517-788-8100 or e-mail at tcrawford@pmai.org.