The Savvy Photographer

Packaging week~ day one

2012-01-30T08:18:00.014-05:00

Mpixpro is our favorite lab {and Miller's Lab..they are "sister" labs} so we thought it would be fun to show the different ways you can make your packaging stand out to "wow" your clients... all while using the boutique packaging from Mpixpro. We love the clean look of the cream boxes and the simplicity of the chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon that Mpixpro offers...but dressing it up a bit can be fun and your clients will love it!

Each day this week we will feature a new look...enjoy the inspiration!

The 5x7 card is an example of the beautiful new Signature Letterpress Cards from Miller's Lab.

These cards are such great quality...and who doesn't love the feel of letterpress!

A Coastal Retreat...Swell

2012-01-27T21:23:00.000-05:00

A little note from Catherine Clay...

The Swell Retreat is quickly approaching and we would love for you to join us. Marla and I are beyond excited to do this retreat again. I can not wait to get to the beach and spend three amazing days focusing on my business and yours! Last year, well exceeded all of our expectations. We knew that we were trying to put together something different: a weekend that was safe, intimate, and where every person's experiences and journey mattered. We believe we will provide this and so much more! There is so much to learn from an open discussion with other women in business. We hope you will register today for what will be another amazing weekend. Here are the specifics and a testimonial from one of last years attendees.

"I can honesty say Swell has been by far the best learning experience for me. I have attended a few other workshops that were lots of black and white business information that was beneficial to me during that point in my business, Swell was completely different from my previous experiences but exactly what I needed. I was at a point in my business where I felt like I was just going through the motions and doing what I thought I should be doing, I was lacking motivation and drive. The wealth of information that was shared by you both and the other speakers and attendees has truly changed my business. I left the retreat inspired and motivated and was able to take all the information and implement the bits and pieces that worked for me and my business as well as set goals to move toward. I loved the intimate setting, with the group of fabulous ladies who were each talented and so willing to be an open book. The "paradise" setting only made the weekend better, I mean honestly laying in lounge chairs, overlooking the ocean, and talking about photography, it really doesn't get much better than that! The bike rides with old and new friends, and the late night laughs made it feel more like a vacation with a bunch of old girlfriends. The format of the retreat was perfect, I loved that it was more of an informal discussion setting mixed up with some time to enjoy the beautiful Watercolor area. I left the retreat counting down the days until the next year, if I had one complaint it would be that it was just not long enough! :)" Jennifer Griffin, Jennifer Griffin Photography

Like us on Facebook for regular updates and info on Swell. The Swell Facebook Page

DATES: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012
Retreat activities will begin Thursday evening and commence after breakfast Sunday.

WHERE: WATERCOLOR RESORT

“Tucked away on the shores of the gorgeous Gulf Coast, the WaterColor Inn & Resort has become a luxury escape for those looking for a vacation destination to unwind and indulge in a natural paradise. Designed by famed architect David Rockwell, the Inn captures the essence of a tranquil getaway. The perfect combination of Florida family resort, warm Southern hospitality, the intimacy of a bed and breakfast, and the fun of a classic beach house, the WaterColor Inn & Resort creates the ideal setting to relax—and to play.”

THE INVESTMENT:
$ 1900 New Attendees

$ 1500 Repeat Attendees

Your investment includes…..pretty much everything!

• Luxury Condo Accommodations for 3 nights in your own room.

• Cocktail reception Thursday evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday. Breakfast Sunday.

• Bikes, workout facilities, kayaks, tennis, and gulf views!

• Full access to Marla and Catherine and all the special guests!
See you at SWELL!

Simple Tricks for Organizing Your Workspace

2012-01-27T08:43:00.013-05:00

Simple Tricks for Organizing your Workspace
By Leah Remillet at Go{4}Pro Photos ☺

Time. The one commodity that everyone wishes they had more of. But in order to have more time, we need to be more productive. And in order to be more productive, we have to get more organized.

I'm sure you can relate, but my productivity levels have a night and day difference from when I've got it together and when I don't. Clutter kills creativity and chaos stumps productivity. In short - organization is crucial. In a world where we're constantly trying to be it all, we've got to start with being organized.

Confession: It's really easy for me to think about what pretty things I would like in my office! A flip through the Pottery Barn Magazine, a stroll down the aisles of Target and those ideas are flow'n! The fresh flowers, the vintage cameras and the beautiful canvases adorning the walls... I can see it all now. Isn't it lovely?

But pretty does not always translate to productive. I need both! So, I began my attempt to figure out this magical land of organization.

First I created a Functionality Plan. Instead of planning the color scheme or furniture layout, I scrutinized over what actually makes my workspace workable...

This is my list of what I need in my office to be able to accomplish something...
1. Computer Station: Clean/clear desk with computer.
2. Reference Station: Archival disks, notebooks, client paperwork, etc.
3. Supply Station: Office supplies such as ink, paper, etc.
4. Packaging Station: Ribbon, boxes, bags, tissue, tags, press printed products, etc.
5. Prop Station: Tutus, hats, bowls, clothing, fabric, etc.
6. Equipment Station: Camera gear, projector, screen and such.

Does it sound like I have a studio space to organize all of this? I don't! I have the extra bedroom, and that's my office. But by creating "stations," I could start to determine what it is I really needed in order to create functionality. Try it and see what you come up with.

Moral of the story... Think past just pretty and on to pretty functional!

Leah Remillet is the creator and author of Go4ProPhotos.com, a website dedicated to helping photographers thrive as business owners. Connect with Leah on Facebook and Twitter. And make sure you check out all of the awesome freebies Leah gives to her readers!

Leah would love to give you a FREE DESKTOP WORKFLOW ORGANIZER (as shown on her computer desktop) by getting you in on the fun at facebook.com/go4prophotos.

Also, make sure you check out the monthly giveaway from Leah on the blog...you don't want to miss the chance to win!

Are you looking to win a little "Blog Sugar"?

2012-01-26T08:41:00.003-05:00

Our sweet friends from Dear Miss Modern (the designer who created our cute Savvy blog design) sent us over some info to share with our readers...

"This is Dear Miss Modern's first big giveaway and BOY, are we excited. We hope that you'll be just as excited since we're giving away a Blog Sugar Design Kit and custom installation on your blog! That means we will update the colors, add your logo, link your social buttons, etc. We'll basically customize up your favorite Blog Sugar Kit, wave our magic wands, and VOILA! You'll have a brand new, customized and fully installed blog! You must have either a Pro Photo or Blogger Blog to qualify for the installation. Winner will be picked randomly on Tuesday, January 31st, and be notified by email. Ready, set, GO!

