just a splash of color

This guest post is a double-win – it has a packaging feature and a separate vendor-promo at the end! Jamie Brokus of Color Splash Studio LLC recently contacted me to see if I’d like to feature her packaging? Are you kidding, Jamie?!? I almost want to switch my color-scheme after seeing the photos!

I was so inspired by all of the awesome packaging I saw other photographers put together, so I am sending you what I came up with following Heather Garland’s guest post at Paperie.

After hearing Sarah Petty talk about boutique packaging, bringing your brand together and then seeing all of the wonderful things other photographers have been so willing to share on this blog, I was inspired to put together my own. It is so cool to watch people walk out of my studio with bags with my name on them and tissue and have them feel like their money was well spent on the the prints they just bought.

My kraft paper shopping bags, tissue and raffia are from Nashville Wraps. I also am using their gourmet food shipping box for a shipping box. It fits up to an 8×10 box.

My shipping labels are from 123print.com.

My photo boxes are from Rice Studio Supplies. I am also using their portrait cases for 11×14 and 16×20 prints.

My logo stamp is from Simon Stamp with the big and juicy stamp pad.

My square thank you sized business card tied on the bags is from prolabexpress.com.

My business cards are from overnightprints.com and then I score them myself.

Gift card is from Miller’s Lab on water color paper and trifold brochure is from WHCC.

Circle Stickers are from Zazzle.

Small orange suitcase is from Paper Source, and costs half the price of a custom proof box.

Note from Robyn: It’s harder and harder to get the retro-suitcases from Paper Source. Land of Nod recently started carrying them, so try there as well!

Thank you so much for sending these along Jamie! (Don’t forget to visit her blog.) It should not only inspire others, but also show how quickly you can pull a look together once you decide on the direction.

And now…the promo! It’s no secret this blog is a big fan of Moo. Not only am I excited to find out I’m in “The Moo Ideas Book” (pages 3 and 33 – see the book here on display at a trade show) — I’m also excited to share a new Moo.com promo just for Paperie readers.

Using the code SHUTTER10 will give you an extra 10% off a 200 pack of Business Cards (classic or green stock) OR a 400 pack of MiniCards.

The code:
• is valid for one pack
• expires midnight PDT on March 31st, 2010
• is only valid for one use per customer
• is an additional 10% off the cost of a bulk pack (Bulk packs are already discounted, so this makes it even better value!)

Please note: the code will not work on 4 separate packs of 100 MiniCards. It must be used on the bulk-pack of 400.

Thank you, Moo! If you haven’t already, check out the sidebar to the right for free Moo template downloads from Paperie…

P.S. Don’t forget the My Funky Camera contest is still running through 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 4th!

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).

peek-a-boo, I see you

[ Psssst... Read to the end for multiple chances to win a 5x5 tri-fold template! ]

Another guest post today, this time by Lizette Barbour of Peekaboo Studio Photography. I just adore her Boo logo and color scheme. Everything is so bright and cheery. If you have the winter doldrums, this post should definitely lift your spirits! Take it away, Lizette…

When I first started my photography business, I was completely clueless about branding. I was trying to do everything cost effectively and ended up buying 500 brown kraft paper bags. Years later, I still have a ton of these and was desperately wanting to get rid of them to make room for my new packaging created around my new branding.

After giving it A LOT of thought I finally figured out a way to incorporate these into my new look, in fact, it became the main idea of my packaging.

My little owl (nicknamed Boo) represents a nature earthy feel, so I decided to add in more recycled kraft products to tie in with the bags, meshed it together with my vibrant red and voila, my new look was born. I describe it as Nature meets Modern.

My bags and tissue are from Mayers Packaging.

The bag tags shown are what I use when I’m in a pinch. The rectangular tag on the small bag are mini Moo cards. The reverse has all my info so it also acts as my biz cards too. The owl on the large bag is printed on a 4×6 photo. I just cut it out, hole punch it, and tie it on. I have a few on hand at all times. (It is a bit time consuming, but it’s only used as “Plan B”.)

