June 13, 2011, Woodbury, NY—Photo Industry Reporter, Inc., and North American Publishing Company (NAPCO) announced today that they are forming a strategic partnership to better serve the imaging industry. Under their agreement, NAPCO will merge their Picture Business publication into Photo Industry Reporter, and Photo Industry Reporter will begin collaboration on NAPCO programs, including development of custom publications and conferences. The two companies will also be collaborating on a number of web-related projects.

 Under the new arrangement, Jerry Grossman and Alan Levine will retain their ownership of Photo Industry Reporter, Inc. Mike McEnaney, formerly editor in chief of Picture Business, will become editor-at-large for Photo Industry Reporter and will manage the photoreporter.com website and joint digital properties. He will also continue to be part of NAPCO’s publishing team.

 “We’re excited about this partnership with NAPCO,” said Alan Levine, PIR’s publisher. “We see this as a better way to serve the imaging industry, and our partnership will enable us to create new programs that will broaden the opportunities that our advertisers will have available to them. NAPCO has a very deep bench, and their expertise, especially with their extensive web properties and well-established industry relationships, will significantly benefit our readers and our advertisers.”

 “Jerry and Alan have evolved Photo Industry Reporter into a “must read” in the imaging industry,” added Eric Schwartz, president/publishing director at NAPCO. “We felt that with our development of trade and consumer conferences, along with our emerging web properties, that we could help each other develop joint programs that will serve this emerging industry.”

Jerry Grossman will continue in his role as editor in chief for Photo Industry Reporter, and RoseEllen Sanfilippo will continue as managing editor for the company’s publications. “We’re excited to have Mike McEnaney as part of our team,” said Grossman. “He’s a seasoned professional who will certainly strengthen our editorial lineup.” Grossman added that they would continue to publish their seasonal Demystifying Digital insert in USA Today, as well as their new publication, Photo Book & Creative Printing Retailer.

Photo Industry Reporter, Inc., publishes trade and consumer magazines and websites primarily for the imaging industry. Grossman and Levine purchased the company in 2005 from Ed Wagner and Rudy Maschke.

 NAPCO was established in 1958 and successfully operates magazines, trade shows and online services for the various markets it serves, including the consumer electronics industry.

Redesigned Website Brings Together Experts from Behind the Lens to Provide Advice for Those with an Interest in Photography Regardless of Picture Taking Experience

Woodbury, NY, May 31 – TakeGreatPictures.com, a website dedicated to inspiring, informing and educating the general public on topics related to photography, today announced the expansion of its educational resources for photographers. As a trusted information center for picture-taking tips, how-to articles, project ideas and more, the enhanced website will now bring the valuable insight of industry pros directly to photography enthusiasts on a daily basis. 

Whether seeking camera buying tips or advice on shooting better travel photos, TakeGreatPictures now offers readers expansive photo tips and techniques from master photographers in addition to the latest on product news, photo events and popular artists.  Enthusiasts will also find information on simple techniques to improve their snapshots, details on photo contests, photography book reviews and regular software tips.   Visitors to TakeGreatPictures will not only find an online network to share their own images with other photography hobbyists but a community-based atmosphere from which to receive feedback and critiques of their images and projects. Articles will discuss core photographic topics as well as residual applications such as scrapbooking, album making, and print outputs.

“TakeGreatPictures.com has long been a trusted outlet for amateur photographers. Whether you rely on your camera phone, a point-and-shoot or have delved deeper into your passion with a DSLR, the information that we provide will help you take better pictures,” said Jerry Grossman, Executive Director of the PMDA and Editorial Director of TakeGreatPictures.com.  “Whether readers are looking to take better pictures of their kids or make the most of a photo safari, the information, how-tos, and general advice from our experienced columnists will help them make the most of those snaps and most importantly have fun doing it.”

Key content additions now available on TakeGreatPictures will include regular contributions written by professionals who offer their unique insights to individuals seeking tips-of-the-trade on getting the most of their camera whether it is a point-and-shoot or a high-end DSLR. 