For Full images and descriptions of our Blog Sugar Kits, please visit our design shop: www.dearmissmodern.com
To enter the contest, please visit the blog here.

350.00 value.
*So sorry, but we cannot answer any emails or questions regarding the giveaway."

You must enter on their blog..not here...good luck!

more images from Imaging USA 2012

2012-01-25T08:40:00.002-05:00

The booth from Life Camera Actions.

We loved their booth and we LOVE their actions! If you haven't tried them, you should! Brett, the owner, is the nicest guy who is also incredibly talented. I'll be telling you more about these actions in the future.

Do you use Big Folio? These guys are great!

The adorable Vicki Taufer posing beside her daughters image in the ad. Vicki had just finished her class, Simplify Your Business and Get Your Life Back, which was great! She is always a pleasure to listen to...and such a sweet person.

Kevin Kubota teaching at his booth

Gotta love the fun booth at moo.com

The Wild Sorbet booth always does a great display!

Miller's and Mpixpro booth~ Imaging USA 2012

2012-01-24T08:58:00.003-05:00

We loved the Miller's and Mpixpro booths! They have wonderful products and the people that work there are simply the best! We can't say enough good things about this company...they make their clients top priority and it shows. We consider them friends...they are not just our lab...they are the lab we can trust to deliver our products beautifully and so quick it's amazing!

We love the display of the new LUXE frames from Miller's.

Clickin Moms~ Imaging USA 2012

2012-01-23T09:21:00.012-05:00

We had a wonderful time last week in New Orleans at Imaging USA. The best part was meeting some of our favorite online friends in person. The girls from Clickin Moms were fabulous! The booth was beautiful and so were the sweet faces in it. If you are a member of Clickin Moms, you will surely recognize some of these faces.

The founder of Clickin Moms, Kendra Okolita, and me

(no photoshopping here...can't you tell? the bags under my eyes are always there...I would like to blame it on the late nights of fun in New Orleans)

To learn more about the great community of women photographers at Clickin Moms, click on the banner below...

free downloadable business plan workbook from Photo Talk Forum

2012-01-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

Photo Talk Forum wants to help you plan for a successful and profitable 2012! They have just posted a FREE downloadable 30 page business plan workbook and a goals worksheet!

And the best part, you do NOT have to be a Photo Talk Forum member to get this new year gift!

PTF members can download the Business Plan Workbook and then grab the Goal Worksheet.

If you're not a member, click here to download your business planner and goals worksheet.

Photo Talk Forum also wants to remind everyone to make sure you've downloaded the 12 Days of Christmas downloads from all of our favorite designers! Time is running out! If you'd like to join PTF in 2012, enter the code NEWYEAR when you check out for $30 OFF our regular yearly membership!
Super easy – join or renew now for just $99.

Also check out their blog!

the winner is...

2012-01-20T08:28:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to comment number 18, Christine Long...she just won the one year subscription to The Easy Accounting Solution!
You can still sign up for a free 2 day trial here: Free Trial

Thanks to those who entered and to the girls at The Easy Accounting Solution!

Studio tour from Lena Hyde

2012-01-19T08:43:00.002-05:00

Lena Hyde sent us images of her studio where she runs Lena Hyde Photography & Design Aglow in Palm Beach, Florida. The space is amazing! We love how she has created not only a studio for herself but a place for other women to have a space of their own also.

Muses & Visionaries was designed around the notion that a place of function can also be one of style and beauty.

"With 4,000 square feet of bright open space, we offer a daily retreat outside of home and office where women can flourish and find enrichment, enjoy a unique place to read, relax, socialize, meet, work, or think in a positive and intellectually rejuvenating environment.

Members may take advantage of the club’s library and creative resources, sitting areas for lounging solo, relaxed workspaces for groups, and a large and chic conference room."

Is your business organized?

2012-01-18T08:24:00.002-05:00

(written by The Easy Accounting Solution)

Was one of your New Year’s goals to get your business more organized for 2012? Do you find yourself half way through January and still not having any clear direction? As a photographer I can completely understand this feeling. For years I could handle the photography, but I was at a complete loss when it came to bookkeeping. I created multiple spreadsheets to try to get organized and had files and files of paper, but I still didn’t manage to keep track of everything that I should have. I simply couldn’t come up with a way to manage my clients, my receipts, invoices, tax information, and everything else that I had completely left out because I didn’t know that I should be keeping up with it. Maybe you feel this same way?

I have good news for you! I just knew there HAD to be a better way, an easier way! So nearly 3 years ago I got together with a friend, Andrea, who is an accountant and together we created The Easy Accounting Solution for the Photographer. Andrea and I are polar opposites: she actually LIKES numbers and bookkeeping! That’s what she’s passionate about. I needed Andrea’s help along the way and we knew that many of you would also like to have her help also, so at each and every step of our program we have a little ? box that provides Andrea’s helpful information and tips! It’s just like she’s there holding your hand every step of the way.

Andrea has taught me lots of little tricks and tips (which you will find in our help menus) and on our Facebook page. Periodically we share tips on how to stay organized, manage receipts, how to maximize tax deductions, etc.

One example was: Take the time periodically to back up important files, data, pictures, & things you've bought- actions, templates, workbooks, etc. The time it takes to back-up these important files on an external source is minimal compared to trying to get them back/recreate them, & some can't be replaced.

Another great tip from last year: Are your cost of goods sold (the price you pay to get the things you sell...prints, frames, etc) going to increase with the coming year? If so, it’s time to evaluate your product/package pricing for 2011 as well! TEAS make this SO easy!! Just input your costs, tell it what % mark-up you want, and it’ll calculate the prices for you!!

Are you curious what all you can do with The Easy Accounting Solution?

-Keep up with clients, employees, and vendors – you can have a complete address book, with anniversaries and birthdays
-You can create invoices to print and/or email
-Price products and packages
-Input income/expenses, and manage your checkbook
-Generate reports for tax purposes, and to see how your business is doing overall on a month-to-month basis
-And one of the most usual tools for day-to-day is the jobs feature: it allows you to see where you stand on each job – appointments, sales, editing, packaging, etc.
We don’t want you to just take our word for how easy this program is to use.

We want you to try it and love it! Sign up for a free 2 day trial here:
http://photo.theeasyaccountingsolution.com/AccountCreateTrial.aspx
You do not have to enter any payment information, and any information that you input during the trial will be there when you purchase your account!

