what’s the deal?

Like everyone else in North America, Paperie is switching gears from summer to fall / winter. This means shorter days, longer shooting schedules as the holidays approach, and giveaways galore!

In a few weeks we’ll be announcing the exciting details for the second annual “best packaging contest“. Remember how much bigger / better this year’s second birthday celebration was? Well the next packaging contest will be no different! One vendor has already kicked in a $500.00 gift certificate!

What does all this mean to photography-related vendors? There’s never been a better time to advertise on Paperie! During our birthday celebration in July we logged well over 7 million unique hits and over 450,000 page views. We’ve followed that up with over 10 million unique hits from early August – mid September! Those numbers are only guaranteed to climb as the holidays and the annual packaging contest approach!

Kathy of the Boudoir Business Boutique writes:

“I just thought you’d like to know that I’ve received triple the amount of traffic from your site than any other site I’m advertising on! I’m so pleased with choosing to advertise with you!“

In addition to deep-discounts on our normal ad rates, we are also going to include each new vendor (that signs up between today and Saturday, October 15th) in a blog entry for better Google indexing through text links! So take one of our most recent advertisers, for example… This is what your entry would look like:

Paperie Boutique is proud to announce a recent addition to our vendor family / elite sponsors — CPQ Professional Imaging!

The CPQ Lab was started in 1972 with a small group of 15 employees, and since that time CPQ has grown to over 150 employees providing superb quality in a timely manner to the discriminating photographer. The current CPQ location, built in 1993, encompasses 47,000 square feet and houses a full-service lab (both optical and digital) that serves clients from all over the United States.

Users can sign up with CPQ, and receive free evaluation prints, here.

Sound good? 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!

Miss the sale? Go here to advertise with us!

Once payment has been made, write todd AT paperieboutique DOT com and include a copy of your receipt and attach an image for the ad-size purchased.

If you are interested in being a sponsor + advertiser, please e-mail todd AT paperieboutique DOT com for the additional discounted rate.

We look forward to having you join the family soon!

Hey, guess what? Moo.com is having a SALE this weekend!

click above image for a larger pop-up version
You can see just some of my Moo business cards, rounded business cards, folded cards, postcards, stickerbooks, round stickers, and labels by clicking on the photo above. And you can see some of my Moo minicards by clicking on this entry.

@overheardatmoo recently Tweeted: Stickers, Business Cards, MiniCards, Postcards and Greeting Cards – 25% off until Sunday (in case you didn’t hear) at http://www.moo.com.

And don’t forget Paperie offers several FREE Moo templates for download!




We also have a couple of recent contest winners to announce! First up are the two Capturing Couture camera strap winners…Connie McClain and Kim Young!

And the Fanciful Kites giveaway winner is…Michelle McDaid!

Thanks to both Capturing Couture and Fanciful Kites for the fun giveaways, congrats to our winners (watch your inboxes this weeked!), and a thank you to everyone who entered!

New contest coming up momentarily so stay tuned…
-Robyn & Todd

tag you're it: ad • advertising • business • business cards • camera • camera strap • cards • contest • DLSR • folded cards • giveaway • handmade • kite • kites • labels • materials • Moo • photographer • photography • postcards • press • prize • prop • props • rounded business cards • SLR • sponsor • stickers • supplies • winner • winners

capture this!

Excited to have another guest / vendor post for a product I use (and love!) – a giveaway for two camera straps from Capturing Couture!

Capturing Couture is a company founded a little over 2 years ago by two working moms; one with a fervor for design and the other with a profound passion for photography. Capturing Couture breaks out into the accessories market with a collection of fashion forward camera straps, adding color and style to a category that has been, to this point, severely monochromatic. The time has come for fashion, form and function to completely merge.

We create two types of straps: One for the SLR/DSLR camera worn around the neck and a second for smaller cameras worn around the wrist. The straps are designed with comfortable padding in the neck to help distribute the weight of the camera, (SLR/DSLR camera straps only) velvet backing, nylon webbing for durability and adjustable hardware for preferred positioning.

Not only do we have fashion forward straps for women, we also carry a hip men’s line. [ Note from Robyn: Shhh! Don't tell anyone but my Capturing Couture strap is from the men's line! ]

And now two lucky Paperie readers have a chance to win a Capturing Couture camera strap of their very own! The style is the winner’s choice, up to a $39.00 value (shipping included).

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):

Win your choice of camera straps from @CapturingCoutur / CapturingCouture.com @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://is.gd/z6j0gV

2. Friend / Like / Follow Capturing Couture on Facebook and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a fan)

3. Follow Capturing Couture on Twitter and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a follower)

4. Post your favorite item from Capturing Couture in the comments here

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the FIVE separate 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 Capturing Couture on Facebook and/or Twitter – or your favorite Capturing Couture product – 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 Monday, September 19th. You can enter up to FIVE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for all of 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 to everyone who enters and thanks to Capturing Couture for the awesome giveaway!




We have a few contest winners to announce!

The first three winners of the “Fit to Print” giveaway…Susan B, thougham, and Jenn S.

Congrats to all three of you, and thanks to everyone who entered! I’ll be in touch with download information for the winners within 24 hours!

And the winner of the One King’s Lane $25 gift certificate…Larissa pavei! Congrats to our winner, and thanks to those who entered. I’ll have your gift card sent within 24 hours Larissa!




Last but not least, we just finished assembling the first round of goodie bags coming soon to a workshop near you! (The batch after this goes here.)

The toy cameras can be found on eBay. The little bags are from Celestial Gifts on Etsy. And they are stamped with a polymer stamp from Write with Moxie. You can read more detail on the candy bags here.

