here we go loopty-loop

Like me, many of you are packing client orders like crazy right now or are about to… In the past I’ve shared a demo on how to make a “flat bow” for shipping.

Now I’m sharing a demo on how to make a “loop bow” that will also survive the pack’n'ship process.

First, you need to have 1 – 1½” ribbon on hand and a hot glue gun. Wired ribbon is optional, but will hold a prettier shape. Cut four strips approximately 8½” long, and one shorter strip approximately 3½” long.

Take your hot glue gun and put a line of glue down the ribbon’s edge on one side – then press the other side down on top of the glue to create a loop.

You will end up with five ribbon loops – four large and one small.

Divide the four larger loops into two pairs. For each pair you will want to glue one loop on top of the other making an “X” shape as shown. All this takes is a dab of glue in the center of one loop, and then pressing the other loop on top of it to make an “X”.

Now take your two “X” loop pairs and keep one as an “X”, and turn the other to make a “+” sign as shown.

Put a dab of hot glue in the center of the “X” and place the “+” on top of it – gluing the two loop pairs together as shown.

Now take the small loop that remains and run a line of hot glue down the seam on the back side. Attach it to the center of the larger loops already glued together.

If you wish, take additional ribbon to wrap around the package length-wise and width-wise and hot glue into place. (I place a business card under the areas I’m gluing so that no glue accidentally gets on the box.)

Now glue the bow to the ribbon around the box, or the box itself. Puff up each of the loops with your fingers and voilà!

Here are a couple of other examples showing wired ribbon and grosgrain. You can also hot glue embellishments to the center of the bows.

And there you have it – a pretty loop bow in ten steps or less! Just in time for the upcoming annual packaging contest…

Have a great weekend!
-Robyn & Todd

P.S. We have two awesome giveaways right now, so don’t forget to scroll down and enter!

gallery opening

Today we welcome Design Aglow back for another guest / vendor post – they have a new product with special introductory pricing!

Ever wish you had an interior designer waiting in the wings? Straight from the Design Aglow team comes the answer: couture style, professionally designed wall displays, complete with hand drawn and painted furniture, frames, mats and accessories.

Now you can share these 25 stunning room ideas as representations of wall groupings your studio offers as an added studio design service. Not only can your client collect fine art, you have the power of a full-service design consultant right in your studio at your fingertips! This luscious set includes a cover, along with a customizable price list, welcome page, studio policies, colors and logo; and because our actions are bundled, you can simply place client’s images into the templates, saving you precious time, while making presentations more personal.

With this stunning collection you can put Design Aglow’s attention to detail to work for you.

PRODUCT DETAILS:
   •  25 gorgeous, professionally designed wall displays complete with
      hand-drawn and painted furniture, frames, mats, and accessories
   •  Each template is in fully layered Photoshop PSD format for unlimited
      customization including color changes
   •  Includes a cover, price list, and welcome page that are able to be
      customized with studio policies, prices, colors, and logo
   •  Bundled action will automatically place client’s images into the
      templates, saving time and making presentations more personal
   •  Each collection has been given a lovely, stylish name for easy reference
   •  Includes 12 page tutorial to learn how to use the guide, plus info on how
      to post it online and make mini copies

BONUS:
   •  InDesign version of the 8.5×11 galleries for easy drag-and-drop workflow
   •  4×5.5, 8 panel pocket mini inspire guide to plant the seed of investing
      in wall galleries; give to clients at the end of your session/event

Click here to see this incredible “Inspire Guide” collection at Design Aglow with introductory pricing!




And we are currently running a fall special with advertising rates up to half-off (or more) — and we’d love to have YOU join us!

Swoone is a specialty design boutique created to meet the specific needs of the small business photographer. We create products to help photogs reach their business goals and to bring out the most in their work. We have two primary product categories; branding and marketing packages to help photographers develop brand presence and a variety of templates to highlight their work.

One of our long-time, best-selling product lines is our Seriously Simple collection. The clean, sharp design of this line translates well into albums, proof boxes, and wall displays. With so many combinations and varieties, there are an infinite number of ways to mix and match these templates.

We are also proud of our holiday card collections. One of our newest, Adornaments, is inspired by our favorite holiday shapes. It’s perfect card template set for the coming holidays. In fact, we think these templates look so incredibly cute/awesome/fantastic, that we know they’ll be perfect for any space – from the mantle to the dining room table to the family tree, these sets are worthy of a place front and center this holiday season.

Head over to our Facebook page for a complimentary Halloween Photocard template. Get ready to Swoone!

Congrats to Kelly Ann and thanks to *emera for a truly incredible prize!

If you didn’t win, never fear – check in early next week to find out how you can win another *emera bag!




I have a “pretty packaging” board on Pinterest if you haven’t seen it ’til now.

