clean green slate

The digital edition of the January 2012 Professional Photographer Magazine is now online for digital subscribers.

For this column I got to review eco-friendly / “green” products by Miller’s Professional Imaging, Moo.com, Botanical Paperworks, Loktah, HB Photo Packaging, Globe Guard Products, Kraft and Jute, Nashville Wraps, Rice Studio Supply, ReBinder, and ProDPI.

There is also a supplemental mini feature by Nathan Welton of Dreamtime Images that discusses carbon-offsetting for your business with carbonfund.org.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 78, page 80, page 82, and page 84 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes – and you can see the online supplement here. Plus you can download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.




If you went to Imaging USA 2012 in New Orleans, you might have seen Paperie Boutique and Buttons & Bows Photography sprinkled about. Here are a couple of peeks if you missed it:

You can see more over at our Facebook page! Thanks to Ryan at HB Photo Packaging for these photos!

If you have photos from Imaging USA 2012 that you’d like to see published here, contact Robyn at: robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com




It’s the New Year and it’s time to restock your arsenal. A few of our favorite merchants are running sales!

1. HB Photo Packaging – 15% off through January 22nd with code
    WinterBlues

2. Moo.com – 10% off all printed products through January 25th
    with code MOOPRINTJAN

3. ReBinder – 20% off all ReSleeve and RePlay products through
    January 31st here

Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2012!
-Robyn & Todd

déjà vu all over again

We’re ready to reopen the vote in the 2011 Wrap Battle from Paperie Boutique and HB Photo Packaging—sponsored by Artsy Couture, Bad Sass Backdrops, CPQ Professional Imaging & Hardwood Frames! (Official rules are here, and a list of this year’s prizes is located here. Please see Facebook for updates on why the voting was temporarily suspended yesterday.)

Especially today, one more round of applause / show of thanks for our judges:

• Alycia Alvarez – Alycia Alvarez Photography
• Beth Forester – Beth Forester Photography / photoDUDS
• Marsha Mifsud – The Savvy Photographer
• Heather Lickliter – Stylized Portraiture / Fairyography
• Lisa Hoang – Windwardskies Photography / Simply Baby
• Marie Cox – Phreckles Photography

Without further adieu, I bring you the – new – six Wrap Battle finalists (all listed in order of submission with photos linked to their original entry)…

As you go through the finalists remember to look at the packaging and not just the “pretty pictures” (i.e. product staging). As this is not a photo contest, try to keep in mind what will actually be received by the client… The goal: best packaging!

UPDATE: Voting is closed – winners announced here!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and good luck to the six finalists!

Thank you for your patience & understanding -
-Robyn & Todd

Super Tuesday

Even if you don’t live in Iowa, never fear – today you can vote for something that really counts! We’re ready to rock the vote for the 2011 Wrap Battle from Paperie Boutique and HB Photo Packaging—sponsored by Artsy Couture, Bad Sass Backdrops, CPQ Professional Imaging & Hardwood Frames! (Official rules are here, and a list of this year’s prizes is located here.)

I am so glad I had a judging panel to select the six finalists this year. I’m not sure I could have done it myself, and as things were, the voting was extremely close! One more round of applause / show of thanks for the following judges:

• Alycia Alvarez – Alycia Alvarez Photography
• Beth Forester – Beth Forester Photography / photoDUDS
• Marsha Mifsud – The Savvy Photographer
• Heather Lickliter – Stylized Portraiture / Fairyography
• Lisa Hoang – Windwardskies Photography / Simply Baby
• Marie Cox – Phreckles Photography

Without further adieu, I bring you the six Wrap Battle finalists (all listed in order of submission with photos linked to their original entry)…

As you go through the finalists remember to look at the packaging and not just the “pretty pictures” (i.e. product staging). As this is not a photo contest, try to keep in mind what will actually be received by the client… The goal: best packaging!

UPDATE: The voting has been reinstated. Please see this post to vote (or vote again if you originally voted on Tuesday)!

-Robyn & Todd

the final four

These are the last four entries in the 2011 “Wrap Battle” packaging contest!