Check back Friday – another special offer for Paperie readers on tap!
-Robyn & Todd

tag you're it: assembly • branding • business • business cards • camera • camera strap • cards • contest • custom • designs • DSLR • Fit to Print • giveaway • guest post • marketing • materials • Moo • packaging • photo • photographer • photography • photos • point and shoot • prize • referral cards • SLR • supplies • templates • winner • winners • wrapping

be trendy

New guest / vendor post and giveaway is courtesy of Trendy Camera Straps!

Why use a generic camera strap when you can show off your personality with a Trendy Camera Strap?  Whether you need a neck strap, wristlet or a point & shoot, Trendy offers high quality straps for every novice and professional photographer. The point & shoot straps are making their come back next week with many new options and designs. These work great for point & shoot cameras, flip video cameras, keys and school / ID badges.

Three “New Designs” coming soon, just in time for Spring! With dozens of designs that Trendy offers, you’re sure to find a strap that fits your style!  

Trendy also has just introduced a new line, the SwitchBack camera strap.  This strap allows for the interchangeability of designs without the hassle of removing it from your camera.  Whenever you want, you can change the look of your camera strap to match your outfit or mood, without having to buy a whole new strap!

We’re giving away 3 camera straps – 2 camera straps and 1 SwitchBack Starter Kit – to Paperie Boutique readers. 

Additionally, all readers who make a purchase can receive 20% off their order and a special surprise gift.  Just email info@trendycamerastraps.com before you place your order and state that you are a Paperie Boutique reader to receive the coupon.  

See all the styles at: www.trendycamerastraps.com

And like us on Facebook!

Enter to win one of three Trendy Camera Staps —

Go to your blog, Facebook, Flickr, or Twitter account and post the following:
Make my camera strap Trendy!  Visit paperieboutique.com to win a Trendy Camera Strap from trendycamerastraps.com.

After posting this, make a comment on this blog post with the URL to your post. (Only public accounts are eligible to win. If we have to register to see your comment your entry is disqualified.)  Comments will be numbered and there will be a random drawing from Random.org within 24-72 hours after the contest ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 20th.

Good luck!

Thanks to Trendy Camera Straps for today’s fun giveaway!

Quick reminder – you have until 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday to win a vintage camera necklace from Vintage U Creations.

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.

tag you're it: business • camera • camera strap • contest • DSLR • flip • fob • giveaway • guest post • ID badge • ID tag • key • keychain • keys • lanyard • materials • photographer • photography • point and shoot • prize • SLR • strap • supplies • video • video camera • wrist strap • wristlet

Funky! fresh.

You’ve got the camera. You’ve got the hip camera bag. So why on earth are you still using that factory-issued camera strap? It’s time to get funky!

The photo below shows my own “My Funky Camera” straps. I have four total – 2 sets of matching neck straps + wristlets. (Although I have to confess, I love my wristlets so much, they rarely leave the cameras.)

The product is described as a “fun, funky, trendy camera strap or wrist strap” and has been featured in Amateur Photographer Magazine, Digital Photographer Magazine, and Digital SLR User Magazine.

And just in case you haven’t graduated to a DSLR yet or have a weekend “play” camera, My Funky Camera also has a product line for point-and-shoot cameras. These mini-straps also work well for cell phones, hand-held video games, video cameras, ID badges, and keys.

But wait… There’s more! You can even get Funky Jotters notebook covers to match your camera strap.

And because the owner of My Funky Camera, Gabi, is a long-time fan of Paperie Boutique – she is offering two straps (any size, any kind) up to our readers.

UPDATE: The two winners have been announced here and here – thanks to everyone for participating!

To make this giveaway a little fun, this time it’s going to run two days (edited to add: ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 4th), and there’s two different ways to win each strap:

1. The first way / easy way to win is go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

Get Funky with Paperie Boutique & @myfunkycamera / myfunkycamera.com – visit paperieboutique.com to win a My Funky Camera strap!

You can enter once via this method – one entry can be posted to your blog URL, Facebook, Flickr, or Twitter account. Then post that (ONE) URL to your link down in the comments for this entry. Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by writing the comment numbers for “chance 1″ on a slip of paper and drawing the number out of a hat. The prize information will be e-mailed to that person within 24 hours of contest’s end.

To be clear, you can post via any of the methods listed (blog, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter) – but you can only link ONE of those methods here. That is your first chance to win. Which brings us to the second chance to win, using a separate comment…

2. To win the second strap is going to require more creativity. We need a shot of you, or you and your camera, or even just your camera. But one of those three has to be in the photo. And either you or your camera have to illustrate through the photo WHY you need a new camera strap. Maybe you can take your cell phone and snap a photo of your DSLR on the street corner holding a sign that says “Will work for My Funky Camera strap”. Or maybe you can take a photo of yourself all pouty, holding your ratty old factory-issued strap that’s now held together with duct tape and safety pins. Perhaps even get a couple of friends sporting their super-fly straps to point and laugh at you sadly without…

The possibilities are endless. But creativity counts! Gabi and I will select the winner within 24 hours of the contest’s end.

Post a link to your photo entry in the comments.

You may enter two times total – once for posting the quote above online, and once with a photograph. Good luck! And thanks Gabi for such a fantastic prize!

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).

tag you're it: business • camera • camera strap • contest • DSLR • guest post • photo • photography • photos • point and shoot • SLR • supplies

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 11x14x5″ – 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).

tag you're it: bag • business • calendar • calendar case • camera bag • CD calendar • designs • desk calendar • DSLR • Fit to Print • mail • marketing • materials • messenger • photographer • photography • satchel • SLR • supplies • templates