Good evening all.

Thanks to Walter Van Dusen who brought to my attention Walmart is beta testing a new Facebook Connect application. This application allows access to your photo albums for printing. Many photographers have been using Facebook photo tagging as a way to generate word-of-mouth referrals from clients. I would assume a lot of folks have their album security set to “Friends of Friends”. Anyone who is listed with Friends access to your Facebook album will be able to print it via the Walmart application.

Before you decide to delete all your FB albums, it is possible for you to make a quick security settings change. Simply go to the Walmart Photo application and block it. Once blocked your albums will no longer show when someone uses Facebook Connect with Walmart Photo. The application ID on Facebook is 181585006811.

Here’s a quick video tutorial to show you how to block the app:

UPDATE 07/22/2010 – This week’s Tip Tuesday demonstrated a quick way to watermark images via Photoshop using Layer Styles. For MORE protection you can use a Digimarc watermark (accessed via Photoshop’s filter menu). Digimarc is like LoJack for your images, and provides Internet tracking. Loyal readers can try Digimarc’s basic service FREE for 90 days; use the discount code FREETRIAL2010. Take 25% off ANY Digimarc service with code MediaCats2010. Join me next week as I’ll have a video tutorial on how to use Digimarc in Photoshop to watermark your images.

UPDATE 07/21/2010 – I wanted to answer some of the questions posed in the comments. I have verified that if you TAG someone the image is NOT collected in a photo album, therefore it DOES NOT appear via Facebook Connect. This is good information for everyone who tags their clients. Photo albums, profile pictures, & mobile uploads appear when using the Walmart photo center. I did not conduct testing against the other apps listed in the comments, but I assume similar behavior. To find all the retail centers, many suggested to search Facebook for “print” then filter by Applications. This worked well for me.

Several folks commented that people can still save the image to their own computer for printing–that is true. It’s also true that by uploading the image to the Internet it can be taken by anyone. The measures suggested for securing your photos serve more as a deterrent and are not absolute controls. Thieves are lazy, and will take the path of least resistance. RC Concepcion wrote two articles that appear in the last two issues of Photoshop User magazine. He has some great recommendations as to why you would or wouldn’t watermark your images online. If you’re a member of NAPP you can access the back issues online. (If you join with my referral link, you’ll get a free DVD on signup)

UPDATE 07/18/2010 – Thanks to everyone for sharing this article. There have been some good comments, including the fact Walmart is not the only retail print option. As suggested by Rachel, I would block other print apps from companies such as Target, Walgreens, etc. If you’re new to the site, checkout the Tip Tuesday series for video tutorial content.

Scott Kelby’s 3rd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk is less than two weeks away on Saturday, July 24th. I’m excited to be leading a photo walk again this year, and we’ll be meeting in the Dallas uptown area. For those unfamiliar with the photo walk, it is one of the largest global photography events, with over 1000 cities and nearly 25,000 photographers & photo enthusiasts shooting in a single day. Each walk is limited to 50 participants, so sign up for the Dallas walk now. Our walk will take place Saturday morning, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

The photo walk is open to anyone regardless of skill level OR camera type. (Cell phone cameras are welcome!) We’ll have plenty of mentors on hand that day for all your photography & Photoshop/Lightroom questions. Be sure to register before all the spots are filled.

Photo by John Hays, Photoshop by Yours Truly

In case you missed it last week, I posted some Photoshop CS5 videos along with the rest of the Photoshop Nuts over at TipSquirrel. Here’s a breakout of the posting schedule:

The response to the videos has been great! Thanks to everyone for getting the word out, and I’ll be posting more CS5 coverage over the next few weeks.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in Orlando, and it was great to meet so many Twitter & Facebook folks in person for the first time. Chatted with Adobe folks at the Tweetup, and celebrated my 40+ birthday during the NAPP forum party. I met the genius that is @ErikBernskiold, chatted with fab designer @Firgs, hung out with the likes of @Elorg, @EGower, @AprilAndrews & the infamous @Vanelli. Caught up with friends Dawn, Terry & Heather, had a chance to chat some with David Ziser and his lovely wife LaDawn. I have been through most of the classes at PSW, so I was really looking forward to seeing new presentations. Zack Arias DID NOT disappoint. Walked away humbled, and excited at the possibilities. Of course, you can’t go wrong watching Joe McNally, and I enjoyed catching RC talk about websites for photographers & Rod Harlan share his knowledge of social media. Missed Alan Hess Precon, but had a chance to catch his session, and chat with him after the After Party. Some amazing talent at PSW, met Michael Green at the NAPP forum party (he’s featured in the Westcott catalog don’t ya know), Joey Wright at BB Kings (designers who photograph have an edge), chance encounter with Sandy Foster (from Dallas) at the NAPP forum party the day before she won the Vinny–CONGRATS AGAIN!!!

People ask me why I attend over & over–how could you not want to be around the best in the world as often as possible? I can’t emphasize this enough Photoshop World is THE learning conference to attend if you are a creative. I’ve been to Imaging USA, MacWorld & other events. Other conferences serve as infomercials for their presenters & vendors. PSW is not only a fun place to network with other creatives, THIS conference provides classes that educate, inspire & motivate the artist in all of us.

In summary:

Scott Kelby tells you what you missed at Photoshop World.

