pick a Color

It’s a rare weekend post at Paperie Boutique! I’m excited to share our newest giveaway from Color Inc. Pro Lab, my latest column in Professional Photographer Magazine, and the winner in the recent Pinhole Press contest.

First up, welcome back Color Inc. for this vendor / guest post and giveaway.

Our solid wood 3/4” ready to hang Studio Mounts are a great way to creatively showcase any of your favorite family, wedding, newborn or senior portraits! Each Studio Mount is professionally finished with a smooth black laminate beveled edge and your choice of one of our 4 quality finishing options. Additionally, each piece will arrive with a pre-cut keyhole slot on the back, ready to hang straight out of the package!

• Print Finishing Options: Canvas/Satin/Matte/Velvet
• Your choice between black or white edging under the
  ’Options’ tab in ROES.
• Studio Mounts have a 3-5 business day turnaround time.
• 4×6, 5×5, 5×7, 8×8 & 8×10 Studio Mounts come with an
  Acrylic Dowel Rod Easel Back for quick shelf display.

And now three lucky Paperie readers can win a 12×12″ (or smaller) Studio Mount from Color Inc.! How do you win? It’s simple:

1. Like Color Inc. on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Color-Inc/190322407656875

2. Follow Color Inc. on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/colorinc/

3. Post the following to Facebook or Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win a 12×12″ solid wood Studio Mount from @colorinc / colorincprolab.com at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/pWJ39N

4. Leave a note in the comments here saying what Color Inc. product is your favorite.

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

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 10th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have met all four requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

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

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!




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

For this month’s article, I reviewed photography-related props by American Photographic Resources, Inc., Barbour Backdrops and Props, Bugs-N-Blooms, Denny Manufacturing Company, Marketing and Props for Photographers, Design Revolution, Savvy Photographer Store, and Virtual Backgrounds.

Click the magazine pages above for a larger .pdf version. You can find the article on page 70, page 72, and page 74 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.




Last but not least: Pinhole Pro has selected a winner in their Paperie giveaway…and it’s Jennifer Farris!

Congrats to Jennifer and thanks so much to Pinhole Pro for the amazing prize!

Don’t forget we also have another giveaway going through Sunday night – it’s your chance to win two $250 gift certificates to Bad Sass Backdrops, Inc. and Sassy Designs, Inc.

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.

you can go back again

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

For this month’s article, I reviewed all things retro by reVamp Vintage Clothing, Photojojo, The Impossible Film Project, Plustek, Kodak, Flourish by Nichole Van, and Lomography.com.

Click the magazine pages above for a larger .pdf version. You can find the article on page 70, page 72, and page 74 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.




And I can’t forget to announce the winner of the cute little lion set from Fiber Arts by Boondock Studios…it’s…Blythe Crawford Photography!

Congrats to Blythe and thanks so much to Fiber Arts for the adorable prize!

senioritis

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

For this month’s article, I reviewed senior products and trends by Jamie Schultz Designs, Moo.com, Design Aglow, Pixel2Canvas, Miller’s Professional Imaging, ProDPI, and WHCC.

Click the magazine pages above for larger versions. You can find the article on page 68, page 70, and page 72 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.

I would like to extend a special round of thanks and kudos to Myra Klarman Photography for this column – without her, and her amazing senior photography, the issue would not have been possible! If you live in the Ann Arbor area, do not miss Myra and her work!




Ever wonder how you can get your hands on this magazine I’m always talking about? Well right now you can get a a one-year subscription (12 monthly issues) for $19.95 – and be entered in a contest to win up to $10,000.

Plus, when you subscribe you will receive a FREE GIFT INSTANTLY – Professional Photographer’s exclusive guide “How to Make More Money in Professional Photography“.




And to wrap things up, I have a few contest winners to announce! First up is the second winner in the HB Photo Packaging Contest….it’s Hannah G. Photography!

The winner in the LOKTAH Amazon Collection contest is…Moments by Kara!

And the winner in the LOKTAH Portfolio giveaway is…Life in Bloom Photography!

