New week – new winners – and a new $100 gift card giveaway!

We want to thank all of our readers and vendors for two very successful recent promotions! First up, the winner of the MOO.com $75.00 gift card…

…is CPMarketing! Congratulations to Chris, and thanks to MOO.com for the fun giveaway!




Next we have the winner of the Artsy Couture “prize pack”…it’s Carrie Hanna!

Thanks to Carrie, and also to Artsy Couture for such a great prize!




But as they say…that’s…not all! Artsy Couture is having an amazing sale through the end of May! ALL Artsy products are 22% off + free shipping! For more details see image below and visit artsycouture.com!

And one lucky Paperie reader will win a $100 Artsy gift certificate this week! How do you win?

Easy! Just tell us your favorite Artsy Couture product in the comments here.

You can have up to two additional BONUS entries by following Artsy Couture on Facebook and / or Paperie Boutique on Facebook (or stating that you follow one – or both, in separate comments – already).

Comments must be posted here by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 25th. U.S. residents can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for each option 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 entry method multiple times. Duplicate entries will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win! See official rules for more details.

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.

Thanks once again to our sponsor Artsy Couture for being so good to our readers!




P.S. Don’t miss our FREE Father’s Day template downloads.

Check back soon!
-Robyn & Todd

Guess what? Today we have one of our favorite sponsors back for another giveaway and guest / vendor post! Please welcome Artsy Couture!

What’s up for grabs? An Artsy Couture “prize pack” that includes two Sweet Frames (up to 11×14) and a $50 gift certificate good on any Artsy products!

WHAT ARE SWEET FRAMES?
Sweet Frames are a collection of distressed and aged looking frames hand crafted from high quality wood. Every frame is meant to inspire whimsy and wonderment, like being presented with a life sized piece of candy. Join in on spreading the sweetness.

How do you win? Go to Facebook and / or Twitter and answer the following question:

“If there is one photography mistake you’ve made along the way and could take back, what would it be?“

When posting to Facebook, make sure to tag @Artsy Couture in your answer – and when posting to Twitter make sure to tag @ArtsyCouture in your answer. Then don’t forget to come back and link your Facebook and / or Twitter post(s) in the comments here so everyone can see. (These must be on a public Facebook or Twitter account so we can verify it’s there – if we have to register to see your entry, it is not public, and the entry will be voided.) That’s all there is to it!

You can have an optional, BONUS entry by telling us your favorite Artsy Couture product in the comments here.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 11th. U.S. residents can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for each option 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! See official rules for more details.

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.

Thanks to Artsy Couture for having such an amazing prize pack for our readers!




And heads up that we currently have a $75 gift card giveaway to MOO.com:

Find more details on how to enter here! And don’t miss our FREE Mother’s Day and Father’s Day template downloads.

More on the way – see you here soon!
-Robyn & Todd

We’re excited to have MOO.com back for another guest / vendor post and giveaway! One lucky Paperie winner will win a $75 gift card to MOO! And read ’til the end because we also have FREE Mother’s Day and Father’s Day templates up for download!

As blogged about here on Paperie, I recently had the chance to try MOO Luxe Business Cards. “Printed on Mohawk Superfine paper, Luxe Business Cards are the cashmere sweater of Business Cards – they look as good as they feel…At triple the thickness and weight of most ordinary cards, Luxe boasts a rich seam of colour within the layers of paper, and a stunning, tactile quality that you won’t find anywhere else on the web.”

I’ve also used MOO standard, recycled and rounded-corner business cards for years. There’s just nothing like thickness and feel! And with MOO’s “Printfinity” you can print a different design or photograph on every single card in the pack! This is perfect for running seasonal promotions or if you shoot different styles of photography – you could print wedding, maternity, and newborn business cards in one pack.

And now Paperie readers in the U.S. have a chance to win $75 from Moo – all you have to do is visit Moo’s site and tell us what your favorite business card design is in the comments! You can find several examples to choose from here:

1. http://us.moo.com/design-templates/luxe/business-cards/
2. http://us.moo.com/design-templates/business-cards/

Entrants may also get one additional “bonus” entry by posting a photo of your own MOO business cards to your Facebook account (and link to @moo.com in your post) -  or  - post a photo of your own MOO business cards to your Twitter account (and link to @overheardatmoo). Then come back to the comments here and post the link to your Facebook -  or  - Twitter entry so everyone can see. (These must be on a public Facebook or Twitter account so we can verify it’s there – if we have to register to see your entry, it is not public, and the entry will be voided.) Don’t forget to come back here and post the link to your shared post. That’s all there is to it!