I usually use the tag shown in the center above. It’s printed out on a 4×6 photo as well, and I customize the name and pic to correspond with my client. Sometimes I forget to print one with my client’s order, and that’s where the other tags come into play.

All my press printed products are from my local printers. I’m so lucky to have them literally 5 minutes away from me! Shown below are my client reminder cards that I mail out the week before, my “what to expect next” tri-fold and my gift certificates that I package in a kraft envelope bought from Crystal Clear Bags and placed in a 5×7 red box. The sticker on the envelope is from Moo.

My boxes are from HB Photo Packaging. I went with HB for their prices, but I am definitely staying for their CS – so fantastic! I have them in sizes 5×7, 8×10, 11×14 and 4×6 proof boxes for announcement cards. I wrap the boxes in recycled twine that I purchase from my local hardware store. The “stickers” on the bottom right hand corner are actually my mini Moo cards. I cut off the orange part and use a glue gun to adhere them to the boxes. (So many uses for them.) I would love to be able to do foil embossing, but because of my multiple colors it just isn’t affordable.

I had to search high and low for these CD cases, and finally found them at ReBinder. In the left pouch is a copyright card, and printing instructions. Both are double sided press printed cards (once again from my local printers). The CD was printed at CD Print Express and I have to say their quality is awesome!

I really could go crazy with more printed brochures like welcome/info/pricing packets. I just love the look and feel of beautiful paper. But I am trying hard to stick with my nature / environmentally friendly packaging and instead have created a password protected online “client lounge” that I call the Tree House. It’s a great place for my clients to get all the 411 on what Peekaboo studio has to offer.

Not shown are my referral cards. I hand out 5 cards to each client, personalized with their photo. Also not shown are my thank you cards. I also like to personalize these with the client’s picture and a nice handwritten message inside.

Well there you have it. My packaging that seemed to take forever to create. It’s unbelievable to have this weight lifted off my shoulders of finally having everything put together AND to love all the elements. (I’m so indecisive sometimes!)

My inspiration for all this has definitely been the Paperie Boutique, so it was only fair that I share my packaging in return.

Thank you so much for sharing Lizette—your hard work has definitely paid off! For more info on Peekaboo Studio Photography please check out the website and blog.

And because everyone likes a little something for free, I’m giving away five (plus one) Fit to Print “design seven” 5×5 tri-fold templates (shown below).

How do you win? It’s simple… Cut and paste the following to either your Twitter stream or on your Facebook wall (two separate entries maximum per person, one per Twitter / Facebook account):

I start my day at Paperie Boutique by @shutterblog — you should, too! Visit and win a free trifold template: paperieboutique.com

Come back and post the link to your Tweet / post in the comments for this entry. The first five people to post will automatically win (so please leave a valid e-mail address). Never fear though! If you miss out on the “top 5″, tomorrow at noon (12 p.m. EST on Friday 02.26.10) I will use Random.org to select one more winner! So you’ll still have a chance to win!

UPDATE: Final winner is announced here – thanks for participating!

By the way, I highly suggest setting up a pop-up reminder or iCal appointment to come back to Paperie Boutique tomorrow. I’ve been holding something BIG for the end of the week, and you won’t wanna miss this one! Trust me. See you then!

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).

vert classique

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And there you go!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

let Phreedom ring

Another post…another guest post / give-away! This time it’s five free forum memberships for a new online forum by Heather James Photography. Read on for more details…

I’m so excited to be back on PB, this time as a vendor! When I started my photography business one of the places I looked to was forums to meet other photographers and brainstorm new ideas & concepts. As my time on these forums progressed I found something that I felt was holding me back from sharing unrestricted on the forums – competition lurking around every corner. It seemed like wherever I went, one of my local competitors was also there. Although I’m very friendly with many other photogs in my area, I didn’t want to share every detail of my marketing and promotional campaign with them. That’s where the concept of developing the Phreedom community took its shape.

The Phreedom Forum is a community of photographers reaching up to 170 cities/regions of the country all with 1 common goal: to share freely with others from around the country so we can share success in our businesses together! We take out the competitive nature of most forums by only allowing 1 member from each city/region to join. We also ensure that each city/region of the forum is at least 1 hour in driving distance from one another as well. By taking out the competition, every member can feel comfortable and confident in asking questions and sharing the strategies that have worked for their business.