Today I added a new photo with Organic Bloom frames that Buttons & Bows has given clients recently.

One of my favorite boards is “Cool branding and packaging“ by Phreckles Photography. What’s yours?

Leave a link to your favorite pinner or Pinterest board in the comments – one Paperie reader who does will win this cute camera magnet set:

Last but not least, we have another giveaway right now from Anima Dolce Design Boutique.

Go enter to win while you can!

Have a great weekend -
-Robyn & Todd

guess who’s back – back again

A few days ago we featured the new “Modular Holiday Card Sales Kit: Merry Modern Collection” by Design Aglow.

Now they’re back for another guest / vendor post to promote their new “Modular Holiday Card Sales Kit: Nostalgic Splendor Collection“.

Design Aglow presents a revolutionary way for your photography studio to sell holiday cards. We’ve designed the mix & match studio sales system to enable you to work smarter, not harder, save time, increase sales, and streamline your holiday workflow. This product is more than just vintage holiday card templates, it’s like having a stationery shop in your studio and comes complete with everything you will need to launch your holiday card line within minutes of download.

INCLUDES:
• A 10-page holiday card sales catalog. This catalog is a turnkey, professionally designed way to present your holiday card offerings to clients. The catalog easily walks clients through every step involved in designing the holiday card of their dreams. It includes a built-in order form on the last page on which your clients will note their design choices, keeping their information impeccably organized, and saving you lots of valuable time.

But, by far, the most unique feature of the catalog is that it includes professionally, studio-shot stock photos of finished holiday cards. This means you won’t have to worry about taking the time to photograph your holiday cards for the catalog – this step is already done for you. All that is required is that you add your studio logo, update the policies to reflect your own, and add your pricing on the last page.

• Three beautifully designed card modules (a cover, an inside design that includes 12 different greetings, and a back), consisting of six different designs each. These are in fully layered Photoshop PSD format and will allow you to design your clients’ cards with just the click of a mouse, all in under 15 minutes per card. Simply mix and match the front, inside and back (which are completely interchangeable) for virtually limitless combinations.

• A comprehensive 10 page tutorial that will easily explain everything you need to know about launching your holiday card line. It also includes ideas for presentation, selling, and publishing your catalog online.

Don’t forget we have a giveaway going on now for a Shoot Baby!™ beanbag!

Have a great weekend everyone!
-Robyn & Todd

you’ve been carded

Did you know there’s only 132 days left ’til Christmas? Design Aglow is to the rescue with a special offer in this new vendor / guest post!

Design Aglow presents a revolutionary way for your photography studio to sell holiday cards. With a mix & match studio sales system to enable you to work smarter, not harder, save time, increase sales, and streamline your holiday workflow, this product is more than just holiday card templates. It’s like having a stationery shop in your studio and comes complete with everything you will need to launch your holiday card line within minutes of download.

INCLUDES:
• A 10-page holiday card sales catalog. This catalog is a turnkey, professionally designed way to present your holiday card offerings to clients. The catalog easily walks clients through every step involved in designing the holiday card of their dreams. It includes a built-in order form on the last page on which your clients will note their design choices, keeping their information impeccably organized, and saving you lots of valuable time.

But, by far, the most unique feature of the catalog is that it includes professionally, studio-shot stock photos of finished holiday cards. This means you won’t have to worry about taking the time to photograph your holiday cards for the catalog – this step is already done for you. All that is required is that you add your studio logo, update the policies to reflect your own, and add your pricing on the last page.

• Three beautifully designed card modules (a cover, an inside design that includes 12 different greetings, and a back), consisting of six different designs each. These are in unflattened Photoshop PSD format and will allow you to design your clients’ cards with just the click of a mouse, all in under 15 minutes per card. Simply mix and match the front, inside and back (which are completely interchangeable) for virtually limitless combinations.

• A comprehensive 10 page tutorial that will easily explain everything you need to know about launching your holiday card line. It also includes ideas for presentation, selling, and publishing your catalog online.

I am completely in love with this – talk about impressive to clients and a time-saver all in one! If you sell birth announcements, you must check this out!




We have two winners to announce in our See Jane Work giveaway…and they are…Jamie Delight Photography and Jessica Hester Photography.

Congratulations to both winners and thanks again to all of our vendors and readers that made our birthday celebration such an amazing success!

-Robyn and Todd

deux années – giveaway 21

BLACKJACK! Our #21 giveaway is the perfect way to kick off the weekend – it’s “The Posebook” by The Boudoir Divas! (Can you believe we’ve already offered up over $5350.00 in prizes this week? Sheer craziness! Happy birthday to us all!)

Read here for more – this book is recommended for beginning boudoir photographers, to help find flattering boudoir poses for all body types.

How do you snag this great prize? It’s easy!