This contest is open from Monday, May 7th – Sunday, May 13th (11:59 p.m. EDT) to residents in the U.S. You can enter up to TWO times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in two separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have TWO 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! See official rules for more details.

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.

Thanks to MOO.com for such a great contest! Good luck everyone!




Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching. If you need a quick last-minute gift (for clients or your own mum), don’t miss the free downloads we posted last year! Here’s an example of one mini-storyboard:

And in plenty of time for Father’s Day, here are two templates up for download. Both look the same – but one is designed to print as a 5×7 photograph collage. The other is designed to print as MOO postcards. With MOO’s “Printfinity” you can insert different images in each postcard, and make a customized “Happy Father’s Day” card for each of your clients!

     5×7 photo collage template

     Moo postcard template

The images you insert should be 300 dpi – pixel dimensions needed are given in a layer you will hide.

→ download link for 5×7 ← (please note this file was designed in CS2 and you must have Photoshop or Elements and know how to edit a .psd layered file)

→ download link for postcard ← (please note this file was designed in CS2 and you must have Photoshop or Elements and know how to edit a .psd layered file)


PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide technical support for these downloads.




More great stuff on the way this week – stay tuned!
-Robyn & Todd

All templates are ©Robyn Pollman, 2010-2012. All rights reserved. They may not be copied, resold, made available for download or given away elsewhere, or redistributed without my written permission.

We’re excited to present one of our favorite features on the site – photography packaging photos & descriptions by Erica Clark Photography!

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a love affair with all things stationary. Even as a teenager, I was always looking for the most unique and personalized gift packaging. I would wrap CDs in sheet music and unravel and scrunch up the inside of cassette tapes for the bow. Now, I totally allow my photography business to feed my love for boutique packaging.

I specialize in family photography and weddings. So, I decided to include my packaging for family clients as well as my wedding welcome packets which I send to brides who book with me. (Vendor information provided after photos.)

All teal colored boxes were purchased at H-B Photo. I ALWAYS buy my boxes from there. The quality is great, the prices are good, and the shipping is lightning fast.

The brown paper bags shown in the first image were purchased at my local dollar store where they are 2 for a $1. The little white bags are bought at a variety of places. Basically, wherever I see a good sale.

I bought the tiny brown paper sacks from a vendor on Etsy, I tuck a business card inside and clip it with a miniature clothespin I found for $2.00 a box on clearance at Walmart. I think about 20 came in a box. Needless to say, I bout about 10 boxes.

The twine, I bought it from our local farm store when they were marked down and out in a clearance bin.

All ribbon/lace was purchased at our local Hobby Lobby. They frequently have 50% ribbon/bows sales. When they do, I stock up…big time.

The burlap, which is cut into strips, was also purchased at Hobby Lobby. I’m an economical girl because the way I see it, if I save money, so do my clients. So when I bought the burlap, I bought TONS of it because I printed off a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby’s website.

The red and white baker’s twine was purchased at JoAnn’s Fabric. The tissue paper was purchased at Target. The little back chalkboard ‘thank you’ tag is actually just black card stock with a hole punched in it. I bought a chalkboard pen online (eBay, I think) and I hand write ‘thank you’ on the card stock. I trim the edges so it looks like a little ticket. The white button is just from my stock pile of random buttons. The clear plastic bags are from Rice Studio.

My business cards and mini cards are from Moo…of course. One of my favorite things about Moo, besides the ultra high quality, is their infinity print. If I buy 100 cards, I can have 100 different images on the backs. That’s pretty awesome in my book. As a photographer, it’s like having a mini-portfolio in my wallet. I always hand out cards with images on the back that might correspond to the type of photography a potential client may want. Some of my stickers come from Moo as well. The business cards and mini cards serve as hang tags as well.

The stickers I use to seal the tissue paper are from WHCC. The 5×5 press printed square is also from WHCC and I use the other side to hand write a thank you note.

The petal enclosure is what I use for discs of digital files and the 5×5 card fits right on top of it. I buy those from The Paper Source. I seal the enclosure with one of the Moo stickers.

The 3×3 accordions are from WHCC and are sometimes one of the little gifts I give my clients.

The following is what goes into my bridal packets, along with a few business cards from local hair/make-up, DJ, & cake vendors.