For 2010, our annual membership is $30 which includes unlimited access to the Phreedom Forum. We’ll be bringing on partners to share exclusive access to branding & marketing materials & product discounts. We’re even working on building an exclusive webinar series sure to help you build your client base and increase sales.

As a special offer to PB readers, I’ll be offering FREE memberships to the first 5 sign ups. (UPDATE: All five free memberships have now been awarded.)

I’ll be offering a special 25% discount on any other PB signup now through March 1, 2010! Mention Paperie Boutique in the “How did you hear about us” section of the sign up form.

To find out more about the Phreedom community, check out our site at phreedom.heatherjamesphotography.com.

We can’t wait for you to join the face of new forums!
-Heather

Thank you so much for such an amazing offer for the Paperie Boutique readers, Heather! Stay tuned…it’s just getting started around here this week!

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).

but wait…there’s more!

The last 12 hours have been incredible for me. First I found out I’d got a little “ProDPI Love!“. Then it was announced I’m the “February Guest Photographer” over at Prop Insanity.

And just because I care, if you head over to Prop Insanity this little surprise is available for (FREE!) download from Paperie Boutique—a Moo MiniCard template I hole punch a corner of and use as a gift tag.

Anyone out there going to WPPI in Vegas? If so, and you’re interested in posting a recap for the rest of us (similar to this one from Imaging USA), please get in touch with me!

And in case you missed the last entry, this week there’s a chance to win a fabulous (free, year-long) prize from Clickin’ Moms*!

Clickin’ Moms* is one of my guilty pleasures these days during that rare thing known as free time. Directly from the website: “We are a community of women who have a passion for photography. Some of us are amateur photographers who just want to take better pictures of our family, some of us are hobbyists, and some of us are seasoned pros. We learn from each other and help each other…this is a safe place to share your photos and chat about photography. Our forums and galleries are closed to non-members. Our site features great and easy to understand tutorials, lessons and challenges. All of the contributions are from fellow members who are more than happy to help and give advice to one another. We host amazing photography vendors who offer us discounts and group buys on their products…we have great bunch of women that enjoy hanging out with people that have a common passion – photography!”

* Clickin’ Moms is hosting an affiliate referral contest and the link I am posting will help this site in the contest.

All new Clickin’ Moms registrations sent from Paperie Boutique though midnight March 31, 2010, will receive 10% off new member subscriptions by using the coupon code FRIEND at checkout.

Clickin’ Moms has also donated one free year’s subscription to a Paperie Boutique viewer.

To enter, go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

Get your cameras clickin’ with paperieboutique.com & @clickinmoms / clickinmoms.com – pass this on and win a year’s subscription!

You can enter up to four times total – one entry per blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for the last entry (NOT this one). Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST this Sunday, February 21st.

Comments on the last entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the prize code will be e-mailed to that person within 24 hours of contest’s end.

More prize giveaways are in the works for this month so stay tuned… I want them for myself!

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).

and I’ll have more ideas for you

It’s been one of those months. Holiday weekend = good. Entire family battling yet another cold/flu = bad. I’ve been trying to post this entry for the last 8 hours. But finally a bit of peace and quiet to my day and we all win!

Literally.

Because thanks to the fine folks at Clickin’ Moms*, this entry comes with goodies and the chance to win a fabulous (free, year-long) prize!

Clickin’ Moms* is one of my guilty pleasures these days during that rare thing known as free time. Directly from the website: “We are a community of women who have a passion for photography. Some of us are amateur photographers who just want to take better pictures of our family, some of us are hobbyists, and some of us are seasoned pros. We learn from each other and help each other…this is a safe place to share your photos and chat about photography. Our forums and galleries are closed to non-members. Our site features great and easy to understand tutorials, lessons and challenges. All of the contributions are from fellow members who are more than happy to help and give advice to one another. We host amazing photography vendors who offer us discounts and group buys on their products…we have great bunch of women that enjoy hanging out with people that have a common passion – photography!”

