gimme an S! an E! an O!

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

(P.S. Keep reading for a special giveaway from photographers-seo.com!)

For this month’s article, I reviewed several digital media storage products by BellaGrafica (“Jeff & Julia Woods General Collection“), DNL Photo Packaging, JLee Albums, Loktah, Miller’s Professional Imaging and The Designer Concept, MpixPro, Pexagon Tech, Rice Studio Supply, and Verbatim.

Click each of the magazine pages above for a larger view. You can find the article on page 48 and page 50 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 last month Heather Lickliter of Stylized Portraiture helped me write the August “The Goods” column. This month she’s escaped over to the new “Workflow Polish” column where she shares her post-session workflow, with added comments / critique by Audrey Woulard. Congratulations Heather!




Today’s guest / vendor post is by Zach Prez. He has freebies and a prize for Paperie readers!

Hi, I’m Zach Prez. I specialize in search engine optimization for photographers, although I’ve been helping small businesses rank in Google for about 10 years. There’s no better feeling than helping someone become successful on the web and grow his or her business. Okay, maybe there are a few things better, like cycling on the American River Bike trail near Sacramento, CA.

I wrote Photographers SEO Book almost 2 years ago now. What started as some informal phone conversations with my photographer friend quickly expanded into ninja tactics that boomed her business from Google in a matter of weeks. Everyone wanted to know her secret, so I turned those conversations into a non-technical how to guide that any level of photographer can follow. It has since helped hundreds of people understand and improve in search results.

Earlier this year I released Photography Blog SEO Zen. It’s an ebook for photographers, designers, or wedding vendors on how to update your blog infrastructure and write blog posts to rank more easily. Blogs typically output many more pages than a traditional website, meaning more chances to rank in search. Blogs are especially helpful in ranking very specific phrases (long-tail SEO) so I would hope you see about 3x the traffic from your blog compared to your photography website. My blogs and ebook help you get there.

I’m giving away one of each product above for Paperie Boutique readers. Enter to win by commenting on any blog post on either of my websites – photographers-seo.com -OR- photoblogseo.com – by the end of the day on Saturday. (We’ll notify and announce the winners on Monday.) You’ll learn something new and hopefully share your thoughts about the post, what you learned, or something insightful

If you want something FREE right now, check out my Search Engine Optimization Guide for SmugMug Sites -OR- Email SEO Class for Photographers.

UPDATE: The winners have both been announced here – check them out!

Thanks Zach for sharing such valuable information with our readers!

And don’t forget we currently have two giveaway-contests going on here at Paperie. Through midnight Wednesday you can have a chance to win your choice of camera bags from Jo Totes. And through midnight Thursday you have the chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Denny Manufacturing.

Earthen-wares

In honor of the upcoming Fourth holiday weekend in the U.S., we’re celebrating our independence from boring packaging. Today’s guest post and giveaway is by Loktah. They have products so beautiful you really must see / hold them in-hand to believe!

Loktah is inspired by the natural beauty of the earth, featuring products that recall the planet’s majestic form. Loktah’s essential element is the organic paper, a renewable source in the foothills of the Himalayas.

This green product rises from the earth to showcase your work to your client. Each product is dipped in bee’s wax to preserve the quality of the paper yet allow the product to age with natural beauty. Soft twine encircles the product with an organic bead completing the look. Created by hand, each case is slightly unique.

Portfolio folders feature sleek rounded edge corners on the cover flap and have the ability to hold a 8.5 x 11 size sheet on both sides, and can hold multiple sheets.

The mystery and beauty of the Himalayan region offers inspiration like no other place on earth.

Loktah cases will give your CDs and DVDs a gorgeous presentation that you and your clients will enjoy, and cases have the ability to order a logo add-on.

So now that you’re sold on Loktah, now you have the chance to win some of their products, too! Up for grabs are:

1. Two lucky winners will each win 5 Loktah DVD/CD Cases (any case)
2. One lucky winner will get 2 Loktah Portfolio Folders (any color)

First follow Loktah either on Facebook or Twitter.

Then post the following to either your public Facebook wall or public Twitter stream:

Celebrate your Independence from boring packaging – win from Loktah.com / @loktah at Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com by @shutterblog

Post the URL(s) to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 5th.

Please note: The link you post must direct to a public account. 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 or page or request permission to see it, you will automatically be disqualified.

You can enter / post your links up to two times total – one entry each per public, non-private Facebook and / or Twitter account.

You have two chances to win but only one chance PER LINK – please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed. And post your separate links in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

Comments are moderated and may be slow to be added today but they will be added by late afternoon or early evening.