When you decide that this program is just what your business needs, purchase for half off through January 24^th, 2012 with discount code SAVVYNY.

The girls at The Easy Accounting Solution is also offering one lucky reader an entire year-long subscription (a $199 value) for free!

Enter to win...
(1) Leave a comment here telling us your biggest challenge in organizing your business.
(2) Follow The Easy Accounting Solution of Facebook and leave a comment here
(3) Follow the Savvy on twitter and leave another comment here.

We will choose and announce a lucky winner on Friday, Jan 20th! Good luck!

What a perfect way to start off the New Year!

The Valentine's Day Collection from Minted

2012-01-13T07:30:00.005-05:00

I love the Valentine's Day collection at Minted.com! These adorable cards are sized perfectly (2.5"x 3.5") for your little ones to hand out at school...and when you click this link, new clients will receive a $25 credit just for signing up at Minted!

I also love the idea of giving the people you love a journal...and the ones from Minted are simply adorable!

And for those of us who still haven't sent a Christmas card...or a New Years Card...you can send a Valentine's card...it's always a nice surprise to open up your mail to find a card from old friends!

To find more cards, journals and fun Valentine's Day goodies, check out Minted.com.

packaging ideas

2012-01-10T10:26:00.002-05:00

Did you get a chance to see all the fabulous packaging ideas at the lovely site, Paperie Boutique?

They had a "wrap battle" contest where photographers could send in images of their packaging and I was thrilled to be one of the judges. The top six finalist were chosen by the panel of judges and then the readers had a chance to choose their favorite. Three winners were chosen and they each won fabulous prize packages!

The above image is from the grand prize winner... Chubby Cheek Photography. I love her packaging...so clean and crisp...and it was my top pick...so glad she won! Go check out all of the great ideas over at Paperie Boutique Wrap Battle.

Thanks Robyn for a great contest!

meet the gal behind the interviews...Leslie Kerrigan

2012-01-09T09:56:00.001-05:00

By Leslie Kerrigan

I am a journalist at heart. Asking questions and finding out the scoop are both things I am good at and enjoy doing. So when Marsha mentioned to me that she wanted an interview from me, I wasn’t sure how to react! I ask the questions, not answer them. I write the stories about other people, not me. I am out of my comfort zone as the interviewee and not the interviewer. Was I going to be able to do this?

I pulled out some of my past interviews and looked at the questions. I stared at the computer screen, not sure how to answer. And then I just began writing, and hoping my answers would be as good as the ones from past interviews!

So here goes…my interview with, well, myself. I generally write something at the beginning of each interview that introduces the interviewee so first let me start there.

My name is Leslie Kerrigan. I am the owner of Leslie Kerrigan Photography in Greenville, South Carolina. I am also the creator and editor of Seniorologie.com, an inspirational blog dedicated to the study of senior portrait photography. I have a passion for blogging, connecting with other photographers and photography.

Tell me about you…where are you from? Married? Kids?

I am from a very small town in South Carolina called Hartsville. It is funny, because as small as that town is, no matter where I am in the world, if I say where I am from, someone knows someone from Hartsville! Ha! I currently live in Greenville, South Carolina, which is much bigger than Hartsville and I love that! I am a city girl! I am married to my best friend who I met while working in a cubicle across from his! We have two boys…Jack is 8 and Eli is 5!

How did you get into photography? My story is not unlike many others I’ve interviewed. I was interested in photography in college but heard that the professor was strict and the class was hard. Being the fun-seeking, non-studying type, I opted not to take a hard class! Fast forward a few years and I picked up my dad’s film camera and tried to figure it out. I was going to Colorado to help move my sister to Aspen and figured the scenery out west would provide the perfect backdrop for my new hobby. I asked a coworker who was into photography to help me out and he gave me some tips. I wasted a ton of film and really got terrible photos. So I put the camera down for a while. Then, like a lot of other photographers, I had my first child and wanted a million photos of him. Living in my small town, there weren’t a lot of photographers. Really there was only one and his style was not what I was looking for at the time. So I started playing around with my point and shoot camera. I was glued to my computer, trying to teach myself the techniques of how to use a camera. I learned a lot from Savvy, The Pioneer Woman and Google! I received my first DSLR for Christmas in 2005 and I have been shooting ever since!

How long have you been in the business? I have been in business three years.

Who or what inspires you as a photographer? Gosh, soooo much! I am extremely visual and I get ideas from anything I see. I love window displays, catalogs, magazines, etc. And now with pinterest….it is like an inspirational playground! I could spend hours on there!

How would you describe your photography style? I think I would say it is fun and colorful! I love to play with color and texture and try to incorporate a little of that into shoots. I think there is a stylist somewhere inside of me that comes out every once in a while and I love to help put together wardrobes or sets for photo shoots!

What has been your proudest moment as a photographer so far? I think the moment I was able to contribute interviews and posts to The Savvy Photographer was a wonderful moment! I learned about photography from following this blog and the fact that I have had the opportunity to write for it is so rewarding! Thanks Marsha!!

What has been your most successful marketing technique? I would say connecting with other photographers and potential clients through social media and blogging. Having a voice online through my blog, posts on other blogs, facebook and twitter, really help me attract clients.

What is the biggest piece of advice you could share with those starting out in this business? Figure out what makes you unique and build your business around that. There are lots of people that can take great photos but it is what you do in addition to that, that really makes you stand out. If you are great at blogging and photography, then build your business on that. If you love to help clients with styling, then build a business that incorporates that. Figure out your unique skills and use those to your advantage!

You have a photography business and a blog called Seniorologie. Tell us about that and how you came up with it. Seniorologie was based on my love of senior portrait photography and my love of blogging. I have been involved with blogging for The Savvy Photographer, The Lens Loves and others. I absolutely love connecting with other photographers and interviewing them! I have a degree in journalism so finding out the who, what, when and how of something is my favorite thing! So Seniorologie was a way to combine my love of blogging, writing and interviewing on a subject I love, senior portrait photography. Seniorologie is an inspirational blog dedicated to the study of senior portrait photography and I hope that other photographers learn all there is to know about senior portrait photography. I also hope to connect with seniors and other teens so they will be able to express what they want in their senior photos.

