What started as a show of behind the scenes education and inspiration has now transitioned into an incredibly cool, free and interactive interface that features shows, tools, applications and a community sanctuary for the aspiring and professional photographer. Artists will be able to join in by creating their own [F] Network “passport” which ultimately gives the participant full access to the entire network. Members of the network will then be able to participate in giveaways (we’ve got a few giveaways throughout the season!) interactive homework sections, collaborations, contests and connections.

We’re especially excited about the brand new show, Film launching May 11^th. Watch film photographers and friends Ryan Muirhead, Tanja Lippert and Tia Reagan as they bring us the entertaining, emotional rollercoaster of the love, education, hardship and challenges of being a photographer. It’s a show all about film! How cool is that? Powered by us and Fuji Film USA, the hosts not only teach what they know about photography and film but they too become the students from special film artists and guest appearances throughout the sixteen episode season.

Check it all out at www.framednetwork.com

We’re so excited to announce the launch of 4 new fabrics for our albums on RPLprints powered by ROES! Check them out today, they’re great additions to the colors and fabrics already available. We know you’ll love ‘em. Order your album today!

We’re so excited to announce that we’re hosting a book signing party here for FILM IS NOT DEAD written by Jonathan Canlas and Kristen Kalp. It’ll be here in LA at our lab on Thursday, March 29th at 7pm (we’re located at 979 North La Brea Ave in Hollywood, CA). There will be RPL giveaways, some giveaways from Jon and we’re bringing in a food truck too!

Pick up the book here during the party, or bring your own copy and they’ll sign it here.

It’s free to attend, just let us know that you’re coming. Email your RSVP along with how many are attending to: RSVP@richardphotolab.com

Can’t wait to see you here!!

Experience yourself the amazing 4 day workshop in Birmingham, Alabama by the talented crew of A Bryan Photo. From April 1-4th, slow down, eliminate mental clutter and grow the foundation of your vision, style, and purpose. Topics covered are the history of wedding photography, shooting styles, presentation, pricing and studio management techniques. Seriously guys, you don’t want to miss this one. For more info, head here. Sign-ups still available, hope to see you all there!!

We are SO extremely proud and excited to announce our partnership with the free educational resource of [FRAMED]!! We are also thrilled to announce that [FRAMED], along with other sensational photography shows will now be a part of the brand new [FRAMED] Network; a channel and network of shows, tools, and applications all for photographers. We know you’ll love what’s in store and find the interviews both educational AND entertaining.

You can watch past seasons of [FRAMED] on www.framedshow.com but keep a look out for www.framednetwork.com launching in May 2012!  Stay tuned, we can’t wait to show you what’s in store!

Test your RICHARD skills and win a bunch of free stuff to RPLprints powered by ROES!

Head to the Airplanes and Blazers site and enter the contest! Winners announced this Friday, 2/3 so don’t delay. And if you want to hang out with a bunch of really fun people at the Airplanes and Blazers party at WPPI this year, get tickets here See you there!

And thank you everyone at Flashdance for the RPL love!

I walked into a workshop in December and it hit me. There it was on the coffee table, PDN’s 20 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography and one of our young clients had the cover shot.  It wasn’t the first PDN one of our clients had the cover of, and while each one is special, it was turning the pages that really got my head spinning.

I was surprised to see that we had worked with the person that shot the inside front cover. Then as I kept going I hit the list of new photogs and that’s what shocked me, out of the 20 featured we have worked with 14 of them.  Is that even possible?? It seemed kind of unfair for a minute, (just for a minute….) To top it off the last page of editorial was a client too. It’s sort of amazing the number of our photographers featured in this magazine when you consider what a small lab we are!

But that just scratched the surface: I still had the current issue of Southern Weddings Mag with 6 of our clients in it sitting in my bag.  And a few days earlier Abby and Tait of Style Me Pretty had said that while they were still checking, so far our clients had been featured over 200 times.  I only gave them 30 names to check and 29 had been featured and most multiple times.  When I sat down to prepare for the workshop I had an email drafted to make plans to have lunch with a client/friend that was an American Photo “Best” winner. As I drifted into thought I realized that with the exception of one year, all 6 years we have had at least one client honored the title. One year we even had two clients listed.  All this knowing the Jose and Joel’s feature was just a few days away from hitting the news stands and while it reflected a great day for my friends and a great photographer was there to shoot it, Martha Stewart Weddings was showing something that they have never done before and that was just the icing on the cake!

Yeah, the last 30 days of 2011 were spent looking at all the great places our friends have been and I can say that I am proud to think that we played some role in their success.

So thanks, to all of you photographers (big, small, published or just quietly doing amazing work) that we have been honored to work with in 2011.  I hope that we have somehow helped you by giving you the best service we know how to give with great prints, great scans and maybe even some great business advise…

Here are some of the cool things we are working on for 2012:

You can meet me (or Angela!) at no less than 20 workshops this year, all over the world. Yeah I said world.

We are teaming up with Instaproofs to offer a service that brings two great companies into one seamless service.

Super excited to be involved in an expanded version of the [Framed] show this year! Can’t wait for you to see what’s in store.

Tuning up our services to take on even more photographers that care about quality.  Faster printing, more albums and books, digital processing, all the stuff you guys have been us asking for.

We have a couple of blogs that will happily list us as a vendor when our clients are featured but we need your help on this one!!!!  Please add us to you vendor list on your next submission!

And of course new ways to stay connected to our loyal clients.  As a small company, loyalty is how we pay the bills so we have a few things cooking for you guys that use us all the time!

Thanks again for making 2011 great and I look forward to seeing you in 2012!

-Brian

Jonathan Canlas traveled with “Champions” of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital to Disney World in Orlando Florida and Washington D.C. photographing the kids, their families, caretakers, and sponsors. His photographs capture the genuine happiness and hope these children radiate. Read what Jonathan Canlas has to say about “Champions” and his experience on his blog. You’ll be thankful you did.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Canalas

Christopher Wilocki participated in the event “Honor Flight Chicago,” an organization focused on honoring American veterans for their services.  This group is one that had captured Wilocki’s attention for over a year and he describes his experience as being “the most emotional and humbling event [he has] ever witnessed.” This emotion comes across in his photographs of the event and we encourage all to visit his blog.

Photo Credit: Christopher Wilocki

Braedon Flynn flew down to Lima, Peru with the Krochet Kids, a charity with a fascinating story revolving around a group of high school friends. Krochet Kids encourages women to rise above poverty by teaching them the skill of crocheting. Breadon’s photo subjects include the women in the  program, the landscape and homes in Lima, the crochet “training sessions”, and the yarn factory. View his trip on his blog.

Photo credit: Braedon Flynn

Each year the Laurel Foundation serves over 500 children, youth and families affected by HIV and AIDS in the Los Angeles community. It was a pleasure working with their staff and Margot the founder and CEO. For more information on this great cause check out their site, http://www.laurel-foundation.org/

Richard Photo Lab wishes everyone a great holiday season and thanks all those who give back when they can.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give – Winston Churchill