pick a color – any color!

My recent aqua / aqua photo boxes from HB Packaging have caused quite the Internet stir. The company is actually considering offering that combo as an option now. Raise your hand if you’re interested in the comments!

HB Photo Packaging would also like to know, “Is there a color or packaging item you want for your business but can’t find?” If so, please post about it here in the comments – they are listening! If your branding is centered around colors like grey or orange that are impossible to find photo boxes to match, this is your chance to speak now or forever hold your peace.

HB does offer “print your own” packaging that you can design from scratch using blank templates—but these color suggestions on Paperie Boutique would be for their Standard, and Boutique, and Prestige packaging lines.

So dream it and post it! They’re waiting to hear from you…




And now the follow-up to yesterday’s guest post / photo teaser by Photoumbra Studios. Everyone loves the packaging posts here and this one will not disappoint!

Inspired by so many posts on the Paperie blog, I set out a few months ago to give my packaging, marketing, and price menus a good dose of consistency, simplicity, and of course some pretty! I didn’t venture far from what I had already been giving my clients, but I felt like I could vamp up my look and information a little better. I didn’t change my color scheme nor my logo, which I do think is important because as we all know, it is so crucial to be consistent and it was very important to me to incorporate my website and blog branding into my print and packaging.

Besides staying true to our current branding, it was also very important to me to be able to design tools that could help my clients make smarter and hopefully larger purchases by providing them with an easy to navigate price menu, a wall display design guide, and the ability to choose a portrait collection or build their own. As with any project, there are things I would do differently next time, but also things that I learned work great and I will continue to implement.

First lets start with the packaging. I’ve been using Kraft products to package with for some time, but what was new was some new little cards that I made up that I now include in every order. The cards include a blank “Thank You” card where I can hand write a message, a “Portrait Care Tips” card that is included with any enlargements, a “Spread the Love” card that talks about our referral program, and a “Copyright Info” card.

(If you are interested in purchasing the templates or a copy of our “Portrait Design Guide”) see the bottom of this post.

Our packaging includes:
• Boxes from Rice Studio Supply
• Stickers from WHCC (but I will soon be trying out
  Black River Imaging’s die cut stickers)
• Bags, Tissue and Ribbons from Nashville Wraps
• Little stickers from MOO
• Thank You, Copyright Info, Referral Info, and Portrait
  Care Tip Cards printed by Overnight Prints

Next up is our “Portrait Boutique Catalog”. The version that I give to each of my clients is 5.5×11 folded press printed card with a 5×5x8.5 insert. The Catalog outlines each of our print and product lines with brief descriptions of each and standard size pricing. The insert features our “Portrait Collection” on one side (5 to choose from) and a “Build Your Own Collection” option on the other side. The BYOC has been very popular and I have found that most of my clients are enjoying the freedom of it.

Our Catalog and insert cards were printed by Overnight Prints.

Finally, is our “Portrait Design Guide”. This guide is given to select clients who are interested in investing in wall portraits. It includes a cover, an introduction to the guide, 14 inspiring designs for wall displays, a card for them to record measurements throughout their home where they would like to create a wall display, and a card where they can jot down any notes, or draw ideas. The cards corners are rounded an they are bound by a single hinged silver ring. Also included along with the guide is a 60″ measuring tape that we had custom branded for our studio with the tag line “Design Away – Photoumbra Studios“, they also receive a pen branded with our studio name and website. Each of these items fit into a nice 5×7 box decorated with our studio logo and a ribbon.

The “Portrait Design Guide” vendors are:
• Cards printed by Overnight Prints
• Wall Display Design purchased from Gradybug Designs
  but altered to reflect our studio colors and I also included
  some other design elements and text into these
• Tape Measures from American Bridal
• Pens from Ink Spot

If you are interested in receiving a digital or hard copy of our “Portrait Design Guide” we are offering them for sale for Paperie Boutique readers.

** Please note that I will not include the actual wall display templates in the sale of the digital copy because I purchased those from another vendor. However, I will include the cover pages I designed myself along with a digital copy of our Thank You, Copyright Info, Referral Info, and Portrait Care Tip Cards. You can order yours HERE. If you say you are a Paperie reader you will get $20 off the digital download price ’til July 4th – making it just $29 instead of $49.**

Huge thanks to Monica Burby and Photoumbra Studios. I learned of new vendors myself with this post, and have a lot of fun ideas swirling around in my head now! Don’t forget to stop by Monica’s website and blog to say “thank you”, too.