What can we expect in from Seniorologie in 2012? I am super excited to host a workshop in Atlanta April 22-24! The Seniorologie Tour was created as an all-access pass to senior portrait photography. I have put together four speakers that will be sharing their experiences, marketing ideas, workflow and much, much more! There will also be a day of shooting with these fabulous speakers! Amanda Holloway, Holli True, Courtney DeLaura and Lisa Carpenter will give hands-on education to each attendee through the educational day and through the day of shooting. We are going to have different sets and models to photograph and attendees will not only get to watch these photographers do their thing but they will get to shoot along side of them and get valuable advice on finding light, posing and working with seniors! If you are looking to build the senior side of your photography business in 2012, The Seniorologie Tour is the place to get information, education and ideas to help you do just that! Visit the blog here for more information and to register! There are limited seats available!

Where will The Seniorologie Tour be held in Atlanta?
We have this amazing Inn picked out called The Inn at Serenbe! It is secluded and on a sprawling 1000 acres! We will have some amazing backdrops for our styled shoots, wonderful gourmet food from the restaurants and gorgeous rooms for the attendees! In addition to the wonderful things everyone will learn from the four speakers, they will have a relaxing southern get away! Check out www.serenbeinn.com!!

In addition to the workshop, Seniorologie will be at WPPI hosting a fun senior Shoot Out! If you have ever been to WPPI then you know that you rarely pull out your camera! This Shoot Out is the perfect opportunity to take awesome photos for your portfolio! Vanessa Warren, of Butterfly Sparks, will be creating awesome concepts for this shoot out and it promises to be a lot of fun!

What is in your camera bag? Nikon D300, 50mm 1.4 and 24-70mm 2.8. I also always have batteries floating around, bobbi pins and snacks! J

Favorite Lens? 50 mm 1.4 but I really want the 85mm 1.4!

On location or studio? On location

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be? I think either a graphic designer or magazine editor! Of course those are dreams but both jobs would be super fun!

What is your favorite Savvy Indulgence? Any dessert and I love Coke, real not diet!

What is your favorite thing about being a photographer? There is so much I love about being a photographer! I love creating art and working with clients! I love coming up with a concept and seeing it fulfilled!

Thank you for a wonderful interview Leslie! I'm so excited about the Seniorologie tour coming to Atlanta...my new hometown. I will be stopping by to meet all the attendees and bring a some savvy goodies for each! I can't wait for April...this will be a wonderful event for senior photographers at a wonderful little Inn in such a sweet town...looking forward to meeting you all there!
Marsha

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T11:13:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year from The Savvy Photographer!

Are you like me...still haven't sent out your Christmas cards?

We love the line of New Years cards from Minted.com...they are seriously cute! Use this link and get $25 off your first order...what a great way to start off the New Year!!

the winner for the Matilda Jane giveaway...

2011-12-20T10:06:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Carrie Brown...comment number 200...you are a very lucky girl!!! You have won three dresses from Matilda Jane...one to keep...two to share!!
We will be emailing you shortly to direct you on how to claim your prize...enjoy and have a wonderful Holiday spreading the love!

you are gonna love this...

2011-12-19T09:24:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love a great studio tour! So how about a behind the scenes photo lab tour? We thought this would be so much fun to show the adorable surroundings of the fun people behind the boutique photo lab, Pro Digital Photos.

Take a peek...

Here's what owner Veronica Chapman has to say about their lab...
"We have a lot of fun doing what we do, and we all love our jobs and getting to know our customers."

"We are different in that we are a smaller photo lab competing with the big guys. But it's our customer service, and our attention to detail in all the things that we do that sets us apart and is helping us grow so quickly."

giving

2011-12-17T07:52:00.000-05:00

It's better to give than to receive...and that's exactly what Michelle Kane is doing! Head over to her blog to find out more.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Style Guide from Design Aglow

2011-12-16T08:51:00.001-05:00

Style Guides by Design Aglow
What to Wear: for Families, Seniors, and Engagements

Straight from the hottest names in photography, Design Aglow's new style guide for shooting clients is the perfect way to keep fashion flubs at bay for your clients’ most important sessions and show off your photography in the most beautiful way possible...with style.

Present this gorgeous style guide to clients and expect picture-perfect wardrobes with less worry and time spent. Use as simple flat cards, a spiral bound mini guide, or online as a paperless pdf or email.
  
 This savvy service shows clients you're in-the-know with fashion, lending every client to a unique, full service boutique session. Bonus items include: a printable tip sheet for photographers from the top names in photography and a client dress for success guide.

Expand your studio catalog seamlessly with the Family, Engagement and Seniors Collections.  

  
With tips from the hottest professional photographers including:  
Jinky Art Studio  

Jessica Claire Photography  

Untamed Heart Photography  
Holli True Photography  

Amanda Holloway Photography  
Crave Photography  
Jessica Feely Photography  
Spanki Mills Photography  
Pastel Photography  
Jean Smith Photography  
Photography by Meg  
Whitebox Photography  

Introductory pricing is on today....save $15 per Guide!

How do you display?

2011-12-14T11:32:00.002-05:00

Now is the time when our mailboxes are full of Holiday cards...and each year I try to find a creative way to display them. How do you display them?

Matilda Jane giveaway ends tonight!

2011-12-14T08:31:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway from Matilda Jane! The lucky winner will win three dresses! One to keep and two to share...enter here!!

Arigato from Japan Earthquake Victims

2011-12-07T07:39:00.002-05:00

This morning as I started my workday, I went to Facebook (I don't know why I feel the need to start my day with this, but like many of you, I do)...and started reading (again) all of the ridiculous comments back and forth from photographers...so many having such bad things to say about others and it made me sad to be a part of this industry. The cattiness of all of it is sad...it's immature...is this what people really want to spend their time doing?
And then....I saw this video on Facebook. It touched me like you wouldn't believe...tears are rolling down my cheeks. These are the things that really matter. These people lost so much but they are not on TV (or Facebook) complaining and fighting...they are thanking everyone for giving so much to help out in the time of need. Watch the video...grab a kleenex before hand...you'll need it.
Today be thankful for all you have...and pray that tomorrow when you wake up you still have it. Because it can be all be taken away quickly.
And please continue to pray for the people of Japan...they are the kindest people you'll ever meet.

Boutique Holiday Cards (and more) from Pro Digital Photos

2011-12-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

If you haven't ordered your holiday cards yet (like me), then Pro Digital Photos is a great place to get them done.
They have so many cute styles and designs to choose from.

Pro Digital Photos is one of the funnest photo labs out there! We had the pleasure of meeting them at Imaging in Nashville and they told us all about their unique lab. We love the care that goes into your products...and the delivery! Did you know they even package your cards super cute and include a free gift.

