WHY 3 TIER CURRICULUM | Victoria, BC Image Explorations

I shared in an earlier post about the 3 Tiers that we have moved Image Explorations into.
There are many reasons behind this and why we are doing this and yes more importantly there is a 5 year plan as to where Image Explorations is heading.

All I can share right now is a clarity to these tiers.

If you really want to hear all that will be happening to Image Explorations for the coming 5 years, come to IE2012 and hear the "State of the Union Address" by Don MacGregor and Rockie Lee on Thursday afternoon.


Until then, have another look at what courses will be offered at Image Explorations in the next
5 years.

More details to come this July at IE 2012 !

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SCOTT KURKIAN & EDWARD ZEMBA : Advanced Business 2012 | Victoria, BC, Image Explorations

Have you been in the photography game for a while now ?
Have you been wondering just what you need to do, to get to the NEXT LEVEL of your photographic business ?

Well at Image Explorations we have a solution for you, not just for 2012 but for the following years to come.

I would like to introduce you to our very first ADVANCED COURSES (Tier 3) at Image Explorations 2012 !

For a long while now Don and I have been dreaming up what we can do to help you reach another "gear" with your photographic business. (For more info about our 3 Tiered Curriculum and Vision at Image Explorations, read this post.)

But for now let me just introduce this major exciting class ADVANCED CLASS !


I would like to introduce to you our ADVANCED BUSINESS COURSE: Business Breakthroughs with Scott Kurkian and Edward Zemba.



INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Scott Kurkian is the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) at PPA.

Not only does he bring the resources with him of PPA to help you reach your next gear in business, but Scott's amazing wisdom and skill, and not to mention his years of experience in the business sector and at PPA will surely help you cut out the "fat" in your business and make you more lean and profitable for years to come.




COURSE DESCRIPTION:

PPA’S BUSINESS BREAKTHROUGHS WORKSHOP

Can’t seem to grow your business? Get the breakthrough you want! This Business Breakthroughs workshop is only comprehensive business class in the industry. It’s brought to you by PPA’s Studio Management Services (SMS) – the authority on business education. With over 7 years of experience helping thousands of studios just like yours, SMS knows how to help you become financially stronger and more profitable.

Geared toward studios grossing $50,000 in sales, PPA’s small-group workshop—including a private consultation with a personal mentor—will take you to the next level. The workshop includes intense education, hands-on interactive worksheets, and a 1-hour private consultation with both Edward Zemba & Scott Kurkian, PPA’s CEO & co-founder of SMS. Together you will develop a 2012 financial plan along with customized marketing and sales strategies to help achieve the goals you’ve set.

To round out your SMS and IE experience, this workshop also includes a hands-on advanced family portrait module lead by Don MacGregor M.Photog.Cr,MPA and Rockie Lee.

Marketing & Promotions

· Who are your ideal clients? What adjustments should you make to attract more of them?

· How can you easily refine your brand and consistently use it on all your promotions?

· Who should you partner with to grow your client base?

Business & Financial Management

· Is your price list effective?

· Are you overspending on overhead or employees?

· How can you implement a price increase and not lose current clients in the process?

· Are you paying too much in taxes?

Sales & Customer Service

· What can you say to encourage customers to spend more?

· How can you provide higher levels of customer service with no investment?

· What are the tricks to get you comfortable with selling?

COURSE PREREQUISITES:


THIS IS AN ADVANCED COURSE THEREFORE NOT EVERYONE WILL BE ACCEPTED.
YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA AND SUBMIT THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE IN THIS COURSE.


There is a limit of 12 people for this ADVANCED COURSE.


1. Tuition Cost: $1044.00 (+ lodging) = $1500.00 aprox. for the course.

2. You must gross $50,000.00 a year.

3. You must produce financial statements of your annual gross.


*** if you gross under $50,000.00 annually, you may still submit a portfolio into Scott and he will make considerations upon acceptance.




***NOTE: Please know that this SMS course is a 3 DAY WORKSHOP !

Image Explorations will be offering an ADVANCED PORTRAIT WORKSHOP for the very first time in Canada with DON MACGREGOR of MacGregor Studios to complete your weeks education. We promise this will be a portrait class that you have never been experienced before !




FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CLASS PLEASE
CONTACT DON MACGREGOR AT:

don@macgregorstudios.com

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TRICOAST : Location Lighting & Off Camera Flash 2012 | Victoria, BC Image Explorations

For a few years now I have been traveling with Don MacGregor to help him teach. At this one specific school I kept hearing the name "TRI-COAST".

Never did no much but I always heard that their class was freakin amazing.

So after about 4 years of hearing this, Don and I decided to bring that "TRI-COAST" Team up to Canada and Rock our neck of the woods at Image Explorations 2012.

I you love using flash and various ways of utilizing Lighting for more fashion and edgy portraits and event photography, then this is the class for you. Let me introduce to you Mike and Cody of Tri-Coast. This will be a class unlike any you have take regarding lighting and location lighting.