* Right now Clickin’ Moms is hosting an affiliate referral contest and the link I am posting will help this site in the contest. All new registrations sent from Paperie Boutique though midnight March 31, 2010, will receive 10% off new member subscriptions by using the coupon code FRIEND at checkout.

But wait! There’s more! Clickin’ Moms has also donated one free year’s subscription to a Paperie Boutique viewer.

To enter, go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

Get your cameras clickin’ with paperieboutique.com & @clickinmoms / clickinmoms.com – pass this on and win a year’s subscription!

You can enter up to four times total – one entry per blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for this entry. Comment(s) must be posted by 11:59 p.m. EST this Sunday, February 21st.

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the prize code will be e-mailed to that person within 24 hours of contest’s end.

But the fun doesn’t stop there because now there are pretty pictures and product recommendations to pass along!

Recently I received this e-mail from catherineamissphotography.com:

I wanted to share the valentines that I made for my son’s kindergarten class exchange.

I chose a picture of my son and my husband and added the following quote about love: “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” On the back I wrote “Happy Valentine’s Day! From, Austin.” And then, yes, I [shamelessly] added my website address. The background paper and frame element is from Sassy Designs.

I printed the cards on pearl paper as 4×5 promo cards from Miller’s. I put two Valentine’s per 4×5 card and then simply cut them in half. Then I punched a hole in the corner and tied a little baggie filled with 3 chocolate kisses onto the card with ribbon.

I had considered punching two holes on the side and sticking a lollipop through the card, but I decided that the children’s mothers would be more likely to notice chocolate (and thus my website address).

When my son saw the cards, he loved them! Then he saw the dandelion graphic on the back of the card and exclaimed, “Mommy! It’s the same flower from your logo!” ( I just worked with a designer to come up with a new logo.) Hopefully, the Valentine stood out in a sea of Spiderman and Spongebob and wished his classmates a very “Happy Valentine’s Day” all the same.

Thank you so much for sharing those, Catherine! They’re absolutely gorgeous and as a fellow-kindergartener’s mom, certainly would have got my attention — what a brilliant twist to up the ante and win mommy’s heart through Kisses!

Last but certainly not least… The longer I’m in business, the tighter I get with my prop budget. I allow myself a few splurges each year, but really like to keep things to a minimum if at all possible and keep my profits. I’ve lusted after the Urban Outfitters Distressed and Whitewashed fake wood Trompe L’Oeil Floor Mats for a couple of years now. I just couldn’t stomach the $140.00 pricetag. I’ve also seen links to the Bargain Outfitters Barnboard Fo Flor (by Bungalow who also carries the Whitewash), and links on sites selling the mats wholesale, but they always ran between $99.00 – $187.00. Deep down I had my heart set on the Whitewash version because this portrait of mine (shot on an actual wooden bridge) has always been a favorite. It was just a matter of digesting the pricepoints.

Recently though, I ran across the Fo Flor Mat in Whitewash from Grandin Road.

I Googled for a coupon and ended up getting two 23×36″ accent rugs for $34/each (plus shipping) instead of one large area rug style mat. Together they make a nice-sized 36×46″ faux-floor. My total order was $82.00. Much better on the budget. As you can see, they will work with room to spare for newborn-in-basket type shots and close-up toddler portraits, which are the bulk of my work.

For the planks coming at me instead of going horizontally, I may need to clone the seam line just a bit, but overall they photograph very well. And the white has the added bonus of being a minor reflector.

These are the same fabric-printed-on foamy-mousepad-material you may have seen discussed elsewhere. Very thin, lightweight, easy to roll, and extremely portable.

It really does pay to do a few minutes of extra homework. The 23×36″ Barnboard version at Bargain Outfitters is now on sale for $29.97 and there are tons of coupon codes floating around for that site on Google. I believe their shipping runs about $9.

You can also search for Bungalow Fo Floors at Amazon.com, some of which will allow you to take advantage of their free Prime Shipping option.

