deux années – giveaway 27

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements start on Monday, July 25th…

Noel’s Paperie features custom paper-related items such as custom invitations, favors and decor for events of all kinds. All items are handmade, with your wants in mind. No one has ever had the same designed invitation, and creating unique items for almost any event is what Noel’s Paperie is here for! Thank you!

Included in this prize pack are a $50 Print credit to Collages.net, “The Wedding Workbook” ($95 value) from BrandSushi, and $25 off any invitation order from Noel’s Paperie.

So how do you win these great prizes? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win a @Collagesnet & @brandsushi & NoelsPaperie.com gift pack @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Collages.net on Facebook.

3. Like BrandSushi on Facebook.

3. Like Noel’s Paperie on Facebook.

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

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked 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 Tuesday, July 26th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

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

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

Good luck!

Big thanks to Collages.net, BrandSushi, and Noel’s Paperie for this amazing prize pack. Don’t forget to check for their Paperie birthday celebration coupon codes. You can find those codes, and several others from our vendors, continually updated this week here!




Weekend’s almost over and we still have several more 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!

modern love

Today we have another great vendor / guest post and giveaway from Dear Miss Modern and Deluxemodern Design – plus a discount code for all of our readers.

Hello Darling!

I’m Christine from Dear Miss Modern…..the chic and stylish design + branding shop from Deluxemodern Design.

While Deluxemodern Design specializes in high-end custom branding, Dear Miss Modern specializes in instant gratification!

In the design shop you will find pre-made logos, marketing sets, all kinds of fabulous patterns, cards, and our latest and greatest, The Blog Sugar Design Kit! What is THAT, you ask? It’s a neatly packaged group of design elements for your blog. Use all the elements, or just a few. Change the colors, or keep them. You decide. Works with any blog platform. Lots of new designs in the works!

We’d be so pleased if you’d come say hello, join our Facebook page, check out our site, and peruse our design shop!

And one lucky Paperie reader will receive a pre-made logo OR $100.00 to the shop {in case you don’t need a logo}.

You have three ways to enter:

1. Visit the Deluxemodern Facebook page at facebook.com/deluxemodern
    and LIKE it.

2. Follow Deluxemodern Design on Twitter at twitter.com/deluxemodern.

3. List your favorite Dear Miss Modern product in the comments here.

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

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

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

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

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 with the giveaway darlings…I wish you all could be winners!

And right now all Paperie readers will receive a 10% disicount to Dear Miss Modern with the code MISSPAPERIE!




And lastly, a very belated announcement for the BrandSushi eBook giveaway…the winner is…Alison Douglass Photography!

Congrats to Alison and everyone who entered, and special thanks to BrandSushi for such a fantastic prize!




I know updates here have been quite sporadic due to health issues I’ve been having – but don’t forget to tune in often because there are several great vendor giveaways and features in the queue and I’ll be posting them as frequently as possible!

Thanks for your patience!
-Robyn

the total package

BrandSushi is back today for another guest / vendor post and giveaway – up for grabs is a copy of their eBook “Total Package Pricing“.

How did you arrive at your current price list?

What’s your hourly rate (and how did you calculate it)?

Is your photography business turning a profit, or leading you down a path to the Poor House?

What message do you want your photography brand to convey, and what steps are you currently taking to maintain and build upon that message?

Are you 100% confident in your current pricing and package options?

If you’re having trouble answering these questions, it might be time to take a step back.

When I first started my photography business, I spent many long nights working out pricing, packages, brand and marketing strategies and budgeting for all sorts of things I hadn’t anticipated. I’m lucky enough to have a background in brand strategy, advertising and marketing, but many photographers (both new and established) don’t have that luxury, and find themselves overwhelmed with their pricing, collections, and marketing endeavors. We’re about to fix that!

Enter TOTAL PACKAGE PRICING, the pricing and collection building guide for wedding and portrait photographers who don’t want to go broke.

This three-part eBook series takes you through every facet of pricing your photography for profit, discovering — and utilizing — your CORRECT hourly rate, building a strong group of collections and packages that you’ll feel confident selling, and turning your business into a full-fledged brand. Here’s a run-down of what’s included:

BOOK 1 – Intro to Business and Brand Strategy : What’s in a brand? Learn how to position yourself and your products for top results. We’ll cover business structure (and why you can’t be everything to everybody); pricing and sales (learn not only WHAT to place in your collections for maximum profit, but HOW and WHY clients choose the way they do); perceived value and the inherent risks involved with discounting your way into the Poor House; and how to identify and utilize your brand’s “face and voice” to build a solid foundation on which to launch (or re-launch) a winning photography business and brand. Wherever possible, real-world examples are given and geared toward both Portrait and Wedding photographers, so everyone should be able to take something tangible out of the workbooks, regardless of their clientele!