Submissions closed late last night for the 2011 Wrap Battle from Paperie Boutique and HB Photo Packaging—sponsored by Artsy Couture, Bad Sass Backdrops, CPQ Professional Imaging & Hardwood Frames! (Official rules are here, and a list of this year’s prizes is located here.)

The prize package for our 1st place winner is worth OVER $2000 – and we have well OVER $4500 in prizes donated total!

This year judges will select the top half-dozen from the submitted entries, and then this week (January 3rd – 8th, 2012) winners will be selected from the remaining finalists by public vote. This year’s judges include:

• Alycia Alvarez – Alycia Alvarez Photography
• Beth Forester – Beth Forester Photography / photoDUDS
• Marsha Mifsud – The Savvy Photographer
• Heather Lickliter – Stylized Portraiture / Fairyography
• Lisa Hoang – Windwardskies Photography / Simply Baby
• Marie Cox – Phreckles Photography




Entry #27 is from Laura Winslow Photography – so bright and feminine!

click each Wrap Battle entry photo for a larger pop-up version

click each Wrap Battle entry photo for a larger pop-up version

“I sell a full list of packaging details via my blog – the blog post has more (larger) photos of our new everyday eco-friendly packaging.“

Vendors used:
• Michael’s
• Amazon
• Kraft and Jute

“I have been researching for over a year to find the perfect solutions for product presentation. Most of the time I have to ship items to clients, so I wanted them to feel like they were opening something very special. Everything is wrapped in crisp white tissue, boxes are finished with a satin bow and EVERY package includes handwritten note for a personal touch. It was very important to me that the look and colors were consistent throughout.

My branding uses chartreuse green, black, white, gray, and a little orange, so for my holiday packaging I just switched out the orange for a cheerful red. I wanted to keep the sleek, clean, modern look that my packaging usually has, but jazzed is up a little with extra details for fun. I also included a metal Christmas ornament from Black River Imaging as a gift for each client. The photos below also show a couple of the cards I’ve created which are sent throughout the year.“

click each Wrap Battle entry photo for a larger pop-up version

“This is my wedding packaging. My photography style is light, elegant, and natural, so I tried to incorporate that into my packaging. I searched and searched for a long time for exactly what I had pictured in my mind. Many of the items, I simply made myself.“

Vendors used:
• Light blue wedding DVD case – Loktah
• DVD case for the engagements and bridals – Northwest
   Professional Color Lab (The inside of these are not fully
   pictured, but they include a dvd holder on their tri-fold and
   bi-fold cards, which I customize with images for the bride
   and groom. Love these!)
• Cream box – I couldn’t find the exact size and natural feel
   that I was looking for, so I made them myself with thick
   cardstock from Hobby Lobby.
• Little flowers, ribbon, and Kraft bag – Hobby Lobby
• Tissue paper – Target
• Supplies for handwritten thank you card – Wal Mart
• Cloth – local quilting and fabric stores
• Logo – printed on cream colored cardstock

We have been nothing short of blown away by the 2011 entries! So much inspiration (and so many ideas to file back for our own packaging)!

Thanks to each and every contestant who took the time to share their photos, their tips, and their vendors with the rest of the class. Thanks to each of our sponsors and prize donors for their promotion and gifts for the winners. And thanks in advance to each of our Paperie readers for voting and selecting the winners later this week.

Watch this space for details. As soon as the judging panel (linked above) selects the finalists, the voting will commence right here on Paperie and run through 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 8th.

Happy New Year!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. If you just didn’t get enough “pretty“, make sure you check out our packaging contest entries from last year!

Have a BOO-tiful day!

Happy Halloween! Today we have a treat instead of a trick for you – a giveaway and vendor/guest post by one of our new multi-advertisers Rice Studio Supply!

While traveling in India, Scott Rice visited a village where the art of paper making has been practiced since 1590. Handmade paper is crafted from 100% recycled cotton fiber. The stock is acid free, archival quality, and simply beautiful. Scott knew this was the answer to your requests for stylish photo packaging that is safe for photos and safe for the environment.

