The Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop
September 29-October 1, 2011 ● Portland, Oregon

Dear Photographer,

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for photography into a lifestyle …

If you long for the freedom to set your own hours … travel whenever you please … wake up every morning LOVING what you do …

 … and make a good income while you’re at it, then joining us in Portland is the best, most efficient, most fun way to start.

Take a Trip Out West and Return Home an Inspired Stock Photographer!

Getting paid to take photos and travel the world has got to be the best job on the planet. But let’s be frank – it’s not all lazing in the hammock and sipping mai thais. You DO have to dust off your camera and take high-quality photos. And you DO have to sell them if you want to make money.

And that’s where The Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop comes in.

We’ll set up fun, exclusive photo shoots for you – all of which tap into HOT SELLING trends – and all of which have our pros close at hand to help you – ensuring this three-day trip pays for itself. Plus, this event gives you the tools and know-how to keep on earning money, easily.

You see, stock photography is easily something you can do in your spare time — when you want to, when the urge strikes – and still make money with it.

Subjects for saleable photos are all around you, from your own backyard to the steps of the Coliseum in Rome.

The incredible thing is, most people who get started in stock think they’ll only make a modest amount. But once you get going, the income could snowball beyond your wildest expectations.

Take stock photographer, Holger Mette, for example. Once a lawyer in Australia, he is now able to travel for a living on nothing but his stock-photo income. Paper lamps in Japan, the Taj Mahal, koalas in Australia, the Great Wall of China … it’s easy to immediately recognize the places he’s traveled to through his photo subjects.

It’s true you could always travel to an exotic locale to take interesting pictures, like Holger does. But it's also perfectly reasonable to think you could just go out and snap photos a handful of hours a week in and around your hometown and earn a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars a month for your efforts.

Never before has it been this easy to create a second income stream through stock photography.

Why Stock Photography is HOT Right Now
(Giving YOU the Perfect Excuse to
Pack Your Camera and Join us this Fall!)

A radical shift is underway in the world of stock photography. The entire industry is much different than it was just a couple of years ago. Traditional stock photography agencies (and by that I mean big corporations that act as brokers for all sorts of images) usually only work with big name photographers who are required to turn in at least 100 technically perfect photos per month.

However, with the birth of Micro-Stock agencies, everyone from a professional photographer to a stay-at-home mom can submit AND sell their photos online at their own convenience. These agencies, which have sprung from the web and deal with digital images, only require that you have 3 good photos to start off with. After that, you can add photos in your own time as you see fit.

The best part? It doesn’t cost you anything to upload your pictures to an agency. Nor do you have to do any selling. Stock agencies do all that hard work of marketing and selling for you. So you can focus on what you enjoy doing most: Taking photos!

How then, do you make money?

Buyers can download your images on stock websites for anywhere from $1 to $20 or more, depending on the size of the image they want.

You, in exchange, get a royalty for each image, each time it sells. So even though you may only earn 50 cents or so per sale, you make up for it in volume. One photo can sell over and over again, and you don’t have to do anything but upload it once.

And that’s it. You can go take a nap, or make a snack maybe. Spend some time with your family. Go on a bike ride. Or anything else you like, because once you upload your photos, the work is done. All you have to do is sit back and watch the royalties roll in.

Arrive Without a Single Photo to Sell.
Fly Home With a Whole Portfolio
of Images You Can Sell!

You can get started selling your photos to stock agencies with no experience at all. Just a simple digital camera.

So long as you enjoy taking pictures, it’s just a matter of learning a few hard-won secrets from our pros. They’ll tell you what really works in the real world of stock photography — and what doesn't.

You’ll discover all kinds of insiders' secrets, like …

• How to turn your photos of family, pets, even furniture and household items into a passive income stream … earning you money while you sleep
• The three elements in every saleable stock image, and how to quickly and easily include them in your photos
• Pro-level Photoshop and Lightroom post-processing techniques that’ll make any photographer look like an expert (even if you’re new to photography and barely know how to work your camera)
• Simple tricks to photographing one of the best-selling stock photo subjects – people
• The ins and outs of setting up a model shoot, from where to find models to working with natural light and reflectors, which you can easily do at home
• Hot stock trends … and which photo compositions, subjects, and styles sell best as stock
• How to erase logos, heal blemishes, and "fix" your photos in Lightroom
• How to easily set up your stock business – and start collecting checks – in your spare time
• How to maximize your income potential and by selling at more than one stock agency. It's easy to do … and it can exponentially increase your income in only a few more minutes a week. (This easy trick could mean the difference between $2,000 and $6,000 a month in profit for you!)

