Todays Guest: Roland Laramie of PPA of New England
Today's Host: John Bentley
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Professional Photographers Association of New England.
Roland Laramie Transcript Page
Roland Laramie Expert PageANNOUNCER: Welcome to the VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight with your host, John Bentley.
JOHN: Today's program is sponsored by morephotos.com the online photo sales solution to professional photographers worldwide.
JOHN: Today we are in the Studio with Roland Laramie, the executive director of the Professional Photographer's Association of New England. He's based out of Willimantic, Connecticut. Welcome to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight today, Roland.
ROLAND: Thank you.
JOHN: We certainly appreciate you joining us on the radio program. Tell our listeners a little bit about your organization.
ROLAND: Well, the Professional Photographer's of New England was established in 1896. We just had our 2007 convention, and we have at the present time over 600 members in the 6 New England States.
JOHN: You said 1986?
ROLAND: That's when we were established. One of the oldest associations in photography.
JOHN: Wow. Very interesting.
ROLAND: This was our 2,007th convention.
JOHN: Now, obviously, they weren't doing digital photography back there in 1896. Tell us a little bit about the beginning of the organization and what kind of photography was being done at that time.
ROLAND: Well, way back when it was established, of course, it was all black and white and the photographers had to mix their own chemicals and process the black and white, make red proofs, etc. In fact, I myself was brought up in, let's see it was 1946, I worked part time in a photographic studio and we had to mix our own chemical and process the film and do everything in the establishment. Not like today when they can send things out to a lab or so forth.
JOHN: We've come a long way in 115 years or whatever, huh? Tell me...how long have you been involved in the photography industry yourself. From 1946?
ROLAND: Since I was in high school in 1946, went in the service, served in task force frigid up in Alaska as a photo lab technician, came back onto the GI Bill and went to photography school and eventually went to work for the studio that I eventually bought out many years ago.
JOHN: How long have you been involved with the PPA of New England?
ROLAND: Since 1983, I've been their executive director.
JOHN: No kidding. You've seen presidents come and go through the organization, huh?
ROLAND: Yes, we have. Actually, we also affiliated with the Professional Photographers of America. Our judging is done under their specifications so the members can receive merit and so forth. And we have a school that's held each year, and those that attend the school receive merits from the Professional Photographer's of America towards their degrees.
JOHN: What is the name of that school?
ROLAND: It's the New England Institute of Professional Photography held every, well this year, it's April. It used to be in March, but this is going to be our, let's see what is this year, how many years, it's over 30 years that we've had this school, and we have at least 300 students and they cover the whole gammit of professional photography.
JOHN: Now you guys just had your annual convention recently, did you not?
ROLAND: Right, in September.
JOHN: In September, and how did that go?
ROLAND: Very good. Yep, we have some good speakers and once a member pays their dues they're automatically registered for the annual convention and trade show.
JOHN: Now, do you have any upcoming events?
ROLAND: Well the school is in April and then again we will meet in September of next year at our annual convention.
JOHN: Tell us what other services and benefits are included when you become a member of this Association.
ROLAND: Well, you're able to attend the school, and as I said the registration for the convention and banquet and then able to enter the print competition at a reduced rate, because of being a member.
JOHN: I would imagine that the networking involved in an organization like this is quite helpful to the professional photographer. Yes it is.
JOHN: We are in the studio with the executive director of the Professional Photographer's Association of New England, Roland Laramie. You're listening to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight. We're going to take a break, we'll be right back after these important messages.
ANNOUNCER: This VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight is sponsored by morephotos.com, the online photo sales solution to professional photographers worldwide.
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ANNOUNCER: We now return you to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight with your host, John Bentley.
JOHN: Welcome back to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight. We are in the studio today with Roland Laramie, the executive director of the Professional Photographer's Association of New England. Welcome back, to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight, Roland.
ROLAND: Good to be back.
JOHN: We certainly appreciate you joining us today. Now, there's plenty of benefits from joining an organization like this. Is it a monthly newsletter that you guy send out?
ROLAND: Yes, it is and then we have an annual convention directory that includes...that is put out just before our convention that lists all the members.
JOHN: Now the newsletter, obviously, it's giving pertinent information to upcoming events. Is there anything else...
ROLAND: It also covers each of the New England states have their own association and in our newsletter, we will cover what they programs are and so forth so we give them a bug also.
JOHN: Now you mentioned earlier about the photo competitions.
ROLAND: Right.
JOHN: Tell us a little bit about the competition that you have.
ROLAND: Well the Professional Photographer's of America have a degree program, Master of Photographer and Photographic Craftsman, and you have to, for example, to receive the Master of Photography degree, you have to accumulate so many merits. Now you can receive a merit when you enter our print competition and the score is over 80 that the five judges have given you. So a person has to get like 25 of these merits before they apply for the degree of Master of Photography. If a person attends our school, they will get merits which are used towards the degree of Craftsman photography. So over the years, they can accumulate these and eventually receive those degrees.
JOHN: Now you mentioned that your photo organization was established in 1896, I would imagine you have quite a few members, do you have an estimate of how many members are in the organization today?
ROLAND: Right now we have over 600 and we have about 85 honorary members which means former members that were either officers, presidents in our association. So we have over 600. By September we will have over 600 members. We also eventually we get from New Jersey and New York and even Canada will pick up some members.
JOHN: How does one apply for membership?
ROLAND: All they have to do is fill out an application.
JOHN: And I assume that application can be found on your website?
ROLAND: Yes, they can find it there.
JOHN: Ok, what's your website information and your contact information?
ROLAND: Oh dear. Ppanepub@aol.com
JOHN: That's email?
ROLAND: Yes.
JOHN: Ok, alright. And your actual website is, what is that address?
ROLAND: That's the one I just gave you.
JOHN: Ok, how about the ppane.com?
ROLAND: Right.
JOHN: Good. Alright we are in the studio with Roland Laramie, the executive director of the Professional Photographer's Association of New England based out of Willimantic, Connecticut. I want to thank you for joining us today on VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight today, Roland.
ROLAND: You're quite welcome.
JOHN: You have been listening to VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight. I am your host, John Bentley. Thanks for tuning in today. Everyone have a nice afternoon.
ANNOUNCER: You have been listening to the VTalk Radio's Photographer Spotlight; only on www.vtalkradio.com. Radio for the 21st Century.
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