Congrats to all the winners, thanks to each and every one of you who entered, and thanks to HB Photo Packaging and LOKTAH for being such amazing vendors here at Paperie! I’ll be in touch with the winners to claim their prizes soon!

P.S. This is completely unrelated to anything Paperie, but will you please take a second to vote for regular Paperie contributor Heather Lickliter in the Crate & Barrel wedding contest? You can do so here. Thanks, and good luck Heather!

I would like to subscribe

The digital edition of the February 2011 Professional Photographer Magazine is now online for digital subscribers. And read on for a very special guest / vendor post givaway from the Photographer Cafe !

For this month’s article, I reviewed royalty-free, rights-managed and stock music options by: SongFreedom.com, Music Bakery, Frances England, JewelBeat, Ear Candy Digital, Triple Scoop Music, Red Beard Music, Stock 20, and metta audio.

Click the magazine pages above for larger versions. You can find the article on pages 60 through 62 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.

Photographer Cafe is known for its practical, stylish products that save you valuable time. From marketing materials to card templates to album templates to an inspirational blog, Photographer Cafe is a phenomenal resource for photographers of all levels and experience.

Photographer Cafe recently introduced its BASIC Newsletter content and templates. You instinctively know how powerful a newsletter is for keeping in touch with your clients and attracting new clients, and you understand how important it is to keep up your marketing efforts in this very competitive industry. However, if you’re like us, “send out newsletter” is always on your To Do list, but it somehow gets moved lower and lower down the list as other, more pressing tasks arise! Or, you may actually take the time to sit and draft a newsletter, only to find yourself plagued by writer’s block.

Photographer Cafe is here to rescue you! 2011 is the year you will send out the gorgeous newsletters you’ve always envisioned. Photographer Cafe makes it so simple – you can customize and send out a newsletter within a matter of minutes! With 12 beautifully crafted mini articles, you will have enough content for a year’s worth of quarterly email campaigns. Our content is especially designed for lifestyle child and family photographers and allows you to effectively communicate your style, expectations, and promotions with an upbeat, yet professional voice.

One especially lucky winner will receive a free Newsletter set of his or her choice. Choose from Retro, Curves, or Contemporary, whatever suits your style. Getting your newsletters done is going to feel soooooo good!

To enter:

1) Leave a comment below telling one marketing effort you plan to make in February

2) Become a fan of Photographer Cafe on Facebook (and report back here)

3) Follow Photographer Cafe on Twitter and tweet the following: Hey! @PhotogCafe / PhotographerCafe.com is giving away a Newsletter Set for photographers over at @paperieboutique / PaperieBoutique.com.
(and report back here)

Each action will earn one entry. A winner will be chosen by Random.org at the end of the day Thursday and announced Friday morning.

Good luck everyone, and thanks once again Photographer Cafe!

booking it.

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.

dashing through

I have been MIA around here for far too long. Our family went down like dominoes to the flu last week, then as I started to recover I had a mountain of work and shooting / editing to catch up on, and these days seems like the alarm has just sounded in the morning and it’s time to crawl back in bed again at night.

I promise I haven’t forgotten about y’all over here – or the “business packaging / holiday packaging contest“ – which still has several entries yet-to-be published (and a winner to pick). But until I can quit packaging client card and print orders, shooting sessions, and proofing sessions, and filling the orders…..most everything else in my life is on a temporary hiatus. Thank you for your patience!




To show you how behind I am, the digital edition of the December 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released last week – and I’m just now remembering to take a peek at it, much less post it here.

For this month’s article, I reviewed photography jewelry selections from BRAGaLittle.com, Isabelle Chase Studios, Kathy Lo Rocks, Kimbra Studios, Kimtown Boutique, Kotori Photo Jewelry, Marye Street Studio, and PlanetJill.

Click the magazine page above for a larger version. You can find the article on page 50 and page 51 of the print-version as they start hitting mailboxes.

And you can also download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.




