savvy style

There’s a great giveaway from The Panache Collective over at The Savvy Photographer right now!

“One lucky Savvy reader will have a chance to win this Panache Collective boutique packaging set before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½ x 7½ and five 8½ x 10½ “the savvy set” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue). As shown in the photos, these box designs feature the Panache Collective’s revolutionary new quick-release open and close system. The design stays snug around the box, but can easily be removed and set aside to pack the order – and then reattached to safely hand-deliver or ship – without damaging your work of art.”

Visit The Savvy Photographer for more details! Huge thanks to them for the great giveaway opportunity!

And don’t forget, we still have three more Panache Collective packaging set giveaways here – they run through 11:59 p.m. EST tonight (Thursday, February 23rd)!

Thanks for making this year’s WPPI so great!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. “Like” the new Panache Collective Facebook page!

word up

Together with HB Photo Packaging, Paperie Boutique is excited to launch the “Panache Collective“!

Making its debut at WPPI 2012, the Panache Collective is a high-end custom photo packaging / portrait box décor product line. The Panache Collective was created with the boutique portrait artist in mind and includes collections specifically for senior, engagement / wedding, boudoir, maternity, baby, children / family, and sports photographers. The Panache Collective features bright colors, stylish designs and innovative function – including quick-release, easy open access.

At this time “Panache Collective” ordering is limited exclusively to WPPI 2012 attendees — pre-order registration is available at the HB Photo Packaging booth (# 1247). VIP mailing list registration is also available at the HB booth at WPPI. Mailing list members will be given early access to online purchasing before the ordering system goes public.

Following the soft-launch beta stage, public mailing list registration and ordering will begin in late spring / early summer 2012. Watch this space for more details!

The Panache Collective. “YOUR PRINTS. CHARMING.“

And now, one lucky Paperie reader will have a chance to win this Panache Collective boutique packaging set before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½x7½ “cameo” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue), and five 8½x10½ “timeless” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue). As shown in the photos below, these box designs feature our revolutionary new quick-release open and close system. The design stays snug around the box, but can easily be removed and set aside to pack the order – and then reattached to safely hand-deliver or ship – without damaging your work of art.

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 one of the following:

• your favorite demo packaging set here
      — or —
• your business color palette
      — or —
• your photography specialty (weddings, boudoir, children / family, etc.)

That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” both Paperie Boutique’s Facebook fan page and HB Photo Packaging’s 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 both @paperieboutique and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow them.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you post the following to Facebook or Twitter:
Win a custom ‘cameo’ photography packaging set from the new Panache Collective by @paperieboutique & @HBPhotoPkging – http://is.gd/vJnozT

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 with your favorite Panache Collective packaging set shown here, -or- your color palette, -or- your photography-speciality. And for bonus chances to win let us know you’ve liked Paperie Boutique on Facebook and HB Photo Packaging on Facebook. Or that you’ve followed @paperieboutique on Twitter and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter. Or that you’ve posted about this giveaway to Facebook or Twitter. Do these in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 23rd. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in four separate comments here 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! 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! Stop by booth # 1247 TODAY at WPPI!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. You can also win our new “lipstick” and “tarte” boudoir packaging sets here – and our new baseball-themed packaging sets here.

peanuts and crackerjack

Together with HB Photo Packaging, Paperie Boutique is excited to launch the “Panache Collective“!

Making its debut at WPPI 2012, the Panache Collective is a high-end custom photo packaging / portrait box décor product line. The Panache Collective was created with the boutique portrait artist in mind and includes collections specifically for senior, engagement / wedding, boudoir, maternity, baby, children / family, and sports photographers. The Panache Collective features bright colors, stylish designs and innovative function – including quick-release, easy open access.

At this time “Panache Collective” ordering is limited exclusively to WPPI 2012 attendees — pre-order registration is available at the HB Photo Packaging booth (# 1247). VIP mailing list registration is also available at the HB booth at WPPI. Mailing list members will be given early access to online purchasing before the ordering system goes public.

Following the soft-launch beta stage, public mailing list registration and ordering will begin in late spring / early summer 2012. Watch this space for more details!

