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

For this month’s article, I reviewed business catalog products by Design Aglow, FrancyPants Designs, TAoPaN, Sassy Designs, Inc., and The Designer Concept.

Click the magazine page above for a larger version. You can find the article on page 98 and page 100 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. And you can also download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

Normally I don’t post on the weekends because I’m shooting, but this past week has been anything but normal. And since I finally have a weekend off and a mountain of stuff to catch up on post-flu, today is a Paperie Mashup of photos, guest posts, and fabulous prizes. (Make sure you read ’til the end for the chance to win a little summin’-summin’!)

After 2½ months of non-stop, back-to-back shooting (including 6 babies born 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule), I finally have a few weekends free thanks to the early births to try and catch up on life (and work, and more work, and even more work) again. I’m surprised some of my clients haven’t started chasing me through town with pitchforks and torches. But before I could unclutter my to-do list, I had to get some sense of order back in my office. And I finally got the 33-year old portrait of me and my mom restored and up on the wall, so for the first time, the room looks as complete as I always envisioned it in my mind.

You can see more of my office / wrapping station over at Flickr in the post and in the comments.

This portrait of me and my mom (including the frame) hung above the wrapping station in my grandmother’s (maternity / infant / toddler / child) clothing store from the 70s to the late 80s. Now it has been restored and hangs above mine.

My red and Tiffany suitcases are no longer sold, but try Land of Nod for ones very similar.

A quick peek at my closet storage system. I also have 1-car of our 3-car garage. Will work for props!

And if you didn’t get quite enough office pics from me, here’s one more from Heather of Stylized Portraiture in Athens, GA.

“In our studio we have a sliding door with about 2-inches of wall clearance. It hides the door when we’re gone or during appointments and slides open when we’re open to the public. We needed a wall to show various print sizes and decided to put it behind that door. With only 2 inches of clearance, we couldn’t use frames. Originally, we were going to use vinyl stickers that looked like frames, but the least expensive place that we found ended up costing almost $300 for all of them – an amount we just weren’t prepared to spend. So, we bought designer thumbtacks at Hobby Lobby and used those instead! They’re paper over wood, but designer pushpins come in all kinds of materials, even glass! Just check on Etsy or your local stores.”

Recently Paperie had a Design Aglow “Studio Look Book” giveaway sponsored by one of our readers Tosha Francis of The Captured Life Photography in Washington D.C.

Tosha just finished her own “Wedding Look Book” (featured last week on the Design Aglow blog) and welcome packet (using vendors and resources seen here). It all turned out PERFECT – check it out!

Congrats Tosha and thanks for sharing – your clients are going to be blown away!

I didn’t forget my promise of “fabulous prizes” – here’s the latest giveaway – the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” packaging collection courtesy of Paperie Boutique & HB Photo Packaging.

The “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” packaging collection includes:

• two 5×7½”-deep Wedding White / Paragon Brown photo boxes from
  HB Photo Packaging (a photo box look styled by Paperie – Wedding
  White box tops which are a gorgeous pearl-white and pale silver
  stripe pattern, and Paragon Brown box bases) — each box has a
  brown Tissue Fold and brown Stretch Ribbon Loop included
• two 8×10½”-deep Wedding White / Paragon Brown photo boxes
  from HB Photo Packaging — each box has a brown Tissue Fold
  and brown Stretch Ribbon Loop included
• two 6×4×2½”-deep Wedding White / Paragon Brown 250 Proof
  boxes from HB Photo Packaging
• four 3×4″ Clean Edge Card “Style H” Tags in Aqua from
  Envelopperinc.com
• two mini-frame + brad photo-charm packaging embellishments
  (as seen on my own packaging here)
• two rolls of “Aqua Essentials” (88146 & 88148) Elements 3/8″
  ribbon by American Crafts
• four aqua, white and brown thank you cards with white envelopes
• four 1.5″ round sticker seals in Pool from Paper Source
• one HB Photo Packaging “Professional Photography Presentation
  Packaging” guide (shown here)

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

I want Breakfast at Tiffany’s packaging set by HB Photo Packaging / h-bphoto.com & @shutterblog ‘s Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com

Post the URL(s) to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 20th.

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.