All of the press printed products are purchased from WHCC. ALL of the images used were taken by me, but the templates were purchased from Design Aglow. I LOVE Design Aglow! LOVE!

---

Included in my bridal packets are:

A little accordion pocket planner. That way, as they complete each step of the planning process, brides can check it off in their planner. It’s the perfect size for their purse.

The 5×5 trifold includes info regarding save-the-dates, first looks, formals, and even a little note just for grooms.

Also included is a 4×5 accordion card all about make-up and ways for brides to look their best.

Finally, a 5×7 press printed card that talks about engagement sessions. On the reverse side is ‘what-to-wear’ advice.

---

The last thing I include is an Erica Clark Photography tote bag wrapped with the baker’s twine. The 3×3 hang tag is from WHCC and the totes are from The Wedding Chicks.

When my clients receive their prints or when my brides receive their welcome packets, I want them to feel like they are receiving a special little gift that was meant just for them.

I always say that hiring a custom photographer should be a luxurious experience and I want my packaging to represent just that.

A side note on budgeting, I always wait for sales. Always. Hobby Lobby always has sales/printable coupons on their website, Design Aglow offers a discount when the item is just released, WHCC has press printed cards sales every spring and winter, Target and JoAnn’s have clearance items, Moo offers free shipping sometimes, and so on.

When I decided on my branding colors, I thought about holidays. Yes, holidays. There are 2 major holidays that use red as the main color: Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The week following those two holidays are when I clean up!

My point is, luxury doesn’t have to have a hefty price tag. Just be smart about what, where, and when you buy.

A very special thanks to Robyn for allowing me to share my packaging addiction. I’m grateful to have Paperie Boutique as a source for inspiration.

And a huge thanks to Erica Clark Photography for taking the time to share her packaging photos / resources / hints & tips! If you just can’t get enough of Erica’s packaging and presentation, make sure to visit this blog post and tell her thanks for sharing with the class!




Excited to announce the winner of the 3-month subscription to Chic Critique Forum is Tara Nichols!

And the winner of our Poppy Tree Frames giveaway is…Olivia Price Photography!

Thanks to everyone who entered both contests, and to Poppy Tree Frames for the fun prize! I’ll be in touch with the winners by Monday!




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

Check in all week – great things are scheduled!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. The Savvy Photographer is running a photo contest through May 15th, 2012. Categories include Baby, Child, Family, Seniors , Wedding, and Pets. The prizes are amazing, so visit the site to check them out – and enter!

We’re baaaaack! Did you miss us? We recently shared that it’s been a pretty dark spring around our house and April has been equally unkind with illness and ER trips. Thanks to everyone for your patience and for continually checking in!

We’re happy to report that not only are we posting again, but we also have a great vendor / guest post and giveaway by Poppy Tree Frames. And read ’til the end for a cool (FREE!) Pinterest app for Facebook!




Poppy Tree Frames sells custom, handmade picture frames. They offer 18 frame styles in 42 colors and 49 prints. And now the good people at Poppy Tree Frames are partnering with Paperie Boutique to offer our readers a $30 Poppy Tree Frames gift card!

To enter and win the $30 gift card all you have to do is go to the comments here and tell us your favorite frame style.

You can get an extra BONUS entry by following Poppy Tree Frames on Facebook – and then commenting here to tell us you’ve done so.

You can have one more BONUS entry by sharing this post on Paperie’s Facebook page with your Facebook readers. (This must be on a public Facebook page so we can verify it’s there – if we have to register to see your Facebook page, it is not public, and the entry will be voided.) Don’t forget to come back here and post the link to your shared post. That’s all there is to it!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 1st. You can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for each option 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! See official rules for more details.

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.

Be sure to check out the Poppy Tree Frames website here and their Facebook page here! And thanks to Poppy Tree Frames for giving our readers such an amazing giveaway!




In case you haven’t heard, Woobox has an awesome FREE Pinterest app for your Facebook pages. It will show your Pinterest boards and pins as a tab on your Facebook page.

1. You can require users to like your Facebook page before
     viewing your Pinterest tab.
2. Show all of your boards and pins styled just like they are on
     Pinterest.
3. Users can view your boards and pins directly on your
     Facebook page or click to visit Pinterest to repin, like,
     comment, and follow your pins.
4. Show all your boards or just the pins from a specific board.
5. You get complete stats for page views, visits, and likes,
     segmented by fans and non-fans who view your tab.