The Panache Collective. “YOUR PRINTS. CHARMING.“

And now, one lucky Paperie reader will have a chance to win this Panache Collective baseball-themed set (perfect for child and sports photographers!) before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½x7½ “spring training” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue), and five 8½x10½ “three strikes” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue). As shown in the photos below, these box designs feature our revolutionary new quick-release open and close system. The design stays snug around the box, but can easily be removed and set aside to pack the order – and then reattached to safely hand-deliver or ship – all without damaging your work of art.

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 one of the following:

• your favorite demo packaging set here
      — or —
• your business color palette
      — or —
• your photography specialty (weddings, boudoir, children / family, etc.)

That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” both Paperie Boutique’s Facebook fan page and HB Photo Packaging’s 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 both @paperieboutique and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow them.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you post the following to Facebook or Twitter:
Win a custom baseball photography packaging set from the new Panache Collective by @paperieboutique & @HBPhotoPkging – http://is.gd/Z5YHEi

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 with your favorite Panache Collective packaging set shown here, -or- your color palette, -or- your photography-speciality. And for bonus chances to win let us know you’ve liked Paperie Boutique on Facebook and HB Photo Packaging on Facebook. Or that you’ve followed @paperieboutique on Twitter and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter. Or that you’ve posted about this giveaway to Facebook or Twitter. Do these in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 23rd. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in four separate comments here 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! 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 don’t forget to stop by booth # 1247 at WPPI!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. You can also win our new “lipstick” and “tarte” boudoir packaging sets here.

introducing…panache collective

Together with HB Photo Packaging, Paperie Boutique is excited to launch the “Panache Collective“!

Making its debut at WPPI 2012, the Panache Collective is a high-end custom photo packaging / portrait box décor product line. The Panache Collective was created with the boutique portrait artist in mind and includes collections specifically for senior, engagement / wedding, boudoir, maternity, baby, children / family, and sports photographers. The Panache Collective features bright colors, stylish designs and innovative function – including quick-release, easy open access.

At this time “Panache Collective” ordering is limited exclusively to WPPI 2012 attendees — pre-order registration is available at the HB Photo Packaging booth (# 1247). VIP mailing list registration is also available at the HB booth at WPPI. Mailing list members will be given early access to online purchasing before the ordering system goes public.

Following the soft-launch beta stage, public mailing list registration and ordering will begin in late spring / early summer 2012. Watch this space for more details!

The Panache Collective. “YOUR PRINTS. CHARMING.“

And now, one lucky Paperie reader will have a chance to win a Panache Collective set before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½x7½ “tarte” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue), and five 8½x10½ “lipstick” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue).

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 one of the following:

• your favorite demo packaging set here
      — or —
• your business color palette
      — or —
• your photography specialty (weddings, boudoir, children / family, etc.)

That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” both Paperie Boutique’s Facebook fan page and HB Photo Packaging’s 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 both @paperieboutique and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow them.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you post the following to Facebook or Twitter:
Win a custom photography packaging set from the new Panache Collective by @paperieboutique & @HBPhotoPkging – http://is.gd/2LBMNL

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 with your favorite Panache Collective packaging set shown here, -or- your color palette, -or- your photography-speciality. And for bonus chances to win let us know you’ve liked Paperie Boutique on Facebook and HB Photo Packaging on Facebook. Or that you’ve followed @paperieboutique on Twitter and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter. Or that you’ve posted about this giveaway to Facebook or Twitter. Do these in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 23rd. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in four separate comments here 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! 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 thank you – we wouldn’t be here without you!
-Robyn & Todd

fast pass

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

win big for WPPI

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

Kodak moments

We have a winner in the Vegas portion of our HB Photo Packaging contest – it’s Katrina Weingart! Here she is pointing to the Paperie Boutique sign at the HB Photo Packaging Booth (#1565):

Here’s a photo of the Paperie display at the ProDPI booth (#1219).

And here’s a shot of Buttons and Bows on the Moo booth (#1246) backdrop.

Don’t forget, there’s still one more chance to win the remaining HB Photo Packaging box set – check this post for more info!

viva Las Vegas 2 – electric
      boogaloo

In case you’ve been under a rock or trapped under heavy furniture, this week is WPPI in Las Vegas. This afternoon I got an e-mail from Ryan at HB Photo Packaging with pictures from today’s events and this report (and keep reading on for an HB-giveaway):

The show is going great!! Were are meeting…a ton of Paperie readers, many of which are international. Your blog seems to have quite a following in France.

