June 1st, 2006
CCS Summer Workshop Countdown!
by Dana
Hill
Now that it is June 1st, we can say the CCS Summer Workshops
are next month! Have you made your travel arrangements
yet? Mark your calendar now for July 23rd through 25th
to attend the CCS Summer Workshop here in Oklahoma City.
Meetings and optional training sessions will take place
either on the CCS campus or at the nearby
Hilton
Gardens Hotel. Hosting the workshop on CCS’
home turf allows for utilization of staff and resources
required to truly offer hands-on sessions.
As you will see as you
look
over the agenda, the Workshop format is intended to
be training intensive and collaborative in nature. “Roundtable”
discussions are planned for most major market specialties.
These roundtables discussions are opportunities to share
and receive information on what is working in that market
system wide with other CCS customers. In addition to the
market roundtables and presentations, more than 18 hours
of training are being offered in seven different areas/software
systems. A new training session has been added since the
last newsletter. You’ll notice that now on Monday
morning you have the choice of either a QEMS or a Grad/Race
QP+ Training. The Grad/Race QP+ Training was added to
the agenda as an option as 6/30 is the last day for new
events to be activated on QP2 Grad and QP2 Race. So if
you shoot these markets and haven’t already transitioned
to QP+, you will want to attend this session.
Whether you are a new or long-time CCS customer, the 2006
CCS Summer Workshop offers not only valuable networking
opportunities with other CCS customers, but reviews of
existing—and introduction of—new systems and
methods to grow your business. Can you afford not to attend?
If you are new to the CCS family it’s important
to note that these meetings are FREE to attend; you need
just take care of your lodging and airfare (if needed).
Put these dates on your calendar today and make plans
to attend. Be sure to complete the
registration
form if you are planning to attend. If you have any
questions or suggestions, please contact Dana Hill at
800-336-4550 ext. 876.
Enlarged Previews on QP2 Quicpics (Party PicsTM)
& Sports!
For those of you who have had customers complain that
the online preview image is not large enough, you’ll
be happy to know that in the Sports and Quicpic markets
of QP2 the preview size had been enlarged. The image area
is now 100% larger than the previous preview size. This
change, made in early May, was a result of lab customer
and retail customer requests and focus group feedback.
If you shoot sports via speculation and put the proofs
online to order (vs taking orders on site), this enlarged
preview will be a big plus when it comes to viewing the
team pictures online. Now parents can more easily view
their child within a group shot to make that decision
to purchase with less uncertainty. Hopefully, this enlarged
preview will also contribute to a customer’s decision
to purchase retouching as an added option to their package,
thus increasing transaction amount.
Corporate Parties Are Big Business
by Darwin
Drake
Recently I had the opportunity to bid on and
photograph two insurance company parties.
The Deloitte Company was charged a $50.00 photographer
fee and sold 200 4x6 gift certificates up front to give
to their guest as they arrived. The 4x6’s were
sold for $3.00 each plus postage and handling (which
was $1.25 each for a total $4.25 per print).
The second company, Accenture, told me they expected
about 900 people at their party. I sold them four photographers
at $50.00 each, and then described to them what the
Deloitte company had done for their guests just the
previous week. As a result, they purchased 300 4x6’s.
By pre selling prints before the event, I easily grossed
$1500.00 for this party pic event.
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A week before the Accenture party, I called and said
that in appreciation for using our company, I would
be setting up a formal backdrop at no charge. After
photographing a few companies’ parties this spring,
I found if I set the backdrop in the entrance, that
becomes the thing to do – guests feel they must
stop to get their posed picture taken as they walk in.
Of the event’s 800 images, 361 were from the backdrop.
For this posed picture opportunity, I used a two light
set up. The main umbrella was beside the camera, eight
feet high, set at F-8. The separation light, a small
soft box, was positioned back behind the subjects at
the top corner of the backdrop, nine feet high, set
at 5.6. This light gives a little different look; it
actually makes my backdrop highlights look real. The
reflections off the backdrop stairs match the light
off the couples. This event can be seen at PartyPics.
Display corporate samples on your website and use this
event as a reference to show what you can produce. This
was my testimonial to these companies; I asked them
to go to our website and stated this is what I will
do for you. Also, remember that pre-selling pictures
not only allows the company to provide their employees
with a “party favor” but when added to your
shooting fee, is a way to have revenue from the party
before even taking the first shot.
