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Turn On The Fun Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 5 May 2009
© Sunset Promotions, Inc. 2009
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Dear Reader,
One of the greatest aspects of spring is renewal. Every living thing in nature renews itself in some way. Trees blossom, buds come out of vines and stalks, and bulbs in the ground sprout their flowers into full bloom. I wonder why that is. Why can't we have this beauty all year around. Even in the tropics, there is a form of renewal although not quite the same as in the northern hemisphere. I think the reason for renewal is that it reminds us that it is important that we look at ourselves and figure out a way to be better at our craft. We need reminders to look up and 'smell the roses' rather then burying ourselves into hopelessness. As photographers, we can capture it all. All the cycles of life. Every nuance of our existence.and then some. So, why don't we do it as often as we can? Life, as we know it, can end in an hour, a day, maybe even next week. It will end when we least expect it. We have an obligation to the future, to history, and to today to capture our existence as we perceive it to be. Rob Worth Jr.
President & CEO
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An International Presence
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 Photo by Rob Worth
What the???? Are we not known Internationally? Us characters in the USA tend to think we are the only ones in the world. Because we tend to be absorbed in our every day life, we easily forget we affect the lives of everyone in the world. You can tell this by the variety of web sites that are created for thousands of people on MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, and elsewhere. We must change because we have an obligation to the people of the world as well as to ourselves.
Here, let me put this into perspective. You find yourself on local television and believe you will only be seen by the locals. When that show is posted to the Internet, you may be seen by the peoples of the world. You can be seen, heard, or ignored. Yet, you are still there for the world to judge you.
We know our photographers are seen all over the world. We know that our web sites are seen all over the world. We make it so such as JAlbum located in Sweden. My BLOG is seen all over the world. The BLOG is posted, automatically, on a number of web sites such as MySpace, Plaxo, Twitter, FaceBook, Google. When I write to the BLOG, I write based on local causes although I know the International community has a chance to read it as well.
When our web design team puts together web sites, we target specific markets although we know the International community will see them.
Our photography albums are posted to several International web sites because these albums include International photography. WE WANT the world communities to share the experience that our photographers have captured.
All you have to remember is when you post anything to a web site, the world will be watching so behave accordingly.
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What's New On Virtual Galleries
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 What the heck . . . I wonder if I should tell you. OK, I've been busy since the last newsletter. Check out the Special Galleries section. A few photographers are posted under the Photographers section.
But, credit needs to go to the organization that has the application programs that really assist in helping us to get these galleries posted.
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What's New
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 Logo design by Chelsea Richer
Exclusive Partners has been 'cleaned up'. Links to the most important sites have been added while others have been deleted.
Retail Partners links to our photography sites as well as to a few friends' businesses.
Charitable Organization is dedicated to Rocco's Heart, an HLHS Foundation, Inc. that is working hard to make a difference for children who have been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Help save the children, visit Rocco's Heart and see how you can lend a hand.
Another organization that is dear and near our hearts is WKTV which is featured on our Retail Partners section. WKTV is also a charitable organization which could use your help. Click here to find out about them in more detail.
WKTV is on FaceBook. Check that link out as well as it will tell you a bit of history for their General Manager - the guru behind the scenes directing all the action. Or, visit the WKTV Fan page.
Into games, music, and other entertainment stuff? Then check out the updates in the Entertainment section of the web site.
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It's Tax Time!
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 If you own a business, it is always Tax Time. Such as weekly payroll, those nasty payroll taxes you have to file timely, and what about those quarterly tax estimates and payments - like the ones' coming up in only a couple of weeks.
The economy is rough on many businesses. You're looking for ways to cut expenses. While business doesn't like to admit it, the most costly expense are employees. Sometimes businesses have to do what is necessary to save the business. If this is you (or even if it isn't), call MAS Advisory Services, Inc. for help. They can help you make those important decisions. Plus, they can assume the processing of the tax burdens for less then what an employee costs. You can then reassign that employee to projects that need them more. Call MAS Advisory Services, Inc. today, toll free, 888.404.2392 or click on of the links in this article.