The Artisan Portrait Case is an eco-friendly presentation package with natural deckle edges. The paper is handmade one sheet at a time, using natural products, so no two deckle edges are identical. The deep cocoa color is available in 5×7, 8×10, 8×12, 11×14, and 16×20 sizes. Rice Studio Supply will sell these handmade products from eco-friendly paper at the same cost as mass produced wood pulp papers.

For one week from the date of this post, Paperie readers can order the new Artisan Portrait Case at the 500-quantity price, regardless of how many you order (that’s a 30% discount off the each price). Shipment will begin the first week of November.

“We can’t brag enough about how wonderfully your product presents our photography! Our clients comment all the time about how beautiful our packaging is. Thank you so much for offering such an outstanding product and service.” -Leeann and Winnie Greer, Lexington, KY

And now one lucky Paperie reader will win a 12×12 album box stuffed with ECO CHIC goodies, value $120.00! Here’s how to enter:

1. Like Rice Studio Supply on Facebook and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a fan)

2) Post on your Facebook account what your favorite product is from Rice Studio Supply (then come back here and tell us where you did it)

3. Post the following to Facebook or Twitter (then come back here and tell us where you did it):

Win a 12×12 album box STUFFED with Handmade Packaging goodies from RSS ( http://ricestudiosupplies.com ) at @PaperieBoutique – http://is.gd/nWIMrf

4. Leave a note in the comments here saying what Rice Studio Supply product is your favorite

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the FIVE separate things listed above, and then make five separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have liked their Facebook account(s), or already follow them – and / or posted your favorite product to Facebook – and / or posted to your Facebook or Twitter accounts about the giveaway – and / or list your favorite product in the comments here (in separate comments) to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, November 2nd. You can enter up to FIVE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for all of the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have FIVE chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

And thanks to Rice Studio Supply for the wonderful giveaway!




Don’t forget we also have a contest going on right now to win the “Organic Bloom frames for the Photographer’s Wall Display Guides” set!

-Robyn & Todd

magical Mystery

Another cool vendor / guest post and giveaway up for grabs…from LOKTAH!

LOKTAH was founded in 2008 with a desire to create natural packaging for our own clients, unlike anything seen before and not have to spend countless hours in photoshop designing case inserts for those plastic cases we all know and don’t care for. We later decided to open LOKTAH with that single idea and share that thought to the photographic and videography industries.

Since the birth of LOKTAH, it has always been a desire to continue the growth of LOKTAH and share our unique look on how eco-friendly packaging doesn’t have to be ugly, but that it can actually be a stunning work of art. We at LOKTAH strive to always serve you, the customer and make your experience with us positive and unique.

As the LOKTAH team grows and our line expands, we promise to always uphold the highest quality standards and more than anything, provide you with the best customer service. Please join us on the journey!

NEW! CaseBag | LifeStyle:
Warm earth tones textured by handmade hemp fabric. Refined by champagne toned edges and waterproof lining. Can be used with or without padded shoulder strap. Creatively timeless in design. Designed for the iPad featuring a speaker opening – power opening and volume opening.

     • One Back Magnetic Pocket
     • Two Magnetic Closures
     • Hemp; Waterproof Champagne lining
     • Up to 23″ Strap Drop
     • Designed For iPad

And one lucky Paperie reader will win a LOKTAH Signature Collection 10×8 Mystery Album & Gifts!

Gift set includes:
1 – 10×8 Mystery Album Cover; Matte White Paper; 10 Full Spreads/20 Sides
1 – 5×7 Mystery Photofolios with Prints; 3 – 5×7 images
1 – Mystery Medium Print Box
1 – Hemp Portfolio Folder
5 – Hemp Single DVD/CD Cases
(Total Value $406.50 plus FREE Shipping)

How do you win? It’s easy!