 … and much, much more!

In Portland, You'll Learn by "Doing"
– and Have a Ton of Fun While You're at It

If you’ve ever wondered if your photos are saleable or not, you’ll soon find out. You see, in Portland, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in group photo reviews.

Here’s how that works: One of our pros will put your photos up on the screen, import them into Adobe Lightroom, and offer you suggestions for improvement.

This in itself can shave months off your learning curve.

You’ll gain the easiest, fastest route for jump-starting your photo career. You’ll see improvement by the end of the very first day … and you’ll have the tools and moral support to take the leap and get started uploading photos for sale.

There’s nothing quite like the hands-on experience, networking, and insider knowledge that you’ll gain at our 2011 stock photo event … and you won’t believe how much fun it is. Of course, don’t take my word for it.

Here’s what a few past attendees had to say about last year’s Ultimate Stock Photo Workshop …

"The value is excellent. I can't imagine a better way to jump start a career – such sincere, energetic, qualified, and friendly lecturers, along with presentations by real world regular people with inspiring and attainable success stories."

– Vera Bosnel

“It was phenomenal! Was beyond my expectations! I want to go on another one … I think anybody that wants to go into this business or just as a hobby would totally benefit from this.”

– Susan F.

“I loved this workshop. Lots of excellent information, and easy to understand. And I can put it to use immediately! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

– Lyrae P.

Exclusive Photo Shoots – That Ride the Wave of Hot Trends, Making You a TON OF CASH!

What’s more, at The Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop you’ll have the opportunity to participate in numerous photo shoots – that all tap into top-selling photo themes.

It’s a great opportunity to not just build “any” portfolio – but a portfolio of money-earning hits!

You’ll gain experience shooting in a studio and working with models. Our experts will let you in on poses that work the best and why … show you how to put models at ease so you’re capturing natural-looking shots … show you where to focus your camera … and all sorts of tricks-of-the-trade that will shave years off your learning curve.

Tricks that make a difference between an “okay” shot and a “great,” top-selling shot.

And later, when you’re done shooting you’ll learn to edit your photos in Adobe Lightroom.

So in the evening, as you snuggle into your luxury bed, you can even upload your photos to agencies so they are available for sale – before the workshop even comes to a close.

And, if you have any questions, you’ll know the next morning you can enjoy a coffee and fresh fruit, and ask one of our pros for help. They’re more than happy to give you the answers you need.

It’s a fabulous experience. It really is. It’s a vacation … but you’ll return home a new person.

It really is something else to shoot photos in the company of a group of the nation’s top microstock photographers – picking up on good photo habits, plus getting hands-on guidance for getting the exposure and light right. This is the kind of stuff that's hard to get from a book. It's so much easier when you just have somebody showing you. And this fall, you will.

What they'll show you are the very things that will help you profit long after this Portland weekend.

Yes! You Really CAN Make A Living with Your Camera!
Get Real-World Secrets … Straight from a Group of the Country’s Top-Performing Stock Photographers!

This is your chance to easily create a second income stream … to finally have the freedom to do what YOU want to do with your life.

If want to live life on your schedule, not your boss’ … freeing up time to spend with your family, travel more, and simply enjoy life …

If you understand that life is short and you don’t want to waste a minute longer …

 … then joining us this fall on the west coast is the best investment you can make!

Come to Portland and put yourself in the company of people who are living a life they feel passionate about … and making a good living doing it.

They weren’t professionals when they got started. They had “other” lives, but they found a way to take their love of photography and turn it into a full-time living. You'll hear from stock-photography super-stars …

Lise Gagne is microstock photography’s very first superstar. She was the first to hit 500,000 image sales … and today she has over one million. Her images on iStock.com make her six figures a year … and the more photos she adds to her collection, the more money she makes.

But she didn’t start out at the top. Lise began taking photos for stock when she was fired from her design job. She bought a cheap pawn-shop camera, and started snapping. In Portland, she’ll tell her story and shared advice from the years of trial and error it took her to get to the top.

“For my interests I felt that Lise Gagne added the most benefit because she was in my position not that long ago and told her story and where she is now as a photographer and businesswoman.  Her biggest strength was her honesty in describing how she has managed to create a living out of photography.”

– Blake B.

“Lise Gagne is a lovely, gentle, sincere and humble person, a great inspiration and motivator.  I’m very impressed along with everyone else.”

– Vera B.