In that last photo, you can see one of my Buttons and Bows signature photo boxes – and just behind that on the backdrop are two Paperie Boutique signs! (If you happen to be at WPPI, don’t forget to get in close and read them for a special “Easter egg” treat.)

To celebrate our appearance at WPPI I’m giving away two prizes – one for those of you who are there (we have our Vegas winner!), and another to those of you who couldn’t make it this year.

Each winner will receive TWENTY 8″ x 10″ x ½” aqua/aqua skinny boxes – one set will include a 25-yard roll of 1½” Bella Terra paper ribbon in white – and one set will include a 12-foot spool of 1½” Offray ribbon in pewter.

The first person (here’s the winner of one set!) to post a photo of themselves at the HB Photo Packaging Booth (#1565) pointing to the Paperie logo over at HB’s Facebook Page wins one packaging set above.

If you aren’t at WPPI and want to win (or are at WPPI but didn’t win the other set), head over to the HB Photo Packaging website and find your favorite box color. Then come back here and post that color in the comments through 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 24th. I’ll use Random.org to select the winner and post it here.

So two chances to win…get busy!

BUT WAIT! That’s not all! If you’re at WPPI and want more Paperie, stop by the ProDPI booth (#1219) for a special offer from Paperie Boutique!

AND! If you spot Paperie Boutique or Buttons and Bows Photography anywhere else at WPPI (Moo*cough*#1246) and send me a picture, I’ll give the first person to do so a $20 gift certificate to Paper Source!




And I’m excited to announce the winner in our Malane’s prop set giveaway…it’s CrystalB Photography!

Congrats to Crystal, thanks to everyone who entered, and special thanks to Malane’s for such an adorable contest prize!

Viva la Paperie!

flash of brilliance

One of the recent WPPI 2010 Las Vegas wrap-up reports featured incredible looking photo flash drives. As Lady Luck would have it, Photoflashdrive.com found out about that blog entry via Twitter, and instantly a promo was arranged. This year you don’t have to go to Vegas just to win big!

Photoflashdrive.com is an offshoot of Pexagon Technology that caters specifically to you: Photographers!

We offer flash drives, smartphone cases & more – personalized with your design or logo at no additional charge and never with a minimum order qty. As a courtesy to photographers we offer everyday savings of 30% off flash drives when you shop though photoflashdrive.com.

At WPPI 2010 in Las Vegas we had the opportunity to show off our newest wood flash drive line…

As thanks for our guest-blog spot, we will be offering a 2GB personalized wood flash drive to 3 lucky winners who enter the contest at Paperie Boutique!

So how do you win? It’s simple!

Go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

I’m in it to win it with Photoflashdrive.com / @photoflashdrive – visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to see how you can win, too!

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.

You can enter up to four times total – one entry each per public, non-private blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 28th.

The prize includes: a 2GB Personalized Wood flash drive (laser engraved with your logo!)

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 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

Thanks to everyone at Photoflashdrive.com for this amazing promo / giveaway! Their products add a brilliant, affordable twist to custom digital negative presentation.

UPDATE: In case you missed it, all three winners were announced in the comments – All That Glitters Photography, Renae Alane Photography, and Ooh La La Photography. Congrats to the winners and thanks so much to everyone who participated!

And don’t forget, the Design Aglow “Studio Look Book – Basic” contest is still running through 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight (Friday night)!

Have a great weekend –
Robyn

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).

what happens in Vegas

Yet another guest post from WPPI in Las Vegas last week. I love getting all the different perspectives. So many neat things to look at, and it seems something different caught each attendee’s eye. This next amazing summary is provided by Lydia Shannon. I’ll let her take it from here…

(The photos submitted with this entry are so good, I didn’t want you to miss any detail. So each one can be clicked on for a larger pop-up!)

Wow! If you didn’t go to WPPI this year, you CANNOT miss out next year. Start saving up, it is so worth it. I’m going to give you a rundown of some of my favorite items at the tradeshow. Make sure you check my blog for some fun photos from WPPI.

In no particular order…

Planetjill Jewelry
What a great investment for your business. For only $20, you can be a wholesale retailer, and they give you a sample, brochures, and a jewelry holder. It is super chic that they use only B&W images! Love it. Also, I met Jill, the owner and designer, and she is wonderful too! Make sure you tell them Lydia Shannon sent you!