1. Follow Loktah either on Facebook or Twitter.

2. Post this to Facebook or Twitter (and tell us where you did)::
Win a LOKTAH.com / @loktah Signature Collection 10×8 Mystery Album & Gifts at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/Jp0g9c

3. Go check out the LOKTAH website – then come back here and comment what item is your favorite and why!

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want THREE chances to win, you have to do all three things listed above, and then make three separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Post that you have “liked” the Facebook fan page, or followed the Twitter stream, or posted to your Twitter or Facebook account(s) – with a link to where you did it – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 14th. You can enter up to three times total. Post that you have met all three requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have three chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

LOKTAH offers world-wide shipping via UPS & USPS. Volume discount available on large orders. And check out LOKTAH PRO exclusively for Professionals – APPLY FOR A PRO ACCOUNT (processed within 24 to 48 Hours).

Thanks so much to LOKTAH for the awesome gift set giveaway!




The digital edition of the July 2011 Professional Photographer Magazine is now online for digital subscribers.

For this month’s article I reviewed the ‘latest and greatest’ lab products by Pixel2Canvas, Miller’s Professional Imaging, Moo, WHCC, McKenna Pro, MPixPro, ProDPI, Collages.net, Color Inc. Pro Lab, MeridianPro.com, Black River Imaging, and H&H Color Lab.

Click the magazine pages above for a larger .pdf version. You can find the article on page 52, page 54, page 56, and page 58 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. And you can also download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

In case you didn’t notice, we also have $500 worth of gift cards up for grabs from Patti Brown Photography, LLC and Kaleidoscope. That one ends on Wednesday, July 13th – don’t miss it!




Don’t forget – if you notice the site not being updated, please check Facebook for announcements. Thanks!

the entire package

A popular packaging vendor mentioned often by the posters at Paperie Boutique is Nashville Wraps. Today they join us for a guest post.

We at Nashville Wraps love the fact that so many great photographers use our packaging. For those who may not be familiar with us, we are the leader in eco-friendly gift and gourmet packaging. Most of our new designs are made from recycled materials and are branded under our Green Way® “Packaging with Purpose” brand for eco-friendly packaging.

Located just outside of Nashville in Hendersonville, TN, we’ve been in business since 1976 and supply packaging products to retail stores along with gourmet food, gift basket industry and to professionals like yourselves.

Our goal is to make your business and products look good to your customers and for your pictures. Nashville Wraps’ exclusive designer collections will keep you on trend and on budget. We can custom print your packaging like the cute Pink & Black Duets Bags for France Photography.

Photography customers love our merchandise bags, jewelry boxes and resealable cello bags for proofs, along with our acid free tissue paper.

We also offer a large selection of shopping bags, gift and gourmet boxes, gift wrap, ribbon and bows. From simple brown kraft paper to elegant gift shopping bags, we have it all. Most of our products are available in bulk carton quantity, small packs and assortments.

Nashville Wraps’ Green Way® line of eco-friendly packaging products are made from recycled, natural or sustainable. The Distant Village Collection features artisan crafted, sustainable packaging handmade from natural eco-friendly plant based materials.

We are honored to be featured on Paperie Boutique with so many followers and helpful resources for photography professionals. There are lots of great uses of NashvilleWraps product on the Paperie blog.

If you have images using Nashville Wraps product you would like featured on our Facebook or Flickr pages, please email them to me.

We love seeing your images and promoting your business!

Buffie Baril
Internet Advertising Manager
buffie@nashvillewraps.com
www.NashvilleWraps.com

Request your free Nashville Wraps catalog

eco-friendly

A beautiful “green” packaging feature / guest post, and a special lab contest, on tap today…

My name is Brittany Langfeldt, of B. Langfeldt Photography, and I am a custom on-site photographer from the Chicago area.

I have always tried to keep my business as “green” as possible and had previously begun using organic and natural materials for my albums and CD cases. But once I saw Caroline Ghetes’ article featured here on Paperie Boutique I was truly inspired. I began trying different ways to package my products and quickly realized how difficult it can be to find organic or recyclable materials.

I bought a copy of Caroline’s resource list and felt like I hit the jackpot! I ended up using a lot of the same vendors or types of materials and ideas that Caroline uses but the only exact item we share is the CD box. I love all the natural products not only because they are eco-friendly but they also have such a unique and beautifully simple look to them.