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.

she’s kraft-y

You might remember the recent “PAWS for CAWS” pet packaging guest post by Monica Burby of Photoumbra Studios. Now Photoumbra is back for a gorgeous quick-teaser of their new design guide along with a teaser-peek of the amazingly elegant Photoumbra Studios packaging.

More to follow soon. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss it! Have a great week!
Robyn

it’s a nice day for a white wedding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I don’t care if Monday’s blue

Nothing will help cure a case of the Mondays like a great big giveaway!

Today we have Leah of LCH Photography & Design stopping by to offer just that in a new guest post…

So excited to do a guest post today! Thanks so much Robyn for inviting me — I truly appreciate it!

What is better than sitting down with a client and handing them pictures from a photo shoot that turned out perfectly? How about using those images in beautiful baby announcements, custom albums, wall collages and more?!

LCH Design offers templates, actions, and marketing tools for photographers.

Delight your clients with:
• Baby Announcements
• Holiday Cards
• Cutting Edge Senior Products
• Custom Album Templates—Family, Children, Seniors & Weddings
• iPod Skin Templates
• Marketing Tools
• Wedding Album Templates and Guest Albums
• …..and MORE!

LCH Design began 5 years ago as I anxiously awaited the news of the pending adoption of our daughter from Taiwan. Waiting on the process seemed like FOREVER! An outlet was needed as we finished the paperwork for the adoption and waited to receive the news that we were able to travel to meet our daughter for the first time.

So…I began creating art (with the help of Photoshop!) for photographers to have elegant products to offer their clients. I never dreamed that the business would grow the way it has over the past 5 years. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to combine my passion for photography and my passion for creating.

It is my hope that these templates will benefit your business as they have others. A new online store was just launched early this year with a new storefront, easy to find-navigation, PLUS instant downloads! There is a wide selection of items. So take your time, enjoy, and please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Below is a sampling of some of my designs. Please check out the store at lchdesignstore.com to see all the goodies!

A new popular line at LCH Design is the Pressley Senior Collection including CD templates, iPod skins, image boxes and album templates…..

So excited about the new iPod Skin templates now available in the store! Perfect for your Seniors, advertising your business and showing off your images!

Another iPod skin example:

Babies, Babies, Babies……templates for announcements and albums!

Expressions Frames v.1 have been a hot seller! They are perfect to add to albums, splash pages, blog posts and gallery mounts! These make great ‘thank you gifts’ to clients as well. Layer a frame on a Vintage Paper and order a mini gallery mount or a desk-sized standout from ProLab Express.

Now…for the giveaway… (Gotta love giveaways!) The winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate to LCH Design!

¤ STEP ONE (REQUIRED) — To win the $100.00 gift certificate, first become a LCH Design Facebook fan! Join here!

¤ STEP TWO (REQUIRED) — Post the following to your Facebook wall, your Twitter stream, or your blog:

Win a $100.00 gift certificate to LCH Design / lchdesignstore.com — details how at Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com by @shutterblog

¤ STEP THREE (REQUIRED) — Post the URL to your link with the above text in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 28th.

Please note: If you have won a prize within the last 30 days, please sit this one out and give someone else a chance to win please! 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. If we have to subscribe to your feed or page or request permission to see it, you will automatically be disqualified.

You can enter once per person using a public, non-private blog URL, Facebook, or Twitter account. Please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed.

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!

Also for all you Paperie Boutique fans — save 20% at the store using the code PAPERIE20. Valid for one week only. Use as many times as you would like during the week. Coupon valid until Monday, May 3, 2010.

Happy Shopping!
blessings,
Leah

Thank you so much, Leah! Definitely a prize I’d like to win myself. There’s going to be one very lucky winner this Wednesday! Don’t forget to stop by the LCH Photography & Design Blog and tell Leah thanks as well.

And if you missed Friday’s post, there’s still a few more hours left to win three prizes from LolliPockits!

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.

you might be a winner!