With the money you save, you just might have enough to hit Etsy for a cute baby hat or tutu as well… Happy propping!

(P.S. Wondering where I got that cute little cupcake? That one is custom-made, but I got it (and this one) from Shimrit’a cupcakes. I have a lot of “baby’s first birthday” sessions coming up, and I wanted a non-melty-icing option for my outdoor ones. These look good enough to eat in real life and in photos!)

totally sweet

Since The Album Cafe did their last feature here at Paperie, I get multiple hits in my stats daily looking for their products and coupon codes. So I contacted them again to see if they’d be interested in doing another guest post / promo. Luckily we all win because they said “yes!” Read on…


Hi everyone! We just wanted to share with you a SUPER CUTE new product we recently announced – Accordion Mini Book templates! These little books are the hottest thing out right now, and I can certainly see why – they are adorable! Our mini book templates are designed for printing at White House Custom Color, and we’re offering 20% off the entire store until Valentine’s Day so that you can try them out!

While you’re over checking out the new mini books, why don’t you grab our newest freebies!!

Don’t forget to grab the code at the bottom of each image to receive your “20% off entire order” through Valentine’s Day! And huge thanks to The Album Cafe for this promotion!

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).

P.S. Paperie Boutique was featured in the latest moo.com February 3rd “Photography special: Ideas to fall in love with!” Moosletter. Did you catch it?

Heather, be thy name

I am so excited about this guest post—it has really inspired me to change things up a bit and add a few new items to my packaging arsenal. Sit back, take five, grab and drink, and prepare to be wow’ed by Heather of Heather Garland Photography!

“Wow, I feel like it’s Christmas and I just got handed the most beautiful present under the tree.” When a client told me this one day, I knew why I put so much work into my package. It wasn’t just because I loved packaging, it was because my clients loved it too and it made them feel special. Of course, I do love packaging too. It is so exciting to me and I am always working to improve my packaging. Most people think it is silly to put so much investment and work into handing clients who have already booked you their prints. I think that is quite wrong, our clients that have had sessions are photographers MOST important marketing tool. Every one of them has friends, family, and co-workers who get married, have babies, and want family portraits. Making my clients happy is my biggest goal, not just for referrals but because I genuinely consider them friends after our sessions. Because of this, when I hand them their prints, I want them to feel like I handed them something worth the hundreds of dollars they paid for it.

First off my amazing marketing products and logo are from Amy Grace at candyapplestudios.com. She is absolutely incredible. I already had my logo done before and just switched to her to give me a somewhat new look. She made me feel so professional and amazing. Every design she handed me I was in awe because they were so incredible.

Above is my packaging. I have 3 different sizes of bags (one for sizes up to 5×7, one for prints up to 8×10, and one for sizes up to 16×20), a few different sizes of boxes (wallets, 4×6, & 8×10), and multiple shipping boxes (4×6, 8×10, and DVD sized).

My bags, boxes, tissue paper, and shipping boxes are all from papermart.com.

My tags are from cpq.com, are tied with raffia from bagsandbows.com.

My 8×10 boxes (apparel boxes), which I place inside the bags, have ribbon from Hobby Lobby and are secured with a 2 inch sticker I made myself. (I am probably going to start an etsy store eventually, just because there aren’t a lot of places to get quality round stickers. I’ve tried tons of places like Zazzle and can’t stand the shift.) I also have a 2×3.5 inch sticker from whcc.com on the bottom of my boxes and in the middle of my bags.

Inside my boxes I put the prints, an envelope with a copy of the contract, a business card, a referral post card with referral cards, and usually a little post-it note with a note to the client.

Here is a close-up of the envelopes with the contract. They are from vistaprint.com.

I include referral cards that share my referral program, along with a baggie from clearbags.com with 5-10 referral cards. The large postcard is from whcc.com and the business cards are from gotprint.net.

These are the post-it notes from 123print.com.

My prints are secured with the appropriate bag from clearbags.com and have white backing board.

I also have little wallet boxes and 4×6 boxes (jewelry boxes) that are inside the bag (if applicable).

l

They have small 1 inch stickers on them, which I use on a lot of my products. I also make these myself.