Pro Digital Photos invented a new style of card this year, it's called their "window card." You can find their whole collection of window cards in their "die-cut section" of their holiday cards.

Pro Digital Photos also offers some new fun gift ideas that you won't find anywhere else, and just in time for all of those people on your shopping list. They have over 100 new design templates to choose from on their boutique mugs, metal cuff bracelets , flip calendars , and magnetic calendars.

They also just released their new light boxes! Their light boxes are offered in some of their custom designed templates or you can simply just use one of your favorite photos. Their light boxes would make for a memorable gift this year!

Pro Digital Photos is now offering shaped metal prints. And one of their add on options for their shaped metal is to put holes in the top of the metal for easy hanging with a ribbon.

With all of these fun gift ideas, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list this year.

Pro Digital Photos is also on Facebook, become a fan to receive promotions and specials that are only available to their Facebook fans!

Matilda Jane Giveaway!!

2011-12-05T12:13:00.008-05:00

Last year at the Savvy Workshop on the Waterfront, we were thrilled to have clothing from Matilda Jane donated for our models to wear and then some of our attendees were lucky enough to take home the adorable clothing!

Denise, the owner of Matilda Jane, is such a generous person! So I was so excited when I was asked by Matilda Jane to host a giveaway for one lucky Savvy reader. And the winner gets to pick two more winners of their own choice! Here's more details... One winner will win three dresses (you choose the dress you like best). Then you "spread the love"...meaning you give the other two dresses to who you think is deserving of the dresses.

They will not be taking any requests for sizes or styles and they are non refundable/exchangeable.

How to enter...

For two more entries, you can spread the word on Facebook or twitter...and then come back here and leave a comment. But you mist sign up for the newsletter in order to win!

Contest ends on December 14th at midnight!!!

Good luck Spreading the Love this Holiday season!!

have you considered teaching a photography class?

2011-12-04T22:02:00.000-05:00

Jessica Grieves is a talented photographer and teacher who is the creator of Photographer's Kick Start program. Here's more in Jessica's words about her Kick Start program.

"I love teaching my beginner's and advanced photography classes. This month alone I've taught 6 photography classes betwen group classes and private classes. Even if I'm feeling a little tired before my class, meeting up with moms who want to take better pictures of their kids really energizes me. I dance around, usually cry at least once, and in the end I always feel as though I've made some new friends. I put my love of photographing my own family into the class materials."

"The classes are not designed to replace the need for professional portraits done by a photographer - instead they are designed to help moms (and dads) learn how to get more out of their camera and candids so they can capture those everyday moments with more clarity and style. And with the upcoming holidays, there is not a better time to start offering photography classes in your area. January is commonly a slow month for portrait sessions, but it can be a HUGE month for photography classes - after all, new cameras are finding their way under the tree."

"To celebrate the holidays, I'm offering a 30% discount on your purchase between December 1 - December 14th. Get ready to start your training program today and you'll be ready for a big 2012!"

USE DISCOUNT CODE "dec2011" to take 30% off your order. That's a $100 savings off the Beginner's class, and $150 off the bundle!

Click here to visit Photographers Kick Start.

an amazing Cyber Monday sale!!

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Cyber Monday Special!

For one day only, you can get the entire digital collection from the Savvy Store for $99!!

Use the discount code cybermonday for the special price.

The retail price is normally $315...but today you can get it all for an amazing bundle price of $99.

The bundle contains:
(1) The Beach House Collection Canvas Templates
(2) The Savvy Chevron and Stripe Wall Collection
(3) The Savvy Story Boards~ The Lily Collection
(4) The Collection One Place Mats Templates
(5) The Chore Chart Templates
(6) The Memo Board ~ to do list templates
(7) The Canvas Collection Templates
(8) The Savvy Size Guide

You get EVERYTHING for ONLY $99!!

Don't miss out... the sale ends Monday, November 28th at midnight!

black Friday Sales!!

2011-11-24T22:45:00.006-05:00

the sale starts now...and ends Sunday at midnight...use code Blackfriday and save 25% off anything in the Savvy Store!! go here to shop...The Savvy Store

***

Here's an awesome sale going on at our sweet friends Dear Miss Modern...40% off!

***

Also check out the great deals from one of our newest vendors, Frank and Frida.

Take 45% off Friday and Saturday using code savvy45

***

You can save $20 off a fabulous Kelly Moore bag!

where have I been?

2011-11-22T07:20:00.004-05:00

Thank you to many for the concern over my "missing" status...we have been quite busy these days. Moving across the world yet again has been challenging to say the least!
We have made it HOME! Our family is together after being apart for a month. I can't believe I didn't see my boys for 4 weeks...they grew like weeds. My daughter and I have been "down south" (Alabama) for the last 4 weeks taking care of my mom after her surgery. (Thank you all for the prayers!) My husband and the boys were in Japan finishing up school and now we are all here in Atlanta!

Yesterday was a huge day for us...we closed on our first home! I've waited 21 years for this house...yep, that's a long time! I love the house...love, love, love the house! I also love the neighborhood and the wonderful neighbors. We met them for the first time yesterday and it seems like we are old friends already.

The movers bring our things tomorrow...the day before Thanksgiving. We are so thankful to be engulfed in this stressful time of moving...I can't complain a bit because we are finally home and together!

How have you been? I feel so out of the loop and can't wait to jump back in.

We have exciting things coming soon! Did I mention we will have a booth at Imaging this January in New Orleans? We love Imaging and hope to meet many of the Savvy readers there!!

Also...there will be a big change to the Daily Savvy Steal...I'll tell you all about it soon...very soon! I'm so excited about this!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Blessing to all of you!

I'll see you here on Friday...with lots of amazing sales to tell you about!

Meet Justin and Mary Marantz!

2011-11-14T10:09:00.003-05:00

You are sitting in a chair in a class at WPPI, the lights dim and you hear the screen turn on. A video, or rather a love story, starts to unfold in front of your eyes. You are captivated. Your heart smiles as you watch the story of two people who met, fell in love and became a wedding photography duo who are like no other. It’s as if you are watching a romance on the big screen, and you, yourself, fall in love with them.

Justin and Mary Marantz are the couple in the story. They are the couple that speak eloquently, exude passion for their job and treat their clients (whether they are actual wedding couples or photographers) like their best friends. They want you to succeed just as they have. They want to tell your love story perfectly. They are Justin and Mary Marantz.

I have been lucky enough to sit in their class at WPPI and I have experienced their unique brand of help through mentoring. They light fires under you, they tell you that you CAN do it, and they give you the push you need as a photographer. I have not had the experience of them as my wedding photographers, but I can tell you that I would expect the exact same passion. And from that passion, amazing photographs that tell the story of a wedding day.