My albums are made of all natural materials. They are packaged in this beautiful slipcover with a beaded closure.

For my prints I use black recyclable folders in various sizes wrapped in ribbon.

I tied up 2 tags in the ribbon; 1 stamped prints and 1 stamped with my logo.

My CD cases are made of all natural and organic materials not to mention they are gorgeous! I package them in the same box that Caroline uses and again tie them up with ribbon and 2 tags and add a sticker to the lower left corner.

I stamp my info directly onto the CD.

I include a hard copy of my print license printed on natural handmade paper in a matching envelope. I also have a secondary envelope containing proper storage information, business cards and my refer-a-friend program.

View of the print license.

Everything all put together!

Although I didn’t use a lot of the same items as Caroline, I did use a lot of the vendors provided to me through the resource list she sells. Therefore I can’t disclose my vendors, but I can tell you if you are interested in this style of packaging you should definitely buy a copy of her list! All the proceeds go towards funding for mission trips!

Thank you Caroline for the wonderful inspiration!

(And thank YOU, Brittany, for sharing such lovely packaging with our Paperie readers!)

We’d love to feature your packaging here as well! Please e-mail robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.




Color Inc. Pro Lab is having a Facebook Photo Contest. Photographers can send in their favorite image of a child / baby and they will add it to an album on their Facebook page.

The image with the most “LIKES” wins a $300 Color Inc. lab credit.

• Contest started Wednesday, March 9th
•  Entry deadline is Friday, March 11th
•  Voting Ends Monday, March 14th
•  e-mail to send images to:  contest@colorincprolab.com

Learn more about the Color Inc. Facebook Photo Contest here!

back to your regularly scheduled
     programming

Well that was fun now wasn’t it? Sorry for the LONG gap in posting and returning Paperie-related e-mails! Juggling a business, a website, and magazine duties proved to be more than one person could handle in a holiday pressure-cooker (especially while my assistants were in finals) — and that meant this place was the first to give.

But my last client cards and packages have finally been shipped and hand-delivered, so now I can get back to the fun stuff. Like the final entries in the “business packaging / holiday packaging contest“! I’ll be posting these as I can individually. Please make sure you scroll to the previous entry each time you visit so you don’t miss anything!

Up next is Lauren Shinn of Shinn Shots Photography…

After a year of having a “photography business on the side,” I decided to update and upgrade. The most important piece of this was branding. I chose colors, look, and a feel that I wanted to represent my business. When it came to packaging, I wanted to incorporate all those things. The challenge was that I also wanted to go green. It’s hard to go green without going kraft brown! But I managed to do it. (I hope to come back here to Paperie Boutique and post about it, but in the meantime, you can read a little bit about my regular packaging at shinnshots.com/blog/beinggreen/green-packages/).

This is my first year to have holiday packaging since it’s really my first year for packaging at all! For the holiday packages, I wanted to be consistent with my brand so that it would still be recognized as Shinn Shots Photography. I dropped the blue color and added in the red, but the look and feel stayed the same. I used red ribbon from Michael’s. (In future years, I hope to use recycled ribbon from Nashville Wraps.) I switched out my typical blue paper raffia ribbon for green paper raffia ribbon. I kept the quotes that I have on the tag in the middle of the ribbon, but I replaced the typical quotes with more holiday-type quotes. Then I added little white puff-balls to add to the holiday feel. (They are actually little pieces of giant chenille pipe cleaner from Michael’s…that way it matches the fluffy white stuff used to hold the ornament on the bag!)

I kept my regular bag for the holidays since it’s mostly green already. I am in love with these bags! They are made from jute. Very green and very reusable. I have a coordinating bag in a larger size for larger items as well. (They come from 1-800 Gift Box.) I replaced my typical gift tag with a wonderful holiday ornament. It’s a wood block with 6 photos covered in mod-podge. Beautiful, and non-breakable…a must in my ornament collection! I made the ornaments myself, but there are several crafty people out there who offer them (such as Live Simply and January Hart Designs).

I hope some of these packaging links can be helpful for anyone trying to go green. I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from my clients!

