March 2017

SWPPA
SOUTHWEST PHOTO EXPO & CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City, Ok.
March 24th - 28th, 2017

GIVE US TWO MINUTES AND WE’LL CHANGE YOUR WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY​

Click on the arrow to view the video!

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES ADOPTS SCENE MACHINE VIRTUAL PROJECTED BACKGROUNDS

Norwegian Cruise Lines is hot on using Scene Machine to add unlimited variety to their photographic offering.  The problem all cruise lines have is that the public can take so many of their own pictures there is no reason for them to buy the official cruise line taken pictures….unless…the official cruise photographers can capture highly desirable images that the passengers cannot do on their own.  This is what Norwegian Cruise Lines discovered.
 More on Norwegian Cruise Lines in the next issue of The Backgrounder.

VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS IS AN INVESTMENT…NOT AN EXPENSE

Virtual backgrounds is truly an investment that can quickly pay for itself in many different ways.  It can be a key marketing tool for a photographer who can show off what they can do with the latest technology.  It is a highly creative tool in the hands of a competent photographer enabling them to produce work no one else can do.  It is a powerful profit maker because the client will purchase more if they are given a variety of highly creatively made images to choose from.

THE COMPLAINT YOU MOST WANT TO GET FROM YOUR CLIENTS!

"There out to be a law about people like you.  I had no intention of coming in here and spending so much money on pictures.  You made it so difficult to choose that I had to buy much more than I originally planned.”  
​ This is a complaint that you may get if you are properly using a virtual projected background system and providing your client with end results that they cannot get anywhere else.  It is the one complaint that you will love hearing.

HOW TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY GETTING INTO VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS

VB does not have to be expensive.  We offer a variety of systems including refurbished systems that can save you a considerable number of dollars.  Call and talk with Christian Feigl about the refurbished systems we may have available and get started energizing your creativity and profits.  We also have payment plans.  If you use the system as we suggest, it will quickly pay for itself and go on earning you significant extra profits.  Many customers tell us that they would not be in business today without virtual backgrounds.

BUYING A USED SYSTEM

​There are used virtual background systems available on the internet but as always, let the buyer beware.  Because the first VB systems came out nearly 30 years ago, and there have been a lot of changes and improvements since then, the older systems do not measure up to more recently developed systems.  Much worse is that many used systems on the internet are missing parts, out of alignment, and just not very good.  Screens are also frequently seen as badly damaged.  At VB, we refurbish used systems bringing them up to par and always letting a potential buyer know exactly what they are getting.  Refurbished systems come with a guarantee and personal phone/internet consultation if necessary.  If you have already purchased a used system that is not working as you expected, we offer service.
 Call Virtual Backgrounds for more information.
THERE ARE 100 VIDEO CLIPS ON YOU TUBE WHICH DEMONSTRATE WHAT THIS PHENOMENAL PROCESS KNOWN AS VIRTUAL PROJECTED BACKGROUNDS CAN DO FOR YOU.  GET THE FACTS.  SEE FOR YOURSELF.​

SEE AND TRY A VIRTUAL BACKGROUND SYSTEM FOR YOURSELF 

​Besides coming to the Virtual Backgrounds headquarters in San Marcos, TX you can visit Peter Budraitis in Long Island New York.
Peter has agreed to make his studio a demonstration center of virtual backgrounds.
​ Just call and make an appointment
​Visit 
Peter Budraitis
Studio to see VB in action.
Call (516) 674-0227
Email: studio@pmbphoto.com
Website: www.pmbphoto.com

Visit
​Cindy Cofer Barclay in Louisville Kentucky

Watch this short video to get a personal invitation from Cindy to come visit.  You'll be amazed. 
Click on the Arrow to view the Video. 
Call Cindy at (502) 266-9119 or 
Visit Cindy's Website

CLICK TO SEE THE
JANUARY 2017 ISSUE OF
THE BACKGROUNDER​
​
​CLICK TO SEE THE
FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE OF THE BACKGROUNDER

CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHER GOT HER SCENE MACHINE DIGITAL TO ENHANCE HER CREATIVITY AND BE CLEARLY DIFFERENT
THIS COULD BE YOU!