Below is an interview with Justin and Mary. I was beyond honored to interview them and I am so glad to call them friends. Please be sure to check out their work on their amazing blog here. And the video that expresses their love story here. Thanks Justin and Mary!!

Tell me about yourselves…where are you from? How did you meet?
Justin – I’m originally from New Jersey, but went to school in Rochester, NY. After school, I took a job with a photographer in Connecticut.
Mary – I’m from West Virginia and I went to law school in Connecticut.
The summer after my first year in law school, I stayed in town for my summer internship. All my friends had moved away for the summer for their internships so I was looking for people to hang out with. I signed up for Match.com just to look for people to be friends with and Justin happened to sign up around the same time. We were actually the very first people that either one of us met on match.com. I joined for just the three-day free membership and by day two Justin “winked” at me! By day three we agreed to meet for coffee. I got a little nervous about meeting a guy I had talked to online, so I googled him and saw all his photography work and it was beautiful. I rationalized that a serial killer probably doesn’t do anything that beautiful so I went ahead and met him. We were pretty much inseparable from then on!

How did you begin your journey into photography? Justin – I got interested in it in High School. Then I went to Rochester Institute of Technology and studied advertising photography. After school, I got a job assisting Jody Dole, who is a really good advertising photographer. I did weddings on the side and that sort of started keeping me busy and eventually that took over.
Mary – Shortly after we met, Justin showed me his work and I was blown away! I started out helping him with marketing and the business side of things, while I finished law school. After I graduated, I started learning the photography side of things from Justin and started shooting with him. I joke that I was the first to graduate from the Justin School of Photography! He is a great teacher!

What do you primarily photograph? Weddings and couples, love stories

How would you describe your photography style? We like to use the acronym AEIOU – Authentic, Evocative & Enduring, Intimate, Organic and Universal. We really want our images to be Timeless. We want to give our couples those images that they want to frame and those images that can stay in those frames for years to come.

What inspires you as a photographer? We love what Annie Leibovitz does with portraiture…she takes it to another level that really highlights the very best parts, the lighting, the poses, etc – she really does everything she can to make each of those things the best it can be to create a portrait.

You guys are a husband and wife team. Tell me how it is to work with each other. Justin and I really do enjoy spending 23-1/2 hours a day together so that is the first thing. We have loved spending time together ever since we first started dating. We love to bounce ideas off of each other. We definitely have moments when we clash but in the end we know that what we can come up with together is going to be much better than what we could do separately.

How do you determine who does what or to paraphrase your tag line…”who washes and who dries?” We each have our list of things to do, our strengths. We have worked on that and adjusted it through the years. We used to have a lot of back and forth like I would cull then send images to him to do raw adjustments then back to me, etc. But we have streamlined the system and I have certain things I do and he has certain things he does. We also each have our own office spaces now so that is good. I like my space pretty and decorated and I can have that in my office and Justin keeps his things a little more messy so he can close the door at the end of the day and I don’t have to see it. I think it is definitely important for each of us to have certain things we are in charge of and we each know what the other is going to be doing.

Since weddings are so emotional, do you feel the fact that you guys are a husband and wife team allows you to connect even further with your couples? I think the way we connect with our couples is based on us, not simply because we are a husband and wife team. We definitely get couples that are similar to us so that helps. We find couples that are the right fit for us and that helps grow the bond. But we also feel that our customer experience and everything we do with and for our couples helps create a bond with them that they may not be able to get with another photographer. The dynamic of two and two works great but I think there is more to it than just being husband and wife.

How do you suggest photographers find the right fit for them? Filter from the beginning. Figure out what type of couple you want and write down the specifics. Create a client profile. We tend to get the couples that are in some sort of creative field and that are paying for the wedding themselves and have the means to do that. They tend to be very involved with the process, both the bride and the groom, and are really into the details of the day. They really appreciate photography…they may even be amateur photographers themselves.

How do you suggest other photographers balance their work and life while making their business successful? Oh man, do I wish I had the answer to this!! I've always been just the teeniest bit of a workaholic and an overachiever rolled into one, and for the most part I'm ok with that. Like the rest of the world, I've been reading a lot about Steve Jobs recently and he once said something in an article that really struck a chord with me. It was something to the effect of: "Don't be afraid of a little hard work...and don't be ashamed of it either." Which I think was just his way of saying that if your work is something that you truly love, then it's ok to throw yourself into it body & soul. But that's not to say that there shouldn't be some point where you have some balance as well. So while Justin & I do work crazy long hours building our business & our brand together, we do also make sure to put in most of those hours by starting early and working pretty diligently throughout the day. That way we can shut off at the end of the night, and leave work in the office guilt free. We also have weekly date nights, and if things are ever getting too tense around the studio we have an unspoken rule to drop everything we're doing and take Cooper on a walk. A good walk can fix anything. Well, that....and chocolate.

What has been your most successful marketing technique? We think the Blog is the hub and there are many spokes that feed into the blog and that the blog feeds back. Things such as our client experience, vendor relationships, features on wedding blogs and facebook, all feed into the blog and vice versa.

You guys talk a lot about the importance of Branding. What is your advice to new photographers when it comes to creating and cultivating their brands? Have Patience!! Creating a brand does not necessarily happen right away. Take your time and allow yourself to really figure out what you want your brand to be. You can spend a lot of money having someone create a brand for you and in a few years figure out that wasn’t what you wanted at all. Then you have to redo everything. Or you can be patient and really figure out who you are and what you want your clients to feel and what emotions are triggered when they view your site and your work. Once you do that, you can spend the money and have it done right and it will be an investment that you can use for a while.

Through your mentoring, workshops and speaking engagements, how do you help motivate other photographers to build their business and find their own way? From the beginning we felt like we wanted to teach and if we were going to do that then we wanted to teach the truth. We want to share our experiences and mistakes and show others that we have once been where they are. We want to show others that you can come from being new and not having much in the beginning and work hard and make things happen. We did it and so can others. We hope to share the things we learned or overcame and help you skip that part. We hope to help others learn from the things we did.

What is the most rewarding part for you about helping and teaching other photographers? Seeing them have that light bulb moment is priceless. Knowing they are getting it and can actually put to use what we discuss is rewarding. We have seen people struggle with lighting or something and they may have heard how to do it before but something in them finally clicks and you can see it in their face. That makes it all worth it!