1. Like The Boudoir Divas on Facebook.

2. Follow The Boudoir Divas on Twitter.

3. Post the following to Facebook and / or Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win The Boudoir Divas “Posebook” / TheBoudoirDivas.com / @BoudoirDivas at @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com http://PaperieBirthday.com

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 25th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

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

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

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Thanks to The Boudoir Divas for celebrating our 2nd birthday and giving our readers such a great gift!



It’s the weekend and I still have two more pages of giveaways left!
We’ll keep going ’til all of them have winners – see ya’ soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

bonne fête – giveaway 16

Our next prize pack is simply amazing! Boudoir Business Boutique is back again, and this time they’re going to give one lucky Paperie reader copies of their Lighting Guide, Posing Guide, new 24-piece Business Set, and new 4-piece Album Template Set! That’s $850 worth of products!

Boudoir Business Boutique:
The Boudoir Business Boutique – a resource for boudoir photographers including a posing guide, lighting guide, branding, marketing, album and product templates! A great resource for all boudoir photographers – those who are wanting to learn boudoir photography or improve their boudoir business. Brought to you by Kathy Honeybourne of Honeybourne Intimates, Toronto’s leading boudoir photographer. Visit the store, have a look around and enjoy!

Complete Guide to Lighting:
With over 200 images, lighting diagrams and pull-back shots demonstrating everything from lighting basics to advanced techniques in an easy to follow format, this is the complete guide to boudoir lighting ! Over sixty pages packed full of information, this manual is all you will ever need for shooting boudoir photography and creating beautiful images. From soft wrap around lighting to the most dramatic of looks, you’ll learn the principles and lighting set-ups and be able to apply them to any environment from a studio backdrop, to a lavish bedroom or hotel setting.




Posing Guide:
Containing over 300 pages, the boudoir posing guide outlines the most flattering poses, tips and tricks to enhance your clients best features. Hands, legs, props, detail shots, camera angles and variations of many poses are all covered indepth. Also included is a Quick Reference Guide of over 100 standard boudoir poses to which you can add your own creativity.

New 24 piece Business and Marketing set in Mod Pink or Mod Blue
•   Everything you need to get your business up and running
•   Beautiful Charcoal and Color papers, Coordinated Branding
•   All items are completely layered PSD files, Free or standard fonts used
•   Easy to use clipping masks, Instructions included
•   Available for immediate download
•   Templates Include:
        Business Card, Boudoir Information Trifold, Investment Guide Trifold,
        Marketing Post Card, Image Box and Proof Borders, CD/DVD and Case
        Template, Session Reminder Card, Thank You Card, Referral Plan and
        Rep Cards, After Sale Add-On Marketing Card, Receipt, Packaging Sticker,
        Client Information Trifold, Gift Certificate, Blog Post Template, Facebook
        Profile Template, Digital Negative Trifold Wording for FAQs, Wording for
        Website/Literature

New Mod Pink and Mod Blue Album and Product Templates
•   10×10 Album
•   5×5 Album
•   4×8 Accordian Album
•   3×3 Accordian Album
•   CD and Case Template
•   Image Box and Proof Borders

Visit the store at:
BoudoirBusinessBoutique.com
Check back often for new items and sign up for our newsletters for updates!

So how do you win this wonderful prize pack? It’s easy!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win a HUGE BoudoirBusinessBoutique.com / @BoudoirBusiness prize pack at @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Boudoir Business Boutique on Facebook.

3. Follow Boudoir Business Boutique on Twitter.

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

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

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

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

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Thanks Boudoir Business Boutique for this super-sized prize pack! And don’t forget the Boudoir Business Boutique is offering 40% off anything in the store through August 30th for all Paperie readers! You can find that code, and several others from our featured vendors (just updated TODAY) here!




More prizes going up tonight – check back soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

You say boo-tique, I say bow-tique

Very excited to bring you our first vendor / guest post of the year by the Boudoir Business Boutique…

The Boudoir Business Boutique – a resource for boudoir photographers including lighting and posing guides, branding, marketing, album and product templates! A great resource for all boudoir photographers – those who are just starting out or those who want to improve their boudoir business. Brought to you by Kathy Honeybourne of Honeybourne Intimates, Toronto’s leading boudoir photographer. Visit the store, have a look around and enjoy!

Lighting Guide – The Lighting Guide is finally here and on sale until Monday January 10th:

With over 200 images, lighting diagrams and pull-back shots demonstrating everything from lighting basics to advanced techniques in an easy to follow format, this is the complete guide to boudoir lighting! Over sixty pages packed full of information, this manual is all you will ever need for shooting boudoir photography and creating beautiful images.

From soft wrap around lighting to the most dramatic of looks, you’ll learn the principles and lighting set-ups and be able to apply them to any environment from a studio backdrop, to a lavish bedroom or hotel setting.

