Welcome Our New Members

A warm welcome goes out to our new members:

Since January 2008, these following people have joined ASMP/North Carolina:

Karen Ashworth who photographs nature in its purest form.
http://www.karenashworth.com/

Frederick Price

Kevin Shank who focuses on covering special events.
http://www.alookattime.com/

Susan Sidebottom who specializes in black and white portraits of children.
http://www.sidebottomphotography.com/

Timur Targay, of Black Box Studios, who runs a full service photography studio.
http://www.blackboxstudios.net/

David Dietrich, an architectural photographer who is based in Fletcher, NC.
http://www.daviddietrichphoto.com/

Albert Hunt, who is based in Efland, NC.
http://www.fosterhunt.com/

Heather Hansford, a travel photographer.
http://hansfordphoto.com/

Ben Walters, who works in portrait and nature photography.
http://www.benwalters.net/

Larry Gottschalk, who specializes in portraiture, food, and product photography. http://www.parallaxview.com/

Joshua Wright, who shoots in and out of the studio for editorial work.
http://www.joshua-wright.com/

Anthony Smith, who covers everything from weddings to events. http://www.anthonyvinsonsmith.com/

Jacqueline Gardiner-Veal, of Constellation Artworks.
http://www.constellationartworks.com/

Welcome aboard everyone!

--Paul Jackson of Monty Tran Photography in Asheville. http://www.montytran.com/

More Than a Stepping Stone

Recently I joined the ASMP as an Emerging Associate Member, a sub-category of Associate. This is a one-year-only category serving as a transition for photographers who are starting out or are assistants. After one year, my category is automatically changed to Associate, though, the benefits are the same. Some of these benefits include: resources for business including the ASMP Business Bible, Insurance Programs (health & equipment), The Society's magazine, published five times a year which presents news and features and is free to all members and affiliates, the Newslines page which features member activities, competition and exhibition opportunities, updates on the legal and business environment, and finally but not limited to, access to competitions, workshops, forums, and discounts on equipment.

As an emerging photographer, these resources are invaluable and the learning curve flattened allowing for accelerated growth in the industry. I started attending local ASMP meetings in Asheville, NC about a year ago. The best part about that was getting to know more experienced photographers, gaining feedback on my work, and suggestions on steps to move further in this ever-changing and competitive field. We even produced a show for our City Hall, exhibiting works throughout the Mayor's office and had a second one recently.

As we all know, there is a lot of talent out there and we all understand photography at some level due to the vast accessibility of the tools required to make photographs and the heavy saturation of images in today's visual world. I am depending on ASMP as a guide to turning my passion into my profession, while making like-minded friends along the way.

--Paul Jackson of Monty Tran Photography in Asheville. Paul is a new member and has instantly gotten involved in ASMP/NC by helping run this blog.