New week – new winners – and a new $100 gift card giveaway!

We want to thank all of our readers and vendors for two very successful recent promotions! First up, the winner of the MOO.com $75.00 gift card…

…is CPMarketing! Congratulations to Chris, and thanks to MOO.com for the fun giveaway!




Next we have the winner of the Artsy Couture “prize pack”…it’s Carrie Hanna!

Thanks to Carrie, and also to Artsy Couture for such a great prize!




But as they say…that’s…not all! Artsy Couture is having an amazing sale through the end of May! ALL Artsy products are 22% off + free shipping! For more details see image below and visit artsycouture.com!

And one lucky Paperie reader will win a $100 Artsy gift certificate this week! How do you win?

Easy! Just tell us your favorite Artsy Couture product in the comments here.

You can have up to two additional BONUS entries by following Artsy Couture on Facebook and / or Paperie Boutique on Facebook (or stating that you follow one – or both, in separate comments – already).

Comments must be posted here by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 25th. U.S. residents can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have THREE chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same entry method multiple times. Duplicate entries will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win! See official rules for more details.

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.

Thanks once again to our sponsor Artsy Couture for being so good to our readers!




P.S. Don’t miss our FREE Father’s Day template downloads.

Check back soon!
-Robyn & Todd

Guess what? Today we have one of our favorite sponsors back for another giveaway and guest / vendor post! Please welcome Artsy Couture!

What’s up for grabs? An Artsy Couture “prize pack” that includes two Sweet Frames (up to 11×14) and a $50 gift certificate good on any Artsy products!

WHAT ARE SWEET FRAMES?
Sweet Frames are a collection of distressed and aged looking frames hand crafted from high quality wood. Every frame is meant to inspire whimsy and wonderment, like being presented with a life sized piece of candy. Join in on spreading the sweetness.

How do you win? Go to Facebook and / or Twitter and answer the following question:

“If there is one photography mistake you’ve made along the way and could take back, what would it be?“

When posting to Facebook, make sure to tag @Artsy Couture in your answer – and when posting to Twitter make sure to tag @ArtsyCouture in your answer. Then don’t forget to come back and link your Facebook and / or Twitter post(s) in the comments here so everyone can see. (These must be on a public Facebook or Twitter account so we can verify it’s there – if we have to register to see your entry, it is not public, and the entry will be voided.) That’s all there is to it!

You can have an optional, BONUS entry by telling us your favorite Artsy Couture product in the comments here.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 11th. U.S. residents can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have THREE 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! See official rules for more details.

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.

Thanks to Artsy Couture for having such an amazing prize pack for our readers!




And heads up that we currently have a $75 gift card giveaway to MOO.com:

Find more details on how to enter here! And don’t miss our FREE Mother’s Day and Father’s Day template downloads.

More on the way – see you here soon!
-Robyn & Todd

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

In this issue I reviewed summer-themed products by IKEA (photography by Munchkins and Mohawks Photography), Denny Manufacturing Company, Inc., Black River Imaging (photography by Photoumbra Studios), Poppy Tree Frames (photography by Dani Antonucci Photography), Heather Green Designs for Bad Sass Backdrops, and Photojojo.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 50 and page 52 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. Plus you can download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

And don’t miss the special article and interview with Heather Lickliter of Fairyography.com and StylizedPortraiture.com – you can find them starting on page 33 and page 86. Congratulations to Heather on the beautiful features!

Don’t get Professional Photographer Magazine yet? Subscribe here!




And heads up that we currently have a $75 gift card giveaway to MOO.com:

Find more details on how to enter here!

More coming up this week..check in soon!
-Robyn & Todd

We’re excited to present one of our favorite features on the site – photography packaging photos & descriptions by Erica Clark Photography!

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a love affair with all things stationary. Even as a teenager, I was always looking for the most unique and personalized gift packaging. I would wrap CDs in sheet music and unravel and scrunch up the inside of cassette tapes for the bow. Now, I totally allow my photography business to feed my love for boutique packaging.