You have four chances to win but only one chance PER LINK – please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed. And post your 1-4 separate links in separate comments 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 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

And check back often this week – more great posts are already on the schedule!

UPDATE: The winner Rachel Allison has been announced! Thank you to everyone who participated!

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.

Our household is currently being slammed to the mat with a nasty tummy-bug, so this will be short and sweet.

Short – did you see the {France Photography} “Couture Kit Collections” featured yesterday?

Today, because Kelli is so awesome, you can win a {Power of Presentation} Couture Kit – sweet!

{The Power of Presentation} Couture Kit templates include:

1} Couture Catalogue (6 ~ 8.5×11 pages + printing & binding instructions)
2} Thank You card (folded 4×5.5)
3} Couture Conversation Cards for a client gift (30 ~ 4×5 jpegs)

Start with our chic “Couture Catalogue”! (Printing & binding vendors and instructions included.) Next, add a personal touch by giving custom “Thank You” cards. Finish it off with a surprise gift for your clients with our “Couture Conversation Cards”.

All files (except the Conversation Cards) are fully-layered PSDs and customizable for your boutique business.

How do you win? Go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

Win a {Power of Presentation} Couture Kit by {France Photography} / @kellifrance at Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com by @shutterblog

Post the URL(s) to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 15th.

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.

You have four chances to win but only one chance PER LINK – please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed. And post your 1-4 separate links in separate comments 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 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

And don’t forget that Paperie Boutique readers all get a $10 off coupon for the {France Photography} “Couture Kit Collections”. The code francypants will expire at midnight on Thursday April 15th.

UPDATE the winner Heather Byrd of Infinity Images has been announced.

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).

If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. Check the sidebars – several advertisers joined us recently!

Paperie recently featured a guest post by {France Photography} with a teaser for more to come… And now, here it is!

Introducing the “Couture Kit Collections – templates for the boutique business”.

A Couture Kit is a collection of templates created for boutique business photographers. They were created for my own boutique photography business and now other boutique photographers can benefit from them as well. Browse the chic line of Couture Kits to add an element of sophistication and professionalism to your own boutique business.

{The Power of Presentation} Couture Kit templates include:

1} Couture Catalogue (6 ~ 8.5×11 pages + printing & binding instructions)
2} Thank You card (folded 4×5.5)
3} Couture Conversation Cards for a client gift (30 ~ 4×5 jpegs)

Presentation is EVERYTHING! Wow your clients from the beginning to the end with our Power of Presentation Couture Kit! Start with our chic “Couture Catalogue” that is so professional & pretty that your clients will never know that you printed it from home! (Printing & binding vendors and instructions included.) Next, add a personal touch by giving custom “Thank You” cards. Finish it off with a surprise gift for your clients with our “Couture Conversation Cards”. All files (except the Conversation Cards) are fully-layered PSDs and customizable for your boutique business.

I have spent years trying to find the perfect “Welcome Packet” to send to my clients. I wanted something that looked upscale, but I didn’t want to have to print it in bulk knowing that any product or pricing changes would be difficult and expensive. Thus, the “Couture Catalogue” was born! The “Couture Catalogue” is the perfect solution for photographers since it can be printed at home, yet still appears very fancy. Not only can you print and bind it to create a beautiful pricing and product menu but you can also make it into a PDF as another format to communicate with your clients. Catalogue contains 6 pages of gorgeous graphic elements with enough space for portrait collections, wall galleries, product images and text. (Wording is not included.)

The best part about the Couture Catalogue is that you can print it from home but it still looks very high end. You can also create a PDF for clients from it, too – and it includes a place for text, portrait collections, wall galleries, etc.

Check out the “Couture Conversation Cards” that are included in the {Power of Presentation} Couture Kit!

The {Boutique Business Bundle} includes:

1. {Power of Presentation} Couture Kit ~ style of your choice
2. {VIP Client} Couture Kit
3. {Ordering Session} Couture Kit

Wow your clients with all of our Couture Kit templates. Leave a lasting impression with our “Power of Presentation” Couture Kit. Retain and reward returning clients with our “VIP Client” Couture Kit. And rock at sales with the “Ordering Session” Couture Kit.

I’ll be offering all Paperie Boutique readers a $10 off coupon. The code francypants will expire at midnight on Thursday April 15th.