MPixPro
Of course, I had heard of them before, but after looking at their products I was much more impressed. I especially loved this larger accordion book.

Oh and I loved the fact that their new mini accordion albums have magnets to close them up tight and you can buy just one if you want!

WHCC
I’ve always been a big fan of White House. This year I was especially impressed with their new Stainless Steel Standouts. It gives their old standouts a super modern, high end feel. Love it!

ProPhotoBlogs
I don’t have a picture to go with it. But I have to tell you how much I LOVE mine. I bought it last year at WPPI and I couldn’t be happier. Best, easiest way to blog, EVER! You can use my promo code for $10 off, LYDSHA432. I think there was a WPPI code floating around, but I don’t know it.

Kelly Moore Bag
It is even more beautiful in person then it looks online!

Canvas on Demand Pro
This is just such a brilliant idea! What a modern twist on a traditional signature frame.

H-B Packaging
These custom boxes are prefect for branding. You can either get your logo put on them or you can create a huge statement by custom designing your entire box.

Michael Chinn
I was in love with these exquisite folios the second I saw them. They are so classy looking. Also, there albums and DVD folios are beautiful too.

Pixel2Canvas
I know they have been featured on here before, but I have to tell you, Roxanne {the owner and creative director} is absolutely one of the sweetest and most enthusiastic people you will meet! They just came out with the most beautiful new product, ChromaLuxe Storyboards. AMAZING. Not only are they fabulous, but the price cannot be beat. I will be ordering a bunch of these.

Snaptotes
When I was going in to a class, I saw the coolest purse ever, and it happened to be Roxanne’s from Pixel2Canvas. Roxanne is teaming up with Snaptotes and creating incredible designs to go on their purses. Here’s the one that caught my eye on my way into class.

This is her personal purse, with an adorable picture of her son. I can’t wait for my clients to be carrying around amazing purse with wonderful designs.

Well there you have it, my favorite items! WPPI was absolutely amazing and I encourage everyone to go next year! I will be speaking at a tradeshow booth, I’m just not sure which one yet! hehe

Thanks! Lydia

Thank you so much for the amazing recap, Lydia! For more on her trip to Vegas, go here.

All of the 2010 WPPI Vegas recaps on Paperie Boutique can be found here.

Contest winners in the Photographer Cafe promotion and Hello Kitty Photographer window decal will be announced shortly on Thursday morning so stay tuned! I’m about to fall face-first into my keyboard so I’ll be on it first-thing when we’re up and around in the AM – promise.

If you’re interested in sending reviews / photos of WPPI 2010, or 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).

viva Las Vegas

Today I thought I’d start off by getting right to the good stuff – the freebie! One of my most prized possessions is my Hello Kitty photographer sticker on my car.

I recently bought another one and it came in a set of two. Since I only need one, the second one (shown here) is up for grabs!

Here are the details about the sticker:

• Outlasts and outshines regular vinyl
• Water Resistant: Designed to withstand all types of indoor and outdoor weather conditions
• Clear transfer tape for easy peel-and-stick installation
• Clear tape allows you to easily see where you want to stick the decal
• Intense look at night and stands out
• Appears silver/metallic white in daylight, but glows brightly at night when light hits it
• Sticks to any smooth clean surface: Cars, Notebooks, Windows, Walls, Mirrors, Laptops…

To win, you know the drill! Go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

I love photography and I’m not ashamed to admit I ♥ Hello Kitty, too – visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to win both-in-one!

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

You can enter up to four times total – one entry each per public, non-private blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 17th.

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 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck!

And if you just can’t wait to win one, you can buy one on eBay!

UPDATE: The winner has been announced here! Thanks everyone!

Now on to the good stuff! We have another guest post / 2010 WPPI Las Vegas recap, this time provided by Ursula of Sweet Shots Photography.

The photos submitted with this entry are so good, I didn’t want you to miss any detail. So each one can be clicked on for a larger pop-up!

And away we go…

Being that I live in Las Vegas, there was no way I was going to miss attending WPPI. Sunday through Tuesday consisted of classes and more classes which left Wednesday to do nothing but stroll the Tradeshow and let me tell you, Wednesday could not come fast enough! Not because I didn’t enjoy the classes, but because I was so excited to see the Tradeshow.