BOOK 2 – Hourly Rates and Product Pricing : This volume will guide you toward the answer to that ever-elusive question: What are you worth? Learn the real way to calculate your hourly rate (I’ll give you a hint: it’s probably a LOT higher than you think it is!) and implement a price list that will set you up for success, and won’t leave you digging into your couch cushions when Tax season rolls around. You’ll also receive a set of Excel Spreadsheets that are already set up to do ALL THE HARD WORK (i.e. calculations) for you! But, if you don’t have Excel, never fear! All calculations are thoroughly explained in the workbook, and blank PDF templates are included so you can also do all the work by hand to get the same results! This workbook also comes with two sample price lists (one for wedding photography and one for portrait photography), as well as my personal product catalog and price list for comparison!

BOOK 3 – Building Profitable Collections : From deciding what to offer in your packages and collections to tallying their final prices and values, this workbook will leave you with a solid understanding of what goes into collections for maximum profit and confidence. You’ll also receive an Excel Collection Builder that calculates everything for you (as well as instructions on how to calculate everything by hand if you’d rather do it the old fashioned way!). We’ll cover scenarios for both wedding photographers (whose packages include service hours) and portrait photographers (whose collections are product-based).

And here is a basic list of the items included in this set:

(3) Excel Templates — each with multiple tabs (.xlsx format). These WILL also work in Apple’s Numbers, although some formatting might appear slightly different than in the screenshots. The Excel Templates were created in Excel 2010 and will work with recent versions of Excel on both Mac and PC. Compatibility with older versions of Excel or Numbers, or other spreadsheet programs is not verified.
(1) Instruction booklet to help you get started using the Excel Templates.
(3) PDF workbooks totaling over 50 pages of insider branding, business and pricing tips in clear, concise, and easy-to-understand terminology with real-world examples to get you thinking and keep you learning.
(1) Blank PDF line sheet with a quick pricing formula “cheat sheet” in case you’d rather do the calculations by hand.
(1) Sample Price Catalog from my own studio for reference.

Important Note: This workbook’s purpose is to give you a solid foundation and understanding of pricing and budgeting structures; it’s always a good idea to consult an accountant or tax professional to make sure you’re keeping everything in order! These workbooks do not provide financial advice — their purpose is to teach you tested pricing methods, and the psychology behind presenting those prices and packages in a way that will maximize profitability with your client sessions and orders.

And during this giveaway, all Paperie readers will receive 20% off at BrandSushi with the code PAPERIE20!

How do you win the eBook “Total Package Pricing“?

1. Tweet the following on Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win the “Total Package Pricing” eBook from BrandSushi.com / @brandsushi over at @paperieboutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://is.gd/YsVq50

2. Post the following to Facebook (and tell us where you did it):
Win the “Total Package Pricing” eBook from BrandSushi.com over at PaperieBoutique.com – http://is.gd/YsVq50

3. Like brandsushi on Facebook: facebook.com/brandsushi

4. Follow @brandsushi on Twitter: twitter.com/brandsushi

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

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 12th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have met all four requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four times total – one entry each for 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 24-72 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Thanks to BrandSushi for another awesome giveaway!

Luxe-ury

Today we welcome back Design Aglow for another guest / vendor post…

We are thrilled to announce our Luxe Wedding Studio Magazine today. Want a sneak peek?

It’s an exciting new age for the professional photography studio, so we invite you forget about stale, old-fashioned marketing pieces and focus on limitless possibilities with your own 16 page real studio magazine. Design Aglow‘s new, professionally written and designed magazine beautifully showcases your studio’s work while educating and engaging current and potential clients about professional photography.

This product is all about you! We’ve combined our expert Design Aglow team for both writing and modern magazine design details to make the process of releasing your own 16-page studio magazine easy and enjoyable. Simply plug your favorite images and adjust the included text for a marketing piece that looks just like the pages out of your own favorite magazines. All graphics and sample text are included to inspire you, allowing you to change as little or as much as you’d like to suit your brand and style.

Whether mailed to clients, left at your favorite venues, or handed out during initial meetings or at trade events, you’re sure to stand out from the competition and make your studio the talk of the town with this stunning magazine.

And, like Design Aglow’s own widely celebrated magazine, you can enjoy sending via your favorite digital delivery format. Your studio with Design Aglow’s industry leading team working to show you in your best possible light– What could be better?

Get more info here and save $55 today with our special introductory pricing.

We also have lots of fresh marketing inspiration in the shop, like our modern marketing set and matching 8 page brochure.

Two new sets of instant logo cards are here too. Use for your own studio or for client referral cards and print these vector designs as large as you wish. Everything is layered and 100% customizable, as always. (Click on either set below for more details.)

We have so many new things for your studio in the shop, including marketing sets, collages, and sales tools.

Come on over and join our facebook page to stay in the know on new releases, special offers, and contests. Post your feedback & ideas on our wall too….we love to hear from you!