PictureGinette Hannan
Ginette Hannan is a most unlikely candidate to buy a virtual projected background Scene Machine.  She is a relative newcomer to professional photography and never got formal training in photography.  She has a full time career job.  She is a grandmother 8 times.  She lives in Canada where because of the high US dollar, she has to spend 25% more for the Scene Machine system PLUS pay heavy Canadian import taxes.  But she did not want to be just like every other shooter.  She wanted to distinguish her work from all others and she set her sights on a virtual background system to enable her to do things no one else could do.  After seeing a demonstration of virtual backgrounds at the WPPI show in 2005, she dreamed about owning a VB system and finally in late 2016 she bought it as she also prepared to retire from her full time job later this year and go into full time photography.  Her studio name is “Happy Smiles” located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
 
“The moment I first saw a virtual background system at WPPI I knew I had to have it.  I watched closely how it works.  I wanted something that would set me apart from all others.  There are a lot of photographers coming out of the woodwork in my small city because we have two colleges and a university that teaches photography.  I knew that if I wanted to be serious I needed to be clearly different and stand apart from everyone else.”
 
After a few initial bumps with lighting and harmonizing the subject with the background, Ginette very quickly caught on, and today her imagination is her only limit.  Although she will do all kinds of photography, she is most interested in producing specialty fantasy/whimsical work such as fairy tale and princess photography.  She is able to produce very heart appealing results that no parent and even most other professionals can’t begin to do.  Her Scene Machine system plays a very important role in providing her with infinite creativity.
 
“Every little girl wants to be a fairy, a princess, or a mermaid.  I can make it happen.  My clients tell me the results look so real!  I want to be known in my area as the children’s fantasy photographer.”
 
Ginette’s story is best told by viewing her photographs.  She is able to weave in an infinite variety of backgrounds to fit the overall intended “look” of each photograph.  As an example, there are a number of oriental people in her area of Canada so she has come up with backgrounds that would especially appeal to their culture.
 
“I don’t have any other backgrounds…not even a muslin.  Virtual projected backgrounds are it.  I purchase a lot of my backgrounds online from websites such as Shutterstock, which is much cheaper than the traditional backdrops, but I also photograph my own, which is great.  This way I can offer local scenes as an option.  My customers are amazed.  It takes me just a couple of seconds to change a background.  One of my new ideas is to work with art students and use their own art work as their portrait backgrounds.  I am also going to do this with preschoolers.  I just use my tablet to capture the art work and then I project it.  I also like that I don't have to use a photo for the background if I don't want to.  I can just use it as a black background for low key photos.”
 
“My studio is very small… I have to back up next to the wall to do full length but I can do it.  The Scene Machine makes my little studio bigger because it enables me to do so much with so little space.  When I get a bigger location, it will be a piece of cake."
 
Ginette is just scratching the surface of all that she will be doing with her Scene Machine as she comes up with more and more creative ideas that can be successfully marketed to her clients.  There is a special feeling that comes with being able to produce product that no one else can do…a product that the public absolutely loves.  This is what the Scene Machine projected background system is all about.   Why be like every other shooter including every amateur when you can be so different?

Email Ginette @ happysmilesphoto@gmail.com
Like Ginette's Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/HappySmilesStudio/

Warren Gordon
Gordon Photographic Ltd 
​ Nova Scotia, Canada

"Supreme Court Justice Retirement Portrait.  Done in my studio with VB Digital projected background"
​
Email: gordonphoto@ns.sympatico.ca
Website: http://gordonphoto.com/

SHIRLEE ROBINSON’S SCENE MACHINE
KEEPS ON GOING AND GOING

Aurora Colorado glamour photographer, Shirlee Robinson was one of our very earliest customers.  She bought her system to be different…to enhance her photography of women.  That was 26 years ago.  Her machine has been back for repair only once.  She is one of the most successful glamour photographers anywhere.  She came on the scene long before Glamour Shots.  Shirlee is still going strong.  Her use of her Scene Machine is one of the reasons she is so successful for so long.