Tell me what photographers can expect to learn and experience from your Walk through a Wedding workshops? Walk Through a Wedding with J&M is a two-day workshop that is pretty much just like what it sounds: we literally walk through an entire wedding day with everything from the getting ready in a dark church to posing the couple to shooting the reception complete with killer details. On Day 1, we start bright & early at our suite at 9:30 am talking about the "Why" and the day typically goes until at least 10pm, where we wind back up in our suite for some wine & night shooting. Throughout the day we cover all of those trouble spots like posing an unruly bridal party, organizing the family shots, off-camera lighting at the church & reception, what to do if you only have 10 minutes for the portraits, and how to have a game plan to shoot the reception details before the get destroyed. We have everything set up to be just like a real wedding, so this is literally a one-stop shop for all those things you struggle with. On Day 2, we'll meet back up for the business side of things where we will show everything (the good, the bad & the ugly) that they shot the day before. Then we walk you through our workflow, post-processing, and our unique take on business & marketing to show you how to create a business with real brand power.

What is in your camera bag? First let me tell you about the bag itself…it is the Think Tank Airport International and it is awesome! We have two Nikon D700’s, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 70-200mm 2.8, Carl Zeiss 25mm 2.8 Distagon, Nikon SB900, Pocket wizard Plus II, Pocket Wizard Mini TT1 for Nikon, 13’ Light Stands, Basic Umbrella Bracket for 2 flashes, Super Clamp, 43” White Umbrellas, and Gitzo Reporter Tripod. For Fun, we also have a Olympus E-P3 micro four thirds camera with 17mm 2.8 pancake lens, Olympus 45mm 1.8 lens and Olympus VF-3 viewfinder. All of this equipment can be found on Adorama.com.

What are your favorite lenses? Justin – 85mm 1.4 and Mary – 50mm 1.4

What is your favorite “Savvy” indulgence? Justin - technology! Mary – J Crew
Both – a good meal!

What’s happening next for Justin & Mary? We are sleeping for the next two months! ☺ After that, we will be announcing the dates on Black Friday for the Walk through a Wedding Workshops. We also are speaking at WPPI again this year with an all-new presentation called The Big Think. Come see us Wednesday, February 22 at 2:30!

Interview by Leslie Kerrigan.

sale extended...

2011-11-09T09:21:00.001-05:00

The sale has been extended!! The barnwood rugs are on sale for $120...the sale ends November 11th! Don't miss out!

check out this fabulous giveaway

2011-11-07T21:41:00.001-05:00

Our friends over at Fabulous Fun Finds is hosting a fun giveaway just for photographers...and the lucky winner will walk away with some great things! Including their choice of the a Savvy Backdrop! Check it out!

creating your own backdrop system

2011-10-29T22:18:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share a little about a project from Jen Gentry, the owner of Mesmerizing Moments Photography. Jen created a wonderful instruction manual on how to create your own homemade background system for photographing newborns. This is a great project for those who like DIY projects and love the option of having many looks in one background system. When you purchase the Flip It guide, you will get a step by step PDF with instructions on how to make your own backdrop. To learn more about the guide, check out the website, Flip it.

The Seniorologie Tour is announced!

2011-10-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

Since its creation, Seniorologie has been dedicated to the study of senior portrait photography! Learning all there is to know about how to interact with seniors, what products they love and how to create a successful senior rep program has been a goal of Seniorologie.

With that in mind, Seniorologie is taking it on the road!! That is right...A workshop for Senior Portrait Photography! The awesome information you have been getting from the blog is now coming to a city near you! So get out your notebook and pen because you are going to want to write this down!

Announcing the Seniorologie Tour - Atlanta, a workshop dedicated to the study of senior portrait photography. If you have ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of senior portrait photography from some of the top senior portrait photographers, this is the workshop for you!

This workshop is two days full of information from senior portrait photographers Amanda Holloway, Holli True, Courtney DeLaura and Lisa Carpenter. They will each share their specific strengths and share with you things such as how to interact with seniors, posing tips, social media techniques, marketing and so much more!

The workshop will also include a full day of shooting! We will have styled shoots set up to give you the chance to experiment with different lighting situations, posing and more. You will be able to put to use the things you learn from these amazing photographers while you are at the workshop and even get some one-on-one instruction as you shoot!

Seats for the workshop will go on sale soon! If you want to be the first to know when seats are available, please sign up for the Seniorologie newsletter, Senior Scene. Not only will you be the first to know all the scoop (including special rates and a giveaway), but you will also receive a free digital download from one of our sponsors, Get Schooled Photo, just for signing up to receive the newsletter! How awesome is that?! All you have to do is click on the link here and enter your email address! So sign up today!!

Seniorologie Week- Day Four

2011-10-27T09:39:00.001-04:00

I have always loved flipping through the pages of fashion magazines. I think any girl really does! Especially seniors! And with this photographer's editorial style, seniors, brides and families can all feel like they are models for a fashion shoot!

Lisa Carpenter of Lisa Carpenter Photography has a unique way of combining editorial and fashion style with traditional elegance. This combination allows her to know exactly how to guide her clients in a way that leads them into a natural pose with an editorial edge.

After spending many years in the corporate world, Lisa decided to go for her dream and become the photographer she always wanted. She studied and took classes at a local college, took workshops and practiced her craft. Soon she was shooting full-time and has since become one of the top photographers in her area.

I had the opportunity to interview Lisa about her story. Check out what she had to say below, and be sure to check out her work here.

Tell me a little about you...where are you from? where do you live? Kids?
I am a wedding & editorial fashion photographer based out of Greenville, SC however travel worldwide. I have two amazing children, both are boys ages 11 & 12. My boys are creative as well and will even offer their own critiques on images which I love.

How did you get into photography?
I have always loved imagery...photos, magazines and any other medium that has visual candy. In college I was referred to as the girl with the yellow Canon Snappy. I took that thing everywhere which annoyed people at times, but guess what? They always wanted the photos ;) I have been fascinated with editorial fashion since the 4th grade and even incorporate it into my shoots whether it is with a bride or a senior.

Any formal training?
Yes. I have had formal training. About 11 years ago I started to read many books on photography and took classes at a local college. I then enrolled in the NY Institute of Photography which was good for the basics. Then I found a workshop in Chicago, which is home for me, that was put on by the American Photo Mentor Series. It was a 3 day very intense program that was instructed by the amazing Rob Van Petten. Rob is a very well-known fashion photographer based out of New York. He told me that I should seriously consider doing this as a career. It took me 5 years to get there, but I took his advice.

