Industry Notes for the week of Sept. 26

September 27, 2020October 2, 2020 GaryPageau

Pro Photography

Emotion Photography sets sights on U.S. market in 2021

Australia’s Inside Imaging reports market-disrupting wedding photography business Emotion Wedding Photography has brought in new investors with a view to launching in the United States market in 2021/2022. Emotion chairman Michael Warshall told Inside Imaging 20 percent of the business was sold to investors, among whom are several of Australia’s top wedding shooters, with another 5 percent still on offer.

Listen to Michael Warshall explain the company’s latest plans on the Dead Pixels Society podcast.

Events

Save Your Photo Month classes still available

The Photo Managers sponsored event, Save Your Photos Month, is entering the last week. There’s still time to sign up and experience more than 40 classes. So far, the month-long event has had more than 5,000 people around the world sign up. Classes will remain open until Nov. 2, 2020.

If you are interested in adding photo organizing services to your business but don’t know how to estimate or price services, the Photo Managers are offering the three-day Profitability Live in November. Sessions will be taught by expert photo managers utilizing real-life case studies.

Interesting items from around the web

Shutterfly, Google Photos seeing surge as pro, amateur photographers document COVID-19 Pandemic

Amid the harsh realities of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is also inspiring a burst of creativity from photographers, and business is booming for photo storage services, according to this report from KPIX.

Drone-on-Demand service launches

A startup named Aquiline Drones will soon be offering a “drone-on-demand” mobile app for those who want on-call service. Simply order a drone (and pilot) through the app.

Facebook users in Illinois can now apply for a privacy payout of up to $400

Fortune reports Illinois residents who posted a picture of themselves to Facebook—or were “tagged” in a photo by someone else—can now apply to receive a payout in a class action settlement. The settlement, which will see Facebook users in the state receive from $200 to $400, is notable for its size—Facebook agreed to pay $650 million—and because it represents a rare occasion of a tech company compensating its users for a privacy violation.

In Memoriam: Ronald Inkley

Longtime photo retail leader Ronald W. Inkley, died Sept. 25th, 2020, at the age of 91. Soon after graduating high school, Inkley started his first photo store, Inkley’s Inc., in St. Lake City. The business grew over the ensuing 49 years to a leading position in four states until its sale to Ritz Camera in 1996. He was a founding member of the PRO buying group, serving as president for 13 years. He was also president of the Photo Marketing Association International. He returned to photo retail with the Imaging Depot in 2010.

People on the Move

Shutterfly names Todd Marshall Lifetouch general manager

Shutterfly Inc. appointed Todd Marshall as general manager of Lifetouch; he joins the company Sept. 28. In this role, Marshall will be responsible for the Lifetouch portfolio, including school, preschool, and church photography, as well as JCPenney Portraits by Lifetouch and BorrowLenses.