a senior moment

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

In this issue I reviewed products for the senior photographer by Gradybug Designs, Design Aglow, Black River Imaging, Jamie Schultz Designs, and the PURPOSE Senior Posing Guide.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 48 and page 50 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. Plus you can download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

Don’t get Professional Photographer Magazine? Subscribe here!




And my latest “Web Exclusives” column went live yesterday on Professional Photographer Magazine’s website.

It’s titled “Best of Bags Guide: Pompidoo Cologne Bag and Shootsac Tote & Shoot” and reviews a Pompidoo Idle Turquoise Cologne Bag and a Red SHOOTSAC Tote & Shoot – including ‘equipment test’ photos of just what each bag could hold. Check it out here!




Check back soon for more great features and giveaways!
-Robyn & Todd

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

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bring it.

Excited to announce new vendors participating with prizes and giveaways for contestants in the 2011 Wrap Battle from Paperie Boutique and HB Photo Packaging—sponsored by Artsy Couture, Bad Sass Backdrops, CPQ Professional Imaging & Hardwood Frames! (Official rules here.)

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

***See below for our very first 2011 contest entry!***

First place winner will receive the following prizes:
• $500 store credit to HB Photo Packaging
• $200 Artsy Couture gift certificate
• $100 Nations Photo Lab gift certificate
• $150 CPQ Professional Imaging gift certificate
• $150 Hardwood Frames gift certificate
• $300 Sassy Designs Inc. gift certificate
• $250 Bad Sass Backdrops gift certificate (10′ backdrop price)
• 8×8 Press Printed Album with Boutique Bag from WHCC*
• Rice Studio Supply Album Box filled Artisan packaging ($85 value)
• Senior Portraits 101 Guide from seniorportraits101.com ($250 value)
• Rock the Walls Nursery Collection (choice of Photoshop or ProSelect
  version, $89 value)
• Set of letterpress cards from Miller’s Professional Imaging

Second place winner will receive the following prizes:
• $250 store credit to HB Photo Packaging
• $100 Artsy Couture gift certificate
• $75 Nations Photo Lab gift certificate
• $100 CPQ Professional Imaging gift certificate
• $100 Hardwood Frames gift certificate
• $150 Sassy Designs Inc. gift certificate
• $125 Bad Sass Backdrops gift certificate
• Set of Boutique Stickers from WHCC*
• The Joy Bag camera bag
• Rock the Walls Nursery Collection (choice of Photoshop or ProSelect
  version, $89 value)

Third place winner will receive the following prizes:
• $100 store credit to HB Photo Packaging
• $50 Artsy Couture gift certificate
• $50 Nations Photo Lab gift certificate
• $50 CPQ Professional Imaging gift certificate
• $50 Hardwood Frames gift certificate
• $75 Sassy Designs Inc. gift certificate
• $50 Bad Sass Backdrops gift certificate
• Set of Press Printed Cards from WHCC*
• Rock the Walls Nursery Collection (choice of Photoshop or ProSelect
  version, $89 value)

Fan Favorite winner will receive the following prizes:
• $100 Kraft and Jute store credit
• Epiphanie camera bag
• Rice Studio Supply Album Box filled Artisan packaging ($50 value)

Most Original winner will receive the following prizes:
• $200 Photographer Cafe gift certificate
• Boudoir Business Boutique** choice of Boudoir Lighting Guide
   -or- Boudoir Posing Guide (up to $195 value)
• 8×10 Organic Bloom frame (style and color winner’s choice)

Each runner-up winner will receive the following prizes:
• $25 Sassy Designs Inc. gift certificate
• $25 Bad Sass Backdrops gift certificate

In addition to the above prizes, winners and runners-up (including “fan favorite” and “most original“) will receive prizes from the vendors listed below:

Epiphanie, Nations Photo Lab, Boudoir Business Boutique**, The Organic Bloom, Sassy Designs Inc., Sarah Petty’s The Joy of Marketing, Nichole Van’s Flourish, Photographer Cafe, Rice Studio Supply, Senior Portraits 101, WHCC*, Kraft and Jute, The Joy Bag, Rock the Walls, and Miller’s Professional Imaging

*1. WHCC Press Printed Album includes 10 spreads printed on your
     choice of paper type finished with a Custom Photo Cover or our new
     Combo Cover! Present this WHCC Album in Boutique Bag in your
     choice of fabric! Boutique Bags are a great way to package any
     WHCC Albumor Book that makes a lasting impression.
*2. WHCC Boutique Stickers are a great way to place your logo and
     add that finishing touch to any client package. Stickers come in a
     set of 25 in your choice of boutique shape and size.
*3. WHCC Press Printed Cards come in a set of 25 in your choice of
     paper type and size. Use to increase awareness by creating price
     lists that your clients can keep, gift certificates, thank you cards
     to send after sessions, and mailers to promote session specials.

**All Paperie readers will receive a 30% discount at Boudoir Business Boutique with coupon code: PB30

**All Paperie readers will receive a 30% discount to life art design shoppe thru 12/31 with coupon code: paperie

Here are entries from last year’s contest for inspiration!

If you are interested in becoming a Paperie sponsor, and / or donating prizes contact Todd: todd AT paperieboutique DOT com




Right out of the gate, our first entry for 2011 is nothing short of amazing! Check out this beautiful Entry #1 by Emily Crump Photography:

“This is my 2011 Holiday Mini Session packaging. I thought it was important this year to do something festive to get my client’s in the Christmas spirit as they received their Christmas cards and prints in the mail. Because everyone wants to feel like they are getting a present in the mail! It is a spinoff of my everyday packaging.