All the best,
Design Aglow

in a real bind

BUMPING BACK TO THE TOP: Zazzle has just issued a new $9 off coupon for custom binders. Read on…

I recently made a post about Zazzle custom binder templates. The Zazzle code BINDERS4SALE for $9 off binders expires on January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. As luck would have it, my binders using these templates just showed up – so I’m sharing here! (Click images for larger version.)

Happy New Year!
-Robyn

get organized

Earlier in the year I made a post about the custom binders I use to organize contracts and client information. As hard as it is to believe, I’m about to order a new set for 2011!

These custom binders would also work well as organizers with baby plan clients and engagement / wedding couples. When your bride-to-be is out wedding planning, why not make sure your logo goes everywhere she does?

I’ve been repeatedly asked when I will be making a template for sale since I made my original post here (and the follow-up on Flickr). So if you’ve been waiting, today’s your lucky day because I’m launching them on Paperie Boutique first until January 1, 2011 – and the price is HALF OFF!

A quick rewind of my binder images first…

My 1.5″ binder template pack allows you to customize the color of each “solid” area of the binder, and edit the text. This set also gives you the choice to have stripes + logo on the back, or dots + logo / image. You get six total graphic choices (3 stripes / 3 dots) – and with color-customization in the solid areas, you can make endless color-combinations.

Dimensions are provided to insert your logo inside of the bordered-circle graphics, or you can hide those layers altogether. The spines also feature an optional cute camera icon. These 1.5″ custom binder templates are designed to be printed at Zazzle.com and include a hidden layer with Zazzle’s bleed/crop guidelines. There are no order minimums – you can make one, or as many as you’d like.

(UPDATE – the sale listed here has ended. Check the end of this post!) The special launch price for my 1.5″ custom binder templates is $10.00.

You can use the code BINDERS4SALE at Zazzle through January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST for $9.00 off.

For $5.00 more you can REALLY get organized and purchase my “client paper sample kit” template (featured on Paperie here and here) half-off when purchased with the new binder template. Or if you spend $40.00 through January 1st, you can get the ENTIRE “Fit to Print” store – including the new binder pack template – for just $40.00!

Thanks and stay tuned for more packaging updates soon!

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.

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.

Heather, be thy name

I am so excited about this guest post—it has really inspired me to change things up a bit and add a few new items to my packaging arsenal. Sit back, take five, grab and drink, and prepare to be wow’ed by Heather of Heather Garland Photography!

“Wow, I feel like it’s Christmas and I just got handed the most beautiful present under the tree.” When a client told me this one day, I knew why I put so much work into my package. It wasn’t just because I loved packaging, it was because my clients loved it too and it made them feel special. Of course, I do love packaging too. It is so exciting to me and I am always working to improve my packaging. Most people think it is silly to put so much investment and work into handing clients who have already booked you their prints. I think that is quite wrong, our clients that have had sessions are photographers MOST important marketing tool. Every one of them has friends, family, and co-workers who get married, have babies, and want family portraits. Making my clients happy is my biggest goal, not just for referrals but because I genuinely consider them friends after our sessions. Because of this, when I hand them their prints, I want them to feel like I handed them something worth the hundreds of dollars they paid for it.

First off my amazing marketing products and logo are from Amy Grace at candyapplestudios.com. She is absolutely incredible. I already had my logo done before and just switched to her to give me a somewhat new look. She made me feel so professional and amazing. Every design she handed me I was in awe because they were so incredible.

Above is my packaging. I have 3 different sizes of bags (one for sizes up to 5×7, one for prints up to 8×10, and one for sizes up to 16×20), a few different sizes of boxes (wallets, 4×6, & 8×10), and multiple shipping boxes (4×6, 8×10, and DVD sized).

My bags, boxes, tissue paper, and shipping boxes are all from papermart.com.

My tags are from cpq.com, are tied with raffia from bagsandbows.com.

My 8×10 boxes (apparel boxes), which I place inside the bags, have ribbon from Hobby Lobby and are secured with a 2 inch sticker I made myself. (I am probably going to start an etsy store eventually, just because there aren’t a lot of places to get quality round stickers. I’ve tried tons of places like Zazzle and can’t stand the shift.) I also have a 2×3.5 inch sticker from whcc.com on the bottom of my boxes and in the middle of my bags.

Inside my boxes I put the prints, an envelope with a copy of the contract, a business card, a referral post card with referral cards, and usually a little post-it note with a note to the client.

Here is a close-up of the envelopes with the contract. They are from vistaprint.com.

I include referral cards that share my referral program, along with a baggie from clearbags.com with 5-10 referral cards. The large postcard is from whcc.com and the business cards are from gotprint.net.

These are the post-it notes from 123print.com.