I specialize in family photography and weddings. So, I decided to include my packaging for family clients as well as my wedding welcome packets which I send to brides who book with me. (Vendor information provided after photos.)

All teal colored boxes were purchased at H-B Photo. I ALWAYS buy my boxes from there. The quality is great, the prices are good, and the shipping is lightning fast.

The brown paper bags shown in the first image were purchased at my local dollar store where they are 2 for a $1. The little white bags are bought at a variety of places. Basically, wherever I see a good sale.

I bought the tiny brown paper sacks from a vendor on Etsy, I tuck a business card inside and clip it with a miniature clothespin I found for $2.00 a box on clearance at Walmart. I think about 20 came in a box. Needless to say, I bout about 10 boxes.

The twine, I bought it from our local farm store when they were marked down and out in a clearance bin.

All ribbon/lace was purchased at our local Hobby Lobby. They frequently have 50% ribbon/bows sales. When they do, I stock up…big time.

The burlap, which is cut into strips, was also purchased at Hobby Lobby. I’m an economical girl because the way I see it, if I save money, so do my clients. So when I bought the burlap, I bought TONS of it because I printed off a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby’s website.

The red and white baker’s twine was purchased at JoAnn’s Fabric. The tissue paper was purchased at Target. The little back chalkboard ‘thank you’ tag is actually just black card stock with a hole punched in it. I bought a chalkboard pen online (eBay, I think) and I hand write ‘thank you’ on the card stock. I trim the edges so it looks like a little ticket. The white button is just from my stock pile of random buttons. The clear plastic bags are from Rice Studio.

My business cards and mini cards are from Moo…of course. One of my favorite things about Moo, besides the ultra high quality, is their infinity print. If I buy 100 cards, I can have 100 different images on the backs. That’s pretty awesome in my book. As a photographer, it’s like having a mini-portfolio in my wallet. I always hand out cards with images on the back that might correspond to the type of photography a potential client may want. Some of my stickers come from Moo as well. The business cards and mini cards serve as hang tags as well.

The stickers I use to seal the tissue paper are from WHCC. The 5×5 press printed square is also from WHCC and I use the other side to hand write a thank you note.

The petal enclosure is what I use for discs of digital files and the 5×5 card fits right on top of it. I buy those from The Paper Source. I seal the enclosure with one of the Moo stickers.

The 3×3 accordions are from WHCC and are sometimes one of the little gifts I give my clients.

The following is what goes into my bridal packets, along with a few business cards from local hair/make-up, DJ, & cake vendors.

All of the press printed products are purchased from WHCC. ALL of the images used were taken by me, but the templates were purchased from Design Aglow. I LOVE Design Aglow! LOVE!

---

Included in my bridal packets are:

A little accordion pocket planner. That way, as they complete each step of the planning process, brides can check it off in their planner. It’s the perfect size for their purse.

The 5×5 trifold includes info regarding save-the-dates, first looks, formals, and even a little note just for grooms.

Also included is a 4×5 accordion card all about make-up and ways for brides to look their best.

Finally, a 5×7 press printed card that talks about engagement sessions. On the reverse side is ‘what-to-wear’ advice.

---

The last thing I include is an Erica Clark Photography tote bag wrapped with the baker’s twine. The 3×3 hang tag is from WHCC and the totes are from The Wedding Chicks.

When my clients receive their prints or when my brides receive their welcome packets, I want them to feel like they are receiving a special little gift that was meant just for them.

I always say that hiring a custom photographer should be a luxurious experience and I want my packaging to represent just that.

A side note on budgeting, I always wait for sales. Always. Hobby Lobby always has sales/printable coupons on their website, Design Aglow offers a discount when the item is just released, WHCC has press printed cards sales every spring and winter, Target and JoAnn’s have clearance items, Moo offers free shipping sometimes, and so on.

When I decided on my branding colors, I thought about holidays. Yes, holidays. There are 2 major holidays that use red as the main color: Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The week following those two holidays are when I clean up!

My point is, luxury doesn’t have to have a hefty price tag. Just be smart about what, where, and when you buy.