If clients order a gift card, I package them the same as prints but in a 4×6 box. Here is a close-up of my gift cards.

My shipping boxes are new for me, I figured if I was professional in my other packaging I should have the same look for my shipping too.

I get my shipping labels from 123print.net and use a 2 inch sticker to seal it.

I include a tag (unpunched), the pictures, and tissue paper. This a 4×6 sized box with 4×6 prints and wallets.

For my wedding clients, I have my contracts printed and put in a folder from Office Depot. My folders are the only thing I am changing soon. I am looking into brown folders from paperpresentation.com. I put a 1 inch sticker in the corner and a business card in the slot inside.

When they book I send them a copy of the contract, a thank you card, and a candle. The thank you is from whcc.com and the candle is from Bath & Body Works.

I also include a link to a personalized site. This site has dates their payments are due, a copy of the contract & model releases, a get-to-know-you email form, and special tips for the wedding. If you want to see an example you can check it out here: http://heathergarland.com/bridesite/

Here is a close up of the thank you cards, referral cards, and business cards again.

The only thing not shown is my DVD cases, they are from jewelboxing.com and designed by my amazing designer. They are personalized with pictures from the shoot, along with a print release, and a panel explaining cropping of the photos and recommending Mpix.com.

My marketing materials change all the time, but I feel like now finally my packaging is established and I will only be adding on new and more exciting pages in the future. I am so excited to be able to share my packaging and hope it can inspire someone. This blog has definitely inspired me in my packaging and I love Robyn’s packaging and every person featured on the blog. So I hope I can pay back in a way, what has inspired and helped me so much. Thanks!

Love, Heather

Did I tell you that you would be wow’ed or what? Please stop by Heather’s blog and / or leave a comment to tell her “thanks!” What a way to kick off the new week!

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).

let’s be Petty

Paperie Boutique has hit the marketing jackpot! Today’s guest post is by none other than Erin Verbeck for Sarah Petty’s Café Joy from the Joy of Marketing.

Café Joy was named a PPA 2009 “Hot One Award” winner in the educational resources category!

Here’s a little background info… Café Joy is going up to $59 for the mailed version (will stay $35 for a downloadable version) on February 1st. So this is the last chance for Paperie Boutique readers to join Café Joy to lock in the $35 / month rate for the mailed version of Café Joy.

Here’s the additional info.

Some of you may have heard of Sarah Petty’s The Joy of Marketing from the FREE Websummit and Telesummit events we recently had for photographers. That’s right, we put those on. At the Joy of Marketing, we teach marketing! But not just any kind of marketing. BOUTIQUE marketing. What¹s boutique marketing? It¹s a philosophy that teaches you to grow your business by focusing on building your brand and strong relationships instead of relying on price discounts to create sales. At the Joy of Marketing, we draw from our 30+ years of marketing experience, successful photography studio ownership, ad agency backgrounds and MBA’s to teach you how to grow the business you want without having to work so hard!

One of the ways we teach photographers is through our monthly subscription program, Café Joy, which we¹re giving a free sample of to all of your readers! Yay! Unique in the industry, Cafe Joy is a hands-on subscription program that takes much of the guesswork out of planning your marketing. Follow us, month by month, as we guide you to success. Cafe Joy provides you with gentle reminders and consistent deadlines to achieve amazing goals for your business throughout the year. Café Joy is what I wish I had access to 10 years ago when I started my photography business. It¹s filled with the marketing inspiration, ideas and secrets I¹ve learned over the years in growing my multi-million dollar boutique photography studio. And the best part is it¹s not overwhelming. Each month as a Café Joy member, you receive a proven, actionable, practical marketing lesson from an expert, a promotional idea, or professionally designed piece. Café Joy will save you valuable time spinning your wheels trying to figure out what works for your boutique business.