“Lise is warm and sincere.  Her biggest strengths were her true life story of becoming a full-time successful photographer and her willingness to share so honestly.”

– Penny M.

Shelly Perry was a social worker who now makes her living as a photographer. She specializes in “people” photography . And her images have appeared all over the globe – on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, websites, ad campaigns, billboards, and even on TV. She'll show you how she transforms "ordinary people" into models in photos that sell again and again. Our attendees LOVE Shelly for her thoughtful guidance and the specific, useful suggestions she always has for the folks who come to our events.

“Shelly knows every aspect about stock photography, but also about general photography, and is very ready to share that knowledge!”

– Ellen Stubbs

“Shelly Perry makes lighting and home studio work doable. She is encouraging and offers suggestions that help you think of ways to improve your work.”

– Chere H.

“I thought Shelly added a lot to this workshop because of her personal stories. I felt I could identify with her. And because she’s so successful; she shared her process.”

– Clea F.

“Shelly struck me as very ethical, professional, and artistic. Someone unwilling to compromise her principles or her art. Very trustworthy and had a simple, clear teaching format and style. Very knowledgeable. Sincere.”

– Sabrina A.

Rich Wagner is a highly skilled digital photographer . His images hang in public corporations and private foundations from San Diego to Boston and in homes from the Americas to the Far East. He’s also the owner of Imagine it Framed, a custom frame shop in Connecticut. His shop is the only one in New England to have received the prestigious Décor Magazine "America's Top 100" award for two years in a row. Rich is a master at teaching just about anyone how to take better pictures.

This fall in Portland, he'll be on hand to talk about composition, about your camera, about the "rules of the road" you need to know (and tell you which ones you can ignore) so you can be taking amazing photos in hours instead of weeks …

“ … His emphasis in long-term customer support, product quality, his business knowledge and professionalism are fantastic!! He is very open and patient.”

– Lucy W.

“Knowledgeable and entertaining without being too technical to comprehend. Instructs without leaving you in the dark.”

– Marcus W.

“Rich is approachable and humorous. He takes the time to answer questions and has an ability to communicate his knowledge without making a person feel stupid.”

– Mindy C.

"Rich Wagner has a refined passion for photography. He not only loves and knows his stuff, his passion resonates, and he really gets you to understand and appreciate whatever it is that he's teaching. He was fun and lively, but his passion for photography was serious. He's an awesome teacher!"

– Valerie Lackey

Efraín M. Padró, a former lawyer, is now a full-time professional photographer who sells his travel photos as stock as well as fine art and editorial. He’ll tell you how he made the leap from a successful career as an attorney to one as a professional photographer … and share with you his most important secrets to success.

"Efrain is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He explains everything so that you understand, and he has a lot of patience."

– Linda Brooks

"Efrain was wonderful – so easygoing and helpful. He spent so much time helping everyone one-on-one. He also has a great teaching style – He's super humorous. I loved him!"

– Lynn Michels

"Efrain is very knowledge ­able, approachable, very involved with students and willing to share his secrets – He gave the best tips of the trade."

– Joy Spring

And many others.

Turn One Long Weekend …
into a Giant Leap Forward …

You'll have a blast on photo shoots out with our experts at your elbow. But what’s really great about our pros is how approachable and genuinely interested in your success they are – even when they’re “off-duty.”

You can walk up to them during one of the coffee breaks … in the buffet line at breakfast … have a drink at the lobby bar with them in the evening … and ask them any question you have.

These are the moments when you know you made the right decision to be here. Opportunities arise that you just can’t get anywhere else but in a live, fun setting.

There's really no price-tag nor substitute for this face-to-face interaction with our experts. You just never know what words said or advice shared could accelerate you to the life you dream of.

You’ll learn in three days what takes others months, even years, to figure out on their own. It’s because you’re there in person … you can ask questions, pull an instructor aside, and you get lots of hands-on practice.

More importantly, you can already have your new shots online and ready to sell … even before you leave.

So you can head home from this weekend relaxed, refreshed … and excited about the know-how and tools you have to keep on taking saleable stock photos.

Guarantee your seat
at AWAI’s Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop now!

Register Today!

In Portland, You Take
the Shortcut to a Life You Control …

Our workshop attendees are our most successful members, no question. But you know what? They're not necessarily our members who have the most talent. They’re simply the ones who took the advice, guidance, and secrets they learned from our experts … and used it.

On more than one occasion, I’ve seen people change their course in life because of a workshop. And even more often, their new-found knowledge brings real joy and satisfaction to their lives …

Our live stock photography workshops have completely SOLD OUT the past two years. And that means that this year’s event – The Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop is likely to sell out again.