Cleaning Digital SLR Camera Sensors
by Steve
Foisy
Have you ever cleaned your camera’s sensor? (CCD,
CMOS Chip) If not, then you may be overdue for a cleaning.
Over time, dust and lint can collect on the camera’s
sensor.
These will be most visible on the lighter areas of an
image. Larger particles or dust spots are visible on almost
any portion of a picture. “Is that a mole on that
face or a dust spot?”
Cameras with non-removable lenses such as the
Canon
G3,
Kodak
4800 or
Olympus
E10/E20 do not require cleaning since they are assembled
in a dust free environment and have sealed non-removable
lenses.
Olympus
E300’s &
E500
have a built in sonic wave mechanism that automatically
cleans the sensor when the camera is turned on. All other
digital cameras with a removable fixed focal length lens
or zoom lens (air flows through these as you zoom in and
out) are vulnerable to a build-up of dust particles. The
more you remove your lenses, the more likely you are to
experience dust. Even brand new cameras out of the box
should have their sensors cleaned prior to use since there
may have been dust particles that settled on the sensor
during shipping.
Camera sensors should be cleaned every 1-2 weeks depending
on usage. Below are two different methods to clean your
digital SLR camera’s sensor. The second method utilizing
a sensor brush has only recently been available and thoroughly
tested.
WARNING: Follow the cleaning procedures
according to the instructions in your owner’s manual.
Failure to follow the proper procedures can damage your
camera. Cleaning the sensor yourself (even if needed)
may void your warranty.
Cleaning with an Air bulb/Air Blower
Step 1: Assemble items required for cleaning.
You will need the camera, an AC adapter if cleaning
any Nikon D1 series or D100 models, an air blower without
anti static brushes, a desk lamp, the camera owners
manual opened to the sensor cleaning section and a clean
(air) environment to perform the cleaning. Air blowers
can be purchased at most camera stores or at your local
drug store. The large bulbs used for ear cleaning are
the best.
Despite what you may have read DO NOT use cleaning swabs.
You will void your warranty if you use them and some
digital cameras have filters in front of the sensor
that can be damaged with the use of a swab. Think about
it. You have a sensor slightly bigger than your thumb
that has 6,000,000 million light recording pixels. If
not done properly a swab is more likely to grind or
smear any minute particles into the sensor and leave
streaks or residue that could affect its performance.
I have been cleaning our sensors for two years now with
an air blower and now with the Sensor Brush and have
not experienced any problems. Also, we do not recommend
the use of canned air because of the high pressure and
moisture content in the propellant.
 |
Step 2: Set camera to cleaning mode.
This menu item is normally found in the custom functions
menu on most cameras. Most Nikon cameras will require
the use of an AC adapter* to activate this feature.
Using the camera’s menu driven cleaning setting
will lock the mirror and shutter curtain in the up or
open position and will also change the charge of the
sensor which helps to repel the particles when blown
with air.
Step 3: Remove Lens and Point Camera Down
Take your lens off of the camera once you have activated
the cleaning setting. Do not do this in a dusty environment
and do not let anything touch the sensor. If you look
into the camera through the opening where the lens is
mounted, the sensor will be visible as a shiny turquoise
or greenish looking rectangular object. Point the camera
straight down to reduce the chance of dust falling into
camera body.
Step 4: Position Camera Over The Air Blower
Hold the camera pointing straight down and directly
over the blower with the tip of the blower no closer
to the camera’s sensor than the front of the camera
body. Do not let the end of the blower touch the sensor.
You may find it easier to hold the blower steady by
resting it on a table top.
Step 5: Squeeze Air Blower
Squeeze the air blower directing the air blast onto
the sensor. Do this five times.
Step 6: Examine the Sensor
Hold your camera under a desk lamp and examine the
sensor. (Don’t use a dusty lamp!) By tipping the
camera back and forth, you will be able to see the reflection
of the light on the sensor. This will make any large
dust particles more visible. If you see any large dust
particles still on the sensor, repeat Step 5 until the
spots are gone. Do not touch the sensor! If you cannot
remove the dust particles off of the sensor or you still
see spots on your images even after cleaning, then your
camera should be returned to the manufacturer for cleaning.