You can see this in action on Sephora’s Pinterest tab. Visit Woobox to download the “Pinterest Tab for Facebook Pages” for free!




Don’t forget the Chic Critique Forum contest runs through April 30th — more details here. You can win a 3-month membership from Paperie!

Tune in next week — more goodies are on the way!
Have a great weekend -
Robyn & Todd

HB Photo Packaging is giving away TEN (10) complimentary Full WPPI Registration Passes (a $399.00 value each) with Paperie Boutique.

A random generator will be used by HB Photo Packaging to pick TEN (10) people who tag HB Photo Packaging on Facebook with the following – each will receive one (1) pass:

“I’m going to see @HB Photo Packaging at WPPI in Las Vegas!”

BEFORE you hit post, make sure that you’ve typed out “@HB Photo Packaging” (rather than pasting it) so that it creates a tag that will appear on HB’s wall. (More information on how to tag on Facebook can be found here.)

You don’t want to miss the HB Photo Packaging booth (# 1247) at WPPI this year! Paperie and HB have a big secret to share, and those lucky enough to attend the WPPI trade show will get first peek / dibs! Stay tuned here in the upcoming days for more details (and photos)!




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

In this issue I reviewed web services for your business by ProPhoto Blogs, Zenfolio, Miller’s Professional Imaging Art Department, Photo Cart by Pictures Pro, Colorati, RadLab from “Totally Rad!”, PhotoBiz Website Templates and Blog Sites, IntotheDarkroom.com Vend Photo Cart and Flaunt Photo Slideshow, Photo Shelter, Showit Fast & Pass, and Creative Motion Design.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 46, page 48, page 50, and page 52 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.




Don’t forget that you have a chance to win this POMPIDOO leather camera bag until 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 14th. It would make the perfect Valentine!

Happy weekend -
-Robyn & Todd

You may have noticed that things have been a bit quiet around here lately. We recently gave a peek into one of the reasons why on Facebook. But today we break the silence with an awesome guest / vendor post and giveaway from POMPIDOO camera bags!

POMPIDOO is a modern answer to all women who respect style and quality, who are passionate about photography and aesthetics. POMPIDOO is a new brand for stylish camera bags where natural leather and well thought-out form are only a small part of all offered advantages. Modern design and functionality, which form the basis of the brand, creates a perfect tandem for those who value convenience and originality. POMPIDOO camera bag is an alternative to a usual handbag – stylish, spacious and reliable.

And now one lucky Paperie reader can win a POMPIDOO Cologne bag in Idle Turquoise! View Paperie Boutique official rules for contests and giveaways here. Please note that Paperie Boutique hosted events are open to U.S. residents age 18 and over only.

All you have to do is post in the comments here and let us know what your favorite POMPIDOO camera bag is! That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” their Facebook fan page – just comment that you’ve done so, or that you’re already a fan.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you follow @POMPIDOO_bags on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow them.

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

Comment with your favorite POMPIDOO bag – or that you’ve liked POMPIDOO on Facebook – or that you’ve followed @POMPIDOO_bags on Twitter – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

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

You can enter / post up to three 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 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! See official rules for more details.

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 everyone – and thanks so much to POMPIDOO camera bags! Someone is going to win quite the Valentine’s Day gift this year!

Happy (almost) weekend!
-Robyn & Todd

Are you going to WPPI? Beth Forester of photoDUDS is stopping by with a vendor / guest post that includes tips and a way to win WPPI passes!

Chance to WIN Passes to WPPI Vegas for you and a friend!
($650 Value for Non-members!)
by photoDUDS

WPPI is the biggest and best event for wedding and portrait photographers. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry leaders, discover new products and be inspired by the best photographers in the business.

photoDUDS and WPPI are giving away 2 Free Full Registration Passes to ONE lucky winner! The contest ends on Monday, February 6th.

FULL REGISTRATION PASS:
You and one (1) free guest will have access to over 90 Platform Classes, a 3-day trade show with the latest products, technologies and services from major manufacturers and exciting evening events!

Gearing Up For WPPI!
Q&A with Beth Forester

You are one of the speakers at WPPI this year. Congratulations! Tell us why you chose “The Glamourous Life: Marketing & Selling to A-List Seniors” as your topic?

