The dates for GLIP 2011 have been set, so mark your calendars now for June 20-23, 2011! More details, including instructor information, will be forthcoming. There’s even a rumor we might have two all school evening classes on Monday and Tuesday.

GLIP 2010 was a fantastic success! Here’s a quote from Director, Greg Ockerman:

“I just walked in the door from the 16th edition of the Great Lakes Institute of Photography. It was without a doubt the smoothest and least problematic, school in a decade. The ONLY NEGATIVE was the Hotels customer service, and one person in particular. But besides that everyone that attended had a fantastic learning… experience, coupled with two great parties and the Banquet with wonderful food.

We may have had fewer classes than we would have liked but the ones we had all were World Class. A special congratulations goes out to Scott & Adina Hayne on a fantastic first ever week-long school. Look for lots more information on GLIP 2011 in the weeks to come. Thank you students, instructors, and especially my staff great Job!!!!!”

Here are some more candid photos from GLIP school this year. Make sure to visit our Facebook fan page and tag yourself (and others) in the images we’ve uploaded there.

Welcome to the 15th year of GLIP, we are delighted you decided to join us. You will notice many changes from the past, all for the better we hope. I want to personally invite you to three very special events we have planned for you.

Monday night is Cafe Habana, Tuesday night is Old Town Tavern. This will be every studen’s opportunity to mingle with all the staff and all the instructors while enjoying finger food provided by our major sponsors.

Then on Wednesday is our trade show and our Party Banquet. Again, thank you for coming, we will do everything we can to make this week as fun and productive for you as we can

Greg Ockerman, Cr.Photog., CPP
Director of GLIP

GLIP is off to a great start! We’ve already had some of the instructors work with models, and our students are learning a lot. Lunch was scrumptious, and tonight we will be gathering at Cafe Habana (6-8pm) for appetizers and socializing. Make sure to come, you will learn as much (if not more) from other students as you will learn from your instructors.

In less than one week, GLIP will be underway. We’re looking forward to starting off this new chapter in GLIP history; the classes have been filling nicely, and we’re glad to have so many new students register (of course, we like to see those familiar faces too!).

Make sure to stop by registration when you show up to school, and when you’re packing to come… and remember to bring everything your instructor(s) have said you will need.

Remember to share all your stories and images from GLIP on our GLIP Facebook page. We’ve made it so you can upload “fan photos” etc, so share to your heart’s content!

The GLIP Handbook is now available for you to download and peruse, and if you’ve already registered for GLIP 2010, you will also have received your student welcome letter. But, because we love being thorough, the letter is being shared here on our blog too!

Read on to see Greg Ockerman’s (GLIP Director) letter for all 2010 GLIP students…

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Dear GLIP Student,

Welcome to the 15th session of the Great Lakes Institute of Photography. We have assembled some of the very best instructors in the nation to provide you with an excellent educational experience. One that will offer you the opportunity to grow as a professional.

Your instructor has provided you a personal letter or e-mail to assist you in preparing for your time at GLIP. Please pay particular attention to any recommendations regarding equipment and materials you will need to bring with you. The school does NOT provide cameras, lenses, computers, software, or any other student equipment for any class. We strongly recommend you bring your own camera to record class activities, images of new and old friends, and other school activities.

Every year GLIP has a wonderful Party banquet. This year it is on Wednesday and will be held on Campus in the Lawrence Building. All GLIP students are invited to attend the GLIP Party and Trade Show. This year we are adding TWO more GLIP get togethers, on Monday and Tuesday Night after classes at 6pm. Each will be held at a different Restaurant in Downtown Ann Arbor. GLIP student Id is required to attend all the party events. The loca-tions will be announced each day at school, or you can contact me the week before school for specific locations.

Once again our candy store is provided by MidWest Camera Supply. They are also providing the in classroom equipment for many of our instructors. All classroom equipment provided by MidWest is for SALE at a significant discount. They want you to take it home not them! They also always provide a wonderful variety of professional equipment at great prices with lots of show specials to equipt you with the very best and latest in professional equipment and software.

I’ve attached a pdf file of the new student handbook, and it is also posted on the GLIP website now. I apologize for its tardy arrival.

I and the entire GLIP staff have worked very hard this past year to make GLIP 2010 a reality with all the major changes and we believe improvements in the GLIP experience you are about to enjoy. We welcome any and all suggestions at the end of school for ways you think we can improve our school. Again we welcome you, and look forward to meeting each of you personally soon.

Gregory Ockerman, Cr.Photog., CPP
Director, Great Lakes Institute of Photography

The GLIP board had their discussion, and we we be going ahead with GLIP 2010! Here are the classes that will be happening. Keep in mind, you can still sign up for GLIP, without paying the $50 penalty, until June 1st! So make sure to sign up if you’ve been holding off. The Hayne’s classes are full, but all other classes still have space.

Monday- Tuesday Classes

• John & Ron Marion Dueling Brothers Seniors
• Andrew & Jackie Seniors and Children
• Scott & Adina Hayne No Rules Weddings
• Mark Allen Professional Studio Photography 201

Wednesday – Thursday Classes

• Scott & Adina Hayne No Rules Seniors
• Mark Allen Professional Studio Photography 401
• Bob Guiliani Lightroom 2

Regarding Scholarships. Here’s the deal. Any $200 GLIP scholarship can be used for a 4 day registration (new sign-ups only). Meaning, you sign up for one Monday-Tuesday class and one Tuesday-Thursday class. If you’re wondering why we have this limitation, it’s because these scholarships were designed under the old tuition structure (for a full week’s worth of tuition). Any PAID FOR scholarship PPM-Peckno etc. are all still honored.

Hi Everyone,

I am Greg Ockerman, the Director of GLIP. The word that I put out at several of the affiliate meetings has gotten around about the perilous position that GLIP is in this year. The deadline for registration was May1st, and then moved to May 5th. From the number of phone calls I am receiving there is still interest, BUT HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE! A meeting is being held this week to discuss the viability of GLIP for 2010.

I can tell you right now that there are several classes that are NOT going to go. They are Lori & Dennis Craft, Cheri MacCallum, and Marissa at Focal Point. I can also tell you that there are several classes that are on the edge, they include Jeff Corns, Andrew Jenkins & Jackie Palmer, Bob Guiliani, and John & Ron Marion. What I need for those of you that are still wavering is to jump today or tomorrow. You can fax your registration directly to Denise Boyce, information is at the GLIP website (see course list), for any of these on the edge classes.

I really want to reiterate something that I have been saying for a few months now. GLIP is a wonderful professional educational resource, and a exceptionally successful Michigan tradition now for 16 years. IT would be a great tragedy if this resource was squandered away because of the economy, especially when it is this very resource and type of investment that can and DOES lead to a more successful photographer and better photography to overcome the very economy we are all being challenged by. This school offers you the opportunity to learn and grow and prosper. But it is up to you now what GLIP’s future will be. This school exist for your benefit. If you no longer want to use it, then it will not be here.

So now it’s up to you. Get yourself registered NOW! Then watch this Blog for more updates. For those of you that have already registered there are two things that are going to happen. If you have chosen a class that is not available you will be contacted about making a different choice very soon. Second, whatever the final decision about GLIP is those that are registered will be contacted.

Gregory J Ockerman
Director Great Lakes Institute of Photography