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You've Got to be Kidding Me America
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 Episodes 5 now on-line at the web site - click here Seriously, this comedy show is getting lots of press lately. WKTV features it on their FaceBook page and is being featured on many other web sites. On May 29th, they will be at Monelli's Italian Grill, 5676 Byron Center Ave SW in Wyoming MI for their Official Premier Announcement. The governor of Michigan and other dignitaries will be in attendance celebrating the shows's success. See a copy of their news release by clicking here. Watch new episodes every week on WKTV shown through the Comcast Cable network on Tuesday @ 11:00 p.m. and Thursday @ 1:00 a.m. Video logo design by Bryan Riess, Executive Producer, Editor, and Head Writer for 'You've Got to be Kidding Me America'. More information on the background of Bryan and the rest of the volunteers can be found here. For now, it is a roughed in web site until our design engineers finish up the real one. All production is by Five and Dime Productions. Our design team, bluevortex.net, is putting together Five and Dime Productions' web site. _____________________________________________ |
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Auto Shows in Michigan
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Photo by Amieds Productions
Here it is, almost the end of May and less then 14 weeks until this huge event takes place. We haven't yet made a decision whether we will put together a crew for this year. I'm thinking we might have one or two but then again, if it is as hot as it was last year, we're staying home. One of our photographer's camera failed, the guys got really hot and had to rest a lot, and I stayed home sick as a mule. My first year for missing that event. Our photographer assistant got sun burned even with sun block.
The Event organizers have a new web site design. It is so much better then what they had in the past. You might want to check it out.
There's an outside chance that I will have a photo gig that Friday night which will last into the wee hours of Saturday. If that happens, we won't be covering the event.
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Photography Ramblings
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 My BLOG. Ramblings that may or may not be related to photography. Enjoy.
I have a passion for lots of stuff. And I take it out on my BLOG. Some of this stuff is for causes not generally known while others surface every now and then when I get involved with those comment sections after online news articles. Since the last newsletter, I've penned 4 or 5 articles.
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Magazines-What Are They Really Good For?
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My dad was a collector. Throughout his lifetime he dabbled in farming. He subscribed to all magazines that had something to do with farming. When he passed on, the family dumped nearly 1/2 ton of 'collected' farm magazines. Some were 50-years old and unreadable. He 'stored' everywhere. Mostly in a damp basement.
I have a friend that runs the local chamber of commerce. When I would visit his offices, he would have this stack of Chamber magazines on his side table. After about drowning in them, he instructed his administrative assistant to throw them out weekly, whether he read them or not. She did.
When you are into photography, you can subscribe to a number of different magazines. However, I've learned to 'draw' the line on subscriptions as most of the magazines are a waste of resources. I call those 'advertising' rags. I'm not paying $5 for a bunch of ads. I look for magazines that can enlighten my mind, teach me new tricks, reinforce the ones I know but forgot the "how to's". I look for quality and price.
 Two magazines that I have found to be most helpful are Rangefinder (free if you qualify) and PC Photo. Plus, a couple of British publications that are way to expensive to have a subscription - yet, I will buy one off of the rack occasionally.
Am I as bad as my dad? Yep, except I don't have a basement. I do have several hundred pounds of magazines in storage for my very first computer. I'm thinking they might be worth something someday. Yet, they aren't commanding any decent pricing on EBay.
Too bad, maybe I should just throw them away. Still . . .
What about my photography rags? Oh, those, they are all over my apartment. They all have these crazy tags on pages of reference. And I bet, many of you are in the same predicament.
The title of this article is dead on - besides being clutter, what are magazines really good for?
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Sincerely,
Rob Worth Jr
President & CEO
Sunset Promotions, Inc. & Partner Stores, Inc.