Merci beaucoup!
~Kelli France, francypantsacademy.com & francephotography.com

Thank you so much Kelli! These are amazing (and the “Couture Conversation Cards” are too cute for words)!

And in case you missed Friday’s entry by theartofpregnancyandnewborn.com – scroll down the page! There’s a great (FREE!) download for maternity and newborn photographers.

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).

If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. Check the sidebars – several advertisers joined us recently!

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 was lucky enough to get a demo version of The Boutique Product Catalog recently. To say I was “blown away” would be an understatement. In fact, I tore into the box like a little kid at Christmas. And then I made my poor husband sit there and “oooh” and “ahhh” right along with me until he showed enough enthusiasm for me to let him off the hook and return to my regularly scheduled swooning in private.

I have been looking for a solution like this – not only in look, but in price – forever. This delivers and then some! The concept is fantastic. The design is beautiful. The quality is exceptional. And because they’re customizable and the wording is available, well that’s really just the icing, now isn’t it?

It is with much excitement that I introduce Andrea Halsey of “The Designer Concept” for today’s guest post…

If you have ever looked into creating a unique catalog to hand to your clients at (or before) your session, you may have had some of the same troubles I did when seeking out this perfect marketing piece. After a lot of research, both local and around the digital marketplace of the world wide web, I finally found a solution that was perfect for the Boutique Experience, and light on the pocket!

I wanted a piece that served the following purposes:
- Boutique Look and Feel
- Something unique you can’t just get anywhere
- Something small enough for clients to keep in their pocketbooks (and show off to friends and family)
- Something concise and image-oriented
- A piece that matched my branding and set me apart from other local photographers

Is it so much for a girl to ask?!

Well, I did find some solutions that I loved, but just couldn’t swallow the price tags. I started to find myself looking into custom pieces that had minimum quantities in the thousands just to reduce the price to $3 or $4 a piece. Or, if I wanted to spend $10 a piece, I could get just 250 (insert googley eyes). When I looked into smaller booklet-style pieces, I just wasn’t happy with the look and feel. I wanted my pieces to have that wow-factor that represented the caliber of my boutique work, and the products I offer.

After some prototype mockups, I found a solution that would only cost me around $1/catalog and met all of my expectations. I kid you not! And the minimum quantity was right where I needed it to be, at just one hundred pieces. Having used the pieces myself, I know how valuable they are and can confirm that you will love handing them to clients, leaving them with other businesses, and handing them out to prospective clients… and they will love them too!

The deal only gets sweater. One of the issues I share with many other photographers, is the need to update or change pieces in my product catalog over time. Imagine spending $2,500 on your product catalogs just to realize a vendor has increased their prices or discontinued production. What if you have a new product line you want to add? Even though your original investment for your catalogs may have been around $100, the way our pieces are put together, you can update an entire section for just around $15 or $20. And when I say update, I mean update ALL of your booklets.

The team at my studio has put together a template for The Designer Concept that will give you a Master Cover template to custom match to your branding, as well as layout guides and instructions for creating your own booklet for just $1/piece. You can also purchase our Premium Template and have my personal catalog shipped to your door! This will give you a first-hand look at how I have created my own catalog, the products I offer my clients, and the images and wording that I use.

Paperie Exclusive Alert!

I have developed an exclusive Paperie Master Cover Template ONLY available for Paperie Boutique readers. After purchasing your template, simply email me your PayPal transaction ID and mention Paperie Boutique, and you will get in on this exclusive cover template. (If you have already purchased the Boutique Product Catalog, you can still email me for the exclusive cover!)

Last but not least, I can’t help but give a little something more in the form of a limited time discount!

For *one week only* you can get a $25 or $35 discount only for Paperie Boutique readers and friends.

For the Premium Template, get $35 off instantly by using this code:
PaperieExclusivePremium

For the standard template, get $25 off instantly by using this code:
PaperieExclusiveStandard

OFFER ENDS THURSDAY, MARCH 11TH

Thanks to all for reading, much love!
~Andrea

Thank you so much for the product, and the special Paperie exclusive plus discount, Andrea! I cannot wait to get mine together and share the photos here!

In just minutes the My Funky Camera contest will come to a close. But stay tuned! There’s another HUGE give-away coming on Friday. Yes, I said HUGE. So don’t forget to check back in!

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).