JACKSON, Mich. – Sports Photographers Association of America (SPAA®), a member association of PMA – the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations, announces its SPAA 2010 conference program, featuring presentations from high-profile action sports photographers and top industry team/individual sports photographers.

The conference, taking place February 19-22, 2010, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California, also provides lunches, receptions, and nonstop networking opportunities for professional sports photographers of all levels. A key panel session is “SPAA Luncheon: Delving Inside the Mind of the Sports Photography Customer,” which offers a unique chance to learn from the ultimate customers. Tom Hayes, Visual Image Photography Inc., will moderate this panel of moms and kids to reveal their sports photography wants, needs, and desires.

Another opportunity for sports photographers will be the “SPAA Ultimate Field Trip: Lights … Camera … Watch and Learn,” a photo shoot of three San Clemente High School baseball teams with veteran sports photographer Randy Brister, Friday, Feb. 19, 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The proper equipment will be discussed and demonstrated, along with how to set a background, how to pose and light an individual, how to pose and light a team, and how to work quickly but efficiently.

Ben Chen, author and freelance sports photographer, will provide invaluable technical tips for photographing the “Big Two” in youth sports (in terms of sheer participation numbers) – baseball and soccer. Chen’s session, “How to Shoot Action for the ‘Big Two’ Youth Sports,”takes place Sunday, Feb. 21, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Also, NBA photographerAndrew D. Bernstein will educate attendees about how to make money in action photography during his General Session presentation (Monday, Feb. 22, 8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.). Hayes and Pat Taylor will hold concurring sessions on Monday, Feb. 22, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., on the topics of team/group posing and green screen technology, respectively.

Other key highlights from the four days of SPAA 2010 programming include:

• “General Session: Lights, Camera, PROFITS with Will Crocket” (Saturday, Feb. 20, 9:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.), discussing the power of technology and in-camera tools and tips for setting the best capture possible.

• “SPAA/PSPA Lab and Supplier Reception” (Saturday, Feb. 20, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.), an opportunity for attendees to meet with photography product vendors and professional lab owners to learn more about their professional imaging services.

• “SPAA Luncheon: Leaders, Get Out of the Way” (Sunday, Feb. 21, 12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.), featuring motivational speaker and former NBA player Walter Bond teaching the fundamentals of leadership, the destructive dangers of micro-management, how to improve employee retention, and – most important – how it all impacts the bottom line.

Admission to SPAA 2010 is included with the PMA All Conference Connection Pass, which also allows attendees to participate in any sessions in the Digital Imaging Marketing Association® (DIMA®), Professional School Photographers Association International™ (PSPA™), and Professional Picture Framers Association™ (PPFA®) conferences. The cost of the All Conference Connection Pass is $299 per member and $399 per nonmember, which includes the choice of sessions from five conferences, plus a Full Trade Show Badge; or individual sessions can be purchased for $49 per member and $79 per nonmember.

For SPAA 2010 and PMA 2010 registration information, contact the PMA Convention/Registration Department at 800-248-8804 in the United States and Canada or 517-788-8100. Attendees can also visit the convention website.

PMA 2010 General Information

• This will be the 86th annual PMA International Convention and Trade Show.

• The PMA International Convention and Trade Show is the largest annual photo imaging trade show for the estimated $80 billion worldwide industry. It is open to business owners and executives in the photo imaging industry and to press and media representatives. It is not open to the public. PMA 2010 takes place Feb. 21-23, 2010, at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif., USA.

• The convention will feature more than 300 speakers/chairpersons and will offer approximately 150 educational sessions, covering topics such as digital imaging, employee training, business management, and sales and marketing. Select sessions are spoken in Spanish and German. Debuting features of this PMA convention include the Pro Photographer Business Boot Camp and the DIMA Brand Boot Camp.

• Five allied imaging groups – DIMA, PSPA, PPFA, the Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA), and SPAA – hold their annual meetings and conference sessions in conjunction with the PMA convention. Colocating will be the PrintFest Expo Pavilion & Cross Media West Conference, an event for digital printers and direct marketing firms.

Major PMA events coming soon:

• Southern California Photo Expo, Feb. 20, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

• PMA 2010 International Convention and Trade Show, Feb. 21-23, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

  • DIMA Annual Conference, Feb. 19-22, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

  • PIEA Education Conference, Feb. 19-22, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

  • PSPA Annual Conference, Feb. 19-22, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

  • SPAA Annual Conference, Feb. 19-22, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

  • PPFA Annual Conference, Feb. 21-23, 2010, Anaheim, Calif.

• PMA Australia 2010 Digital Life Expo
  (formerly PMA Australia 2010 Imaging Technology Show), June 3-6, 2010, Melbourne, Australia

For more information on PMA events, visit the PMA home page.

About PMA – The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations
As a professional trade association, PMA® helps the worldwide photo imaging community achieve business success and adapt to new technologies. Its commitment to members in 100-plus countries is part of an 85-year legacy that connects business owners to a network of knowledge and support. PMA furthers this purpose through the development of educational programs, marketing research, publications, and trade shows. As a not-for-profit organization, any success PMA achieves in its endeavors directly benefits the industry, providing the means to continually develop services and activities for members.