Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements started on Monday, July 25th…

In a week that’s seen over $8200 in prizes donated (that averages out to over $1000 / day!), you didn’t think we’d go out any other way than with a “BANG!“, did you? In our final giveaway – #32 – one lucky Paperie reader will win a prize pack from WHCC, HB Photo Packaging, and Kaleidoscope!

WHCC Float Wraps are a new, unique option to display images. Float Wraps are similar to Gallery Wraps or Standout mounted prints in that they add dimension by extending out from the wall. Float wraps are unique in that they appear to be floating on the wall with the main focus on the image! Create a modern display with a Float Wrap wall collage that is ready to hang once removed from the box!”

Included in this prize pack is a 16×20 float wrap with laminate in your choice of lustre or metallic photographic paper, or as a fine art or metallic canvas.

Also included in this prize pack is a “Boudoir Collection” sampler by HB Photo Packaging. (I recently featured the “Boudoir Collection” products in the June 2011 issue of Professional Photographer Magazine.) You will receive five large “Eco Totes” in black, ten small “Eco Totes” in black, five 8×10 boxes in “Razzle Berry“, five 5×7 boxes in “Razzle Berry“, five 8×10 boxes in “Black Velvet“, five 5×7 boxes in “Black Velvet“, ten 8×10 tissue folds in “(hot) pink”, ten 5×7 tissue folds in “(hot) pink” and “polka dot”, three rolls of “Bella Terra” paper ribbon (Black, Beauty, and Zebra), a “Hot Pink Tiger” ribbon sample, and ten assorted black “stretch bows“.

And last but certainly not least…



The lucky “grand finale” winner will also receive a $200 Kaleidoscope gift card! (You can see their recent Paperie feature here.)

So how do you win? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
The BIRTHDAY FINALE giveaway with @WHCC & @HBPhotoPkging & @pattibrownphoto / Kaleidoscope by @PaperieBoutique – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like WHCC on Facebook.

3. Like WHCC on Twitter.

4. Like HB Photo Packaging on Facebook.

5. Like HB Photo Packaging on Twitter.

6. Like Patti Brown Photography / Kaleidoscope on Facebook.

7. Like Patti Brown Photography / Kaleidoscope on Twitter.

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 28th. You can enter up to eight times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to eight times total – one entry each for both 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 eight chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

PLEASE NOTE: I hit “publish” a bit too soon and people were following the wrong instructions to comment and enter. They have been contacted and their comments automatically validated due to “Robyn-error” (as noted below each comment).

For those of you who commented due to admin error before this post went officially live, do not worry. Your comments have been left here with an admin note and THEY WILL COUNT. However, each commenter gets EIGHT chances total to win, so please make sure you do not exceed this number of eight-total-entries with any comments that follow your originals. Thank you!

Good luck!

Heartfelt thanks go out to WHCC, HB Photo Packaging, and Kaleidoscope for this amazing birthday finale! And a big thank you to each and every vendor and site visitor over the last 8 days. This has by far exceeded our expectations (and wildest imaginations) and we couldn’t have done it without you!

ATTN. VENDORS: Don’t underestimate the power to reach your target-market during the Paperie birthday celebration! We’ve had 5.43 million hits and over 387,000+ page views during this event already.

In addition to deep-discounts on our normal ad rates, we are also going to include each new vendor (that signs up between Monday, July 18th thru Tuesday, July 26th) in a blog entry for better Google indexing through text links!

Here’s all YOU need to do to sign up… Just select your ad-purchase in the pull-down menu below, send your payment via PayPal, and voilà! [more]

click here to order now



Don’t forget several of our merchants are offering discounts and coupon codes to all Paperie readers this week! Check and see if your favorite vendor is there!

Th…th…that’s all folks! Thanks to EVERYONE for such a great birthday!
-Robyn & Todd

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements start on Monday, July 25th…

Noel’s Paperie features custom paper-related items such as custom invitations, favors and decor for events of all kinds. All items are handmade, with your wants in mind. No one has ever had the same designed invitation, and creating unique items for almost any event is what Noel’s Paperie is here for! Thank you!

Included in this prize pack are a $50 Print credit to Collages.net, “The Wedding Workbook” ($95 value) from BrandSushi, and $25 off any invitation order from Noel’s Paperie.

So how do you win these great prizes? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win a @Collagesnet & @brandsushi & NoelsPaperie.com gift pack @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Collages.net on Facebook.

3. Like BrandSushi on Facebook.

3. Like Noel’s Paperie on Facebook.

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 26th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have five chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Big thanks to Collages.net, BrandSushi, and Noel’s Paperie for this amazing prize pack. Don’t forget to check for their Paperie birthday celebration coupon codes. You can find those codes, and several others from our vendors, continually updated this week here!




Weekend’s almost over and we still have several more giveaways left!
We’ll keep going ’til all of them have winners – see ya’ soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

It’s been a great week at Paperie and I’m very excited to wrap things up on a high note with one of my favorite things — the packaging features. Not only is Gail Werner Photography‘s work and presentation absolutely stunning, there’s a double-bonus because I learned about a couple of new vendors myself! So grab a Coke and a smile, kick your feet up because it’s almost the weekend, and enjoy today’s guest post!

(P.S. Don’t forget there’s a contest going on — there’s just over 12 hours left to win a slot in the “503 Photography Workshops for Kids & Teens“!)

Like everyone else here on this site, I’m a big believer in the power of a positive brand experience. But it wasn’t until I felt comfortable with the brand I’d developed for myself late last year that I began to want to invest in marketing materials that reflected it.

When I started researching online to find resources on where to go for those materials, ooh boy, was I confused! Then a photographer I follow, Heather Garland, blogged about being featured here on Paperie Boutique and I couldn’t believe how awesome both Heather’s marketing products were – but also what a resource there was to be found here on this site!

