Roger Berg passes away

[DougAxford]

This item was on PMA Newsline today.

I've met Roger a few times and spoke to him on the phone also. He was a pioneer in many aspects of portrait marketing and spoke on many ocassions at PMA as well as his own seminars. He was an ocassional contributor to this forum and will be sadly missed.

I copied Newsline report here, sorry if I violated copyright, thought members here would want to know. Doug


In memoriam: Roger Berg

Roger Berg

Roger Berg,71, of
Columbia, Mo., passed away at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, according to his obituary. Berg was born Dec. 2, 1935, in Crookston, Minn., the son of Henry and Bernice Berg. He married Shirley Shannon on Jan. 5, 1958, and she survives.
Early in his career, Berg managed Mattingly stores in Lebanon, Butler, and Columbia. The next 23 years, he was co-owner and manager of Columbia Photo. In 1968, he purchased part ownership of Columbia Photo, in the 1970s he added a photo lab, and in the 1980s he expanded the store adding consumer electronics and computers.
In 1990, Berg determined profitability in the photo business came from services, more so than products, which prompted him to sell the camera store and lab. He spent two years speaking for Agfa "Success Seminars" on photography service opportunities before deciding to become a business owner once again. In 1992, Berg opened a portrait studio with a lab, Creative Photo Inc., to create a new business model he called "One Hour Portraits."
Berg has written three books about portrait photography and digital imaging and was an active PMA member. He was also a contributor to PMA magazine and the Bestphotolist imaging forum.
"I had 'dropped by' to see Roger on June 4 -- the 'drop in' lasted 6 hours. It was a wonderful time. He was a great mentor for us all," says Bill McCurry. "More than being my friend, Roger was a beacon for the entire industry."
"He has left a legacy of more inspired and more profitable imaging companies because of his passion to share what works in our business," says McCurry.
Other survivors include son Jeff Berg and Shelly Elder; daughter Vicky Rivera and husband Eric; grandchildren Louisa and Tony Rivera; and brothers Jerry Berg and Orvis Berg.

[LarryLetzer]

I met and knew Roger through the Pro4um another website for professional photographers. We, being of the same generation hit it off quite well. He was one of the most sharing photographers I knew and was always helping someone especially to get started in printing their own imagery. He is missed.