My prints are secured with the appropriate bag from clearbags.com and have white backing board.

I also have little wallet boxes and 4×6 boxes (jewelry boxes) that are inside the bag (if applicable).

l

They have small 1 inch stickers on them, which I use on a lot of my products. I also make these myself.

If clients order a gift card, I package them the same as prints but in a 4×6 box. Here is a close-up of my gift cards.

My shipping boxes are new for me, I figured if I was professional in my other packaging I should have the same look for my shipping too.

I get my shipping labels from 123print.net and use a 2 inch sticker to seal it.

I include a tag (unpunched), the pictures, and tissue paper. This a 4×6 sized box with 4×6 prints and wallets.

For my wedding clients, I have my contracts printed and put in a folder from Office Depot. My folders are the only thing I am changing soon. I am looking into brown folders from paperpresentation.com. I put a 1 inch sticker in the corner and a business card in the slot inside.

When they book I send them a copy of the contract, a thank you card, and a candle. The thank you is from whcc.com and the candle is from Bath & Body Works.

I also include a link to a personalized site. This site has dates their payments are due, a copy of the contract & model releases, a get-to-know-you email form, and special tips for the wedding. If you want to see an example you can check it out here: http://heathergarland.com/bridesite/

Here is a close up of the thank you cards, referral cards, and business cards again.

The only thing not shown is my DVD cases, they are from jewelboxing.com and designed by my amazing designer. They are personalized with pictures from the shoot, along with a print release, and a panel explaining cropping of the photos and recommending Mpix.com.

My marketing materials change all the time, but I feel like now finally my packaging is established and I will only be adding on new and more exciting pages in the future. I am so excited to be able to share my packaging and hope it can inspire someone. This blog has definitely inspired me in my packaging and I love Robyn’s packaging and every person featured on the blog. So I hope I can pay back in a way, what has inspired and helped me so much. Thanks!

Love, Heather

Did I tell you that you would be wow’ed or what? Please stop by Heather’s blog and / or leave a comment to tell her “thanks!” What a way to kick off the new week!

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).

Miss Organization

It’s no secret that I’m all about the paper. (If this URL didn’t give you a small clue…) All of my client forms, contracts, releases – all of it – are on paper and not digital. I just can’t make the switch. It works for others and works well, but for my own business I want a client’s John Hancock signed on a non-digital line. It’s not easy being green.

So every year in January I start “the great binder switch” and get everything in order for the upcoming year before I start shooting again. One of those binders goes with me to every session, without fail. It has alphabet-tab dividers and the contact / session forms (and printed directions) for every client I photograph. I also take the signed contracts with me for the particular session I’m photographing. That way there’s no awkward “how much do I owe you?” pause. I can just flip right to their section of the binder and say, “Well it looks like…” with their signed contract right there in front of them. It’s also handy for when clients can’t remember the products they selected for their package as I’m showing album, canvas, and announcement / card samples. Their contract has an itemized list right there in black and white.

In the past, my system has been rather simple. A new polka-dot binder goes with me to sessions. A solid binder stays behind at home with the remaining contracts and releases for that year.

However, this year I was intrigued by the Avery Signature Binder.

UPDATE: New photos of my 2nd binder if you want a peek! Check the comments.

You start by choosing from 3 different sizes of binders – 1″, 1.5″, or 2″. (Photographs shown are of the 1.5″ version.) You can use a pre-designed template or make your own, including full-bleed.

There are no minimums, so you can make / order just one. They have a FAQ if you have additional questions. The binders come with four inside pockets as shown. Those will come in very handy for extra model releases (just in case) and pose-sheets if needed.

This is branding that will make you instantly-recognizable to a client if you are shooting on-location. It gives them a chance to see your work and your logo as you approach.

I think these would also be fantastic for bridal / wedding packages. If you presented a client with a binder with your photographs and logo / URL and all of the paperwork necessary for their portrait package with you — but also included tabbed dividers for other vendors (such as bakeries, florists, bridal shops, DJs, transportation companies, travel agencies, etc.) — there’s a very good chance you will have just handed them an “official wedding organizer” featuring your images and branding. And as anyone who has planned a wedding knows, that organizer goes everywhere the bride does for quite some time. It allows your name to be seen not only by countless wedding professionals, but also by the couple’s friends and family who may just be planning weddings of their own one day. With price points that start at $18.95 it’s not the cheapest of options, but if wrapped into the cost of your session / package fees, the potential free-marketing is limitless.

Avery has also teamed with Zazzle to offer this same product. Zazzle has several templates available that make my basic custom design shown here pale in comparison. (My binder was created to look exactly like the contracts and information packets my clients receive.) Zazzle even has a wedding planner design available from Hallmark!

Psssst… Before you order, make sure to look up available coupon codes for Avery Signature Binders and Zazzle!

Check back soon because new guest post features are currently in the works! 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).