With each mini session the client received a CD with three digital files, three 8×10 prints and 50 custom Christmas cards. I also like to put a little special client gift in with each of my packages, so this year each client received a 3×3 ornament frame from The Organic Bloom with a photo from their session.”

Vendors used:
• 8×10 photo boxes: HB Photo Packaging
• Kraft bags and wraphia: Michael’s
• Candy Christmas ornaments: Hobby Lobby
• Tissue paper: Paper Source
• 3×3 ornament frames: The Organic Bloom
• Custom logo sticker: 10 Candles Party Shop

click each image above for a larger pop-up version

Absolutely gorgeous Emily! Thank you so much for entering and for setting the bar at the very top notch!

If you would like to enter, details can be found here. You have to enter to win!




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

For this month’s article I got play – ummm, I mean, review camera bags by Epiphanie, Jo Totes, *emera, Jill-e, ONA Bags, and Kelly Moore Bags.

This month’s column even has an online-supplement feature with even more bags, including Dre Hartmann Camera Bags.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 58, page 60, page 62, and page 64 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.

Between the print article, the online article, and my July 2010 camera bag article – you really can try before you buy! Get yourself something nice for Christmas!




We have a quick contest winner to announce in the Narrow Wear giveaway…and it’s Natasha!

Congrats to Natasha – I’ll be in touch soon with information on claiming your prize! Thanks to everyone who entered, and to Narrow Wear for the fun prize!




Get those packaging photos ready—thanks to Emily Crump Photography it’s already been “brung“!

Happy Merry!
-Robyn & Todd

tag you're it: bag • bow • bows • boxes • branding • business • camera • camera bag • column • columnist • contest • custom • December • December 2011 • designs • gear • gear bag • gift wrap • giftwrap • giveaway • magazine • marketing • materials • messenger • messenger bag • package • packages • packaging • photographer • photography • pocketbook • prize • Professional Photographer Magazine • Professional Photographer Magazine web exclusives • Professional Photographers of America • published • purse • ribbon • ribbons • stickers • supplies • templates • The Goods • winner • winners • wrap • Wrap Battle • wrapping

secret stash

Busy week here at Paperie – make sure you read ’til the end of this post so you don’t miss a thing!

Today we kick off with a great giveaway and vendor / guest post by Stash Bags. Trust me – you’ll want to enter! Stash was recently featured in a Macworld article titled “Seven unique and stylish camera cases“.

My name is Mari, and I am originally from Helsinki, Finland. I grew up being inspired by Scandinavian design and was introduced to sewing at a young age by my mother. I started sewing bags for friends and family as gifts, but my line, Stash, really came about when I found etsy.com. I had just relocated to the U.S. and happened to be between jobs.

I wanted to create bags that could be carried by men and women alike, and would be stylish and useful. The line includes camera bags in three sizes varying from small to a large size suitable for professional use.

Stash also makes messenger bags for 13″, 15″ and 17″ laptops as well as 11″ and 13″ MacBook Air and iPad.

The E-readers, iPods and iPhones have their own small Stash cases.

My aesthetic incorporates clean lines and fabrics with graphic patterns. I try to use vintage fabrics whenever possible, and I enjoy experimenting with how the fabric and hardware will work together for a bag design. The leather and metal elements have added to the distinctive quality of the line.

Stash customers like that the products are handmade on a small scale, with attention to detail. The Stash style is really a blend of vintage fashion inspiration combined with modern function. Bags you can really use and enjoy, while looking classically stylish at the same time.

And now one lucky Paperie reader will have a chance to win their very own Stash bag! Mari is giving away the medium camera in green and gray plaid shown above. You have two chances to win by doing the following:

1. “Like” Stash Bags on Facebook: facebook.com/stashbags

2. Tweet or post the following to your Facebook account (and tell us where):
Win a COOL camera bag from Stash / stash-bags.com / mariforssell.etsy.com at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/kZ5bqM

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

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 21st. You can enter up to two times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have 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!

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 24-72 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

Good luck!

I really want one of these bags myself – thanks to Mari and Stash for such a great giveaway for our readers!




Quick reminder – you have until 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday to win a vintage camera necklace from Vintage U Creations – and until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 20th, to win a camera strap from Trendy Camera Staps.

1. Win a vintage camera necklace from Vintage U Creations

2. Win a trendy camera strap from Trendy Camera Staps

And we have a winner in the TAoPaN maternity ensemble giveaway – it’s Photography By Joncee May!

Congrats to Joncee and thanks to The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn (TAoPaN) for the beautiful prize!




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

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bag lady

It has been so hard sitting on my hands waiting for the new July 2010 issue of Professional Photographer Magazine to be released!

This month you’ll find me in good company over in “The Goods” section (pages 60-63) and the topic is one that made me swoon – camera bags. I got to hug, squeeze and call every single one of ‘em “George“. It was amazing. And so are the bags! So keep your eyes peeled for the snail-mail copy, and download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member.

Big thanks to Epiphanie, *emera, Kelly Moore, Jo Totes, and Photojojo for allowing me to review your bags!

tag you're it: bag • business • camera • camera bag • column • columnist • designs • gear • gear bag • hobo • July • July 2010 • magazine • materials • messenger • messenger bag • photographer • photography • pocketbook • Professional Photographer Magazine • Professional Photographers of America • published • purse • supplies • The Goods