Here’s to another great year full of beautiful portraits!

Thank you for being patient with me getting this posted, Lauren! I just love the quotes and the ornaments!

Merry Christmas everyone!
-Robyn

wrap it up

Busy Monday around here! We have a brand new entry in the best business packaging / holiday packaging contest and a guest post article on “The Savvy, Chic, Eco-Friendly Office” by Michelle Black.

First up are several beautiful packaging photos by Stacey Severt of Wild Hearts Photography.

Want to win $120 in gift cards to Paper Source and HB Photo Packaging?

Get wrapping and send photos to Robyn [robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com]! Submissions last thru Tuesday, November 30th.




The Savvy, Chic, Eco-Friendly Office
by Michelle Black

What’s affordable, and sleek, and GREEN all over? Pretty much everything in this article, and its all perfect for your studio or home office! Check out some of these cool items that you can bring into your workspace, while giving the environment a nice peck on the cheek at the same time. On average, environmentally sound supplies cost only 5% more, a small sacrifice that can help make a big difference.

CUTEST PENCIL CUPS EVER
These adorable Pencil Cups by See Jane Work are covered with 100% post consumer, recycled paper. A great find for keeping pens and pencils and sharpies handy, in a stylish little container! Very affordable, too, priced at just $10. Visit See Jane Work for more colors and patterns.

RECYCLED OFFICE PAPER
Next up we have recycled office paper, offered at your nearest Staples store in bulk. For just $50, you can pick up 5,000 sheets!

SIMPLE OFFICE STORAGE
The Container Store has a beautiful line of Bamboo storage for your everyday needs. Things like filing and organizing drawers couldn’t be more stunning with these simple, coordinated designs. Bamboo is easily renewable so it is an environmentally friendly material that just so happens to look modern, too.

RECYCLED FOLDERS AND ENVELOPES
ReBinder is my absolute FAVORITE site for finding affordable folders, cd/dvd sleeves, binders, presentation folders, and even notebooks…and the best part is, they’re all made of recycled material. Seriously, they’re the best deal you’re going to find!

ECO-FRIENDLY OFFICE FURNITURE
Buyenergyefficient.org has a really great variety of styles and suits any budget with desks ranging anywhere from $189 – $1500 depending on what you’re looking for. Here are some of their best designs…

Additional Suggestions…

RECYCLED PAPER CLIPS
Yes, even these exist. You’re really going the extra mile if you can take the time to make sure you’ve got recycled paper clips in your hands at checkout.

NON-TOXIC CLEANING SUPPLIES
Nature Clean, Method, Ecover, Orange TKO, and Pink Solution can help you on your way toward a cleaner work environment, minus the toxins. Baking soda, borax, lemon juice and other simple ingredients are a natural way to clean without the expense of green cleaners. Choose your cleaning agents wisely!

Read more:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303#ixzz13iUfyf51

Thanks for reading and remember, it only takes a few extra seconds out of your busy life to consciously do something good for planet Earth! Of course you can’t be perfect about it, but making an effort whenever you can will not go unnoticed.

Cheers!

Article by: Michelle Black
Michelle’s blog: Light-Traces.com
Resources for photographers: The Photo Professional




Thanks so much to both Stacey and Michelle!

Have a great week everyone!
-Robyn

the hunt for green October

The digital edition of the October 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released today.

(P.S. Keep reading for a special discount from Sassy Designs, Inc. Plus a new packaging feature and the winner of the Paint the Moon contest!)

For this month’s article, I reviewed several press-printed “client gift idea” products by Moo.com, Miller’s, WHCC, CPQ and ProDPI.

Click each of the magazine pages above for a .pdf version. You can find the article on pages 54, 55, and 56 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. And you can also download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

And to celebrate her templates being featured in the above article – Sassy Designs, Inc. is offering 50% off a purchase of $25 or more – today through 10/31. Just use the code PBPPMAG.




Today our guest post / green packaging feature is by Heather Armstrong Photography. If you’ve been wanting to go green with your business, this is an excellent resource!

