Comments on: Pro Photography Roundtable 8 - PPS #48

By: Alex Chaney

Alex Chaney — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:05:16 +0000

Gavin,

It is very common for volunteer organizations to request donations/fees/dues from their members. At my church I am expected to give a tithe to support the church while at the same time I donate my photography services, run the & pay for the church’s website, operate sound & video equipment for services…and my wife gives hundreds of hours of her time to support children’s ministries. I’ve been involved in other ministry activities, including going into prisons, where participants shouldered the administrative costs. Many secular service organization also expect financial support from thier members so what NILMDTS is doing is nothing unusual. What really got me to write a comment is that during the podcast you refered to the organization as a “so called” non-profit. That was pretty strong wording with lots of implications that, IMO, should not have been used without more facts.

Thanks for getting the word out on the podcast about the service. I had not heard of it before and perhaps the publicity can help them recruit more photographers. Although I have photographed the wake of an elderly person for a family I could not handle this task and appreciate those few across the country that do.

By: Timothy

Timothy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:53:41 +0000

For Slideshows, check out slideshowpro which has a lightroom plugin and exports a flash. There is also a flash version. It’s not expensive. Amazing photographer Vincent Versace uses it for his galleies.

http://slideshowpro.net/

It’s also what I’m using, though it needs updating.
http://www.cinedependent.com/photography

By: Timothy

Timothy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:48:38 +0000

Hi all re HDR,

I’ve tried Dynamic Photo HDR and I have to say it has the most advanced UI I’ve seen in an HDR program. I haven’t checked out all the features, but it’s very cool.
The first program was made by the Berkeley guy who invented it, HDR shop which was very small and simple, but, for me, kept messing up the camera Colour curve. Photoshop, Photomatix, and Dynamic Photo HDR get it right without any effort.
You can find out more about the origins of HDR at
http://www.hdrshop.com/
They have put out version 2 of HDRshop, which I haven’t tried.
I first got interested in it working with 3d in ALIAS MAYA(© Autodesk now, waaa) and using it for lighting as it creates realistic reflections etc.

By: Sandy Puc'

Sandy Puc' — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:05:49 +0000

Hello Gavin,
Thank you for the wonderful way you have handled this conversation.
As you can see, our members are very proud of what we do and they really have the biggest hearts. Several people mentioned it here, but until you deliver images to a grieving family, and you literally understand that you have given them the only tangible link to that child, it is hard to understand why someone would want to do this. Over the last three years I have received thousands of letters from parents who are grateful for the images that they have. People who tell me they would go into a burning building to save them. The saddest part is that in addition to the thousands of letters from people we serve, I also received hundreds of letters where grieving families ask “Where were your members, when my baby died?” It is heart breaking to know that we are growing in baby steps and we just can’t reach everyone.
In the last year, I have had a grieving mother stand right in front of me with tears in her eyes and say “I would give anything in the world to have just one image of my child” It is that sadness that drives all of us, to continue to spread the word until no family that want this work, goes without.
I am really excited to chat with you.
I will be contacting you later today, and I hope to answer any questions that you might have.
Peace-
Sandy

By: prophotoshow

prophotoshow — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:54:53 +0000

I wanted to respond again to all your great comments and give you an update. I looked thru the paperwork on this fee, and while I understand that it can be waived, it’s not made clear on the site, and I can honestly say that when I received the notification of the membership I had no idea it could be waived. I feel that it should be a little more optional, or at least clear it’s not required.

I assure you that I would have no problem paying 25.00, but I am still a bit bothered by the way it’s presented.

That said perhaps I am picking at straws. I have not failed to notice how supportive you’ve all been of the organization, and if you have that much confidence it it I consider that worth something.

Also I have emailed Sandy Puc and invited her on the show to chat about this more, and tell us more about NILMDTS. I have not heard back from her as of this writing, but I’m sure we can work something out and talk about this further on the show.

Gavin

By: Loy A. Payne

Loy A. Payne — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:53:54 +0000

It is amazing how money changes peoples minds. I am referring to the reactions of ’some’ people when told of what we do. I have heard the word morbid, until they know that this service is totally free to a grieving family. Then, it is not so morbid after all.

The $25.00 fee, donation, call it what you will, allows us to grow and serve even more families. I recall our first meeting of affiliated photographers in San Antonio, TX. At that meeting, Sandy made the statement that she was considering not having the $25.00 fee, because a few people were put off by the fee, but every person that was there, said NO! Keep charging and offering the waiver, but hire someone to run the program. To this day, I am proud of that decision.

Glad you are ’seeing’ what we do. IF you could actually see the faces of families when they receive their CD and DVD, you would truly understand even more. By the way, there have been over 70 families served here in the Tulsa, OK area in the past 2 years, 4 month.

Thank you for letting me share.

Loy A. Payne,
CPP, Master Photographer
NILMDTS Affiliate Photographer, Area Coordinator, and Certified Trainer.