The principles and lighting set-ups demonstrated throughout this book can also be applied to other areas of photography. Many are ideal for shooting seniors, maternity, model portfolios and general portraiture.

Posing Guide:

Your time during a boudoir shoot is precious and quite often very limited. The posing guidelines are designed to be the most flattering and fitting to all women, regardless of body type or comfort level. Containing over 300 pages, the poses are tried, tested and true and will get you started, keep your shoots flowing efficiently and enable you to capture more than enough poses and looks to fill an album. The sequential nature of these standards allow you to flow from one pose to the next in a timely, efficient manner capturing a great number of flattering, sellable images for women of all sizes.

Boudoir Marketing & Business Sets:

Boudoir Business Sets include everything you need to get your boudoir business up and running: information guide, client guide, digital negative trifold, business card, marketing card, gift certificate, thank you tag, sticker, generic CD and case. Also available are website wording, faqs wording and boudoir investment guide templates. All pieces coordinate with one another for perfect boudoir branding. Also available are marketing pieces to boost your sales, attract new clients and have current clients returning over and over. All marketing materials co-ordinate with our other business and branding templates.

Album Templates:

The store is brimming with boudoir album templates! Rich and creamy damasks, textured blacks, hawt pinks, sultry blues, romantic word art and much more. Ranging from 3×3 to 10×10, each design has coordinating templates for image boxes, proof borders and cd/dvd cases. Matching papers are also available to create your own coordinating designs.

Visit the store at:
boudoirbusinessboutique.com
Check often for new items and sign up for our newsletter for updates.




Great news for Paperie readers – thepolishedphotographer.com is giving everyone 25% off your purchase over $50. To take advantage of this awesome offer, just use the code PAPERIE6686424401 through January 15th!

Thanks so much to the Boudoir Business Boutique and The Polished Photographer!

And don’t forget this is the last day to VOTE in the packaging contest!

Have a great weekend!
-Robyn

where tomorrow shines

We’re very lucky to have Jessica Cudzilo of 503 Photography and 503 Photography Workshops here for a guest post today. Don’t just skim this one because she’s given Paperie readers a couple of amazing treats at the end!

I am a lifestyle photographer based out of Cincinnati, OH. I shoot 75% children and families and love what I do! My favorite thing is showing up for a shoot with a grumpy kid who thinks getting his picture taken is the equivalent of sitting in timeout. I absolutely love the challenge of winning over a child’s giggles!

I also photograph individuals and always love the creative freedom that comes with working with just a single soul. There is so much freedom creatively when you’re not having to entertain a baby while shooting or having to adjust your settings AND run around in circles.

Apart from my photography I also run online workshops. I’ve found that people all over the country and world are hungry to learn how to use their cameras. So, I started hosting online workshops January 2009. The first one slowly filled up with 21 people. This last one filled up with 55 in less than 20 minutes!

We love the energy surrounding these workshops! We are getting ready to open registration for a new one so if you want in, check us out and send us a note. We look forward to meeting you!

Something we have just kicked off that I am MOST EXCITED about is our new set of workshops for kids and teens!

To read the heart behind these workshops click here and read the note I have written specifically to parents.

These workshops are for 7-10 year olds, middle schoolers and high schoolers, with each age group having their own set of lessons and online forum to connect with other kids their age. For loads of information about these workshops check out the site for more info.

These workshops are brand new and only offered during the summer so any and all spreading of the word you can do is greatly appreciated! We believe SO much in the value of art, the value of children and the value of family and hope you’ll join us for an incredible summer of learned photography!

And just because Jessica is so awesome…

Paperie readers have the chance to win one spot to the online workshop for kids and teens!

¤ STEP ONE (REQUIRED) — Visit the workshop website and discover your favorite thing about the workshop itself or the idea of promoting kids and art through photography.

¤ STEP TWO (REQUIRED) — Go to your blog, Twitter, or Facebook account and post the following:

I want to win a spot in @503Jess ‘s “503 Photography Workshops for Kids & Teens” at Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com by @shutterblog

¤ STEP THREE (REQUIRED) — First list your favorite thing about the workshop for kids & teens, or the idea of promoting kids and art through photography. Then 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 Friday, April 30th.

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. Hope you win!

But wait…that’s not all!

We are offering a discount to our kids & teens online workshops for all Paperie Boutique readers. Use the discount code PB503 for $25 off the workshop for 7-10 year olds and $40 off the workshop for middle and high schoolers!

Thank you so much Jessica – you’re going to make someone’s weekend! Take a few and drop by her blog and Facebook fan page to say thanks…

UPDATE: The contest winner has been announced here – thanks to everyone who entered!

Don’t forget there’s just under two hours left (11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 28th) to win a $100.00 gift certificate to LCH Design here on Paperie Boutique. Check out Monday’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.