July newsletter 2016 by Alice Park

B Y NA P C P

JULY 2016

Featuring Megan Dendinger of Megan Alisa Photography

The LATEST

INSIDE Submit your images for the July Image Competition now!

Industry News & Announcements, Workshops, Updates and much more!

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Hello friends!

Hello, July! With temperatures topping out at sizzling degrees, you’re invited

to “beat the heat” this month with not-to- miss cool events and happenings.

First up is cool girl Megan Dendinger of Megan Alisa Photography, and

this month’s featured photographer! She is a nationally published and awardwinning commercial, advertising, fashion and editorial child photographer. With a unique view of the world, this highly sought-after SouthernCalifornia gal makes child photography fun, colorful and chic for both kids and parents.

For those of you looking to take a page from Megan’s book and add some

more creativity to your life, our July Image Competition is officially open! Submissions will be accepted through August 18. For competition guidelines, visit the NAPCP blog online. Good luck to all – we can’t wait to see your works!

While you’re busy submitting your images, we encourage you to take

full advantage of your NAPCP membership and our variety of platforms by also contributing content to the organization. Each of you provide a fresh perspective to the industry, and we’d love to share your thoughts with the rest of our members. For those interested, please reach out to blog@napcp.com for more information.

If you’re like us, planning is what makes the world go ‘round – or at least

it helps! For months, we have been preparing for our 2017 NAPCP Retreat in sunny California, and we can’t wait to share some sneak peek details with you. Now that you have the luxurious location, we are thrilled to announce we will be retreating (in style, of course) at Santa Barbara’s lovely Canary hotel! Set in the heart of downtown, this beautiful boutique oasis provides Old World charm in a chic setting that is guaranteed to swoon.

Last, but not least – be on the lookout for our new Jubilate design and fresh

look for the Member Community Weekly Favorites banner on the website!

Sincerely

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TAB L E O F CON TE N TS Pg. 3 .......................................Submit Your Images Pg. 4 .................................News & Announcements

Pg. 6........Featured Photographer: Megan Dendinger

Pg. 22 .................................Camera Bag Essentials Pg. 30.................Video Interview Series: Emily Ley Pg. 31................................ Apply For Membership N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6 | 3

SUBMIT YOUR IMAGES

The July 2016 International Image Competition is now open and will be running through August 18 at 11:59PM EST! The purpose of NAPCPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image Competitions is to recognize the accomplishments and creative excellence of our members, rewarding their talent with medallions, priority listing on our directory, vendor endorsements, member points, titles and professional recognition. Be sure to review our new Image Competition Rules and Guidelines here.

Click here to submit your images! 4 | N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6

N E WS & A N N OU N CE ME NT S Facebook Community We hope that everyone will continue to partake in our NAPCP Facebook Community page! Join now and get involved with the latest discussions, trending topics, news and updates, and much more! Click here to request to join today!

Napcp Store If you are in the market for fresh, new photography templates and creative client gifts, be sure to hop on over to the NAPCP store! We are constantly adding new products to help make the design side of your business a little less stressful! Did you see our fabulous 2016 Marketing Guide? Don't miss your chance to snag one now...click here!

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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN DENDINGER

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Southern California gal with a passion for fashion,

design and child photography, meet this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feature photographer Megan Dendinger! Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nationally published and award-winning photographer, having partnered with Tutu Du Monde Australia, Urban Baby Bonnets, Fleur and Dot, Spritely Kids and more. Of the work she does, her most favorite is creating look books and fashion campaigns using natural or studio light. Continue reading for a snapshot of her cool, inspiring work!

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AT A GLANC BEHIND 1. Started photographing when? 2009 2. Officially opened business? 2012 3. Favorite camera? Nikon D810 4. Lens of choice? 70-200mm 2.8 5. Favorite Lab? Simply Color

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6. Favorite subject to photograph? Kids

E WITH SCENES

MEGAN DENDINGER

7. Favorite musician? Sia 8. Favorite movie? Dirty Dancing 9. Recent Favorite Read? The Outlander Series 10. Favorite Client Product? Canvases 11. 3 things you can't live without? Family, Laughter, Passion

Flip the page for our EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MEGAN DENDINGER! N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6 | 1 1