A very special thanks to Robyn for allowing me to share my packaging addiction. I’m grateful to have Paperie Boutique as a source for inspiration.

And a huge thanks to Erica Clark Photography for taking the time to share her packaging photos / resources / hints & tips! If you just can’t get enough of Erica’s packaging and presentation, make sure to visit this blog post and tell her thanks for sharing with the class!




Excited to announce the winner of the 3-month subscription to Chic Critique Forum is Tara Nichols!

And the winner of our Poppy Tree Frames giveaway is…Olivia Price Photography!

Thanks to everyone who entered both contests, and to Poppy Tree Frames for the fun prize! I’ll be in touch with the winners by Monday!




If you’re interested in having your own business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured please contact Robyn (e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment).

Check in all week – great things are scheduled!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. The Savvy Photographer is running a photo contest through May 15th, 2012. Categories include Baby, Child, Family, Seniors , Wedding, and Pets. The prizes are amazing, so visit the site to check them out – and enter!

We’re baaaaack! Did you miss us? We recently shared that it’s been a pretty dark spring around our house and April has been equally unkind with illness and ER trips. Thanks to everyone for your patience and for continually checking in!

We’re happy to report that not only are we posting again, but we also have a great vendor / guest post and giveaway by Poppy Tree Frames. And read ’til the end for a cool (FREE!) Pinterest app for Facebook!




Poppy Tree Frames sells custom, handmade picture frames. They offer 18 frame styles in 42 colors and 49 prints. And now the good people at Poppy Tree Frames are partnering with Paperie Boutique to offer our readers a $30 Poppy Tree Frames gift card!

To enter and win the $30 gift card all you have to do is go to the comments here and tell us your favorite frame style.

You can get an extra BONUS entry by following Poppy Tree Frames on Facebook – and then commenting here to tell us you’ve done so.

You can have one more BONUS entry by sharing this post on Paperie’s Facebook page with your Facebook readers. (This must be on a public Facebook page so we can verify it’s there – if we have to register to see your Facebook page, it is not public, and the entry will be voided.) Don’t forget to come back here and post the link to your shared post. That’s all there is to it!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 1st. You can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

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

You have THREE 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! See official rules for more details.

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.

Be sure to check out the Poppy Tree Frames website here and their Facebook page here! And thanks to Poppy Tree Frames for giving our readers such an amazing giveaway!




In case you haven’t heard, Woobox has an awesome FREE Pinterest app for your Facebook pages. It will show your Pinterest boards and pins as a tab on your Facebook page.

1. You can require users to like your Facebook page before
     viewing your Pinterest tab.
2. Show all of your boards and pins styled just like they are on
     Pinterest.
3. Users can view your boards and pins directly on your
     Facebook page or click to visit Pinterest to repin, like,
     comment, and follow your pins.
4. Show all your boards or just the pins from a specific board.
5. You get complete stats for page views, visits, and likes,
     segmented by fans and non-fans who view your tab.

You can see this in action on Sephora’s Pinterest tab. Visit Woobox to download the “Pinterest Tab for Facebook Pages” for free!




Don’t forget the Chic Critique Forum contest runs through April 30th — more details here. You can win a 3-month membership from Paperie!

Tune in next week — more goodies are on the way!
Have a great weekend -
Robyn & Todd

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

In this issue I reviewed props and backdrops by WHCC, Denny Manufacturing Company, Inc., Bad Sass Backdrops, Inc., Custom Photo Props, Photo Pie, drop it MODERN, Design Revolution, PhotoArt StreetScapes, Barbour Backdrops and Props, and Backgrounds by Maheu.

Click the magazine pages above to read a larger .pdf version of the article. You can also find the article on page 60, page 62, and page 64 of the print-version when it hits mailboxes. Plus you can download the digital edition now if you’re a PPA member or digital subscriber.

Don’t get Professional Photographer Magazine? Subscribe here!