Last but not least, a quick-peek at some of the holiday gifts I’ve been assembling for my early-in-the-season Buttons and Bows holiday clients. I’m still waiting to get everything together for the later sessions, hence another reason for my lack of free time. But this should give you an idea (click top image for larger)…

Several will receive a dozen gift tags as one of their prezzies. These are made from Moo mini cards. The back has a small B&B logo and my URL, plus a decorative “To:” / “From:” section for them to fill out for their presents. I use a decorative hole punch and thread mini-ribbon through each tag. Since Moo allows you to submit up to 100 images for the front of their mini cards, they make it very easy to split up a pack into multiple gift tags for multiple clients.

The ornament shown is by Zazzle. I ordered these during a half-off promotion on November 9th. They did not arrive until December 6th, so you’ll most likely need to upgrade your shipping method if you opt to use them. It is not a rush-operation! I was very happy with the quality (both image and product) of the premium metal designs. The quality on the ceramic ornaments left little to be desired – however, you can add your logo to the back of the ceramic ones.

Are we there yet?
-Robyn

the technical explanation

The digital edition of the November 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released yesterday.

For this month’s article, I reviewed personalized packaging options from HB Photo Packaging, McKenna Pro, Jolie Wraps, and Nashville Wraps.

Click the magazine page above for a larger version. You can find the article on page 50 and page 51 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.

The other big ‘news’ in magazine-land I’m extremely excited to share is that I’ve now been promoted from freelance columnist to ‘technical editor‘ with the magazine. You can see my name in the masthead (page 4), starting with the November 2010 issue. And expect to see me in all 12 issues of Professional Photographer Magazine in 2011!

In case you missed it, Buttons and Bows Photography was featured on the Design Aglow Blog yesterday.

You can find the Parisian photo borders shown in the article above here.




We have a winner in the laundry bags contest and it’s Christi Traster / Snickerdoodles Photography!

Congrats to Christi, thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks to laundrybags.etsy.com for the fun prize giveaway!




And starting now through Tuesday, November 30th, we want to see your packaging! Send in one (or more) photos of your business packaging – it can be your everyday packaging, something special for the holidays, or both!

We’ll pick out our favorite three from the photo submissions and put it up to the Paperie readers for a vote.

The lucky winner will receive a $20 Paper Source gift card! And HB Photo Packaging is also kicking in an additional $100 gift certificate to their store for the winner!

So grab your point-and-shoot while you’re packing up those holiday orders and send us a pic, or three! You just might be a winner! [send photos to robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com]

If you’re in the U.S., don’t forget to VOTE today!
-Robyn

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.

the hunt for green October

The digital edition of the October 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released today.

(P.S. Keep reading for a special discount from Sassy Designs, Inc. Plus a new packaging feature and the winner of the Paint the Moon contest!)

For this month’s article, I reviewed several press-printed “client gift idea” products by Moo.com, Miller’s, WHCC, CPQ and ProDPI.

Click each of the magazine pages above for a .pdf version. You can find the article on pages 54, 55, and 56 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.

And to celebrate her templates being featured in the above article – Sassy Designs, Inc. is offering 50% off a purchase of $25 or more – today through 10/31. Just use the code PBPPMAG.




Today our guest post / green packaging feature is by Heather Armstrong Photography. If you’ve been wanting to go green with your business, this is an excellent resource!

I live on the west coast of Canada, the Gulf Islands, in a very green-conscious city. We have a fantastic recycling program, lots of eco initiatives, and government sponsored programs to help homes cut cost and live more environmentally friendly. As both a business owner and a parent it’s important to me to honour the Earth and do my part to keep as much garbage as possible off it.

Over time my packaging has evolved to become more Earth-friendly, producing less and less less waste as I find better companies to do business with. My brand is all about being organic: my style of portraiture is very natural and easy-going, and I want my packaging to reflect that…but not at the expense of the planet. I do not put in client “welcome packages”, medallions, advertisements or samples in the mail – packaging is about showcasing and protecting your print, and the more your client has to dig through to get to it, the worse it looks.

All invoicing, information and pricing communication is done electronically. If something does need to be printed, I print on renewable hemp paper and encourage my clients to recycle after they are done. I even use biodegradable pens and pencils for signing forms!

