iSyndica’s latest feature, called “Promotion,” enables users to securely distribute their portfolio on social media and photo-sharing sites for free, thereby gaining visibility without jeopardizing the rights to their work. Initial supported sites include Flickr, Picasa, Facebook and Twitter. The feature will also be available to videographers for seven popular video destinations, including BlipTV, Viddler, and YouTube. Historically, image theft made professional photographers anxious about sharing their images on social media sites. And for good reason - the Stock Artists Alliance estimated in 2007 that such theft resulted in $65 million of lost revenue for the industry. iSyndica’s Promotion feature addresses these concerns in a safe and easy way: distributed photographs are automatically watermarked and resized, effectively preventing their misuse, the company says.

Welshot Photographic Academy is staging an all-day event at Chester Zoo on Sunday, October 25. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn how to take stunning mains flash portraiture photographs, get up-close and personal with macro and floral photography, how to get your best photographs published and more. Leading professional photographers John Arnold, Will Cheung FRPS, Chris Noble and Steward Ellett will lead a series of informal yet instructive practical modules. The cost including zoo admission, lunch and all refreshments, is £45 for Welshot Photographic Academy members and £55 for non-members. Places are limited and booking is essential. You can register online at the website below.

Website: Welshot Imaging

Imaging USA, one of the world’s largest events for professional photographers, has picked Nashville for its 2010 convention and tradeshow. The USA’s longest running photographic convention will feature a unique combination of artistic and business education designed specifically for professional photographers, whether they’ve been in business for years, or are just starting out. Registration for the conference, which will take place from 10-12 January 2010, is open to all professional photographers and several options are available, including full conference and one-day passes. A special promotion includes a free full conference registration for new members who join PPA prior to the show. For more information about Imaging USA or to register for the conference, visit the website below.

Website: Imaging USA

PhotographyBB has announced the release of the 20th edition of the PhotographyBB Magazine Online. The September 2009 edition features a theme of image processing related articles. Readers also have their questions answered in the continuing FAQ series. What’s the best time of day to take photos? How to I get the best exposure in tough lighting conditions?  Furthermore, in their “Portraiture Photography 101? series, we examine methods for reconstructing the main elements of a portrait shoot, from analysing an existing portraiture photo. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website

Website: PhotographyBB

On 15 October, Peartree is organising a special Open Day, an event designed to introduce all the key members of Leaf, Phase One and Peartree by showcasing the latest digital technology. Guests will have the chance to discover the new Leaf Aptus II series, which is an open platform high-end digital back with resolution of up to 56 megapixels. Peartree will have both medium and large format cameras on display as we demonstrate the versatility of Leaf’s new range, which is able to connect to over 70 cameras. Not only will you get to test the latest camera systems, you’ll also get to work through Leaf Capture and understand the finer details of the software. You can register by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7033 7371.

German online photo agency Polylooks, which is backed by Deutsche Telekom, has launched its service in the UK. Polylooks already contains more than 35,000 UK-generated images alongside its extensive European portfolio and the site is looking to expand its British photo collection, including 20,000 from its UK partner Monkey Business Images. The microstock market is currently dominated by North American providers, the company said, meaning more European-specific content was needed to cater for rising demands this side of the Atlantic.Photographers who exclusively post their material on Polylooks receive 50 per cent of the net sale price and those with non-exclusive arrangements receive 35 per cent.

Website: Polylooks

The SAA Photo Metadata Project is set to resume educating photographic professionals with more getMETAsmart events. All getMETAsmart events, which are designed to teach imaging professionals how to use metadata, are free to those who register in advance at www.photometadata.org. All who attend can also register for a free raffle featuring valuable professional software and services from Adobe, Microsoft, Camera Bits, Photoshelter, and now, liveBooks. The Chicago event held on 24 September 2009 at Prairie Production at 1314 W. Randolph Street, will fit between the American Society of Picture Professionals’ Midwest education day and an evening presentation by Judy Herrmann of the American Society of Media Photographers. While those events require an admission fee, the getMETAsmart seminar will be free to all registrants. Then, David Riecks will travel to Atlanta on Saturday, 10 October, to share the metadata message with Southeast professionals at Big Studio, 881 W. Marietta Street N.W.