The Chic Critique Forum is focused on providing candid critique for photographers. Whether you are an amateur or a seasoned photographer, Chic Critique Forum is the place to be when you are ready to step it up. Our forum members are strongly encouraged to offer at least one suggestion to every image they choose to comment on. Also, members can sign up for our exclusive “4-Week Critiques” with any of our Celebrity Photographers. Join a creative community of aspiring and inspiring photographers who share honest critique.

Well funny you should ask because all new members during the month of April will receive a free digital copy of CHIC Magazine! And look what’s on page 62:

As further incentive to join, Paperie will pay for the entire 3 months of a 3-month subscription ($28 total value) for one lucky reader! All you have to do is join Chic Critique Forum and then post a comment here saying you’ve done so and are now a member. The affiliate contest ends on April 30th – so on Tuesday, May 1st we will use Random.org to select the winner from the comments here, and then we will refund the cost of one 3-month membership ($28) to the winner. So what do you have to lose? You get a free digital copy of CHIC Magazine – and have a chance to get the first 3 months of your membership free as well! It’s win-win!

(Please read Paperie’s contest and giveaway rules – and note that Paperie Boutique hosted events are open to U.S. residents age 18 and over only.)

Good luck to everyone who enters!




More goodies coming soon! And don’t forget our extended advertiser sale going on through April 15th!

-Robyn & Todd

We’re excited to have a new vendor / guest post from one of our favorite advertisers at Paperie – The Wedding Photographic Society.

Welcome to The Wedding Photographic Society (WPS)

Welcome to The Wedding Photographic Society (WPS)! We’re a network of professional wedding & portrait photographers who come together to collaborate on photographic ideas, thoughts, and information in an attempt to elevate the artistic, technical, and business standards of the wedding photographic community. Membership in the WPS offers many professional & personal growth opportunities via bi-monthly educational meetings, networking, critiques, and general camaraderie during such gatherings. WPS meetings, forums, blog submissions, & web pages are open to any and all professional wedding photographers throughout the world.

The WPS’s origins date back to 2005, when Raleigh, NC wedding photographer Christobal Perez organized quarterly photography meetings in an effort to help build relationships, share knowledge amongst peers, and help create a competitive, yet supportive photographic community. The spirit of Christobal’s movement has grown exponentially since that time and has since evolved into the WPS (which became official in 2009) with the further support of other local photographers, Martha Manning, Stacy Borelli, & Brian Mullins. Leaders & members of the WPS donate their time to organize topic discussions with guest speakers, collaborate on ideas and offer guidance, all without compensation.

Membership
To join the WPS, you need to meet the following minimum criteria:

- Actively pursuing business as a professional wedding and/or portrait photographer (or aspiring to be a professional wedding and/or portrait photographer).

- A professional photography website showing your current work.

- Willingness to share your knowledge with others (we don’t ask for state secrets but a general willingness to be open and help others when possible).

There are two levels of membership in the WPS; aspiring and professional.

Aspiring
An aspiring member is someone who is not yet a professional photographer but looking to gain knowledge in photography, learn about proper business practice and grow as a photographer. Typically these are newer photographers in the field of weddings & portraits. Membership grants permissions to attend the monthly meetings and have limited access to the forums. This insures an open environment to ask questions in without fear of hostility.

Professional
A professional member has all the rights of the aspiring member, but has full access to the forums. A professional member will be actively pursuing business and working in the field of professional wedding or portrait photography.

The review process
Each application is personally reviewed by a WPS board member to determine which classification the applicant will be granted. Any photographer granted “aspiring” status can petition, at any time, for “full” or “professional” standing at which time their application will be reviewed again.

Application
To officially become a member of the WPS please first read the FAQ then register here.

Meetings
So as you enter into the WPS, you will undoubtedly see and hear about local meetings with some really cool topics and opportunities to network with other photographers in your area. These meetings are the true essence of the WPS and we HIGHLY encourage your attendance. If you don’t have local meetings in your area, then contact us at admin@weddingphotographicsociety.com to aid in assisting in starting a group local to you.