Check out her web site at http://leadingladyphoto.com/   
We will be doing a feature article on Shirlee Robinson soon.  Watch for it.

WHO BUYS VIRTUAL PROJECTED BACKGROUND SYSTEMS?

Our primary customer for virtual backgrounds is the entrepreneurial professional photographer who wants to be more innovative and creative and have available the latest technology that they can use to promote their photography and increase sales.  Instead of bragging about how good a photographer they are, they can clearly show that they have technology that enables them to do highly creative things others cannot do.  And, they can prove this with samples emphasizing the ability to have an infinite number of backgrounds to complement their subjects.  They are photographers who want to set themselves apart from all others.  Most have a studio of some sorts or they set up a studio on location like a school photographer does.  Virtual backgrounds is woven in to their everyday operation.  A classic example is Canadian photographer, Ginette Hannan who clearly wants to be more creative and different from all others and is one of our featured photographers.  See Ginette's story above. 

WHO DOESN’T BUY VIRTUAL PROJECTED BACKGROUND SYSTEMS?

Generally it’s photographers who don’t appreciate the importance of clearly having methods and sample images that show that they are really different from all others.  It may be photographers who use green screen because it is so cheap to buy but who don’t appreciate how much better, faster and easier it is to use virtual projected backgrounds because of better quality and no tedious post processing and elimination of the green fringe and the cut out look.  It is also not purchased by those who fear making the initial investment or who do not appreciate the power of the background to enhance their products and profits.  Virtual backgrounds was founded by Photographic Craftsman Henry Oles, who always worked to be different from all others.

HISTORY OF VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS

Picture
It all began when Henry & Marian Oles purchased a primitive background projection system and began using it in their San Marcos studio.  They were so enthralled with the results that they decided to share the good news including writing the very first article ever published on background projection which appeared in The Professional Photographer.  Then came speaking requests from organizations throughout the country and requests for their background slides.  Eventually their dissatisfaction with the design of then current systems led them to develop their own system known as the Scene Machine.  The original company name was Environmental Projection Systems (EPS) which later became Virtual Backgrounds.
 
The new company grew rapidly and sold Scene Machine systems throughout the world to aggressive photographers who were interested in being truly different.  However many photographers just never understood the virtual backgrounds concept and how it could benefit them by providing them with infinite creativity in the studio where they had perfect control.
 
Over the years, Virtual Backgrounds developed many unique products for the photographic industry including the world’s first video proofing system.  The Scene Machine itself has gone through numerous modifications to improve its design and then two years ago became a totally digital product instead of using slides to create the backgrounds.  Because of the many innovations and patents Virtual Backgrounds soon became the only company in the world making virtual backgrounds equipment and remains so today.    
 
In more recent years, green screen became an alternative means of producing backgrounds but the virtual projection process offers many distinct advantages over green screen for portrait photography such as no tedious post processing and serious color restrictions on the subjects.  Recently virtual backgrounds began offering photographers the ability to produce videos in their studio with projected still and moving backgrounds.  The Virtual background system is the only alternative to using standard green screen.  When Virtual Backgrounds first showed the video aspects of the Scene Machine at the Government Video Expo in DC, it won an Outstanding New Product Award.
 
Much of the company’s effort has been on education.  The company founder and president Henry Oles, is a former university professor.  He taught at the PPA Winona School of Photography and for associations in many states and a number of foreign countries.  He wrote the book, The Professional Photographer’s Perfect Storm in which he predicted the digital revolution and how it would influence professional photography. He also wrote the hard bound book "Background Power!"  And the on line only book "How To Make Money with Virtual Backgrounds".  He is also responsible for writing hundreds of articles including a monthly column for Professional Photographer magazine titled Your Bottom Line that ran for ten years.  He was recently awarded the National Award by PPA in 2015 and the received the technology award at the 2016 Imaging show in Atlanta.
 
For further information about virtual backgrounds including many you tube videos, go to www.virtualbackgroundsphotography.com
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