PhotographyBB announced today the release of the 19th edition of the PhotographyBB Magazine Online. The August 2009 edition features a theme of “How-to” related articles. Readers have their questions answered in the continuing FAQ series where real questions from the magazine’s readers are anonymously and thoroughly answered. In the new “Portraiture Photography 101? series, the August edition also examines portrait lighting techniques for the importance of form in portraiture work. The magazine editors also have a look at two of America’s most famous and spectacular national parks; Yellowstone and Grand Teton, which have provided awe-inspiring subjects for some of the most famous photography. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website.

Website: PhotographyBB Magazine Online

Kodak’s booth at Print 09 will be streaming with exhibits, presentations and activities unlike any previously seen at a trade show, the company says. The Pipeline of Innovation serves as the centerpiece of Kodak’s booth. This 24-foot-long digital display will feature a continuous stream of visual images representing innovative technology and solutions from Kodak. Visitors can interact with the display to learn more about what interests them. Another highlight at Kodak’s booth will be the K-Zone, a live talk show set where dynamic discussions with industry experts, print service providers, and marketing professionals will take place daily throughout the show. The K-Zone kicks off on Friday, Sept. 11, at 11:00 a.m. CST with a panel discussion, “What’s Print Got to Do with It,” featuring Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eastman Kodak Company.

Kubota Image Tools announced today a new creative photography workshop – Studio Success, from K to V – taking place at the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, October 26 – 27, 2009. Attendees will join professional photographers Kevin Kubota and Vicki and Jed Taufer for this intense 2-day workshop designed to help professional photographers fine-tune their creative and business skills to find success during tough economic times. Cost to those registering before September 15, 2009 is $399, while attendees registering after that date should expect to pay $449.

The team at Annabel Williams’ Contemporary Photographic Training has announced a new course called Flawless Digital Enhancement. Trainer and photographer Stewart Randall will show you how to work within the digital darkroom to retouch an image without overdoing things.With the approach that ‘less can be more’ you will learn the tricks of the trade – enabling you to remove the odd wrinkle or eye bag easily and quickly, whether it’s for the perfect wedding portrait, or for those clients who want high fashion, super-model style. The seminar takes place at the brand new Annabel Williams studio at Staveley in the glorious Lake District on 13th November 2009. For full details visit www.annabelwilliams.com or contact the studio on 01539 821791.

Calumet Photographic have released a series of dates across the UK with multi-award winning photographer Uzair Kharawala.  ‘Business & Beyond’ is a full-day seminar and will be held at Calumet stores in Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Belfast & Birmingham. Uzair will be presenting on how to run your business through these tough times.  A variety of interesting and exciting subjects & topics will be covered to help you grow your business. The price is £45.00 including refreshments & lunch.

In this year’s Summer Sale Pixum offers the most popular photo prints sizes, 4”, 4.5” and 5”, with up to 54% discount. The greatest novelty of this Summer Sale is that customers do not need to enter a voucher code – all prices are reduced automatically. The special Pixum Summer Sale prices are: 4” prints for 4p, 4.5” prints for 6p and 5” prints for 8p. Customers only need to upload their pictures to Pixum and order prints in the sizes they wish to receive for reduced rates. The Summer Sale ends on 31 august 2009.

Following the success of their six previous Teaching Seminars, the Imaging Science Group of the Royal Photographic Society is organising another of its 1 day tutorial seminars this year on Saturday 12th December 2009. Entitled “Good Picture - 2009: Making Imaging Work” and taking place at the University of Westminster, the symposium is open to all. The £60 admission fee includes buffet lunch plus morning and afternoon coffee & biscuits. Click through / read on for the full programme.

