welcome mat(erials)

Recently on an entry by Courtney Reece Photography, we had a couple of requests to show how to put together a “client welcome kit” (and to list what typically goes in one). Although I can’t speak for everyone, as photographers and photography-genres can all vary quite a bit, I did recently take step-by-step photos of what goes in mine…

First I include a paper sample kit (featured previously on Paperie here and here). Most of my packages include announcements or holiday cards (or the ability to purchase cards as an add-on) so I like to give each client a better idea of the paper and envelope choices available from the various print labs I use. Every card a client sends has my logo and URL on the back, so they are wonderful advertising for my business, and a ‘status symbol’ of sorts that Buttons and Bows Photography was their photographer. As such, I want them to select their personal preferences for the product rather than me just choosing the paper and envelope types for them.

Each paper and envelope choice is clearly labeled. I purposely use the color red in the card samples because not all card stocks start off as “pure white”. Some can have a blue cast, and others yellow. Red really highlights the differences in the final products. They can easily see how the same images change hues when printed on different papers.

Since my clients order online, I feel the only way to guide new parents through this process is to give them something to hold and feel when picking out announcements and cards. It’s simply too much to remember from the prior in-person consultations, and easier on them also means easier for me.

You can purchase my paper sample kit template at my site “Fit to Print“.

Next I include a “wall design” mini-booklet. You can see this featured previously on Flickr here.

I designed my wall gallery booklet with the help of a Pinkle Toes 4 Photographers template. If you are not a member of PT4P, other options are:

1. Photographer’s Wall Display Guide (featured on Paperie)
2. Gradybug Designs (set 1, set 2)
3. Design Aglow (Portraits I, Portraits II, Canvases)
4. Melissa Davis Designs (Wall Display)
5. The Savvy Photographer (Savvy Size Guide)
6. Simply Walls
7. Jamie Schultz Designs (Ordering – Wall Display Brochure)
8. Kori and Kate (Portrait Wall Displays)
9. Pink Ink Studios (Order Form with Wall Displays)

The pages of my mini-booklet are 4×5 photo prints that I adhere back-to-back with Tombow MONO Permanent Adhesive. The final page is a press-printed card and includes a ruled-lined page for client note-taking. I hole punch the top left corner of each page, place them together on a binder ring, and hot-glue my trademark button & bow on the ring-top. The completed booklets are placed inside envelopes from Paper Source.

I also tuck in my 2010 Client Information Kit. You can see the 2009 version here on Flickr. (And you can purchase the 2007-2008 “wide-format 5×7″ version here on “Fit to Print”.)

The 2010 accordion-version includes a pocket with business cards, cards for my referral program, and any promotional items. Each panel of the accordion provides information and tips for the various types of sessions included in client packages, and also explains my shooting style and business philosophy. The kit also has a section that gives each client their username and password for their personal Buttons and Bows Photography website.

I print these accordion cards at Miller’s. The outer envelope is from Paper Source, and the card pocket envelope is from Action Envelope.

At the end, everything is gathered into a 2-pocket folder by Envelopper Inc. (You can see an older photo of this posted to Flickr here.) In the left-side slit, I include a self-addressed, stamped #10 business envelope (printed at Vistaprint). In the right-side slits, I include “appointment reminder” business cards with the dates of their scheduled sessions. The left pocket includes everything that needs to be returned to me (and this is noted in a sticker placed on the pocket) — this includes all contracts and adult / minor model releases. The right pocket includes their copy of the contract (to keep), relevant session information ‘tip sheets’, and four envelopes (paper sample kit, wall gallery booklet, information kit, and a handwritten thank you card for booking with me). Envelopes are sealed with my cute little Moo stickers – new Moo.com customers can get 10% off their orders through 9/30 with the code W9K55V.

I add my signature button & bow to the outside of the folder, and then place these inside of an outer presentation envelope from Paper Source, ready to mail. My clients love having everything organized in one folder for quick access and reference. I shoot primarily maternity and newborn sessions, so life is chaotic enough preparing for a new arrival. I don’t want to add to the clutter and confusion if at all possible.

Other photographers have featured their welcome packets here on Paperie in the past. Make sure to look through the archives for ideas and inspiration! A few of note are:

1. Julie Rollins Photography
2. Carrie Small Photography (and a follow-up post)
3. Heather Garland Photography
4. Denton Boudoir Photography
5. Stylized Portraiture
6. France Photography
7. Gail Werner Photography
8. The Captured Life Photography

You can find more vendors I use and recommend here. So what are you waiting for? Get started on yours! (And then send us the photos and share with the class!)