Forums
The WPS forums are our home away from home. As we started our organization based on face to face meetings, we quickly realized we needed a place to compile information such as emergency shooter lists, buying and selling gear, meeting announcements, etc. You can use them to get help with a sticky situation, help resolving a client issue, to vent or just to network. In the WPS, you definitely get out of it what you put into it so contribute whenever possible.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the WPS and we look forward to your future contributions to the society.

Stacy Borelli
WPS Executive Board Member
www.TheWPS.com
919.602.1050

Last but not least, in honor of “springing forward”, all new Paperie advertisers will receive a huge discount off the published rates. By request / popular demand, we’ve extended our “spring forward” ad sale through April 15th. What the tax man giveth, you can taketh to boost your site traffic and SEO with Paperie Boutique!

2012 is already off to a great start – on the heels of our 2011 Wrap Battle in December, we logged 453,452 unique page views in January and 8.34 million hits as the winners were announced!

“Anybody wanting to advertise really should. I love browsing your ads to find new vendors and resources.” -Kim, momtriedit.net

“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!” -Kathy, boudoirbusinessboutique.com

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!

Standard Ad Rates

125×125 static image – right sidebar – 12 months $125.00 USD 185×185 static image – right sidebar – 12 months $150.00 USD 125×250 static image – right sidebar – 12 months $200.00 USD 185×370 static image – right sidebar – 12 months $225.00 USD 125×125 rotating image – left sidebar – 12 months $75.00 USD

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. And if you are a current vendor who would like to renew, please contact Todd for that as well – we are currently offering 15% off renewals!

We look forward to having you join the Paperie family!

I’d like to share a group I recently “faved” on Facebook – the Professional Photographers for Baby Safety:

“We (as a concerned creative collective) have started watermarking/stamping composite images with a ‘seal’ of sorts as a ‘best practice’.

This seal lets everyone know that the image is two different photos edited together to create magic.

Both photographers and parents alike will see it and instantly know when an image is a composite without reading (nobody reads the fine print anyway). And will be educated that these are composites and photographers who offer/attempt the poses without compositing are working outside the generally accepted safety norms.”

Congrats to Dana and thanks to everyone who entered! Stay tuned this week for more fun!

-Robyn & Todd

P.S. Check out just-completed Panache Collective packaging sets on Facebook!

Hello, would you like free shipping with MOO?

We’ll just assume the answer is yes, which works out rather nicely – because for the next 48 hours, that’s what’s happening! Simply place an order within the next 48 hours using the code SHIP2012 at checkout – whether it’s Business Cards, MiniCards, Stickers or even Luxe Business Cards – we’ll ship it to you absolutely free*.

So, if you’ve never made any MOO products, it’s the perfect time to give us a try. What are you waiting for – get on board!

*This offer is valid until midnight PST Friday 30th March 2012 and applies to the cheapest shipping option only.

(Don’t forget to look through the Paperie free downloads archives for Moo templates ready to customize, upload, and print!)

Don’t forget we also have a giveaway going on through Friday for your choice of a Pebbles Inc. Ribbon Iron or the i-magicut ribbon cutter:

Click here for more details – and good luck!
-Robyn & Todd

I wanted to feature another one of my favorite finds…the Pebbles Inc. Ribbon Iron. Keep reading to find out how you can win a ribbon iron of your own – or the i-magicut ribbon cutter we just shared – your choice of prizes!

I order ribbon off eBay and Etsy all the time, and a lot of it is mailed out wrapped around a piece of chipboard – so it arrives with multiple creases. I’ve had a few Paper Source spools of ribbon show up creased as well.

Then one day I ran across the Ribbon Iron at stitchsteals.com. It looks / works very much like a flat-iron styling tool for your hair, but at a lower heat setting that won’t damage synthetic fabrics in ribbon.

Here’s a pop-up video to walk you through what this product does step-by-step:

I use it to flatten the creases out of small muslin bags as well.

Amazon has them on sale for $12.46 right now. (Scrapbook.com is out of stock, but they also sell them for $16.14.)




And now one lucky Paperie winner will have their choice of winning a Pebbles Inc. Ribbon Iron or the the i-magicut ribbon cutter by imaginisce.

