Meeting & Agendas

Board Members present: Doug Box-President of the TPPA, Photographer and Educator Kirk Tuck-Commercial Photographer and Videographer Mark Daughn-Glamour and Pin Up Photographer (former ACC student in photography) Kim Francois-Portrait and Wedding Photographer (Graduate ACC photography) Tracey Taylor-Portrait Photographer Chuck Soliz-Commercial and Portrait Photographer Park Street-Architectural Photographer and Commercial Sales with Precision Camera Faculty Bill Woodhull-Department Chair Robert Payne William Tolan Frank Curry Christine Harris Barbara Hampton Kathryn Watts-Martinez The two-hour meeting was both informative and lively. The discussion started and finished with the direction of professional photography and that direction is video based and digital in nature of delivery. Senior portrait clients are now requesting video as part of their packages. The final destination for most images is digital, either for the web or digital screens within the home. That could either be HD TVs, iPads, and computers or stand alone screens. Clients are also requesting nice looking slide shows. The discussion continued with our current clients based known as the Millennia’s. They know what they want and are use whatever platform pleases them and not based on historical norms. Pintrist is a driving factor for both outlets for work and markets for new clients. Only Chuck stated that he is selling large prints. Others are mostly selling books and digital files. Mark stated that his video sales are of RAW capture and that clients have their own editors. In his still image business he only sells finished images but does not feel emotionally tied to his video work and therefore willing to let others edit the material. Discussions about the Sony A99 camera as current state of the art for photographers that shoot both still and video. The need for a crew to shoot video versus just the photographer and one assistant has lowered the barriers to entry in the video field. Commercial clients are requesting that video interviews be done during stills to incorporate on the web utilizing the same lighting styles. Park said that Precision currently is selling 5-10 times the continuous lighting versus flash for photography. The need in the future will be to move from exclusively flash lighting equipment to one balanced with continuous sources. The board agrees that classes need to incorporate more continuous lighting in the camera classes. Most video is done on a work for hire model. Still photographers have worked hard to maintain their copyrights granted under the constitution but moving into video will require a new mindset. Finally the professional organizations are now moving to recognize video as part of their membership. Park declared that we are still one of the best programs in the country for what we do. The conclusion of the board is that the department must either start teaching video or merger with the RTF department in some form must take place. The future of image making is one of all types and an image maker will need to wear many hats.