I live on the west coast of Canada, the Gulf Islands, in a very green-conscious city. We have a fantastic recycling program, lots of eco initiatives, and government sponsored programs to help homes cut cost and live more environmentally friendly. As both a business owner and a parent it’s important to me to honour the Earth and do my part to keep as much garbage as possible off it.

Over time my packaging has evolved to become more Earth-friendly, producing less and less less waste as I find better companies to do business with. My brand is all about being organic: my style of portraiture is very natural and easy-going, and I want my packaging to reflect that…but not at the expense of the planet. I do not put in client “welcome packages”, medallions, advertisements or samples in the mail – packaging is about showcasing and protecting your print, and the more your client has to dig through to get to it, the worse it looks.

All invoicing, information and pricing communication is done electronically. If something does need to be printed, I print on renewable hemp paper and encourage my clients to recycle after they are done. I even use biodegradable pens and pencils for signing forms!

I work only with labs that will ship and package in the most environmentally friendly way possible. I understand that some products may require bubble wrap, but in the last year (thanks to some pushing and inquiring with the heads of various companies) I’ve only received four packages that included it…which was then reused. 99% of the time my labs ship to me in cardboard packaging with either shredded paper as a buffer, or corn-based packing peanuts (completely biodegradable with exposure to water). I recycle all boxes and bags that come to me; our local recycling depot will take plastic sheeting if you drop it off directly, and yours might too! Be sure to check with your city!

When my clients receive their prints, they’re packaged in unlaminated boxes with matching photo folios and CD sleeves. All are made with post-consumer recycled materials, and fully recyclable themselves.

Inside they’re wrapped in recycled tissue paper and sealed in a biodegradable corn-based bag (the PH level is not friendly to photos when kept inside for a long period of time, so tissue paper must be placed as a buffer between them). Instead of stickers, I use a custom rubber stamp with wooden handle and earth-friendly inks. Instead of cloth or plastic ribbons, I use biodegradable “crinkle paper” ribbon or wraphia. Instead of laminated thank you cards, I print my own messages on hand-crafted plantable paper and thank my client for choosing a green company. (Plus, it gives them the extra gift of wildflowers in a few weeks’ time!)

I even print my business cards with a company that uses only vegetable-based inks, post-consumer recycled materials and energy efficient printing techniques.

The completed packaging: 100% biodegradable and recyclable – nothing needs to be thrown away, and anything that accidentally does can break down easily in a landfill. And the waste I produce? Just one tiny piece!

In the last six months my business has produced less than one pound of non-renewable waste – both in my home, and my clients’. I keep a compost, have my recycle picked up twice a month, do research into the companies I purchase from, and keep tabs on my power meter to ensure that I’m using as energy efficient business practices.

It isn’t hard, nor that expensive, to be a green company. We can all do our part by caring about the environment and going the extra mile to find green products: every step counts. You don’t have to sacrifice style, brand or presence, and your clients will thank you for the effort you put into preserving our planet for their children to enjoy.

My products are purchased from:
1. http://www.greenprinteronline.com
2. http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com
3. http://www.goodplanet.com
4. http://clearbags.ca (look for their corn-based, biodegradable bags!)
5. …And local businesses committed to providing earth-friendly products




And the big winner in the Paint the Moon contest is…Kaley Lein!

Congrats to Kaley, thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks to Paint the Moon for yet another amazing giveaway here at Paperie!

Happy October everyone! Have a great weekend!
-Robyn

P.S. If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. If you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.

green is the new black

I love the packaging feature guest posts! And today we’re particularly lucky because Michelle Black is stopping by to show off her new gorgeous ‘green’ rebranding. Without further adieu…

This year I decided to re-brand. I kept the same logo but changed the overall feel of my packaging and marketing materials, to better reflect myself as a person. With nature in my blood and having practically grown up in the woods (okay not really, but I was a major tomboy and spent a LOT of time outside, haha) I thought the change was only fitting, and I wish I’d started out with it from the beginning! With all eco-friendly, recyclable, and biodegradable materials, the new packaging just feels good, it gives off a good vibe. Less is more in my book, and keeping the packaging / materials simple, clean, and quietly sophisticated is something that now has a lot of importance to me. My first set of proofs went out the door wrapped in Earth last week and I wanted to share some photographs. I’ll be getting the remainder of the products this month (print folders, mailers, CD cases). I’m also looking for a new portfolio for my prints, does anyone have suggestions? I’ve searched far and wide and haven’t really settled on anything yet.