View Paperie Boutique official rules for contests and giveaways here. Please note that Paperie Boutique hosted events are open to U.S. residents age 18 and over only.

All you have to do is post in the comments here and let us know which of these two crafting tools that you’d use more! That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” our new Panache Collective Facebook fan page – just comment that you’ve done so, or that you’re already a fan.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you follow @PaperieBoutique on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow us.

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

Comment with your favorite ribbon tool (ribbon iron or ribbon cutter) – or that you’ve liked Panache Collective on Facebook – or that you’ve followed @PaperieBoutique on Twitter – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, March 30th. You can enter up to THREE times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in three separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three 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 THREE 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! See official rules for more details.

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 in today’s giveaway!
-Robyn & Todd

Wanted to share one of my amazing recent finds – the i-magicut by imaginisce.

This handy tool cuts and heat-seals the ends of ribbon up to 3″-wide. No more fraying! You can cut straight edges, on the diagonal, and even the popular “Chevron” cut. It takes 4AA batteries and heats in under 5 seconds. Here’s a pop-up video to walk you through what this product does step-by-step:

I love mine so much, I now have two “just in case“. Amazon has them on sale for $15.77 right now. (Scrapbook.com is out of stock, but they also sell them for $19.99.)

Go. Buy. Now. You’ll thank me later!

(Or better yet – try and win it here!)

And if you missed our Moo Luxe business card post, scroll on ↓ down ↓ !




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

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

I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Moo Luxe Business Cards.

“Printed on Mohawk Superfine paper (loved by designers and illustrators), Luxe Business Cards are the cashmere sweater of Business Cards – they look as good as they feel.”

• 600gsm / 32pt paper – that’s three times as thick as the
   average Business Card
• an eye-catching seam of color running through every
   card (choose from black, white, red or blue) – it’s a real
   conversation starter
• a carefully curated gallery of custom MOO Designs

Moo Quadplex technology compresses four layers of Mohawk Superfine paper together, including your choice of color in the center, creating an eye catching streak running through the fabric of every card. As a talking point, we’re sure you’ll agree it’s pretty remarkable!”

As a self-confessed paper-a-holic and packaging geek, I love everything about this new business card line. The boxes are texture-wrapped and topped off with a beautiful purple ribbon and “wax seal” – and upon opening you realize the box has a special magnetic-closure mechanism. In the first image I have stacked 20 Moo “Luxe” business cards on the right next to 20 “rounded corner” business cards printed on Moo’s premium stock – you can definitely see a difference in thickness! (Click both images shown for a larger pop-up version.)

Prices for the Luxe line start at $34.99 for 50 cards. Visit Moo’s site for more!




From @overheardatmoo: Hot off the press – We’re giving free cheapest option shipping this weekend. Use the code SHIPFREE before Sunday midnight (03.25.12)!




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

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

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

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

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

Don’t get Professional Photographer Magazine? Subscribe here!




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

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




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

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

It’s no big secret my family has had a rough couple of years, but we were all left unprepared and reeling from the events that took place two weeks ago. My little sister Jennifer, age 30, passed away on February 27th. She was married and they have a 14-month old son.

Hopefully that helps explain why the site has been left without updates and and e-mails have gone unreturned. I tried to update the Paperie Facebook page as I was able, but there’s just only so much you can do from an iPad on I-40 travelling to and from a funeral…

Slowly but surely I’m catching up with my life again and we have a few contest winners to announce!




First up are the winners of the three packaging contests here on Paperie: The “cameo / timeless” boutique packaging winner is Dawn Corwin. The “three strikes / spring training” custom packaging winner is Lynette Weber. And the “lipstick / tarte” boudoir packaging winner is WhirlieGirl Photography!

And the winner of “the savvy set” giveaway by Panache Collective over at The Savvy Photographer was…Sugar Bug Photography!

Thanks to everyone who entered, congrats to our winners, and thanks again to The Savvy Photographer for hosting one of these great giveaways!