Tell us your story. How you started and how your photography, brand, and business transformed over the last couple of years? Well you already know my name, so that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worth talking about. <laughs> I am a mama of two great kids, a wife to a man I have been with for 13 years, 33 years old, lover of laughter, animal lover, believer of doing whatever it is in life that you want to do and that you only have this body once so go get that tattoo you want or skydive to your heart's contentâ&#x20AC;Śbe you and never apologize for it (as long as its not hurting other people and legal obviously!), sushi is my favorite meal, true friends are to be cherished, shades of turquoise and pink are often seen in my home and I am an open book. I suppose that pretty much seems me up. I got started with photography because of my love for my kids and beautiful images. I love my job 1 2 | N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6

and the amazing people I have been able to meet and places I have been able to visit. Getting to photograph adorable kids in adorable clothes in beautiful places is pretty awesome! I'm grateful my business has kept me pretty busy over the last few years. You create a lot of commercial and editorial work. How did this become the focal point of your career, and what is your favorite thing about it? I think the change from family photography to commercial/editorial photography happened pretty quickly from first starting my business. I found freedom with creativity in a totally different way that I really craved. I am the kind of person who believes in intuition and following that inner voice. So once I N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6 | 1 3

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knew that this was what I wanted my focus to be on, I worked toward that goal. My favorite thing about commercial and editorial work and working with kids is the energy that flows and the creativity that takes place. Will you share a current favorite photo with us (whether business or personal), and tell us why you selected this one right now? This is truly hard to pick. I picked this one of my daughter which was just a little quick creative shoot that we went and did. I had never been to this location before and I have found that sometimes that helps to push me out of my comfort zone. I have it hanging on canvas in my office. Something about it says so much to me and I like that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just your typical photo.

We admire that you aren't afraid to feature bright or dappled light in your images! Will you share a lighting tip or two with our readers? Thank you! I love to use light creatively when possible. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of working with

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what you have and learning how to do that. My tip is study the light and see what kinds of patterns the shadows are making and how you can use that to tell a creative story with it. I think so many photographers are always seeking out that golden light, which is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but you might want to take photos at other times and feel stuck without knowing how to do that. I would love for photographers to feel free to be able to take photos at all hours of the day without feeling like they can’t because the photos won’t look like someone else’s photos.

To see more of Megan's work, please visit her site here!

Thank you so much Megan! 1 8 | N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6

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Three Tips H O W T O P U S H Y O U R S E L F PA S T Y O U R C O M F O RT Z O N E

By Megan Dendinger

1 - Do something you wouldn’t normally do with composition, whether that is tighter than normal, wider, half body parts etc. See how that changes the feelings you get when viewing the image. 2 - Shoot in different lighting than you are used to because you won’t always have optimal lighting. I often shoot all day long for commercial shoots, no matter what the lighting conditions are, and have to find a way to make it work. 3 - Think of a story you want to tell and go out and tell it with your camera. Don’t just aim for a pretty photo that looks like everyone else’s that you admire online. Reach deep down inside of you and find what you want to say to the world.

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CAMERA BAG ESSENTIALS WITH MEGAN DENDINGER

Camera /Lenses Nikon D800 Nikon D810 Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8g Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8g VRII Nikkor 85mm 1.8g Nikkor 105mm 2.8 VR macro Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art Lensbaby Composer Pro with Edge 80

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Camera BAGS Ketti Bag Think Tank Bag

EXTRAS SD card holder, Battery charger, Extra batteries, Lens poofer, Business Cards, Iphone 6, Hair ties, Chapstick, Pepto pills, Ibuprofen, Protein bar, Soft lens cloth, Hand sanitizer

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BEHIND

We asked Megan to give us a peek into her busy day to day life with a few of her favorite

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SCENES

WITH MEGAN DENDINGER

Instagram captures. Enjoy a behind the scenes look at some of her favorite moments!

the NA P CP

JU LY 2 016 IN T E R NAT I O NA L I M AG E CO M P E T I T I O N

P H OTO : M A N DY J O H N S O N

The July 2016 NAPCP International Competition opened at 8:00AM EST on July 18th and will close at 11:59PM EST August 18th, 2016. The purpose of NAPCPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image Competitions is to recognize the accomplishments and creative excellence of our members, rewarding their talent with medallions, priority listing on our directory, vendor endorsements, member points, titles and professional recognition. Members each receive a total of 2 Competition Credits per Competition with their Membership. Additional details can be found here!

JUDGES

We could not be more excited about our talented panel of judges including Rachel LaCour Niesen, Tim Walden, Luke Edmonson, Deb Schwedhelm, Christine Pobke, and Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai! To learn more about each judge click here! N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r Ju l y 2 0 1 6 | 2 7

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The distinguished title of Photographer of the Year for NAPCP is the highest award, showcasing outstanding achievement in our International Image Competitions. points, titles and professional recognition. To learn more about this award and to view past winners, click HERE!

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Do not miss are latest Video Resource - a Live Portfolio Review, hosted by Dan Brouillette, and 2014 Photographer of the Year Jennifer Kapala, from the NAPCP Retreat. This video has wonderful tips for submitting your images in the January 2016 International Image Competition (open now!, and ending July 18th).

JEFF SHINABARGER

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ZACH PREZ

DEB SCHWEDHELM

Membership