There were hundreds of fantastic vendors and here are some of my favorites:

Photo Flash Drive
• Huge variety of USB flash drives with free logo engraving
• Coolest part? No minimum order!
• Get 50% off any custom iPod case, Lanyard, Pen or USB Flash Drive. Code: CSPPAS5

Planet Jill Photo Jewelry
• Nice selection of jewelry and a wide variety of photo key chains, charms, etc.

Metal Mural
• They specialize in printing metal murals that are assembled with 4”-12” sized metal tiles.
• What caught my eye? The Mini Metal Mural Stand. This would make a great display for your studio.

H & H Color Lab – Professional Photo Lab
• Hot item: the 2×2 Square Minis. Every card can have a different image on one side and the same text on the other. These would be awesome for marketing cards and even to give your business cards a new look.

The Boudoir Divas
• A workshop in Paris, France! What, what!! April 29-May 2, 2010 Full of shooting, sales and everything in between. Oh, how I would love to check this out!!

Bayphoto
• A full service printing company offering prints, albums press printed and more. One of my faves, metal prints in almost every size, from a 4×6 to 30×40.

StudioCloud
• Need business management software? Check out this company for FREE business software that will help with Client Management, Scheduling, Bookkeeping and more. This is a definite check out!

Triple Scoop Music
• Awesome place for royalty free music for your website. Want to save 10%? Discount code Awesome2010 within the next 30 days for 10% off.

Scenes from the MPix Pro booth…

One of Robyn’s (paperieboutique.com owner) promo pieces spotted at the ProDPI booth.

The Finao booth…

The Wild Sorbet Frame Company booth… (UPDATE: It has now been noted twice in the comments that the frames shown above are Whimsical Frames by CPQ, and not by Wild Sorbet.)

Here are some other miscellaneous Coupon Codes:

WHCC – Save 25% on focused templates (Code WPPI2010)

ACI American Color Imaging – Existing customer? Get a free 16×20 print (Code: W1620A)

ClearBags – 10% off (Code: WPPILV3)

All in all, WPPI was AWESOME! Next year if you have to choose between buying a lens and attending WPPI…..attend WPPI. The people you meet, the classes you can attend, and the experience you will have gained—priceless!

Ursula Valmore
Sweet Shots Photography

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with everyone, Ursula! Please drop by her blog and tell her thanks, too! And don’t miss our other Vegas recap from last week with even more vendor codes!

And don’t forget to enter the contest up above. You have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 17th. Hope you’ll have some Luck o’ the Irish!

If you’re interested in sending reviews / photos of WPPI 2010, or 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).

leaving Las Vegas

Very excited to bring you the first of multiple features by “roving reporters” I asked to cover WPPI 2010 for those of us who could not attend. Give it up for Monica of Photoumbra Studios for providing today’s guest post!

This year’s trip to WPPI was really great. There seemed to be a resurgence of energy that perhaps our segment of the economy is recovering and on the rise. WPPI enrollment was up from last year and the vendors I spoke to said that big budget items were selling like hot cakes! As for myself, I was determined to be “good” this year and limit my spending. It was certainly hard to resist some of the awesome products that were at the trade show, and I did come home with a few things.

If you have ever been to WPPI, you know that the trade show is fun and stock full of companies, products, and people. I only had 3 hours to cover the entire trade show between classes, so I’m sure I didn’t catch everything, but here are some of the companies and products that caught my eye this year both new and old. And since Paperie Boutique is my favorite blog, I will share all of the awesome WPPI discount codes with you. Just visit my blog for a list of the companies and promo codes. Please be aware that most of the codes will expire very soon!

(View above collage larger.) Here are a few of my favorite things!

Priscilla Foster Handmade Books – These books were gorgeous. Covers are made from fine silks, bound with ribbons, and the papers inside were not only fun to touch, they are all archival. In these days where there are a thousand album companies, it was nice to see one that incorporated truly fine materials and craftsmanship.

Freedom Cloth – For all you studio shooters, these guys have some really great backdrops. The coolest thing about their backdrops is that they are wrinkle free, machine washable and BIG! While there is a lot of cheesy stuff on their site, I really like their Retro sets.

After Dark Education – After Dark Education gives you access to 35 top mentors where you will learn directly from your chosen mentor in various settings with hands-on-activities. Looks like they visit many major cities throughout the year and offer some great learning experiences.

