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It's winter in the Bay area; a time when client-based business seems to sleep from December 15th to mid January. This is the most important time feather your nest for the coming year. Will you advertise? Show a revamped portfolio or participate in a trade show or business seminar? Teach a class? In today's market, it takes more than a postcard and a mini skirt to get attention. The following experts recommend spending this dormant time improving on the presentation of your work and setting some new systems to customize your presentation at a moments notice, (because sometimes, that's all we have.) It's also a great time to party, in a business like way; see old friends and establish solid relationships in a non-business environment.

Full service color lab, Robyn Color on Harrison, in San Francisco has hi-tech tools, made accessible to photographers and production personnel, alike. If your book is currently more of a scrapbook that a polished presentation, Robyn Color has the expertise and patience to turn your fruit salad collection into an "apples to apples" format. Your tear sheets, chromes and slides can be scanned and output to color prints, transparencies or to a CD. Robyn Color can also print "to-go" portfolios for you, in a variety of formats. You'll save the hassle of shipping your full size book, be able to customize to suit a specific project and have your newest work always available to your clients. Your images can even be retouched and then output in any size up to 48 X 96 inches. Mounting and lamination services are also available. Mark and the staff at Robyn Color are consummate professionals with listening ears and creative solutions. Please let them help you present your work in it's best possible light, the light of inspiration. Visit at http://www.robyncolor.com or (415) 777-0580.

Frames and mats are to images, as accessories are to fashion. For portfolio or gallery showing, a traditional and elegant mat is suggested. In the case of shows, frames should be to gallery or show standards, especially if you're exhibiting fine art or commercial art outside of it's original usage.

Michael Thompson Framing on 7th street in San Francisco, has a deep inventory of classic and dramatic mat styles and frames. Michael will mat your chromes or prints and has creative solutions, including a lighter style portfolio, in a handmade paper envelope, perfect for sending to prospective clients. This Framing gallery offers distinctive solutions to showcase your best work and creative spirit. Michael Thompson Framing can be reached at mcthompson@sbcglobal.com or (415) 861-5717. Please ask for Gina, and she will be happy to extend a 10% discount on your mats or framing.

Black and White reproduction is an art form and whether you arrived from a photographic background or found your way into the production business in a lateral way, presenting your black and white prints at their best is paramount. Spindler Photographic is top notch for b/w reproduction.

David has 30+ years of black and white darkroom experience and offers private tutorials in darkroom and printing techniques. This is a skill set that will transfer to all arenas of your work, including digital. Regardless of your skill level, he can teach, improve and fine-tune your darkroom technique and print making abilities. Call for programs and prices. (415) 285-4367.

If you are production crew; a stylist, hair and make-up artist, art director or set builder who is updating your book and marketing materials, David and Cissy can reprint and enhance existing black and white materials, as well as offer some professional advice about your overall presentation. Please e-mail them cissy@spindlerphoto.com

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Propville.com also has portfolio consultants and creative consultants listed in the massive Propville database. Use the "Business Builders" button, keyword "portfolios". If you have further portfolio needs, we can be reached at portfolio@propville.com Our main focus is to support you. Please ask us!