Today we’re very lucky to have a guest post by Kim Drury of MadiLu Designs. Kim also designs for one of my favorite template sites Pink Ink Studios. Read to the end for a chance to win one of TWO fantastic prizes!

What’s best for you? Custom or premade design?

I was so excited to hear from Paperie Boutique! Packaging and presentation is something I’ve loved my entire life. Thanks for having me!

There are many design resources for photographers. While some can, and ENJOY doing it for themselves, there are many others who don’t have the time to devote to designing their own marketing materials. It’s great to have so much to choose from, but can be overwhelming!

Many sites will offer premade marketing templates. You basically download the files, pop in your info and you’re finished. Easy peasy! Premades are great for the photographer on a budget or when you need something right away. They are also nice to have when you aren’t sure about your look or style, yet you need something to present a professional image. You’ll find some of my premade sets at Pink Ink Studios. There are many talented designers over there who offer great marketing templates and they are ready to go!

Custom design is beautiful and by far my favorite thing to work on. I recommend going the custom route when you’ve got a good idea of what image you want to portray to your clients and if you’ve been looking at premade sets and can’t seem to find “the one”. Custom work does take longer and is typically more expensive. It requires focus and input on your part, but when you’re finished it’s very rewarding. It belongs only to you and can set you apart from your competition.

I’m sharing a custom logo and set I recently created for Jack and Jane Photography. It was so much fun to watch this come together.

But wait! That’s not all!

One lucky Paperie reader can win this Premade Set from MadiLu Designs! (Premade Set includes business card, gift certificate, thank you, 2” sticker, print care card, copyright card, referral card, #10 envelope, 5×7 card, letterhead and 5×5 digital negative holder. Colors can be customized.)

Another lucky Paperie winner will win a Custom Logo Design from MadiLu Designs! (Custom Logo Design includes logo and watermark.)

Since there are two great separate prizes (and not everyone needs a logo) we’re going to split the chances to win. So to enter one of the giveaways, or both, please make sure you follow the directions closely for each one – as the contests and your entries are separate.

To win the MadiLu Designs Premade Set:

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

I want the MadiLu Designs Premade Set from @madilu_designs / madiludesigns.com – enter to win at 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 Thursday, April 22nd.

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 two times total for the MadiLu Designs Premade Set – one entry each per public, non-private blog Facebook or Twitter account.

You have two chances to win the MadiLu Designs Premade Set but only one chance PER LINK – please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed. And post your separate links in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

Post your comment in the following format (up to two separate entries per person for this prize):

I posted to win the MadiLu Designs Premade Set on Facebook: [insert your Facebook link here]

  — AND / OR —

I posted to win the MadiLu Designs Premade Set on Twitter: [insert your Twitter link here]

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by random drawing out of a hat, and the winner will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Bonne chance!

To win the MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design:

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

I need a MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design from @madilu_designs / madiludesigns.com – enter to win at 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 Thursday, April 22nd.

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 two times total for the MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design – one entry each per public, non-private Facebook or Twitter account.

You have two chances to win the MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design but only one chance PER LINK – please do not post the same link multiple times – duplicate links will be removed. And post your separate links in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

Post your comment in the following format (up to two separate entries per person for this prize):

I posted to win the MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design on Facebook: [insert your Facebook link here]

  — AND / OR —

I posted to win the MadiLu Designs Custom Logo Design on Twitter: [insert your Twitter link here]

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by random drawing out of a hat, and the winner will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

Thanks so much to Kim Drury and MadiLu Designs for this fantastic prize! Stop by the MadiLu Designs Blog and tell her thanks!

UPDATE: The winners have been announced here. Congrats to them and thanks to those who entered and once again to MadiLu Designs!

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.

the monster mash(up)

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.

la troisième sera la bonne

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!

ooh la la

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!

Small wonders

Make sure you read ’til the end because there is another AMAZING (yes, AMAZING) give-away!

But since I’m a firm believer in “dessert first, main course later…” here’s another great packaging feature. Today’s guest post is by Carrie Small of Carrie Small Photography in Fayetteville, NC. You might remember that Carrie was featured here last August. She recently updated her packaging and it’s visual proof that lightning can strike the same place twice!

Appointment Reminder – sent out to clients after they send in their deposit to hold a session. The template came from Pink Ink Studios and is printed at my print shop as a folded bookmark.