INSTRUCTORS BIOS:

Cody Clinton and Mike Fulton are known worldwide for their unique approach to wedding, fashion, and high school senior photography. Selected as Kodak's Photographers to Watch, they have been recognized for their art and their commitment to teaching others worldwide. Their unique style, which has been adopted by photographers around the globe, provides clients with a one-of-akind attitude that is very apparent in their final product. While their range of assignments covers commercial, editorial and portraiture, it is the high end senior and wedding market in which TriCoast specializes. The care and commitment they bring to the table has landed them assignments through out the globe. TriCoast has been commissioned to photograph events for the Vice President of Uganda son's wedding in Africa, as well as events in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Replublic, Mexico, and other countries, and their work has been seen in such notable magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Rangefinder, Professional Photographer, Shutterbug, and Studio Photography.


COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:





COURSE TIME TABLE :

Sunday
Opening Night - Cody and Mike as well as other members and friends of TriCoast Photography will be in attendance to share and enjoy the opening of the school.


Monday
8am - 5pm (Classroom day)

• introduction of students and teachers - getting to know each other time
• hitting the basics of what the class will cover for the week and the general layout of the class
• explaining manual methods of lighting with both Speedlites and Strobes
• Trouble shooting the system, etc.
  
• what is RadioPopper Jrx Units and how do they work

Tuesday

8am - 5pm (Manual OFF Camera Lighting Day)

Breaking the class up into smaller groups to learn better. This day we will not worry about brand products to sort the classrooms, however on the other days - Nikon will be with Nikon and Canon will be with Canon users in the smaller learning groups. Each group will have their own light stick (aka: mono pod) or EZ Stand and flash unit (Canon 580ex and SB800)

NOTE: We STRONGLY suggest the students bring their own equipment to better understand and learn how to use their equipment throughout the workshop.

Using the students as models (one for each group - 2 to 4 in total) the groups will practise first hand the following:

• using OFF Camera Flash lighting methods, the students will learn how to manually adjust their flash units (using supplied RadioPopper JrX transmitters and receiving units supplied by TriCoast Photography)
• learning the pros and cons to the system including but not limited to
• cross breeding of the flash units
• adjusting the power on each flash unit
• Lack of High Speed Sync - Limited in camera settings etc.
  
• constant light output
• using OFF Camera Strobes lighting methods, the students will learn how to manually adjust their strobe units
• Blending any strobe unit together
• Blending both strobes and speedlites together

The students will capture images of the models in and around the Image Explorations location during this time using the techniques and methods taught by TriCoast Photography.

Ending the day at 5pm the students will have "HOMEWORK" to pick a few images (processing is optional) in order to display to the class the next day.


Wednesday
8am to 10am (TTL Metering OFF Camera Lighting Day - Line of Sight Method)

Review of the previous days photos taken by students. These photos will be projected on screen inside the classroom. Our goal is to not talk about composition of the images but more light placement - light power, possible posing methods to assist in getting in a better lighting pattern. Finding the positives in every portrait as well as the negatives our goal is to give the needed material to improve their images for the shooting which will happen later in this day with new learning material.

10am - 12pm (TTL Metering OFF Camera Lighting Day - Line of Sight Method)

Breaking the class up into smaller groups to learn better, each group having a model to photograph.
Each group will have their own light stick or EX Stand and flash unit

1pm - 5pm (TTL Metering OFF Camera Lighting Day - RadioPopper Introduction)

Breaking the class up into smaller groups to learn better, each group having a model to photograph.
Each group will have their own light stick or EX Stand and flash unit

NOTE: We STRONGLY suggest the students bring their own equipment to better understand and learn how to use their equipment throughout the workshop.

Using models if possible (one for each group - 2 to 4 in total) the groups will practice first hand the following:

• Using OFF Camera Flash lighting methods, the students will learn in the TTL mode to adjust their flash units using the direct line of sight method. Learning the pros and cons to the system including but not limited to:
  
• issues with line of sight
• Adjusting the power on each flash unit
• How to use the High Speed Sync.
  
• Manually creating ratios in their work
• Limitations on the smaller light source - how to work around these limitations
• Zoom feature of their speedlite units
• Using different focal lengths, metering modes inside the camera
• Using multiply speedlites to get the most out of their work
• Understanding how to use your speedlites in any lighting situation

HOMEWORK time !

Thursday

8am - 10am

Review of the previous days photos taken by students. These photos will be projected on screen inside the classroom. Our goal is to not talk about composition of the images but more light placement - light power, possible posing methods to assist in getting a better lighting pattern. Finding the positives in every portrait as well as the negatives our goal is to give the needed material to improve their images for the shooting which will happen later in this day with new learning material.

10am - 12pm

Marketing Time - Any marketing or other aspects which TriCoast Photography can assist our students with. A few examples are:

• Wedding Marketing
• School/Event Photographer Marketing
• High School Senior / Grad Marketing

Closing remarks - Ending Questions - Catch all statements.

TRICOAST IMAGES:

Check out their work at:

Wedding/Portrait Work: www.TriCoastPhoto.com
High School Senior Work: www.TriCoastSeniors.com

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