sweet soul

As promised, we’re back today with another of our popular packaging posts.

Today’s guest entry is by Kristen Hines of Anima Dolce Photography. Packaging like this makes me swoon, and I know you’ll love it as well! Read on (and click the packaging photos for larger pop-ups)…

Anima Dolce is Italian for “sweet soul” and I really wanted the concept of my brand to be reflected by those words and how they make you feel. I wanted to make sure I carried that over to my packaging and after refining it for quite some time, I think I have finally achieved my vision.

My brand was developed around three words: soul, warmth, and happiness. I chose the colors for my brand from a digital paper pack (Spice) that I bought from Sassy Designs, Inc. The warmth of the plum color is the base for my branding. I worked in the kraft color to keep the materials down to earth and I finished the look with a crisp cream to brighten it up.

In every package is a thank you card with a hand written note. The note is printed on a luxe card in the scalloped square shape from Miller’s Lab. I love the variety of shapes they offer. I use black photo corners to adhere my folded business cards to the back. I place them in a fig envelope with a kraft paper liner from Paper Source.

For the digital images, I have custom DVDs printed at Blank Media Printing. I write the session and the date on the front and put them in an enclosure from Kraft and Jute.

To add a sweet touch, I include a kraft pillow box with Jelly Belly’s inside and finish it off with a plum ribbon from Michael’s. I use an envelope from Paper Source for the prints in the stardream opal color to add some shimmer to the package.

Everything is wrapped up in a kraft suitcase and I place a luxe sticker from Miller’s Lab on top.

I hope I have inspired you to bring some soul to your packaging! It has been a lot of fun for me to put it all together. Here are the vendors that I used for the materials:

• Kraft suitcase: Kate’s Paperie
• Luxe Sticker and Luxe Card: Miller’s Lab
• Envelopes in Stardream Opal and Fig,
  and Kraft liners: Paper Source
• Custom DVDs: Blank Media Printing
• Folded business cards: MPix Pro
• DVD enclosure: Kraft and Jute
• Photo corners and plum ribbon: Michael’s

Thanks so much to Anima Dolce Photography for the beautiful feature! Have a great weekend everyone!

-Robyn

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.

all aglow

April is going to shower you with giveaways here at Paperie so make sure to check in often! To kick things off for the new week, Design Aglow has offered up an amazingly fantastic prize with their guest post. The last Design Aglow giveaway here was a smashing success and I have no doubt this one will be, too! So…take a peek at the new product “For collectors of art and style” for yourself!

Design Aglow’s got its eye on style, and these deliciously divine DVD covers in six sumptuous, show-stopping designs are no exception. For the client who wants it all, including a beautiful custom collection of digital negatives from your session, this product makes a case for a quality presentation clients are sure to want to collect for their own. Unlimited customizations, double and single case designs and even coordinating labels make this offering a masterpiece you’re going to Louvre.

PERFECT FOR:
• a beautiful custom keepsake for those who want to
  invest in all the images as high res files
• turning any session into the ultimate collection with
  a highly valuable digital product
• sending potential clients or those who refer you a peek
  at your portfolio
• to create matching cards, album covers, and even wall art
• use for your own fresh marketing materials, website and
  blog to help you stand out

See all six designs here. (Also recently featured on the Design Aglow Blog.)

Now the details on how to win this amazing prize… There are THREE up for grabs! Follow @designaglow on Twitter. Then either post the following to your Twitter or Facebook account:

For 24 hours get 15% off @designaglow & visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to win 3 Design Aglow DVD cover collection templates!

Then come back here and post where you left the comment (one entry per person) in the comments.

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 prize.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 6th.

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning numbers will be chosen by Random.org, and the three winners will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize. Good luck everyone!

But wait – that’s not all! If you follow Design Aglow on Twitter, all purchases (today, Monday April 5th) are 15% off for 24 hours!

Thanks so much to Design Aglow for this amazing prize giveaway! More are in the works so spread the word and stay tuned! (P.S. Want to know my favorite Design Aglow product as of late? The Parisian Collection photo and proof borders. I take two 4×6 vertical/portrait shots, add a border, and then add an additional white ‘digital border’ to make the image 5×7 – same with one 5×7 horizontal/landscape shot plus border, add an additional white ‘digital border’ to make the image 8×10 – then have the images mounted and fine-linen textured with a protective coating. Makes the perfect client gift. Instant fine-art wall gallery! UPDATE: By request, put an example of the bordered prints in the comments.)

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 sidebar – several new advertisers added recently!

flash of brilliance

One of the recent WPPI 2010 Las Vegas wrap-up reports featured incredible looking photo flash drives. As Lady Luck would have it, Photoflashdrive.com found out about that blog entry via Twitter, and instantly a promo was arranged. This year you don’t have to go to Vegas just to win big!

Photoflashdrive.com is an offshoot of Pexagon Technology that caters specifically to you: Photographers!

We offer flash drives, smartphone cases & more – personalized with your design or logo at no additional charge and never with a minimum order qty. As a courtesy to photographers we offer everyday savings of 30% off flash drives when you shop though photoflashdrive.com.

At WPPI 2010 in Las Vegas we had the opportunity to show off our newest wood flash drive line…

As thanks for our guest-blog spot, we will be offering a 2GB personalized wood flash drive to 3 lucky winners who enter the contest at Paperie Boutique!

So how do you win? It’s simple!

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

I’m in it to win it with Photoflashdrive.com / @photoflashdrive – visit Paperie Boutique / paperieboutique.com to see how you can win, too!

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. 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 28th.

The prize includes: a 2GB Personalized Wood flash drive (laser engraved with your logo!)

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!

Thanks to everyone at Photoflashdrive.com for this amazing promo / giveaway! Their products add a brilliant, affordable twist to custom digital negative presentation.

UPDATE: In case you missed it, all three winners were announced in the comments – All That Glitters Photography, Renae Alane Photography, and Ooh La La Photography. Congrats to the winners and thanks so much to everyone who participated!

And don’t forget, the Design Aglow “Studio Look Book – Basic” contest is still running through 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight (Friday night)!

Have a great weekend –
Robyn

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).

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).