Whether you'd like a little extra cash in your "rainy day" fund, or you'd love to have some more time to spend with family or friends … pay off a few of those pesky debts … or even take a much-deserved vacation to renew and recharge your zest for life … you’ll achieve your goal faster by coming to Portland.

Join us – and you won’t believe how quickly you can bridge the gap from your first $20 royalty check to your first $1,200 check … $2,000 check … and watch it just snowball from there.

Since you already take pictures on vacation … and at weddings, birthday parties, and family reunions … why not learn how to turn them into income-earning photos?

Register Now, Pay Later

The registration fee for the workshop, which covers admission to three days of intensive (but downright enjoyable, too!) class sessions geared to produce saleable stock photographs… access to the studio shoots and the three specialty shoots… signed model releases from all our models… help from the staff… is just $1,697 per person.

And with our special “Register Now, Pay Later” offer, you can split your payments in half, with your second payment due AFTER the event has taken place.

Register Now, Pay Later!

Here’s how it works:

1. Reserve a seat at the workshop for just $848.50 when you register today.
2. When you do, you automatically lock in the $1,697 workshop price.  (And other discounts may apply.)
3. In October, we’ll bill your credit card for the other $848.50, once you’ve returned home and after you’ve had a chance to upload some of your photos for sale.

And because I’m so confident you’ll love everything that you hear in Portland, I’m offering a 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE.

If for ANY reason you join us in Portland and then decide that the 2011 Ultimate Stock Photographer’s Workshop isn’t for you or you aren’t satisfied with what you’re getting, simply let us know by the end of the cocktail party on the first night… and we’ll happily refund your money… every penny.

No hard feelings. And no risk for you.

It’s our way of showing you how confident we are in this program—of the experience and information you’ll gain from it and the results it can deliver.

Sign up today and join us in Portland for a long weekend where you’ll learn everything you need to launch a lucrative stock photography career … this year!

Guarantee your seat at AWAI’s Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop now!

Register Today!

NOW Really Is a GREAT TIME
to DIVE into Stock Photography

Don’t miss out on your chance to attend our only Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop of the year. As I mentioned earlier, stock photography has exploded on the web in recent years, thanks to digital technology.

It’s a fun and simple way to sell your photos and it’s virtually recession-proof because stock photos are so affordable for buyers. Sign up today and learn how you can get started and begin to cash in on this opportunity today.

Remember—when you reserve your seat now – you’ll pay just $1,697.  (Other discounts may apply.)

And you can split your payments up into two easy installments, so you can register for just $848.50 down.  Plus, with our “Register Now, Pay Later” deal, your last payment isn’t required until AFTER the workshop is over.

That means that for just $848.50 down, you can lock in a seat at this year’s event, where you’ll enjoy the most inspiring, informative, income-producing trip you’ve ever been on!

You’ll get to learn firsthand, from the experts, how pictures snapped in your own backyard, of your family and friends can give you the income and freedom to live on permanent vacation.

You’ll get the thrill of seeing your photos pop up anywhere in the world – on billboards, CD covers, books and magazines.

And, you’ll have a blast with us – participating in live shoots – and building a real stock photo portfolio!

When you return home, it’s not “Darn, back to reality.” It’s the START of waking up every morning LOVING what you’re doing!

Isn’t it time you started having fun combining your passion with income? I hope to meet you in Portland!

Sincerely

Lori Allen,
Director,AWAI's Travel Division

Guarantee your seat at AWAI’s Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop now!

Register Today!

P.S. Hurry! Seats always sell out fast for our Ultimate Stock Photo Workshop. There won’t be another exclusive stock photo event like this until 2012. And this promises to be our BEST one yet.

You’ll be able to go home from this long weekend, with money-earning photos ready to sell … maybe even uploaded to stock sites … ready to start earning you cash.

You’ve got nothing to lose – and a rewarding, creative lifestyle to gain in one of the most fun, lucrative markets there is!

Here’s the schedule for our
Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop,
September 29- October 1, 2011 in Portland:

Thursday, September 29 – 8:00am - 6:00pm

We have a full day of coursework planned ending with a welcome cocktail to mingle with your fellow photographers and instructors.

Most of this first day will be focused on the how to market your photos to online stock photo agencies. But we’ll also review some important photography basics for those just starting out. Beginner and advanced sessions will take place in two different conference rooms so you can chose which you’d like to attend according to your skill level.

