Honorary PPGPB Member - Dick Robertson

Dick Robertson joined the PPGPB Guild and started attending Guild meetings in 1998. For a few years Dick quietly attended the monthly meetings, without saying much. The time came when the Board of Directors invited Dick to sit in the Board meetings, which led to years of involvement and volunteer work.

Due to health problems, Dick was forced to give up his business, and retire in 1996. But instead of giving up, Dick began helping other photographers all over the country. He has a special way of encouraging other photographers. During the time he served on the Board of Directors, Dick was able to get high profile speakers such as Monty Zucker, and others that he had come to know personally over the years.

Dick made membership cards for the membership, which came to 41 members at the end of his term on the Board. His wife volunteered to publish the newsletter for one year. It was at that time that they lost their home and had to move. They found a great place in Vero Beach.

One year the Guild was struggling financially. Dick came to the rescue by holding a special program where he charged $25 a person, and raised much needed money to pay the bills.

Then Dick built a color darkroom which he made available to Guild Members. Members would come to him for help with Competition Prints. He would have up to seven members at one time and would spend the entire day printing 16x20 prints. His wife Marcia would serve a nice lunch lunch and then assist and teach members how to retouch their photos. Then Dick would spray and mount them, getting them all ready for the next Print Competition. There was no charge for these educational sessions.

Dick was later nominated to the Board of Directors. He served as Vice President, and then President. His wife Marcia produced the Guild Newsletter during this time, and Dick would distribute it to different places of business related to photography throughout the county. He also would photograph a member each month, and publish a nice profile for them.

Dick has written a very helpful article on lighting, with subject and lighting diagrams. He will be offering this article as a PDF file on CD for a donation of $20. The proceeds will go to the PPGPB Education Fund.

For several years now, Dick has set aside one Sunday out of the month to provide a three hour Photo Safari entitled "Looking for the Light & The Art of Photography". The objective of this class is to learn the art of photography so that you don't have to spend countless hours fixing your photos. Currently he travels to Orlando for his sessions.

Dick has a big heart and is an inspiration to many. He never charges for his assistance to other members because he has a grateful spirit and recognized that photography has been good to him. He never forgets the wonderful people who helped him at key points in his career and life, and wishes to give back to those who ask for his help. Dick feels he has been blessed. He has made a good living doing portraiture. He was able to raise seven children, and send them to private schools and on to college.

Dick makes himself available to sit and talk with Guild photographers who might need some guidance in business or of course, taking exceptional photographs.

Connecticut PPA Life Achievement Award

Dick Robertson is the recipient of The Connecticut PPA Life Achievement Award. It is a prestigious award which is not given very often. And of course, we are honored to have Dick Robertson as an Honorary Member of the PPGPB.

Dick Robertson’s Misc. Awards