The Photographic Family

I have just returned from a weekend in Bradenton, Florida, with Curt Littlecott; as always, Curt put on an amazing daylong seminar. This seminar made me realize how much photographers are like a family. The event I attended wasn't your typical event: the Bay Professional Photographers Association members had rallied for a truly special cause. One of the BPPA members was diagnosed with serious illness about a year and a half ago. This person's life achievements were taken from him in an instant. It made me realize how precious our gifts are, and how quickly they can be taken away. Seeing that their fellow guild member was unable to continue doing what he loved due to the illness, the BPPA members came together to raise money for one of their own. This is where Curt comes in. All of the money collected at Curt's seminar, including Curt's speaking fees, was donated to the member's family to help with rising expenses. This is the second year in a row that I have attended this event and it just keeps getting better. It went from a seminar after dinner last year, to a full day seminar with over 65 people this year. In total the BPPA members raised over $1600! Flying home I realized what an amazing group of people photographers are. To see people come together like this was truly special.

It seems as though there is a photographer on every corner these days. Anyone who can afford a "good" camera considers himself a photographer. I think that's why we see so many "Uncle Joes" shooting their niece's weddings instead of a TRUE professional. So often I see that people are not willing to share with each other. Everyone is worried that his or her ideas are going to be stolen. But I think that's what sets photographers apart -- the ability to come together as a group. I like calling it family. Learning from fellow professionals can be an amazing tool. If all photographers were unwilling to share, we never would have had the greats like Monte Zucker, Don Blair, and so many others who shared their lives and their skill with us. They were craftsmen, true professionals. I've been to seminars all over the country and I have never seen "Uncle Joe" at one of them. What's my point? Embrace each other as professionals, as family. Learn from each other. I'd be willing to bet that if you use the resources that you have (i.e. other professionals) your bride will see that "Uncle Joe" isn't all that great after all.Think about it -- isn't community the reason we have PPA, WPPI, and a host of other amazing organizations?

Which brings me to my next point. Just in case you haven't noticed, you'll see I share the same last name with Pete and Michele Cardello, my father and my sister. When we say we're part of the Albums Inc. family, we really mean it! We're just one of eight families working on your behalf here at Albums Inc. Founded by family (the Schuman and DeMarco families), Albums Inc. is an employee-owned company that has been in business since 1975. That means we aren’t a company that just "popped up" a year or two ago -- we're a company that's here to stay. Did you know that there were over 60 album companies at WPPI this year? Just a handful of those companies have been around since the beginning, and we're proud to say we're one of them. So ask yourself this question: "Do I want to work with a company that's going to be gone next year, or do I want to work with people who are in it for the long run?" A lifetime guarantee to us means that if something happens to your customer's album years from now, we'll be here to fix it. I've only been in this business for 3 short years, but I've already seen so many companies come and go.

Back to family – or should I say eight families at Albums Inc. While some of us are related by blood, I view everyone here as my family. I can't make things work without the rest of my family. I depend on them every day. Not only are they here for me; they're here for you, too. We want to help you distinguish yourself as a professional. When "Uncle Joe" hands his niece a $12 wedding album, we want to help you hand her a beautiful professional wedding album that she can cherish for the rest of her life -- not just until it falls apart like "Uncle Joe's" album. Let my family help yours! What can we do to help your business grow? I can't promise perfection, but I can promise close! The Albums Inc. family just reached an important milestone. We have achieved a 98.66% operating efficiency rate, and we think that's something special. It means we only have a 1.34% error rate on orders that leave our door. While we know we'll probably make the occasional mistake, (after all, we're only human, too!) what sets us apart is our willingness to do what it takes to get it right for you.

Let us know if we are doing all that we can for you. E-mail me with your compliments or concerns; I want to hear it all! I don't do it because it's my job; I do it because Albums Inc. is literally my family! A family that's committed to serving the bigger photographic family, from now until... forever!