First I wanted to make sure that when my clients opened their package from me they had a second, more beautiful package waiting for them inside.

I ordered these boxes from The Container Store, with each ranging in cost from $4-$10, depending on size. They are heavy and glossy white.

The ribbon is from from Hobby Lobby. The stickers are from Zazzle.

[Note from Robyn: Paperie has a free template for Zazzle stickers available for download here.]

One of my latest inspirations for my business is sharing my clients’ stories in a new and unique way that reflects my past as a journalist, so with each order, I’m including a copy of their story with their digital files / prints, etc. Here is the story of Michele and Eric. (Theirs is the story you can see pictured here in a frame — also bought at Hobby Lobby.) These frames are $4 each, and perfect for this little personalized touch to their package (I wrap everything up in black tissue paper before it goes in one of my Container Store boxes).

My thank you cards feature a quote I found online about giving thanks. Simple and, in a way, a reflection of me, because I am a quote NUT. My copyright releases were printed up on 5×7 cards from WHCC. My letterpress business cards were made by a letterpress / design company called The Mandate Press. At Mandate, if you are making black and white letterpress cards only, it’s $95 for 250 cards. They are gorgeous! My DVD cases come from DNL Photo and my DVDs (which I love because they have such a great polished look to them that’s so professional) were printed by Discmakers. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Discmakers‘ customer service. Every time I emailed them with a question, I had a response within hours. SUPER company to work with!

My Post-It notes are from 123Print and I LOVE them. Who doesn’t want personalized Post-Its for their business, right?

[Note from Robyn: Paperie has a free template for Post-It notes from VistaPrint available for download here.]

I made my initial client packets using folders and envelopes from Paper Presentation. On the outside of the white folders, I adhered a custom-designed branded sticker, printed by WHCC. This was more cost-effective for me than getting something custom made but still a nice personalized touch! The black mailing envelopes have my branded mailing sticker on them as well. These stickers were also printed by WHCC and custom designed by me. Inside each of the presentation packets, I include my pricing information, sheets with tip information (varies for portrait or wedding client) and a copy of the contract / model release. I wanted to keep these packets as print-outs for now as I’m at a point in my business where my prices will continue to change in the months to come and I didn’t want to invest in printed pricing booklets for that reason.

I hope you all were able to take away a few ideas for your own marketing from this post. Once I finally decided on what I needed and what companies I’d order from, it was a pretty quick process (a few hours) to get all the items you see here ordered and taken care of. So if I can do this, I promise you anyone can!

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful packaging and resources Gail! Everything looks amazing! You can also catch Gail at her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

You have until 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight Friday, April 30th to win a spot in the 503 Photography Workshops for kids and teens! Check out Wednesday’s post for more details!

ATTENTION VENDORS: We tuck business cards, coupon inserts, and promo pieces inside of our prize packages. If you are interested in having yours included, please contact me (my e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment). Also contact me if you are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured on Paperie Boutique.

ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS: Show us your packaging! If the features here have helped you pull together your own look, please share with the class and pay it forward. Contact Robyn (e-mail link in the sidebar / robyn @ this domain) to be added to the posting schedule.

If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain.

I promised y’all something big today – and here it is! Today’s guest post is by Color Inc. Digital Pro Lab.

Make sure you read all the way to the end because there’s a very special prize and an amazing offer exclusive to Paperie Boutique viewers!

Color Inc. is a full service digital lab that is founded on helping other photographers experience the same success as we have through education, networking, and marketing. Our commitment to you is to provide you with the best digital product at the best possible price.

We are excited to offer one Paperie reader a free 16×20 gallery wrap canvas!

Photographer Lori Reedy had this to say about Color Inc. gallery wraps: “…Gallery wrapped canvas art is the top selling product in my studio, so it just made sense to show more of what my clients love. After all, you sell what you show and canvas is perfect for that tactile high end presentation.”

Our Gallery Wrapped Canvases are a high-quality, finished product that will come ready to hang the moment it is unwrapped. Preserve your memories in style with the Gallery Wrap!

Each Canvas is hand wrapped around a 1½” frame with the finest attention to detail. Each piece is properly finished with a wire hanger, bumpers, and you can choose to leave the back open or cover it with Tyvek® backing. In addition, your canvas will be coated with Hahnemuhle protective spray which protects your work from harmful UV rays and other atmospheric contaminants.

Our wrapped canvases are available in the “Gallery Wrapped Canvas” catalog in our ROES software. To order first read these instructions, then go into ROES and click the “Sizes” button, then the “Gallery Wrapped Canvas” option as seen at left. Canvases are arranged by size within that catalog.

So now you’re ready to win that 16×20 gallery wrap canvas, right?

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

Wrap it up! Win a gallery wrap canvas from Paperie Boutique & @colorinc / colorincprolab.com – visit paperieboutique.com for details!

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 promotion.

You can enter up to four times total – one entry per public, non-private blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Because so many people are traveling to WPPI this weekend, I am extending the contest through Monday morning this time. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 a.m. EST on Monday, March 8th.

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 put in touch with Color Inc. within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

As if that wasn’t awesome enough, Color Inc. is also offering all Paperie readers 25 FREE 4×6 prints! Use the code PB25.

Thank you so much Color Inc.! You’re definitely kicking everyone’s weekend off on a great note!

And just in case you missed yesterday’s entry, keep scrolling because you have to check out the The Boutique Product Catalog!

Here’s just one more example of how they can be customized:

It’s a product I can’t wait to use, and I think you’ll feel the same! So go peek…

Have a great weekend everyone!
-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).

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).

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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).