And totally unrelated…but In Character Costumes are on SALE at HauteLook right now. The sale ends at 8:00 a.m. PDT on Monday the 20th. Don’t miss it!

The Kotori Photo Jewelry giveaway ends Saturday, September 18th, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Happy (almost) weekend!
-Robyn

P.S. NEW! Please follow our brand new Twitter and Facebook accounts!

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.

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 5x5x8.5 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

blush and bashful

I am not ashamed to say that I begged and pleaded to do the following feature. I’ve been wanting to highlight boudoir photography packaging for quite awhile, and when I saw Stacey’s presentation for Goldapple Photography and Denton Boudoir Photography, I was simply blown away. I think you will be, too!

When my boudoir clients book, they receive (either in the mail or in person) a large presentation envelope from Paper Source that has their contracts, info form, and price sheets (all printed from my home on white cardstock). I always include a couple business cards (printed square at ProDPI on pearl paper), and an appointment card (printed as a folded business card on pear paper at WHCC) with their session date on it.

Generally I include a sample invitation or card (depending on the client’s plan for the final images). I have brides use their images to create bachelorette party invitations, lingerie shower invitations, or bridal shower invitations. Here is one I created recently.

I am a member of PT4P, and I used the wall design catalog to create my accordion wall design guide (inspired by Jen of Mesmerizing Moments Photography!).

Some girls aren’t too keen on purchasing large prints for themselves, but I always explain that prints are great for bathrooms (because that is where a woman generally feels the most vulnerable!) and for “man” rooms. My husband has a “man room” that has his guitars, drums, cigars and pipes stuff, books, etc., and that would be a great place for boudoir photos of me (if I ever found the time to do them!).

I also own Goldapple Photography, my portrait business, so I always throw some business cards for it into my booking envelope and offer $50 off their portrait session fee if they book a separate portrait session at the same time as their boudoir session.

My packaging for final prints is from Paper Source. I love their boxes, and they are the only place I can find solid pink boxes! But I also use DNL for black boxes for anything bigger than 8×10. I get shredded pink paper for filler in the boxes from Target, and ribbon from wherever I can find it! Mostly Hobby Lobby and Michael’s, but sometimes I’ll find something online. I don’t use one particular ribbon, but I always use pink and black.

I use clear bags from clearbags.com to protect prints, and my small round stickers of my logo are printed at zazzle.com. I also have stickers printed from Moo, but I don’t have pictures of them yet!

With my delivery of their order, I include a petal envelope in black from Paper Source with a 5×5 referral card (printed at WHCC on standard paper) and their 8 die-cut wallets (printed wherever I print their pictures at – usually ProDPI or Miller’s) tied with a ribbon. When I took these photos, I didn’t have any wallets printed so I just used a mini envelope from Paper Source. But I do have a photo of my Goldapple Photography referral card!

I got this idea from Robyn’s referral cards, and I love it!

So that is my Denton Boudoir Photography packaging! Thank you Robyn, for allowing me to share with your readers!

Lotsa Love,
Stacey

Stacey’s Client Booking Envelope:
★ Envelope – Paper Source
★ Wall Design Guide – Miller’s accordion 10 panel & linen finish
★ Sample Folded Card (specific to type of session) – ProDPI, Moo, WHCC
★ Business Cards – square & pearl finish/ProDPI, regular & linen finish/WHCC
★ Gift card promotion for friends – 5×7 flat card & linen finish/WHCC, pearl finish business cards/WHCC
★ Full Price List – printed at home on cardstock
★ Album Price List – 5×5 trifold & linen finish/Miller’s
★ Client info form – printed at home
★ Client model release – printed at home
★ Client contract & receipt form – printed at home
★ Round sticker to seal – Zazzle

Stacey’s Client Packaging Contents:
★ 4×6 & 5×7 boxes – Paper Source
★ 8×10 and larger boxes – DNL Photo Packaging
★ Photo bags – Clearbags
★ Canvas packaging – Paper Source
★ Round Stickers – Zazzle
★ Rounded Square Stickers – Moo
★ Ribbon – Hobby Lobby
★ Champagne & Chocolate bags – Clearbags
★ Petal Envelopes – Paper Source
★ Referral Insert Cards – 5×5 flat cards WHCC
★ Wallet Referral Cards – Depends on where I am placing the client’s print order, I order them through that printer
★ Small business card envelopes – Paper Source

Drop by and see Stacey’s work at Denton Boudoir Photography and Goldapple Photography—and thank her for sharing her amazing marketing and presentation “guest post” with the class!

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).