NPPA's Northern Short Course in Photojournalism- Approaching Fast

For seven or eight years, one of the things I've looked forward to each March, is the NPPA's annual Northern Short Course in Photojournalism. I get the pleasure of going because I've been speaking there that long, refining and updating my presentations as time, and technology evolve.

One of the amazing things about the NSC, is the number of photo editors that come, from newspapers large and small, to critique your portfolio during the portfolio review sessions. I know more than one NSC attendee that, as the result of a portfolio review, is now working as a photographer for the paper that the photo editor who reviewed them edits for. You'll get an amazing amount of insight into your portfolio and how it can be better, during these reviews. It's like a job interview without the pressure of not being able to pay the bills if it goes poorly. But, it won't go poorly, because you get to talk to the editor, and ask them questions you never would during that interview. They are actually there to help you!

Beyond that, which would be worth the price of admission in and of itself, you get a ton of lectures, on multiple tracks. Don't know Photoshop CS3, or why you should update? The classes on CS3 (Basic Photoshop CS3; Photoshop CS3 - Color Correction; Advanced Photoshop CS3) will not only teach you the application, but also why it's a must-have upgrade that will save you time and money. How about studio lighting (Studio Lighting) in the real world? Need to learn Final Cut Pro (Final Cut Pro Tips & tricks; Introduction to Video; Advanced Video), Soundslides (Soundslides and Multimedia Storytelling), or audio capture techniques (Intro to Audio; Advanced Audio) to evolve yourself into the 21st century? Presenters are on hand to teach you all of that as well. In fact, if I wasn't presenting my own Business Practices workshop on Thursday, 3/13 at 1pm, I'd be in Regina McCombs' on Advanced Video seminar. Maybe I can get a private tutorial or, at least a few tips that evening?

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Discussions on the ethics of photography, and web marketing with Bill Foster are also well worth attending. When you're able to get onto the first page (or first listing!) for phrases like "Sacramento editorial photographer" (see his placement here), or "Sacramento corporate photographer" (see his placement here) you know you're listening to a guy who knows how to leverage his website into more work. And, to top it off, he's the official photographer for Gov. Schwarzenegger as well.

Not enough? Well, even though it should be more than enough, already, to convince you, how about we throw in in-depth lectures from Gregory Heisler, Chris Usher, and Al Bello on Saturday, among several other notables? Oh, and there's an NSC contest too, (deadline, 2/25!) so you could leave with a few feathers in your cap if you enter and win!

Register now, it's going to be a great time, I promise! (deadline for the discounted hotel rate is this Tuesday, 2/19!)

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