Eternal Albums – These luxury albums caught my eye because of their unique cases that not only protected the albums but actually interacted with them as an artistic element. The Sensualle album was my favorite {pictured above}. If you are looking for some new albums and especially some new ways of uniquely presenting them, make sure you check them out. They offer 50% off studio samples, and I have a promo code on my blog for 60% through April.

Jamie Schultz Designs – Jamie was at the Mpix booth displaying her great designs on some of Mpix’s amazing products. I have code for $10 off a $50 purchase from her on my blog.

Triple Scoop Music – While these guys have been around for quite a while, I thought I’d include them on the list because they do offer a a great way to obtain legal music for your websites and projects. They have thousands of songs to choose from that will match your branding or project perfectly. I have a code at my blog for 10% off.

Color Inc. Digital Pro Lab (recently featured here on Paperie Boutique) – I use Color Inc. for a few of my printing needs and I was excited about a few new products that they are offering. The first that caught my eye was their spiral-bound books. While these are not new in themselves, I loved their rounded corners.

Color Inc. is also offering some new boutique packaging services that might be a nice start for someone who can’t quite afford to purchase all these sizes and colors in bulk.

Drop it Modern – You’ve got to love the backdrops from this company. Equally as impressive is their marketing and branding. Very eye catching and inspirational. If you’ve been waiting for a good time to purchase your favorite backdrop, see my blog for a coupon code good through this month.

Photographer Cafe – The Photographer Cafe offers templates, design elements, and even some business and marketing materials. Their blog also provides some great inspiration. Save 10% off your entire order with the wppi coupon code.

DNL Photo Packaging – I love DNL for their beautiful packaging. They offer bags, boxes, cd/dvd packaging, albums, folders, and folios. I have a killer coupon code that can be used on any of their products through the end of the month.

Kelly Moore Bags – This was Kelly Moore Bags first year at WPPI and I hope she had great success. These bags are cute and you’d never guess they were meant for photographers. They are even coming out with a men’s version soon which my husband is actually excited about since his bag strap is currently being held together by duct tape.

Sarah Petty’s The Joy of Marketing (recently featured here on Paperie Boutique) – If you haven’t heard of Sarah Petty, then you really need to get out more. While her Joy of Marketing program is not new, it is neat and I thought I’d mention it on this post because she has a few free things on her site you can enjoy. Also, if you are interested in joining Cafe Joy, you should do so before the end of this month when monthly membership dues will go from $35 to $59. I have a coupon code to get you the rate of $35. Also, if you like free, I know I do, visit HERE to download a free ebook on “The Boutique Experience” and for other goodies!

Barbour Backdrops – I know, I know, another backdrop company. But this one is really different. Their backdrops were of amazing quality and I loved the real texture on them. They also offer nice floor moulding options as well of some classy props. You’ve got to check them out if you haven’t heard of them.

Jolie Wraps – This company is right up Paperie Boutique’s alley! Talk about amazing packaging products and ideas. They offer beautifully designed print and album boxes, some great cloth wraps to house your artwork such as canvases, standouts, and albums. Their slide-out proof boxes are very impressive and they can customize anything for you! I also have a coupon code to save you 10% off your first order.

Moo (frequently featured here on Paperie Boutique) – Well I can’t leave Moo out of my list of favorite things. Moo’s booth was really cute and showed off some of their great products! I picked up a coupon for all Paperie Boutique readers that will get you a free pack of 50 business cards! Just visit my blog for the coupon code.

[Note from Robyn: Check out Shutterbug Portrait's Blog for the "WPPI 2010 Update". You can see yours-truly featured on the Moo booth backdrop!]

I want to thank Paperie Boutique for letting me cover the trade show for the readers. If you’d like to stay connected to my studio for upcoming products for photographers please join the UmbraClique here. You can also become a fan on Facebook and check out my website!

Monica Burby
Photoumbra Studios

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these reviews (and coupon codes), Monica! I know everyone really appreciates it!

Paperie Boutique is featured today on the “France Photography Blog” by Francypants Academy. There’s a special “Easter Egg” freebie if you hunt for it!

Don’t forget there’s just under 2½ hours left to enter the “Pink Boutique Packaging Set” from Paperie Boutique and HB Photo Packaging. Go here to enter!

If you’re interested in sending reviews / photos of WPPI 2010, or 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).