I work only with labs that will ship and package in the most environmentally friendly way possible. I understand that some products may require bubble wrap, but in the last year (thanks to some pushing and inquiring with the heads of various companies) I’ve only received four packages that included it…which was then reused. 99% of the time my labs ship to me in cardboard packaging with either shredded paper as a buffer, or corn-based packing peanuts (completely biodegradable with exposure to water). I recycle all boxes and bags that come to me; our local recycling depot will take plastic sheeting if you drop it off directly, and yours might too! Be sure to check with your city!

When my clients receive their prints, they’re packaged in unlaminated boxes with matching photo folios and CD sleeves. All are made with post-consumer recycled materials, and fully recyclable themselves.

Inside they’re wrapped in recycled tissue paper and sealed in a biodegradable corn-based bag (the PH level is not friendly to photos when kept inside for a long period of time, so tissue paper must be placed as a buffer between them). Instead of stickers, I use a custom rubber stamp with wooden handle and earth-friendly inks. Instead of cloth or plastic ribbons, I use biodegradable “crinkle paper” ribbon or wraphia. Instead of laminated thank you cards, I print my own messages on hand-crafted plantable paper and thank my client for choosing a green company. (Plus, it gives them the extra gift of wildflowers in a few weeks’ time!)

I even print my business cards with a company that uses only vegetable-based inks, post-consumer recycled materials and energy efficient printing techniques.

The completed packaging: 100% biodegradable and recyclable – nothing needs to be thrown away, and anything that accidentally does can break down easily in a landfill. And the waste I produce? Just one tiny piece!

In the last six months my business has produced less than one pound of non-renewable waste – both in my home, and my clients’. I keep a compost, have my recycle picked up twice a month, do research into the companies I purchase from, and keep tabs on my power meter to ensure that I’m using as energy efficient business practices.

It isn’t hard, nor that expensive, to be a green company. We can all do our part by caring about the environment and going the extra mile to find green products: every step counts. You don’t have to sacrifice style, brand or presence, and your clients will thank you for the effort you put into preserving our planet for their children to enjoy.

My products are purchased from:
1. http://www.greenprinteronline.com
2. http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com
3. http://www.goodplanet.com
4. http://clearbags.ca (look for their corn-based, biodegradable bags!)
5. …And local businesses committed to providing earth-friendly products




And the big winner in the Paint the Moon contest is…Kaley Lein!

Congrats to Kaley, thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks to Paint the Moon for yet another amazing giveaway here at Paperie!

Happy October everyone! Have a great weekend!
-Robyn

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.

gimme an S! an E! an O!

The digital edition of the September 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released today.

(P.S. Keep reading for a special giveaway from photographers-seo.com!)

For this month’s article, I reviewed several digital media storage products by BellaGrafica (“Jeff & Julia Woods General Collection“), DNL Photo Packaging, JLee Albums, Loktah, Miller’s Professional Imaging and The Designer Concept, MpixPro, Pexagon Tech, Rice Studio Supply, and Verbatim.

Click each of the magazine pages above for a larger view. You can find the article on page 48 and page 50 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.

And last month Heather Lickliter of Stylized Portraiture helped me write the August “The Goods” column. This month she’s escaped over to the new “Workflow Polish” column where she shares her post-session workflow, with added comments / critique by Audrey Woulard. Congratulations Heather!




Today’s guest / vendor post is by Zach Prez. He has freebies and a prize for Paperie readers!

Hi, I’m Zach Prez. I specialize in search engine optimization for photographers, although I’ve been helping small businesses rank in Google for about 10 years. There’s no better feeling than helping someone become successful on the web and grow his or her business. Okay, maybe there are a few things better, like cycling on the American River Bike trail near Sacramento, CA.

I wrote Photographers SEO Book almost 2 years ago now. What started as some informal phone conversations with my photographer friend quickly expanded into ninja tactics that boomed her business from Google in a matter of weeks. Everyone wanted to know her secret, so I turned those conversations into a non-technical how to guide that any level of photographer can follow. It has since helped hundreds of people understand and improve in search results.