Avery Notebook – holds my signed model releases, frames examples, and receipts. Purchased from avery.com [Note from Robyn: for more information about, and photos of, the Avery organizers see this previous Paperie entry]

“Flair for your Fridge” – used to seal the ribbons on my presentation boxes for my clients, I purchased them from somethingbluestudios.com. They are really magnets.

Copyright and Print Release – printed front and back press printed 5×7 card from my print shop. I add one to each presentation box. I purchased the template/wording from thepolishedphotographer.com.

High Resolution CD/Case – CDs are printed from CPQ, enclosed in a trifold 5×5 card from my print shop. The template/wording was purchased from thepolishedphotographer.com and includes copyright info, a signed print release, and printing recommendations. The CD hub was purchased at shop4tech.com.

Low Resolution CD/Case – I print the label for these CDs myself, and they are included free of purchased files. They are added to the presentation box with the clients images. Included is a the copyright information and terms of use for the photos. The CD hub was purchased at shop4tech.com.

Client Info Packet – includes a 5×5 Trifold Contract, Model Release and Price List (printed as a sell sheet from MpixPro) and 2 business cards, enclosed in a presentation envelope purchased from Paper Source.

Referral Packet – added to each client order. Includes a 5×5 flat press printed card containing my referral information. I print wallets of each order with my website information and referall information on the back of the wallets, and include them tied in a ribbon to the referral packet. They are then enclosed in a petal envelope from paper-source.com and sealed with custom stickers from Moo.com (not pictured).

Presentation Boxes – I purchase my boxes from Rice Studio Supply and enclose all prints in clear bags from clearbags.com. The box is then wrapped with a ribbon matching my branding and sealed with a flair for your fridge magnet from somethingbluestudios.com.

Calendar – printed from CPQ, I use this as my calendar for scheduling.

Thank You Card – this is a 5×5 print that I print after editing a favorite photo from the session – I try to do this the day after the session. It includes a thank you to the client as well as information on viewing the gallery when it is ready. I mail this in a 5×5 envelope from paper-source.com.

Thank you so much for coming back to share a follow-up, Carrie! Your work, and your packaging, are nothing short of perfection. You can catch Carrie to say thanks at her blog here.

Still with me? Good! Because here’s the amazing give-away coming up for one lucky reader!

Recently I was contacted by a regular reader, Tosha Francis, of The Captured Life Photography. This site has been a tremendous help to Tosha and her business and she wanted to “pay it forward”. So she is donating the “Studio Look Book – Basic” from Design Aglow ($175.00 value). I already have the download information. All you have to do is win it!

“Professionally written and graphically designed, our fully customizable template is divided into categories to help sell all your fabulous studio offerings, from everything from albums to wall galleries, specialty items, high resolution negatives and more. Our 30 page, 8×12 catalog template makes selling every single product your studio offers an easy and beautiful experience…simply insert your own product photo into our layouts.”

So exactly how do you win? That might be helpful information, no? Go to your blog, Facebook account, Flickr account, or Twitter account and post the following:

Win the @designaglow / designaglow.com Studio Look Book – visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com by @shutterblog to find out how!

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 item.

You can enter up to four times total – one entry each per public, non-private blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, March 26th.

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!

Don’t forget to tell Tosha “thank you” over at her blog, too! I ♥ my readers!

UPDATE: We have a winner! It’s Belinda Olsen Photography!

Congratulations Belinda and thanks to everyone who entered. More giveaways are in the works (including this current one by Photoflashdrive.com that runs through Sunday evening) – so check back!

And just a little FYI, you might want to make sure you check back in Friday. That’s all I’m sayin’ for now!

Last but not least… If you noticed things were a little wonky here earlier in the week, my amazing host (Hosting Matters) has been taking great care of us. They put Paperie over in its own space away from my other business and personal sites to make it even bigger / better / faster. I’ve been with Hosting Matters since 2001 and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. If you need a web host, check them out! You can get quite a deal if you say you’re from Paperie Boutique!

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).

go 4 it!

Paperie Boutique recently did a packaging feature by Julie Rollins Photography. It was so popular, I added a follow-up post to let readers know where Julie purchased her marketing materials. And this could be your lucky day because one of those vendors (Go{4}Pro) is giving away an “everything / ultimate marketing kit” to one Paperie fan! I’m going to introduce Leah Stimmel now for this guest post and let her say the rest!