Step 7: Blow Off Lens and Mount on Body
 |
Blow off the rear lens elements prior to putting it
back onto the camera. Do this promptly after cleaning.
Using the camera menu, turn the cleaning mode off.
*In an emergency, you can clean a Nikon camera sensor
without an AC adapter with the camera’s shutter
speed set on bulb. It will be more difficult to clean
every particle from the sensor, but larger dust spots
may still be removable. Do not release the shutter button
if the air bulb is obstructing the mirror.
Cleaning with a Sensor Brush
Available through VisibleDust,
the senor brush is a wonderful tool to clean your camera
sensors quickly and safely. Most brushes will run $70-$80
each.
Step 1: Blow tip of brush with Canned Air for 10 seconds.
(It is OK to use canned air for this process)
Step 2: Turn camera on to cleaning mode using the same
steps in the Air Blower method.
 |
Step 3: Once the camera is in cleaning mode and the
lens is removed, gently clean the sensor using one continuous
stroke from left to right. Avoid touching the brush
to any other portion of the camera to avoid picking
up camera lubricant which could damage the sensor.
Step 4: Repeat if steps 1-3 if needed. Never brush
twice in a row without blowing off sensor brush.
Clean the brush occasionally with mild detergent or
alcohol.
Contact Steve Foisy in
Customer Support at 800-750-0494 ext 858 for more information
on sensor cleaning
CCS Grand Cayman Print Finishing
Promotion
by Brian
Speers
With five months gulped down in 2006 and only seven months
to go in the
CCS Grand Cayman Print Finishing
promotion, it’s time to evaluate where
you stand and how good your chances are for winning trips
to this tropical paradise in early March of 2007.
This year’s promotion—which began on January
1 and concludes on December 31—gives every customer
the opportunity to win a trip, or multiple trips, to the
Westin
Hotel & Resort on Grand Cayman Island for four
days/three nights following the
CCS Winter Seminar
taking place in Miami Beach on February 26th and February
27th.
The great part of this promotion is that you don’t
need to wait a full year to win a trip. Here’s what
I mean:
A $12,000 increase in print finishing (over the previous
year) by July 31, 2006 will win a trip. Each additional
$12,000 increase—over the initial $12,000 increase—by
July 31 qualifies for an additional trip. So, let’s
say your account is
UP $36,000 in print
finishing by July 31, you then qualify for 3 trips!
Because this promotion runs the entire year your best
opportunity to win may be at the end of the year if you
can’t qualify by the end of July. Each $20,000 increase
in print finishing by December 31st wins a trip; increase
by multiples of $20,000 and win multiple trips.
Here’s another winning scenario: If you win one
trip in July by increasing $12,000 you are still eligible
to win additional trips in December with $20,000 increases.
Here are some other promotion criteria:
•All print finishing counts.
•All print orders must invoice
by July 31, 2006 and December 31, 2006 to count towards
this promotion.
•CCS customers must have
a $20,000 increase in print finishing to win a trip.
•Each additional $20,000
increase—over the initial $20,000 increase—qualifies
for an additional trip.
•A $12,000 increase in print
finishing by July 31, 2006 will also win a trip.
•Each additional $12,000
increase—over the initial $12,000 increase—by
July 31, 2006 qualifies for an
additional trip; e.g. increase $24,000 by 7/31/2006 and
you win two trips.
If you are a new customer,
or a customer that did less than $10,000 in print
finishing in 2005 (or less than $6,000 in
print finishing by 7/31/2005) you must do
at least $18,000 by July 31, 2006 or at least
$30,000 in print finishing by year end, to qualify
for a trip. Additional trips will be earned at
the same rate as existing customers. |
•Customers must be a majority
owner of all eligible accounts, and print finishing from
multiple accounts will be
combined.
•Any business acquisitions
from other CCS customers will be added into the base for
comparison of same period
2005 vs. 2006.
•Maximum of four (4) trips
per customer/owner can be won.
•First winning trip is NOT
transferable; it must be used by customer/owner.
•Customer/owner must not
have any outstanding liabilities to Candid Color Systems.
•Increases in print finishing
will be based on the same period (1/1/2006 thru 12/31/2006)
in the previous year
Next week you will receive reports showing you exactly
where you stand at the end of May and where you need to
be by the end of July, and by the end of December to qualify
for a trip.
CCS Lab Service Times
by Bo
Lewis
Developments Newsletter