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning numbers will be chosen by Random.org, and the winners will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prizes. Good luck!

UPDATE: The winners have now been posted here.

Big thanks to Loktah for such amazing prizes. Stop by their blog to tell them thanks in person!

Don’t forget you have until 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday to win a “Get it Together Kit“. Have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

all aglow

April is going to shower you with giveaways here at Paperie so make sure to check in often! To kick things off for the new week, Design Aglow has offered up an amazingly fantastic prize with their guest post. The last Design Aglow giveaway here was a smashing success and I have no doubt this one will be, too! So…take a peek at the new product “For collectors of art and style” for yourself!

Design Aglow’s got its eye on style, and these deliciously divine DVD covers in six sumptuous, show-stopping designs are no exception. For the client who wants it all, including a beautiful custom collection of digital negatives from your session, this product makes a case for a quality presentation clients are sure to want to collect for their own. Unlimited customizations, double and single case designs and even coordinating labels make this offering a masterpiece you’re going to Louvre.

PERFECT FOR:
• a beautiful custom keepsake for those who want to
  invest in all the images as high res files
• turning any session into the ultimate collection with
  a highly valuable digital product
• sending potential clients or those who refer you a peek
  at your portfolio
• to create matching cards, album covers, and even wall art
• use for your own fresh marketing materials, website and
  blog to help you stand out

See all six designs here. (Also recently featured on the Design Aglow Blog.)

Now the details on how to win this amazing prize… There are THREE up for grabs! Follow @designaglow on Twitter. Then either post the following to your Twitter or Facebook account:

For 24 hours get 15% off @designaglow & visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to win 3 Design Aglow DVD cover collection templates!

Then come back here and post where you left the comment (one entry per person) in the comments.

Please note: The link you post must direct to a public account. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this prize.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 6th.

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning numbers will be chosen by Random.org, and the three winners will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

But wait – that’s not all! If you follow Design Aglow on Twitter, all purchases (today, Monday April 5th) are 15% off for 24 hours!

Thanks so much to Design Aglow for this amazing prize giveaway! More are in the works so spread the word and stay tuned! (P.S. Want to know my favorite Design Aglow product as of late? The Parisian Collection photo and proof borders. I take two 4×6 vertical/portrait shots, add a border, and then add an additional white ‘digital border’ to make the image 5×7 – same with one 5×7 horizontal/landscape shot plus border, add an additional white ‘digital border’ to make the image 8×10 – then have the images mounted and fine-linen textured with a protective coating. Makes the perfect client gift. Instant fine-art wall gallery! UPDATE: By request, put an example of the bordered prints in the comments.)

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).

If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. Check the sidebar – several new advertisers added recently!

I want it all and I want it now

Last week the Professional Photographers of America / PPA (ppa.com) held their annual Imaging USA convention and expo in Nashville. Well over 10,000 people were in attendance, shattering the previous record. Hundreds of vendors were also showing off their wares at the expo / trade show. Heather Lickliter of Stylized Portraiture in Athens, GA, was kind enough to take photos and post a few quick reviews of her favorite items and just-released products in this guest post. Read on (and click each image for a larger version)…

MpixPro‘s cd cases and boxes were not only nice to touch and well made, but they had a lot of different sizes and they had magnet closures.

H&H Color Lab‘s jewelry is the best ever. It’s printed on metallic paper inside so the photos really pop, and each of them come with a little ‘made with love‘ dangle on it. SO cute!

Clearbags now offers square baggies.

ProlabExpress had circle prints, although I was not a fan of the finish they used.

White House Custom Color / WHCC has float wraps up to size 20×30, but the canvas ones left little to be desired. The metallic float wraps with laminate finish felt like Moo cards but looked like a metallic print without the gloss. VERY awesome.

Miller’s Professional Imaging had and awesome 12×12 float wrap display and they offer matte laminate finish as well, but the largest size they currently offer is 12×12.

The Gary Fong flipcase was sweet. It comes with the white panels for macro photography or product photography.

Denny Manufacturing‘s “Freedom Cloth™ Backdrops” are fantastic. Shove one in a bag and leave it for months, then whip it out—never needs an iron!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with the class, Heather! New year. New toys. Oh boy!

And now for something completely different… There’s a new group on Flickr titled “Charity Print Auctions” and the goal is to raise money for Haiti Earthquake Relief through photography. (Rules / details here.) I currently have three of my photographs up for bid through Sunday night. Please check them out, bid, and submit your own!

More new guest post features are currently in the works! 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).