I created Go{4}Pro as a way to document my journey as I made my effort to do just that, go for pro. I quite literally started from scratch! I had seen an image by Mark Lee and fell instantly head over heels in love with contemporary photography and thought “that’s what I want to do“. So I figured I should probably start with getting myself a camera. When you decide you’re going to be a photographer and you’ve never owned more then a point and shoot, you have a pretty steep learning curve. But I didn’t care—with every part of me I just had to do this. I was smitten with this idea of capturing the genuine.

But of course the journey can be lonely when you feel that you know nothing and no one who does. You can feel quite lost! After several less then enthusiastic responses from my husband when I’d wake him up at 2 a.m. because I’d just stumbled on something amazing I decided to start blogging about these amazing finds instead. And so Go{4}Pro was created. A very happy side effect of Go{4}Pro was realizing the effect I was having on others. And although technically I still may not be the sharpest lens in the bag, my business background has given me a fabulous opportunity to teach and inspire which have always been deep passions of mine. As I grew so did my vision for Go{4}Pro. It’s become a place to learn, grow, find inspiration and of course great freebies!

With a DSLR came the need for Photoshop. The more I learned Photoshop the more I started to realize the potential past just editing images and that I enjoyed creating and designing. Thanks to my business background I love me some branding and marketing. No seriously, my idea of a fun book is in the business section! So combine my love for the business side of things and a soft spot for design and I started realizing that I wanted to create the ultimate marketing kit. I originally only intended to make it for myself and started writing down every single thing I could think of that I might want. Well I quickly realized I wouldn’t be the only one wanting such a kit, so I designed it to be easily customizable so that it could be properly branded to any photographer’s style.

I have created two kits. Both include the same content but with a different style. I wanted any photographer to be able to look past color palette and be able to see a style that would match with their current one. The Paysen Kit is retro and modern at the same time. Julia Rollins was recently featured on PB and she did a fabulous job taking the Paysen Kit and tailoring it to be the perfect fit for her!

The Adi Kit was my second project and very fun as I designed what I might have wanted had I not gone the mustard yellow route. (Which I’m obsessed with, by the way!) I created The Adi Kit with the idea of a classic and/or contemporary feel.

Both kits are packed with fully layered, customizable .psd files that anyone can use to enhance their business. And now both kits have contract and model release wording as well! I’ve seen a lot of marketing kits out there now—and don’t get me wrong, while the designs are often gorgeous they’ve never had even close to all of what I wanted. Add to that wanting to fully brand to MY business, and I realized that I had to create something different… Something that had EVERYTHING that I actually needed, and a few things that I only wanted. *wink*

I would love to give one kit, winner’s choice, to a Paperie Boutique reader.

I’d also like to let everyone know that right now the kits are $149. But when this giveaway ends, so does the price. Next Monday the kits will be going up to $199. (If the winner has already purchased the kit, I will gladly refund them!)

So how do you win? It’s simple!

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

I want to Go{4}Pro with @go4ProPhotos / go4prophotos.com – visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to see how you can win, too!

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 item.

You can enter up to four times total – one entry each per public, non-private blog URL / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comments for THIS ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 21st.

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!

What a great way to close the week – thank you so much Leah! Don’t forget to add Go{4}Pro to your daily reads!

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).

café de photographe

The Photographer Cafe was given props on one of the recent WPPI Vegas recap posts. Now not only have they joined the Paperie family, but they also come bearing gifts in a guest post! So who’s ready for another give-away? Thought so!

Photographer Cafe strives to provide clean, practical, gorgeous products that will save you time and help your business shine. From album and card templates to marketing materials to a fun and inspirational blog, Photographer Cafe is here for you!

We are designating March as Marketing Month. To help you launch your efforts we are giving away our exclusive marketing set to two lucky Paperie readers.

The set includes: 1) a general purpose notecard, perfect for thank yous and general customer correspondence, 2) a sweet and simple business card template, 3) a bookmark template, a wonderful marketing tool that steps it up a notch, 4) a gift card template, and 5) an appointment card template. Choose from our Dreamy, Paris, or Fresh designs or our Basics Curves, Retro, or Contemporary designs.