Photography experts regularly contributing columns to TakeGreatPictures include: 

• Russell Burden – An internationally published photographer, Burden’s commercial often shows up in magazines and advertisements around the world.  
• Ron Eggers – A senior editor with NewsWatch Feature Service, Eggers covers photography, digital imaging, computer technology and software applications for national consumer, trade, and technical publications. 
• Mark Lapin – A professional writer and avid amateur shutterbug, Lapin expertly writes about photographers and photo equipment and has published more than 100 articles on photography.   
• Bob Krist – A well-known travel photographer who works regularly on assignment for magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian and Islands, Krist has shot on all seven continents. 
• Gabby Salazar – A 23 year-old photographer from Greensboro, North Carolina who was named BBC Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year and won Nature’s Best Photography magazine’s Youth Category in 2002.  
• Jon Sienkiewicz – A contributing editor at Digital Photo, Outdoor Photographer and Digital Photo Pro as well as a freelance journalist and frequent contributor to a wide variety of business, photo and consumer publications, Sienkiewicz is a season photographer writer with extensive educational experience.  
• Frank Veronsky – An editorial and commercial photographer for over 20 years, Veronsky specializes in photographing people, portraits, fashion, and has worked for some of the most well-respected print publications in the country. 

About TakeGreatPictures.com

TakeGreatPictures.com is an online resource created to help American consumers find meaningful ways to incorporate photography into many aspects of their everyday lives, while helping them to make intelligent decisions about buying new cameras and accessories. The website is designed to provide helpful tips that will inspire, inform and educate on topics related to photography. TakeGreatPictures experts are also available to offer information or provide source material for interested media.

PMDA provides a forum throughout the business year for its membership to exchange ideas and learn of new technologies and business trends in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public.  Our monthly programs and symposiums feature leading photo and imaging product suppliers and retailers, as well as financial analysts and technical experts.

On the eve of the annual convention and trade show of PMA International, we hold an annual PMDA Awards Dinner honoring outstanding industry individuals and technical achievements.  From year to year we also schedule the PMDA Public Forum in New York City, where we are addressed by a headline personality from the communications, government or corporate business community on current topics.

For more than 12 years, PMDA has been promoting photography at leisure-time shows around the nation with our Photo Information Booth.  This traveling photo and photo/imaging product exhibit visits several outdoor sports and/or boating shows a year where visitors are known to link picture taking to their main hobby interests.

PMDA has also teamed up with PMA International to create the Photographic Information Council (PIC) to promote photography to the general public.  We have created a fantastic website (takegreatpictures.com), which has proven itself over and over again.  You can find great tips and techniques, celebrity photographers, contests, new product releases and projects galore – to name a few of the many features of the site.

The member companies of PMDA have a box seat on the changing product and business developments of our industry and an unequaled opportunity to network with other industry principals and managers in the hour-long receptions preceding each of our meetings and special events.

Prospective members are urged to contact the PMDA office for an application.

Jerry Grossman
President

Designed to help bring a piece of home to soldiers around the world, the project is utilizing the talents of over 275 volunteer photographers across the country who are opening their studios this September, to offer free family portraits to military family members who have a soldier deployed overseas. The portraits will be uploaded to a website, http://www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com, and a print will be sent, free of charge, directly to the soldier in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever they are deployed around the world.  The goal of the project is to send 10,000 free family portraits during the month of September.

“This project is the photo industry’s way of giving back to our soldiers, and thanking them for the sacrifices they have made for our country,” said Jerry Grossman, the president of the PMDA who has spearheaded the effort. “Our industry is uniquely qualified to bring an important piece of home to our soldiers, and we’re pleased to be able to organize this effort.”

“It’s incredible how motivating a simple family photograph can be to a soldier who is far from home,” said Sergeant First Class Toby Nunn, who has served two tours in Iraq and has worked with Soldiers Angels on a number of projects. “This volunteer effort is one more way that we can help our soldiers cope with their situation,” he said.

The PMDA has asked photographers nationwide to volunteer their time and talent to take professional family portraits during the month of September. Military family members can find participating photographers living in their areas on a special website, www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com. Photographers are listed by state, and in order for family members to participate they will have to show a proper military ID to the photographer. The website was developed by Fujifilm, a PMDA member who has underwritten this effort, and SeeHere.com from Fujifilm is supplying the free prints to the soldiers and their families.

Those photographers interested in volunteering their time can also sign up online at www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com.

About PMDA

Founded in 1939, the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) has promoted the photo industry for over 70 years with an emphasis on photo imaging manufacturers and distributors.  PMDA provides an open forum for its members to exchange ideas and learn new technologies and business trends, in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public.  The member companies of PMDA have a box seat on the changing product and business developments of the photo industry and a unique opportunity to network with other industry principals and managers in the receptions preceding each meeting and special event. PMDA has also teamed up with the Photo Marketing Association to create the Photographic Information Council (PIC) to promote photography to the general public.  PIC’s website (www.takegreatpictures.com) provides great photo tips and techniques, celebrity photographers, contests, new product releases and projects. See PMDA’s site, www.pmda.com, for more information.