We do what we know best - your Brand
P.O. Box 8227
Grand Rapids MI 49518-8227
email: info@sunsetpro.net
Toll Free: 866.273.3798
Click for: web site1, web site2, web site3,
web site4,
web site5, web site8, web site9;
web site10, web site11, web site12
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Welcome to Princess Babies Bowtique, LLC
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 A good friend of ours has one of those super duper web site businesses. We thought you might like to check them out.
It's all about Bows for the Children.
Click Here.
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Where Are We Posting Photos?
What does this all mean? What it means is that we have a number of photographers that have super fine photography for which we place on a number of sites. We do that to generate interest for them, their art, and hopefully make a little money for them.
You might call us a Photo Publicist. It is a passion for us to help others achieve Worldwide Publicity, Strategic Promotion, Social Media Marketing, and Business Development.
We really like "Turning Photographers into Celebrities"
Are you successful? Sometimes.
How long does this take?
Sometimes a couple of days, other times it could be a year or more. It all depends on the number and variety of photos our photographers let us use. The fewer = limited ability and probably will take forever to generate any kind of interest. The more the better.
What's in it for me?
The possibility that you could earn a few extra dollars although we can't guarantee anything. The world market is finicky in what they perceive to be great art.
One of our photographers has 13,000 images in his portfolio. We've been sorting them for a number of months now and just recently began posting the very best.
Are there any up front costs associated with you being my Publicist?
None whatsoever. Yet, it is by invitation only. The only thing you have to do is show us your portfolio. If we feel you have potential, you will receive an invitation. We have a contract that goes along with being a member that you will need to sign.
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I've looked at some of these web sites and see they charge a good bit of money. Who is paying those fees?
We are. None of it is charged back to the photographers at this time. We invest nearly $700 each year for these subscription accounts.
Why so many sites? Why wouldn't just one do?
There is no panacea for all situations. We have a variety of photographers whose genre' doesn't always fit with the scope nor purpose of a photography web site. Thus, the solution we have chosen.
Something else I noticed that the accounts are in your name and not the photographer. Why is that?
In the short run - convenience and cost. Frankly, few photography sites will explode down more then two levels. To do it correctly requires the ability to have unlimited levels or, at the very least, 4-levels. Now, with that said, should a photographer become popular with lots of sales, then we will set up a separate account.
We have 18 photographers and if I were to set them all up in their own accounts, the cost would be nearly $10,000 each year. This is because the publicity for each would simply cost a lot of money. And, there are no guarantees that they would be found as they are out standing in their own field. By combining all the photographers in one venue, we give the potential buyers a bigger opportunity by staying in one place to view all the different photographers.
One step further - we do give credit to the photographer and the photographer's name is placed in the index. You might compare this strategy to something like Macy's Department Stores. One place to shop, many different departments.
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BLOG
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Located here.
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Virus & Malware Protection for Less
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There is nothing more nerve racking then to have a virus take up residence in your computer. We know, with all of our sophisticated software to prevent such mishaps, we've gotten struck. That is, when we have had Norton. No more! However, a friend called us one day and said to check out Vipre. We did and we haven't looked back. Call today and let's talk about how Partner Stores, Inc. can help you protect your home and corporate computers. __________
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Save 25%
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New for 2009, an economic doldrum buster. For businesses looking for a better web site solution, our team of designers, managers, and consultants may have your answer for a lot less then you think. Don't judge what we can do based on what you are getting now from your current web masters. We know we are better and have better choices. For a limited time, save 25% off of our retail price for new web site management fees. In this economy, can you afford to not look for alternatives to reduce your web costs? Especially if you plan on scaling back those who actually take care of it? Contracting out the work is, generally, much less expensive. Talk to us, hear what we have to say, and then sign on the dotted line so we can get started. |
Offer Expires: When you sign the contract to take advantage of the offer!
New Clients Only, cannot be combined with any other discount offer.
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Sunset Promotions, Inc. d.b.a. Brand Promotions, Inc. | PO Box 8227 | Grand Rapids | MI | 49518-8227
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