Each is very customizable so you can change colors and modify elements to suit your brand. Check at least five items off your “to do” list with ease utilizing these fabulous tools!!

   Contemporary Marketing Set:

   Dreamy Marketing Set:

   Fresh Marketing Set:

How to win?

Post:  March is Marketing Month at PhotographerCafe.com / @PhotogCafe. Visit paperieboutique.com to win!

Here:  Your Facebook or Twitter account.

Then:  Post that (ONE) URL to your link in the comments for this entry. Be sure to be a Facebook fan of Photographer Cafe or a Twitter follower of @PhotogCafe (if you aren’t already!). Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. We will randomly choose the winners from the comments below using Random.org. You have 24 hours to complete your mission. (This contest will self-destruct at 9:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 17th.) Ready, set, go!!!

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 contest.

Let’s give it up for Photographer Cafe and this amazing give-away. Thank you so much – there are going to be two very happy Paperie Readers tomorrow night!

UPDATE: Sorry this is a bit delayed! My maiden name was O’Something, so St. Paddy’s Day is very much a holiday around these parts. I’m very excited to announce we have our two winners – Jeanine Krupp and Selena Jetnarayan!

Congratulations to both Jeanine and Selena! And thanks again to Photographer Cafe, and to everyone who entered! If you didn’t win, don’t fret – there’s more amazing giveaways in the works so check back often!

Next time…it just might be you!

Pssst…don’t forget there’s still just over 24 hours to win the “Hello Kitty Photographer” window decal!

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).

just a splash of color

This guest post is a double-win – it has a packaging feature and a separate vendor-promo at the end! Jamie Brokus of Color Splash Studio LLC recently contacted me to see if I’d like to feature her packaging? Are you kidding, Jamie?!? I almost want to switch my color-scheme after seeing the photos!

I was so inspired by all of the awesome packaging I saw other photographers put together, so I am sending you what I came up with following Heather Garland’s guest post at Paperie.

After hearing Sarah Petty talk about boutique packaging, bringing your brand together and then seeing all of the wonderful things other photographers have been so willing to share on this blog, I was inspired to put together my own. It is so cool to watch people walk out of my studio with bags with my name on them and tissue and have them feel like their money was well spent on the the prints they just bought.

My kraft paper shopping bags, tissue and raffia are from Nashville Wraps. I also am using their gourmet food shipping box for a shipping box. It fits up to an 8×10 box.

My shipping labels are from 123print.com.

My photo boxes are from Rice Studio Supplies. I am also using their portrait cases for 11×14 and 16×20 prints.

My logo stamp is from Simon Stamp with the big and juicy stamp pad.

My square thank you sized business card tied on the bags is from prolabexpress.com.

My business cards are from overnightprints.com and then I score them myself.

Gift card is from Miller’s Lab on water color paper and trifold brochure is from WHCC.

Circle Stickers are from Zazzle.

Small orange suitcase is from Paper Source, and costs half the price of a custom proof box.

Note from Robyn: It’s harder and harder to get the retro-suitcases from Paper Source. Land of Nod recently started carrying them, so try there as well!

Thank you so much for sending these along Jamie! (Don’t forget to visit her blog.) It should not only inspire others, but also show how quickly you can pull a look together once you decide on the direction.

And now…the promo! It’s no secret this blog is a big fan of Moo. Not only am I excited to find out I’m in “The Moo Ideas Book” (pages 3 and 33 – see the book here on display at a trade show) — I’m also excited to share a new Moo.com promo just for Paperie readers.

Using the code SHUTTER10 will give you an extra 10% off a 200 pack of Business Cards (classic or green stock) OR a 400 pack of MiniCards.

The code:
• is valid for one pack
• expires midnight PDT on March 31st, 2010
• is only valid for one use per customer
• is an additional 10% off the cost of a bulk pack (Bulk packs are already discounted, so this makes it even better value!)

Please note: the code will not work on 4 separate packs of 100 MiniCards. It must be used on the bulk-pack of 400.

Thank you, Moo! If you haven’t already, check out the sidebar to the right for free Moo template downloads from Paperie…

P.S. Don’t forget the My Funky Camera contest is still running through 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 4th!

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).