Terry Reinert has some ideas on what to do now that Photoshop World is over.

Here’s a quick Flickr gallery of snaps from PSW.

This is just a quick update to let you know there will be some changes to the website in the next few weeks. The biggest change will be the use of Category Feeds. As longtime readers know this blog has covered a wide range of topics ranging from entertainment to games to politics, fitness & health and of course Adobe software.

Having individual category feeds will make the blog more useful to everyone. In the future you’ll be able to pick the category you want to follow, and you can ignore the rest of my ramblings. Given my schedule this is the best option versus starting another blog, or two, or three.

So there you have it. I’ll announce the updates when they’re online, and I appreciate your continued patronage of the blog.

This is BETA software!

This is BETA software!

This is BETA software!

While I’m all for being on the cutting edge of technology, I’m not looking to get knicked anytime soon either. If you want to be the envy of all your buddies at least take a few precautions before firing up LR3. Use copies of images for the LR3 catalog. Keep in mind any changes may not work with the final release. Be prepared for wonky behavior on your computer while using BETA software.

Lightroom 3 is going to be a great release, Adobe having improved areas at customer request, e.g., noise reduction, file importing, printing, and added new features such as the Publish Services & Watermarking for improved workflows. You can check out Gene McCullagh’s blog for a quick summary of features or watch some videos over at NAPP’s Lightroom 3 Learning Center.

Finally, a shout out to @JustinSeeley, Patrick LaMontagne, @DawnMHSH, @TKRPhoto, @TigerBright, @RomyYoung, @MattKloskowski, @JanineSmith, @Edpflager, @Vanelli, @ScottKelby and all the Twitter peeps I finally met in person here in Las Vegas. It’s cool when the bond created through social media extends offline.

Checkout some of the pictures @JohnPoz took last night:

I’ll be posting more of John’s pics on my Flickr page later today.

Digital Photography Club – Tuesday, September 29th at 7pm: Photo share & critique night. Join the crew for some pizza as they exchange ideas about what’s good & what can be improved in your photography. Cost $5

Digital Photography Club – Wednesday, September 30th at 7pm: Spook-tac-ular photo shoot. Darryl has some great Halloween sets created for the family. Bring your kids on by or Darryl will provide his children as stand-ins. Cost $25

Texas Glamour Club – Thursday, October 1st at 6pm: Elvira themed photo shoot with model Farrah in the lead spooky diva role. Cost $39 adv/$49 door

Digital Photography Club – Saturday, October 3rd at 11am: HDR Photography & Lone Star Car Show, join the group for a look at HDR photography and some great cars. Cost $17

NTPC – Saturday, October 3rd at 11am: Car & Bike Show in Princeton, TX.

I’ll be throwin’ down in Vegas this week with the gurus at Photoshop World, but will see what kind of NAPP swag I can bring back. As always, if there is a local event I missed, or community group I should know about please leave a comment so I can add them to my weekly updates. Make it a great week!

DFW Social Media – Monday, September 21st at 7pm: Come out tonight to Dave & Busters as I give a presentation on Social Media tools including SocialOomph, Ping.fm, CoTweet, and others. Cost $3

NTPC – Monday, September 21st at 7:30pm: Low light photography field trip. Cost $15

Texas Glamour Club – Tuesday, September 22nd at 7pm: Hangout with Darryl & crew at Kerr’s Winghouse for some social chat on photography and other stuff.

Digital Photography Club – Wednesday, September 23rd at 7pm: Part 3 of the Lightroom Core Series. Join me at the studio for the final segment of my  seminar series. Output is the topic, but don’t think I forgot about exporting. Cost $25 adv/$40 door

NTPC – Thursday, September 24th at 7:30pm: Join the photo club at Fuddruckers in McKinney for an informal gathering of photographers and photo enthusiasts.

Texas Glamour Club – Saturday, September 26th at Noon: Probably the largest workshop (based on location) this year. Come join Darryl as he gathers the Dallas, Austin & Houston chapters together. This event will be indoor & outdoor. Cost $249

DFWWP – Saturday, September 26th at 4pm: DB Ferguson is on hand to show you how to build your blog community. Cost $3

That’s the wrap for this week folks. Feel free to contact me if you have future events planned, or if you would like me to add your usergroup to my community page.

Richardson Entrepreneurs – Tuesday, September 15th at 7pm: get together and network with like minded folks.

Digital Photography Club – Wednesday, September 16th at 7pm: Lightroom Core Series – Part 2, Develop Module – I’ll be delivering a 2hr seminar on how to use Lightroom’s Develop module. Part 1 was a big hit, and I’ll be repeating the series in October & November. Cost $25 adv, $40 door

Texas Glamour Club – Thursday, September 17th at 6pm: The lovely & talented Betzu is at the studio for a private club shoot. Cost $199

DDPMG – Saturday, September 19th at 6am: Join the club for the Plano Balloon Festival. Great photo opportunity if you’ve never been.

DFWAUG – Saturday, September 19th at 11am: Adobe AIR with Scott Filloon. Learn what the buzz is all about, and why this is a hot development platform right now.

NTPC – Saturday, September 19th at 8:30am: photo outing at the Classic Car Show.

That’s the wrap for this week folks. Feel free to contact me if you have future events planned, or if you would like me to add your usergroup to my community page.