Well, although I shoot just about everything, I specialize in senior portraits. It’s the type of photography I enjoy the most. Plus, it’s the market that I can achieve a higher average of sales per hour of shooting. West Virginia has been in a recession since 1950 so I do know a little about marketing and selling to people in a down economy. High school senior portraits are once in a lifetime and, honestly, people are willing to spend more when they know they will only have to do so once. Plus, seniors are brand oriented and they want the best: they demand and they have no trouble spending their parent’s money.

What can attendees expect to learn?

Well, a better topic for the program might be “Show Me the Money!” It’s all about making sure you get paid for the time you invest in each session. (We all know it’s not just about the time during the session: it’s post-processing, editing, color-correcting and retouching) How many times have you broken your back on a shoot only to find that the customer placed a puny order. I know. I have been there. It’s disheartening! So, after getting tired of being abused, I put a system in place that ensured specific sales for specific types of sessions. Plus, we have great incentives for seniors to purchase specific packages! I can’t tell you how many people have taken my class and told me that their senior averages doubled or tripled after implementing my sales tactics.

Who is this class for?

Anyone who wants to understand the senior market better: What do seniors want? Who am I selling to? How do I sell to them? This class will give you answers to all of these questions and more. Plus, Beth will share her top ten tips for increasing your sales.

What is your favorite thing about WPPI?

The energy and the people.. It’s hard to put into words but it’s like being dropped in the heart of Manhattan….but Manhattan is now all geared towards everything photography. It’s faced paced, in your face and stimulating!

What is your best tip to making WPPI successful for photographers?

WPPI is really big and you can get overwhelmed really fast and end up really not staying focused. I suggest sitting down and making a list of 5 things you want to learn/see/achieve at WPPI. Once you know what it is you want to focus on, research the various programs to see which speakers are going to best serve your needs.

Thanks to Beth Forester / photoDUDS for providing our readers with such helpful information (and a chance to win)!

Paperie has a big surprise for WPPI this year as well, so stay tuned…
-Robyn & Todd

We have an amazing giveaway today from ONA Camera Bags – who’s also stopped by for a vendor / guest post!

ONA is a purveyor of fine camera bags and accessories. All of our products are handcrafted using premium materials, such as naturally-milled full-grain leather and waxed cotton canvas.

And one lucky Paperie reader will win ONA’s “Venice” bag (value $329.00). The new Venice bag is a naturally milled full-grain leather SLR camera bag designed to hold a camera body, 3-4 lenses, small personal items, and an iPad. It is available in ONA’s online store in four colors (plum, camel, black, and stone).

So how do you win the Venice camera bag? It’s easy!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):

Win a $329 leather Venice Camera bag from @onabags / onabags.com at PaperieBoutique.com / @PaperieBoutique – http://is.gd/sQMlwc

2. Friend / Like ONA on Facebook and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a fan)

3. Follow ONA on Twitter and come back here and let us know (or tell us you already follow them)

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked ONA on Facebook – or followed ONA on Twitter – 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. EST on Sunday, November 20th. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four 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 FOUR 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 so much to ONA for the great prize!




Don’t forget this is the last day to enter to win a Martha Stewart heat embossing tool!

More goodies ahead – stay tuned!
-Robyn & Todd

New day, new contest – and this is one you definitely won’t want to miss! We have a prize pack giveaway in a vendor / guest post by Artsy Couture!

WHAT ARE SWEET FRAMES?
Sweet Frames are a collection of distressed and aged looking frames hand crafted from high quality wood. Every frame is meant to inspire whimsy and wonderment, like being presented with a life sized piece of candy. Join in on spreading the sweetness.

WHAT IS CUBE DÉCOR?
They are photo cubes created from four inch image panels, each being a pro print laminated onto a solid wood material, which come together to create a one-of-a-kind home furnishings product.

Artsy Couture is celebrating the launch of their new Sweet Frames and Cube Décor product lines by giving away a prize pack to three lucky Paperie Boutique fans! This prize pack (valued at $150.00) includes:

•   a set of 3 cubes
•   an 8×10 classic Sweet Frame
•   an 11×14 ornate Sweet Frames

How do you win? Pick ONE of the following questions and answer here in the comments. (Only one answer / entry per person please.)

    1. If you could do a photo shoot anywhere in the world, where would it be?

    2. If you could have one photography “super power”, what would it be?

    3. Who is your photography hero and why?

    4. How did you make the decision to purchase Nikon or Canon (or other
        brand) and do you plan to stick with it?

    5. What is your favorite product by Artsy Couture – and why?

Select your favorite question and leave ONE answer here in the comments. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 12th. You can enter / post one time.

(PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

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.

Both Sweet Frames and Cube Décor are 25% off through 11/15 and after this time, we are happy to offer Paperie Boutique fans an exclusive savings!

Thanks to Artsy Couture for always supporting Paperie, and for such a fun giveaway for our readers!

Welcome to everyone coming in from Moo.com – please check our “free downloads” page for several free Moo regular and holiday templates!

And guess what?!? Moo.com is offering free shipping when you spend over $35 through November 22nd!




We have a winner in our BrandSushi Grand Prize contest and it’s…Shelby Leigh Photography!

And we have two winners of the BrandSushi $75 gift certificates and they are…Adria Peaden Photography and Danni Wallace!

Congrats to our winners! We’ll be in touch by Friday with information on how to claim your prizes! Thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks again to BrandSushi for the fabulous prizes! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Only 45 days ’til Santa Claus comes to town!
-Robyn & Todd

We’re excited to have a new vendor at Paperie today for a fun guest post / giveaway! Please help us welcome…THEIT Camera Bags!

THEIT creates camera bags for photographers that value both style and substance. With designs that aim to capture classic modernity with a sense of playfulness, this philosophy exemplifies the essence of the THEIT customer: someone who is independent, inspired, and full of life, who cannot help but to capture the beauty in her world through the lens.

An homage to the well-known fashion term “the it bag“, the brand represents more than the most coveted piece for the season, but a new wave of design enabling style, function and versatility for the fashion-minded photographer. Inspired by the runway and the streets, THEIT‘s vision is to uphold a fashion standard that helps photographers live their dreams in style.

And now one lucky Paperie reader has a chance to win The Bossi Bag by THEIT in Gravel (value $159.00)! The bag is water resistant with antique brass hardware, comes with interior and exterior zip pockets for extra room and metal feet for protection, and has a zipper top closure.

Features:
•    Convenient dual carrying handles
•    Detachable cross body gold chain strap
•    Customizable padded dividers to protect your gear
     and suit your needs
•    Fully removeable padded insert; our unique design
     allows you to easily organize and change your bag
     from a camera bag to a fashion handbag

The photos above were taken by Paperie Boutique and show the Gravel Bossi Bag with the following inside: Nikon D700 body with grip, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, Nikon SB-800 speedlight, Apple iPad2, Speck iPad2 FitFolio Cover, and Abie Designs camera strap – the bag will zip closed with the items shown / listed inside. (I did not fill the exterior or interior pockets with additional items although there was ample room to do so, and I did not use all of the removable protective padding included with the bag.) The bag’s dimensions are 14 x 9 x 6″.

So how do you win this camera bag? It’s easy!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):

Win THEIT Bossi Gravel Camera Bag from @theitbags / lovetheit.com at PaperieBoutique.com / @PaperieBoutique – http://is.gd/GM6rdB

2. Friend / Like THEIT on Facebook and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a fan)

3. Follow THEIT on Twitter and come back here and let us know (or tell us you already follow them)

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked THEIT on Facebook – or followed THEIT on Twitter – 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. EST on Friday, November 11th. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four 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 FOUR 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 again to THEIT for the great prize!




Don’t forget we have a contest going on right now from BrandSushi – the grand prize is a logo design valued at $650!

Check back in this week – we’re just getting started!
-Robyn & Todd

Remember the amazing packaging contest we had last year? Well it’s back this year and it’s going to be even more amazing!

Don’t forget when you’re busy wrapping up your client and / or holiday orders to stop for a minute and take photos of your beautiful creations before delivering them. The second annual business and holiday packaging contest kicks off on Friday, December 2nd!

Don’t know where to start? Paper Source always has great video tutorials! And with just one of the prizes being a $500 store credit to HB Photo Packaging, it will definitely be worth your time!

Watch this space for more updates in the coming days! And happy wrapping!




New week, new deal for Paperie readers! Today we have a vendor / guest post by Beth Forester of photoDUDS!

“Be Artsy!”

Beth Forester of photoDUDS has just released a new line of templates created just for Artsy Couture Gallery Blocks.

Let’s face it, Artsy Couture Gallery Blocks are one of the hottest items this year. With these designs you’ll be able to impress your clients by offering these upscale custom designed items in your studio.