For all our winners – you should hear from Robyn in the next 24-48 hours. Your packaging will need to be assembled and should ship within 3-4 business days of contact. Thanks for your patience!




Thanks for everyone’s support and prayers for our family!
-Robyn & Todd

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

There’s a great giveaway from The Panache Collective over at The Savvy Photographer right now!

“One lucky Savvy reader will have a chance to win this Panache Collective boutique packaging set before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½ x 7½ and five 8½ x 10½ “the savvy set” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue). As shown in the photos, these box designs feature the Panache Collective’s revolutionary new quick-release open and close system. The design stays snug around the box, but can easily be removed and set aside to pack the order – and then reattached to safely hand-deliver or ship – without damaging your work of art.”

Visit The Savvy Photographer for more details! Huge thanks to them for the great giveaway opportunity!

And don’t forget, we still have three more Panache Collective packaging set giveaways here – they run through 11:59 p.m. EST tonight (Thursday, February 23rd)!

Thanks for making this year’s WPPI so great!
-Robyn & Todd

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

Together with HB Photo Packaging, Paperie Boutique is excited to launch the “Panache Collective“!

Making its debut at WPPI 2012, the Panache Collective is a high-end custom photo packaging / portrait box décor product line. The Panache Collective was created with the boutique portrait artist in mind and includes collections specifically for senior, engagement / wedding, boudoir, maternity, baby, children / family, and sports photographers. The Panache Collective features bright colors, stylish designs and innovative function – including quick-release, easy open access.

At this time “Panache Collective” ordering is limited exclusively to WPPI 2012 attendees — pre-order registration is available at the HB Photo Packaging booth (# 1247). VIP mailing list registration is also available at the HB booth at WPPI. Mailing list members will be given early access to online purchasing before the ordering system goes public.

Following the soft-launch beta stage, public mailing list registration and ordering will begin in late spring / early summer 2012. Watch this space for more details!

The Panache Collective. “YOUR PRINTS. CHARMING.“

And now, one lucky Paperie reader will have a chance to win this Panache Collective boutique packaging set before the product line even goes into the pre-sale phase! Up for grabs are five 5½x7½ “cameo” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue), and five 8½x10½ “timeless” decorated photo boxes (with matching tissue). As shown in the photos below, these box designs feature our revolutionary new quick-release open and close system. The design stays snug around the box, but can easily be removed and set aside to pack the order – and then reattached to safely hand-deliver or ship – without damaging your work of art.

View Paperie Boutique official rules for contests and giveaways here. Please note that Paperie Boutique hosted events are open to U.S. residents age 18 and over only.

All you have to do is post in the comments here and let us know one of the following:

• your favorite demo packaging set here
      — or —
• your business color palette
      — or —
• your photography specialty (weddings, boudoir, children / family, etc.)

That’s all there is to it!

You can have an additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you “like” both Paperie Boutique’s Facebook fan page and HB Photo Packaging’s Facebook fan page – just comment that you’ve done so, or that you’re already a fan.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you follow both @paperieboutique and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter – just comment that you’ve followed or already follow them.

And another additional – optional – “bonus” entry if you post the following to Facebook or Twitter:
Win a custom ‘cameo’ photography packaging set from the new Panache Collective by @paperieboutique & @HBPhotoPkging – http://is.gd/vJnozT

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

Comment with your favorite Panache Collective packaging set shown here, -or- your color palette, -or- your photography-speciality. And for bonus chances to win let us know you’ve liked Paperie Boutique on Facebook and HB Photo Packaging on Facebook. Or that you’ve followed @paperieboutique on Twitter and @HBPhotoPkging on Twitter. Or that you’ve posted about this giveaway to Facebook or Twitter. Do these in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 23rd. You can enter up to FOUR times total. Post that you have met the individual requirements in four separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four 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 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! See official rules for more details.

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 everyone! Stop by booth # 1247 TODAY at WPPI!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. You can also win our new “lipstick” and “tarte” boudoir packaging sets here – and our new baseball-themed packaging sets here.