*Ink on the bags and boxes is acid-free and non-toxic.*

*Borders / frames on the proof image shown above are available for purchase at The Photo Professional [ here ] .*

Order deadline cards were printed at home on natural, recycled paper.

Recycled tissue paper from Nashville Wraps.

Cards with rounded edges from GotPrint who is a green company!

Beautiful soft twine from Hobby Lobby.

Logo on boxes and bags is a stamp I had custom ordered. (Stamp info now included in the comments.) I purchased both brown and black inks – they both look beautiful!

Tags are made at home, printed on recycled paper.

Tags are made at home, printed on recycled paper. *BAGS AND BOXES ARE RECYCLED KRAFT PRODUCTS.*

Thank you so much for sharing Michelle! Make sure you stop by her blog and website “The Photo Professional” to say thanks in person!

P.S. If you’re waiting on an e-mail from me, please be patient. I’m extremely behind right now and doing my best to catch up as fast as I can!

Look around the sidebars and say “hi” to several of our new advertisers. If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. If you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.

vert classique

Last fall I put out the call for photographers who had “gone green” with their packaging, but unfortunately received no response. Since then I’ve had multiple viewer requests to feature a guest post by a “green” photographer. The problem was finding one, or them finding me. Until now.

Green or not, this packaging leaves me saying “WOW!” It’s simply perfection. So sit back and enjoy the eco-friendly packaging of Caroline Ghetes Photography.

Inside the photo proof box. The box is 100% biodegradable.

Another look at the outside of the photo proof box all wrapped up.

I hand-stamped my logo on this really neat handmade paper. Then I hand-stamped the word “photos” on these recycled chip-board hang tags. I’ve attached all tags & wrapped the boxes in 100% natural raffia ribbon.

Here’s a look at the CD my brides get. A photo is printed on a label and then adhered to the CD.

I use these natural hemp CD cases from Loktah. I LOVE their stuff!

The CD’s are placed on a bed of Natural Coarse Wood Excelsior, inside this 100% biodegradable black box.

Then the CD box is wrapped with Raffia ribbon and more hang tags are attached.

And there you go!

A little peek at the envelope which contains the reproduction release & lab recommendations.

An overall look of the finished product. The shopping bag is a 100% recycled Euro Tote.

Because of her extensive research into green boutique packaging, Caroline sells her vendor and product list rather than sharing it online. The cost for this collected information is $25.00 USD. You can read more of the details at her blog.

“100% of every transaction will be donated to support my missions trip to Romania in 2010, in support of my father’s evangelistic travels. It will involve church revivals, visiting & helping orphanages, remodeling for poor families, photography for the needy & of course some documentary photography as well…In addition to telling you the resources I used to make my own packaging, I will include some more names in there that I did not use, but may work for you.“

Thank you, Caroline, for proving it can be done—and that it can be done to perfection!

There’s much more in store for this week and we’re only half-way through. Don’t forget to check in daily!

If you’re interested in having your own business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured please contact me (my e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment).

it’s not easy being green

I would love to feature a photographer here who has ‘gone green’ with their packaging and product / marketing presentation. Finding one has proved quite the challenge, however. Do you fit the bill? Would you like to see your name up here in (energy-efficient) lights?

If so please contact me (my e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment). I’ll help walk you through how to get your guest post and photos published.

Thanks!
-Robyn

P.S. A few sources for environmentally friendly packaging and products:
1. H-B Photo
2. Botanical Paperworks
3. Greenerprinter.com
4. Nashville Wraps
5. ProDPI Lab (Green Executive Packaging)
6. Moo (Eco Friendly Business Cards)
Have more? Please leave ‘em in the comments!