Subscribe today for a monthly subscription fee of $35*, and you’ll receive a BONUS recipe tin, starter recipes for success and marketing samples. Each month, for a minimal $35* investment, you will receive more recipes, an audio cd or dvd of marketing ideas and strategies, printed samples, design templates plus so much more. This monthly program was created by demand for niche photography business owners who desire more specialized marketing support. The emphasis is on building your brand by focusing on beautiful promotional pieces that encourage client interaction while also paying attention to the important details in your business. For less than the price of a skinny, triple grande latte, your marketing will benefit from this monthly shot of caffeine… without the jitters.

*International rates apply.

To get your FREE Café Joy sample, an hour-long Promotional Planning movie that our Café Joy members received in January, chock full of ideas to get you started on the right foot in 2010, go to:

https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:67167/acctId:11781

To sign up for Café Joy just go to:

thejoyofmarketing.com/product/cafe-joy-monthly-jolt-marketing-caffeine

It’s your last chance to lock in the $35 rate for the mailed version of Café Joy. On February 1 the price goes up to $59 / month*

So hurry – there’s not much time to take advantage of this amazing offer! And big thanks to Erin and Sarah for hooking up the Paperie readership!

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).

calendar girl

The very first year I was in business in Tampa, Karen Leslie (of KarenLeslie Photography here in Orlando) shared a client desk calendar template on a forum I was on – the members there were always trading ‘gifts’ back and forth as a ‘pay it forward’ kind of thing. My 2007 calendars using Karen’s template were such a hit, I made them again for 2008 with my own design after we’d moved to Orlando. By 2009 they were ‘expected’ by my clients as an annual tradition, and they are honestly the only real form of mass-marketing that I ever do.

They have brought me so many referrals, and the word of mouth based on them is incredible. Everyone wants to show off their little Miss or Mister [insert month name]. The front and back covers have become a sort of ‘bragging rights’ with my clients. (View the above image larger.)

I decided to switch things up a bit for 2010, and instead of doing the 5×5 prints in a CD-style case, I went with landscape cases (style SF22) and 4×6 images. Although I’m very happy with how they turned out overall, I’m not very happy with the cases. They were sold as being able to hold a 4×6 photo. Actually they can hold one 4×6 photo if it’s slightly bowed. Multiple 4×6 photos at full size? Well not so much. Once again my paper trimmer became my best friend, because I have nothing but time right?

I created an original 4×6 image template for my calendar pages with a .20″ solid black bar down the left hand side. That black bar was my trim-guide and I just lopped it off and voilà! Suddenly the images would fit in the case, no problem. However, where the square cases would hold up to 22-23 images / calendar pages inside the plastic “lip”, this particular landscape case design only holds about 16 pages max. The “lip” on the landscape SF22 cases is much thinner than its square counterpart.

Since I’ve been so busy over the holiday and through the New Year, my client calendars are going out a couple of weeks later than usual this year. I included pages for January and February 2011 to compensate for this. I made a separate little packet for these extra pages plus my alumni program, my referral program, and the spring Stylized Portraiture fairytale event here in Orlando which I’ll be sponsoring for the second straight year.

If you view the above collage larger you can get a better look at the pages in the 2010 B&B client calendar that’s just now hitting the streets.

Hey, I found something that just might be your bag, baby! The cool kids over at Photojojo are launching a brand new SLR Sloop camera bag.

“Weary, sick, and tired were we of the drab camera bag, trapping our dearest of friends in black nylon drag. (It nigh made us gag.) So we sailed a strong breeze across the seven seas, to summon an SLR chum, second to none. (Plus, much more fun.)“

“A part time camera satchel, full time stripey sultress, the SLR Sloop is the siren song to any camera’s heart. With five adjustable and padded compartments for your camera plus a wallet, keys, cellphone (er, compass), windbreaker, flash, and extra lenses.“

“Fashioned from the same super-durable material used for boat sails, she’s water repellent, never fades, and is a cinch to clean. She slings across your back like a messenger bag, saving your neck and shoulders from the hardships of long voyages. And with zippered pouches inside and out, she’s a terrific tackle tote for all types of bait.”

The bag dimensions are 11×14x5″ – stop by the site for details & color options!

Please check out helpingheartsphotogs.org and follow on Twitter – it’s a small, grassroots effort by photographers to help in their communities and in the world.

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).