There are SEVEN different templates designed to work specifically with the Artsy Couture Line. These fully-layered templates are super-easy to customize so you can change the colors to match your photographs.

Not using the Artsy line yet…well look no more because all of these templates also include files for deep Canvas Gallery Wraps.

So, you get two products for the price of one!

And as an introductory offer, these designs are on sale in the photoDUDS store for 20% off. Or you can save 50% off and buy the bundle!

Plus, Beth Forester of photoDUDS is offering Paperie Boutique followers an additional 20% off* the already reduced items or anything else in the photoDUDS store. So not only can you get the special introductory prices but you can save an additional 20%. So head on over to the photoDUDS store and use the exclusive Paperie code: paperie20

*Offer expires November 9, 2011.

Thanks to photoDUDS for stopping by with this incredible offer for our readers!




Earlier this year we featured MamaThredz maternity portrait ensembles from The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn. (TAoPaN)

Yesterday I was lucky enough to photograph a maternity session for Buttons and Bows Photography using the “Sassy – All Mama” gown. You can see the results above (click images for lager pop-ups). To purchase, visit MamaThredz.




Have a great week everyone and check back soon!
-Robyn & Todd

This post is jam-packed full of giveaways and goodies to kick off your weekend on a good note! First up, one of our favorite vendors – BrandSushi – is back with an amazing birthday bash guest post / giveaway for Paperie readers!

The BrandSushi Grand Prize is a logo design ($650 value). And two runners-up will each receive a $75 gift certificate. BrandSushi is also running a promo code for 25% off with the code BIRTHDAYBASH throughout the entire month of November!

So how do you win one of these amazing prizes? It’s easy!

1. Tweet the following on Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win logo design ($650 value) + gift certificates for BrandSushi.com / @brandsushi birthday at @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/S4RZoa

2. Post the following to Facebook (and tell us where you did it):
Happy birthday BrandSushi! Win a logo design ($650 value) and gift certificates from BrandSushi.com over at PaperieBoutique.com – http://is.gd/S4RZoa

3. Like brandsushi on Facebook: facebook.com/brandsushi (or tell us you already “like” them)

4. Follow @brandsushi on Twitter: twitter.com/brandsushi (or tell us you already follow them)

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked BrandSushi on Facebook and/or Twitter – 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. EST on Tuesday, November 8th. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four 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 FOUR 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 BrandSushi for such incredible prizes for this giveaway! Happy birthday! And many more…




In case you haven’t heard, MOO.com is having a big sticker sale this weekend – stickers are 15% off through November 6th!

Don’t forget we have several FREE Moo holiday sticker templates available for download here at Paperie!

My new column in the November 2011 Professional Photographer Magazine has several “client gift ideas” suggested by your favorite photographers.

Here’s another – right now Groupon is having a sale on Snaptotes custom photo tote / diaper bags and clutches. The bags are normally $105 and $65, and the Groupon special (which includes shipping costs) has them for just $39 and $27 respectively.

It’s a great chance to put your logo on photos they’re sure to carry with them everywhere! As of 10 a.m. Eastern on Friday, November 4th there were still 15 more hours left to take advantage of this deal.




We have a couple of contest winners to announce! The winner of the “Organic Bloom frames for the Photographer’s Wall Display Guides” is…Jessica Hilborn Photography!

And the winner of the Rice Studio Supply “12×12 album box stuffed with ECO CHIC goodies” is…Brianne Osborn Photography & Design!

Huge thanks to Photographer’s Wall Display Guides and Rice Studio Supply for the fantastic giveaways, thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to our winners. I’ll be in touch with both of you this weekend with information on how to claim your prizes!




Whew! That was a lot for one entry!

Have a great weekend and good luck in the BrandSushi giveaway above!
-Robyn & Todd

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

Paperie had one more *emera camera bag to give away, and this time we’ve partnered up with The Savvy Photographer Blog to do it!

Go visit the Savvy Blog for more details on how to enter – and good luck!




Just finished the new splash page on my Butttons & Bows site – wanna peek?

I’m really pleased with how it turned out! For more information on using QR Codes on your website, go here.




I have a “pretty packaging” board on Pinterest if you haven’t seen it ’til now.

One of my favorite boards is “Cool branding and packaging“ by Phreckles Photography. What’s yours?

Leave a link to your favorite pinner or Pinterest board in the comments here – one Paperie reader who does will win this cute camera magnet set:

Have a great week everyone!
-Robyn & Todd