Earlier this year I released Photography Blog SEO Zen. It’s an ebook for photographers, designers, or wedding vendors on how to update your blog infrastructure and write blog posts to rank more easily. Blogs typically output many more pages than a traditional website, meaning more chances to rank in search. Blogs are especially helpful in ranking very specific phrases (long-tail SEO) so I would hope you see about 3x the traffic from your blog compared to your photography website. My blogs and ebook help you get there.

I’m giving away one of each product above for Paperie Boutique readers. Enter to win by commenting on any blog post on either of my websites – photographers-seo.com -OR- photoblogseo.com – by the end of the day on Saturday. (We’ll notify and announce the winners on Monday.) You’ll learn something new and hopefully share your thoughts about the post, what you learned, or something insightful

If you want something FREE right now, check out my Search Engine Optimization Guide for SmugMug Sites -OR- Email SEO Class for Photographers.

UPDATE: The winners have both been announced here – check them out!

Thanks Zach for sharing such valuable information with our readers!

And don’t forget we currently have two giveaway-contests going on here at Paperie. Through midnight Wednesday you can have a chance to win your choice of camera bags from Jo Totes. And through midnight Thursday you have the chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Denny Manufacturing.

eyes all aglow…

The digital edition of the August 2010 Professional Photographer Magazine was released today. (P.S. Keep reading for a special giveaway from Design Aglow!)

For this month’s article I paired with Heather Lickliter of Stylized Portraiture – we reviewed camera straps / accessories by The Strap Buddy, Photojojo, My Funky Camera, Priddy Creations, PhatStraps, Pepper, Capturing Couture, Black Rapid, and Abie.

You can find the article on page 46 and page 48 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.

Today’s guest post / giveaway is courtesy of one of our favorite vendors – Design Aglow.

Want to be the photographer EVERYONE wants this year, just to get this completely unique keepsake? You will with these ornament card offerings!

Hot off of the presses at Design Aglow, these innovative holiday cards promise to leave your clients hanging… in the homes of friends and family. Simply choose one of the five delicious two-sided designs, print, and add your own ribbon for an inspiring way to wish loved ones the best while earning a prominent spot in their homes (and their hearts). A revolutionary idea to create a bold new market for the holidays!

Not sure every client is ready for round? Design Aglow also includes a set of coordinating 5×5 flat square cards to help you sell a more traditional option too!

PERFECT FOR:
• Holiday ornament cards not offered anywhere else
• Round cards for birth announcements, save the date or any occasion
• Two sided square cards
• Your own studio greetings to clients and those who refer you

See more info about these lovely ornaments and printing pricing too, right here.

Now for the fun part…the giveaway!

Winner gets a $100 gift certificate to Design Aglow!

How do you win? Link to Design Aglow’s new cards on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog with the following text:

See the new Holiday Ornament Cards http://is.gd/dYrNP by designaglow.com / @designaglow and win $100 gift certificate at paperieboutique.com

Then come back here and comment that you’ve done so – each entry requires its own separate comment.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 4th. You can enter up to three times total. Don’t forget to post your Twitter, Facebook, or blog links in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

Please note: The links 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 the gift certificate. If we have to subscribe to your feed or page or request permission to see it, you will automatically be disqualified.

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!

UPDATE: The winner has now been announced here!

Thanks so much to Design Aglow for another awesome giveaway, and to all the camera strap vendors that allowed me to review your products for the August 2010 issue of Professional Photographer Magazine

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!

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!

publish or perish

I know what you’re thinking – TWO posts in one day? That’s just crazy talk! But it’s not every day a girl gets her own column in Professional Photographer Magazine! (June 2010 – “Profit Center: Roundup: Soup-to-nuts Marketing Kits“)

It features marketing kits by Design Aglow, GO{4}PRO, Photographer Cafe, Jamie Schultz Designs, Sarah Q Design, The Polished Photographer, and photoDUDS.

And don’t forget there’s a giveaway to win a cupcake-themed gift wrapping kit!