Rain. Rain. Rain.

It is no secret that it has been extremely wet here in Iowa. That has affected some - but not all - photography studios in the area. Many studios have, however, been swamped (sorry for the pun) with requests for copy and restoration services in the wake (oooo, bad pun again) of all the water and flooding.

We should find that copy and restoration will become more and more a daily part of the studio business as digital imaging takes over the consumer marketplace. There is a new generation of "no printers" coming up. These are the 20-somethings who photograph with their cell phones and PDAs, then post to the internet but their images never make it to a piece of paper. We are going to have a generation with nothing to show. That's why we need to encourage the copy and restoration process of their parents who have images from the 60s, 70s and 80s that need to be transferred to CD or DVD and saved from the ever-fading light process.

ACI is ready to put all your copy/restoration projects on the front burner. Got an interesting summer/flood or studio story? Why not share it with the rest of us. Simply log in and blog on.

In the meantime, let's try to find some sun.

Mixed Orders

Had a question to the site about mixing orders through the ACI Online. Customer Service is working on how to make this happen and once we have a definite answer we'll post it here. 

If you have a question, suggestion and/or comment on anything that's going on in the photographic industry, just go ahead and ask it. The email will get to us and we'll post/answer as soon as we have it. 

The new laser cutouts are a very cool item to have available for Little League and Dance Schools as are the new crystals. We've heard from several customers who say the crystals are making great graduation gifts.

What about a gift registry for seniors - brides - babies at your studio? When somebody is looking for a gift, you could have the registry where the client has specified what they would like to have in the way of images and/or items. Or gift cards to your studio would make a perfect gift. Ask all of your clients if they'd like to be part of your registry and they can let their potential "gift givers" know that as well.

We're looking for your thoughts and input!

Want to participate?

Something on your mind? Question? Answer? Problem? Suggestion?

Word is that there are some new and cool changes to the ACI website, so for now, if you have any of the above, simply shoot an email off to customer service. You don't have to sign it or anything and we'll see that it gets posted and/or responded to personally.

We all have some great ideas and suggestions. Let's get them out there.

What's on your mind?

Gearing Up.

The snow is FINALLY melting in the Midwest (or melted) and underneath it are all the Little League teams and softball teams and proms and dance schools. Make sure you have everything prepared for this busy, busy season.

We always let the Customer Service staff know that we have time sensitive orders coming in. It is really important to maintain quality in a timely fashion with items like Little League and Proms. With the onset of digital cameras and camera phones, high school kids aren't very excited about waiting two weeks to get their prom pictures back. They want them back NOW. ACI can turn them around for you in 48 hours or so, but if they sit in your studio then that work is all for nothing.

Have a setup that allows you to keep the quality and consistency without effort, let the lab do their part and then get it out the door.

What you'll be planting will be future customers and profit.

Competition

It is that time of year, Heart of Americans. If you don't have your competition prints ready, then now is the time. 

Deadline for HOA entries is APRIL 9th (or at least that's what I wrote on my calendar.)

And if you're at all interested in taking the CPP Exam at Heart of America, it will be given on Sunday at 10 a.m. You need to contact either Steve Harvey (sharveymo@yahoo.com) or PPA to get signed up. Don't be intimidated by the test, you might do better than you actually think. I really believe the CPP exam has given more people high blood pressure than any other test I know. Chill out. I didn't pass it the first time. Or the second time. And I thought I was pretty darn smart.

If you're not planning on being at HOA, do so. It is worth your time for the trade show alone.

Next entry is going to give you some tips on those competition prints. Stay tuned.

Welcome to the blog.

Every so often, I have what I think might be a great idea. My mind spins and I can actually visualize how everything will wonderfully fall into place.

Then, reality smacks me upside the head.

What we have here is a result of both, a great idea with a shot of reality. And hopefully, it will benefit everyone.

Nothing seems to be easy in this day and age of digital photography and studio management. If we're not worrying about our neighbor buying a digital camera, we're worried about the price of a gallon of gas and what it will do to our senior business. That's why I thought this blog would be helpful. And here's how it is going to work.

I'm going to keep it moving along and your job is to email your questions, comments and suggestions. They'll be used, answered and commented upon, all - or in part - as we go along. Your writing won't appear online, but I'll use my 'editorial judgement' and cover the issues that will help as many as possible, or the ones that have easy answers, whichever comes first.

So we're looking for your in put, otherwise, you're going to have to read about my opinion of "American Idol" and the progress of getting my lawnmower ready for spring. (That one's a real cliff-hanger, I promise.)

The floor is now open for your input.

Kalen Henderson