Sessions will also be recorded and MP3s of each recording (along with a few videos of some of the key concepts you’ll learn) will be provided for you to download (for free) after the conference.

Today you’ll focus on…

• Breaking into online stock photography
• Hot trends that sell well
• Tips for doubling (sometimes tripling) your earnings
• How to choose the right stock agency/agencies for you
• And more…

Beginners will also learn:

• The three keys to taking saleable photographs
• How to set up your camera for the best shots possible
• The basics of understanding light and how your camera records it

Friday, September 30 – 8:00am - 6:00pm

Today, we’ll start out bright and early with several special shoots. Then we’ll head back to the classroom where sessions will include:

• Laptop labs where you’ll practice post-processing your photos for stock
• Group Review sessions where you can get feedback on your work
• Keywording tips for getting your photos to the top of most buyer’s lists
• Beginner and Advanced sessions for working with your photo editing software (Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop)

Advanced sessions will include:

• How to photograph objects and people on a white background
• Product and food photography

Saturday, October 1 – 8:00am - 6:00pm

On this last day, we’ll split into smaller groups and work more intimately on our portfolios. Groups will be assigned to separate shooting locations based on their skill level and their equipment type.

Again, there will be laptop labs throughout the afternoon to continue working with your photos in Lightroom. And group reviews to provide feedback.

If you do not have Adobe Lightroom, you can download a free 30-day trial on the Adobe website the week before the conference. 

Your goals for this workshop will be three fold:

• To enhance your portfolio by adding photographs from and the special shoots (all with signed model releases from our models so that they’re acceptable for stock)...
• To learn how to process your images for stock and to process a few of your photos right there on the spot with an instructor looking over your shoulder...
• To get feedback on your work so you can easily identify the mistakes you’re making, correct them, and never make them again.

The conference sections of this workshop will be recorded for your convenience.

On Sunday, October 2 from 8:00am – 5:30pm, we’ll hold an optional one-day pet photography add-on workshop.  You can request to receive more details about this one-day event when you click through to the order page below.

* Schedule and speakers are subject to change.

Your Registration Fee Includes:

• Three full days of intensive workshop sessions
• Special presentations and demonstrations by highly-regarded photographers
• Tips on technique and composition from professional stock photography inspectors – the people who accept and reject photos for sale in the real world
• Hands-on experience photographing professional models… you’ll walk away with saleable photos in hand
• Transportation to and from all stock photo shoots is on us
• Stock-specific post-processing lab sessions … these sessions alone are worth the fee
• Cocktail parties to meet and mingle with your instructors and fellow attendees
• Recordings of all the main sessions that you can take home with you so you can practice what you learn in Portland in the comfort of your own home
• Assistance throughout the program from our staff

Your Registration Does NOT Include:

• Airfare to and from Portland
• Airport transfers to and from the hotel in Portland
• Meals not listed on this flyer
• Overnight accommodation
• Equipment — you must bring your own camera and accessories (e.g., memory cards, tripod, laptop, etc.)

Equipment Needed:
This workshop is for digital SLR cameras only. If you don’t have an SLR camera and would like to buy one, we can send you a copy of our camera buying guide.  You can look into renting a camera for the weekend before you make a decision to purchase.

Attendees must also bring their own laptop.

Here’s a list of equipment we recommend you have:

• Digital SLR camera
• At least two large-capacity memory cards (2Gig cards or larger are recommended)
• A card reader, or other means to get your photos onto a computer
• Batteries with chargers
• A laptop for post-processing and photo review

Cancellation Policy: The Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop is nonrefundable. If, however, you are unable to attend – and you give us at least 30 days notice – we will be happy to apply your payment toward a future workshop, minus a $200 processing fee for overseas expeditions or a $50 processing fee for state-side workshops like those in San Antonio, Chicago or Portland. Cancellations with less than 30 days notice may be subject to extra fees.

NEW: IRON-CLAD 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If you attend the Portland event and decide that the photographer's life isn't for you (for ANY reason) and you let us know by the end of the cocktail party on the first night, we will be happy to refund your COMPLETE PAYMENT and you can spend the rest of your weekend in and around Portland.

Travel Details

Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center
550 SW Oak Street
Portland, Oregon 97204
For reservations call: (503)505-5000
http://myfavoritecourtyard.com

To register now for the Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop please click below or call our office at (202) 370-6459 EST or toll-free at (866) 415-1425 or email lori@thetravelwriterslife.com.

Register Today!

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American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(561) 278-5557 or (866) 879-2924
www.awaionline.com