Pentax Imaging has announced that Camera Repair Instrument Service (CRIS), a provider of camera repair and imaging device maintenance, will partner with Pentax to provide factory repair service for Pentax cameras in the US. In this agreement, CRIS will act as the “factory service facility” for dealers and consumers in the United States. More information is available at www.criscam.com or visit www.pentaximaging.com for CRIS customer service contact information.

PhotographyBB announced today the release of the 18th edition of the PhotographyBB Magazine Online. “The name of the game for issue 18 is all about composition. This month we take an in depth look at symmetry; how it is everywhere in our lives and how we can use symmetry to create stunning photos. We also take a different look at the Rule of Thirds as it applies to both photography today, as well as historical works of art in the past. In keeping with the composition theme, this month’s Photoshop tutorial teaches our readers how to create a digital composite image by adding fireworks into any night photo scene,” Editor in Chief, Dave Seeram, comments. They’ve also got an interesting look at Photography and the Law in the USA.

Website: PhotographyBB Magazine Online Free Download

Canon today announced that it will host a two-day showcase of its professional photo, video and printing products on the 27th and 28th October 2009 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London. The event, Canon Pro Photo Solutions is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Canon Consumer Imaging products ever staged in the UK. Entrance to the show will be free for all those registered in advance. The show is aimed at moving and still image professionals and will highlight how Canon can provide a complete “workflow solution” from image capture to output and how this technology can be used by professionals in their work to generate increased income.

Website: Canon Pro Photo Solutions

The Collision Conference, the first conference to focus on hybrid video / DSLR photography and cinematography, has announced Shane Hurlbut and Vincent Laforet as keynote speakers for the two-day conference. The event is taking place on 29 and 30 August at the Los Angeles Film School, located at 6363 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. Shane Hurlbut is an accomplished Director of Photography and his keynote speech, “Catch The Wave: How Still Photography Changes The Way We Make Movies,” will provide a stimulating, interactive discussion about the Canon 5D Mark II camera and how it changes the way movies are created. Vincent Laforet is a gifted photographer and speaker who was one of the first photographers to realize the potential of using hybrid DSLRs to shoot cinema style imagery. His short film, “Reverie,” has generated a lot of buzz for DSLR filmmaking and hybrid photography. Conference passes are available for purchase from $75 - $350 at http://www.ImageMechanicsExpo.com/.

To get everyone in the mood for the opening of Rankin Live, 31st July, Rankin has commissioned five tongue-in-cheek videos of his friends, each following the top snapper’s step-by-step guide to how he creates his distinctive portraits. Go online to http://www.rankinlive.com/#/shoot_like_rankin/ and watch Jarvis Cocker, David Bailey, Jamie Winstone, Max Beasley, and Marc Warren give light-hearted guidance on how to create Rankin-inspired portraits. The Rankin Live exhibition itself, held in the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane E1, London from 31 July through to 18 September, is in two parts: Rankin Retrospective includes over 600 images, some previously unseen, from Rankin’s illustrious 22 year career as a photographer. Shoot Me Rankin is a live and interactive photo-shoot experience in which previously selected members of the public will be photographed by Rankin and their images immediately added to the exhibition.

To celebrate the re-opening of their three new look, refurbished stores in The Strand - London, Cambridge and Guildford, Jessops are offering a number of discounts across their range of products. The opening offers are available in-store Thursday 23rd through to Friday 24th July (London Strand) and Friday 24th through to Saturday 25th July (Cambridge and Guildford). The new re-furbished stores discount offers cover a wide spectrum of Jessops everything photographic product range from tripods, to compact cameras and DSLRs to camera cases. Among the DSLRs on promotion are kits of the Sony A330 and 18-55mm lens (for £399) and the Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm zoom (for £499, pictured). Offers are limited and on a first come first served basis.