Casablanca Business

Fifteen years ago photographers were only using rolls of film and the models would receive a contact sheet which contained all of their images after their photo shoot. From that point, you selected the images you wanted to represent yourself and you proceeded to a printing company. The printer would then create a simple layout for you and your comp cards were the final product. Comp cards were available in various quantities ranging from 50-500. The more you purchased the cheaper the cost. The entire process was long and tedious.

Today, the majority of photographers have gone digital. The benefits of digital vastly outweight that of film. Digitals can be manipulated with a computer software called Adobe Photoshop. This is a good and a bad thing.

You can play around with Adobe Photoshop and enhance your best features such as your eyes or hair. The most important thing to note is that you don’t want to go overboard with the enhancements. You want to make sure your photographs look like you when you go on an audition. The worse case scenario is that you go on an audition and you are asked to leave. One of the best benefits of digital is that it saves you money on printing costs. You don’t need a ton of comp cards printed.

Personally, I recommend that you order quantities of 100. That is more than enough to give to your agents. Your agent will download/scan your comp card into their system and submit you for assignments via the Internet usually with a site called actorsaccess.com. You are also able to update your comp card frequently as you get tear sheets from previous jobs. Having the ability to update your comp card will help keep you current in an every changing industry.

Keep in mind, some modeling agencies are still using comp cards as some clients are not as tech savvy. Other agencies have their own websites where they display their talent for their clients to see and book their models.

Some of the experts I’ve spoken to in the industry are predicting it will be about 2 more years before comp cards become completely obsolete and the modeling industry goes all digital. It is best to be proactive and ahead of the competition so now is a excellent time to learn Photoshop.

In the meantime with all of that extra money you are going to save, why not buy a domain name or start a blog and market yourself? Domain names are inexpensive and can be purchased right now and stored until you are ready to use them in the near future. By having your own website or blog you are able to house your own photos hence eliminating the need to have your photographs printed. You can simply provide your agents or potential clients if you are a free lance model with the link to your page.

The computer industry has seen its fair share of leaders and innovators. From Bill Gates to the masterminds behind Google, information technology has never found itself in short supply of movers and thinkers. Proudly numbering among their ranks today is Charles Phillips, a distinguished figure with over twenty years of experience in the industry. Recent developments have named Charles Phillips Infor CEO, and things can only get better for the upstart company with Phillips at the wheel.

A businessman with an extensive background in computer technology, Charles Phillips holds a key role in a number of different companies. Among his earliest work experiences was as a managing director at the Morgan Stanley Investment Bank. There, he specialized in accounts covering the software sector, establishing his initial foothold in the industry. Prior to working at Morgan Stanley, Charles Phillips had served in the United States Marine Corps as Captain of the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the United States Air Force Academy, followed by a JD at New York Law School and an MBA at Hampton University.

In 2003, Charles Phillips joined the Oracle Corporation, later becoming President and member of its Board of Directors. In his seven years at Oracle, Phillips had helped see the company through its highest rate of success yet. Under his guidance, Oracle tripled a growth in revenue. Phillips also oversaw the company’s field organization in addition to a number of key acquisitions. Phillips played an active role in Oracle leadership up until he stepped down in September 2010.

Soon after, Charles Phillips was recruited by Infor Global Solutions to replace Jim Schaper as CEO of the company. Prior to hiring Charles Phillips Infor had made a name for itself as one of the leading enterprise applications companies worldwide. In the past seven years, the privately-held company has achieved 59% compound annual revenue growth and a steady customer base in 125 countries. By putting its trust in Charles Phillips Infor will be benefiting not just from his impressive track record in the industry. Infor will also benefit from Phillips’ strong leadership and visionary mindset.

It’s hard trying to carry some of the high-end SLR cameras around or finding a compact model with advanced image quality for those quick moments in time. With 12 megapixels and 720p video, the Powershot SD940IS provides high quality pictures and video in a compact size. This little camera is pack with features like image stabilization, blink detection, and face detection. Add in the compact size and you’re off to shoot photos everywhere like a pro.

With a 28mm lens on the front to capture beautiful snapshots, the SD 940IS also has a 2.7″ LCD screen, which looks great when showing off stuff to your friends on the go. If you want to watch video, you have the option to use the HDMI output to view all of you home movies on the big screen. Just use the HDMI cable to hook it up and follow the menus to start watching. Aside from the benefits of removing red eye, you get a boatload of settings to get the right lighting and contrast for whatever situation. If you can’t decide, there’s an auto setting that picks it for you using 22 different presets. The overall size of the SD 940IS makes it easy to carry in your front pocket without feeling bulky. Plus, the buttons are all within reach to keep your hands from straining to take a simple shot of the family.

The Powershot SD940IS offers plenty for its $299 price tag. The only problem is the lack of a detailed booklet to show you how to use the damn thing. Some of the settings and menu layout can be confusing to use, but many may stick setting it to auto to save time. This sometimes hurt sales, but it’s a small sacrifice for quality in this case. Don’t bother with asking about editing software. You’re better off getting one that more than the included tools and interface. Short battery life is also a problem, so make sure to bring extra batteries if you plan to shoot for a long time.

The SD 940IS is a great point-and shoot camera for the pros and consumers wanting great photos in a compact size. It doesn’t matter if you need to capture moments of a wedding or want to snap a few shots in a nightclub. The Powershot SD 940IS has the situation covered in more ways than one. Right now Canon offers the SD940IS in black, blue, sliver and brown (all come with a metallic finish). If you don’t know how to operate a camera at all, you may get a little aggravated trying to figure this one out. If you’re a pro, this may be a breeze as long as you don’t get lost within the menus to set everything up. Beyond that, this is a great buy for the price and a great gift for this holiday season.