How long have you been in business?
I have been in business since 2005

How long have you been photographing seniors?
My first senior was in 2006. I absolutely love working with seniors because I get to infuse my love for editorial fashion as well as keeping the shoots fun and playful.

Does your area have a specific senior season?
It varies

How would you describe your photography style?
My style is a mix of looks: editorial fashion, playful, emotional, timeless & fun.

What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors?
I love shooting seniors because they are so open to new & exciting concepts. They really want to have amazing pictures to show off to their friends, and that attitude shows in the sessions. It's fun to do high fashion looks, trendy looks, photo journalistic looks as well as a bit of traditional. I consider it a great day when we get out there & shoot while laughing and having a blast!

What are your most popular senior products?
Metal murals and albums

You also shoot weddings and bridal portraits...how do you feel both of these genres work together to make your business unique?
Since my style stems from commercial and editorial fashion, I feel it works brilliantly with both seniors and brides. The concepts are the same in posing. It's all about the angles, lighting & expression. I have studied vintage fashion photography for years and still do. The basics of that style of photography still apply today and I just add my own personal style while bringing out the best in my clients. If your client feels comfortable & confident the shoot will go amazing. It's a must to direct & guide and not just leave it up to them to fall into the right poses. But over-direct and it will look posed. It's a fine balance. Since I work with both brides & seniors, I feel it keeps my ideas fresh and benefits both genres.

What from the wedding/bridal side of things helps when shooting seniors?
Seniors don't want to be treated like a kid. They are young adults and want to have a voice in how the shoot will go. It is our job as the photographer to get a feel for each person's style & personality and play off that in the shoot. That is no different when working with brides. Shooting weddings allows me to work with so many types of personalities in which I adapt to while still keeping my personal photography style. Outside of knowing your equipment inside and out and being able to handle any lighting situation, it is imperative to have fun and connect with the senior or bride you are working with. Good working chemistry is key.

Because there are specific senior seasons, do you feel it is helpful to have another genre to photograph?
I personally love shooting both weddings & seniors simply because it keeps me fresh creatively. Seniors have fun & young ideas that I can use while shooting weddings, while a bride & groom might have something a bit more elegant and timeless that can be used when shooting seniors. It's a cool balance.

What is in your camera bag?
2 Nikon D3's, 1 D300, 1 Fuji S5. 70-200, 24-70, 85, 50, Lensbaby

Favorite Lens?
85 f/1.4

What is one tip you can share with other photographers who want to break into the senior market?
Remember that everyone is different, but the one thing that remains the same is that everyone wants to feel good in front of the camera. Connect, laugh and have an open mind. Always look for new locations for shoots.

(Interview by Leslie Kerrigan from Seniorologie.)

Seniorologie Week- Day Three

2011-10-26T08:31:00.001-04:00

Courtney DeLaura, is the type of girl you want to hang out with, the businessperson you want to get to know and the photographer you want to learn from. She is just one of those girls that you must know!!

I was lucky enough to meet Courtney in person at a workshop she created called Folio Love. This workshop was a unique opportunity to photograph several different styled photo shoots in one place and build your portfolio with gorgeous images. I had so much fun at this workshop and my favorite part was hanging out with Courtney.
In addition to Folio Love, Courtney also founded Get Schooled, which is a school portrait marketing guide. She details how she started out in upscaled school portraits and gives you all the tips she learned along the way.
Even thought Courtney has her hands in several successful businesses, her first love and main focus in her photography business is Seniors! Courtney owns Peachtree Studio in Knoxville, TN and it is one of the leading senior portrait studios in the area.I had the opportunity to interview Courtney on her senior portrait studio and her love of photographing high school seniors. Below is what she had to say! Thanks Courtney!

Tell me about yourself...I'm a wife and mother of two, Nick who's 13 and Marly who's nine. My family and I live in Knoxville, TN but I am originally from Northern California.

How did you get into photography? My uncle was a high fashion commercial photographer in the 80's so I was always around him and at his studio. I also modeled as a child, and my uncle always needed young models for ads for Macy's and many others. My dad was an artist and sculptor. When I was 15, he built a darkroom in our house and I would spend lots of time in there with him developing film. I stepped away from photography for a while and then picked it up when I had kids.

Any formal training? I think being around it all my life, I picked up things that I didn't even realize. Things came second nature to me when I decided to pursue photography because I had been around my uncle and dad and in different studios all my life. I also think lots and lots of practice helped too.

How long have you been in business?  5 years

How long have you been photographing seniors?  4 out of the 5

Do you have a specific senior season?  If so, when? I am usually booked between April and November then have a break between November and March

How would you describe your photography style? Classic, clean and simple. I look to Gap, J Crew and Banana Republic for inspiration. They seem to withstand trends...the same chinos still are made today that were made 10 years ago. I want my seniors to look back on their photos and it look classic.

What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors? I love the ability to give them images of themselves that are beautiful during a time when they may be unsure of themselves. I love to see the reaction in them and their moms when they look at the images for the first time!

Do you have a senior rep program? Yes

Can you share with us how it works? I have spokesmodels that are nominated every year. I usually contact the kids from my current year and ask them to nominate their friends for the following year. I then contact the nominated girls and boys and tell them that they were nominated as a spokesmodel for Peachtree Studio. I do a parent/spokesmodel meeting and explain everything. I like to try and get 9-10 spokesmodels from schools in my area. The spokesmodels have to have one referral before they get their senior session free. Every referral after that, they receive $50 print credit. I wait until the end of the senior season to have spokesmodel ordering sessions. That way they have had a chance to build up credit for what they want to purchase.

How do you feel this rep program benefits your business? I think it gets kids talking about my studio. They post their pics on Facebook and share them with their friends. High school kids know the name Peachtree Studio and that helps my business.

What are your most popular senior products?  The area that I live is not super trendy when it comes to products. They basically want gift prints, digital images and large wall prints. They also love the double -sided wallets.

What is in your camera bag?  Old Canon 5D that I absolutely love! 24mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.4 lenses.

What is your favorite lens? 50mm 1.4 lens!

What is one tip you can share with photographers who want to break into the senior market?  I am a very strong marketer and I feel this really helps in the senior market. I think it is super important to practice and shoot and build up your portfolio before you start to market yourself.
Becoming really comfortable in your shooting skin is also extremely helpful in the senior photography market. If you are unsure of yourself, they will pick up on it. Continue to talk to them while shooting and give them praise and instructions. They will feel more confident if you do that.

(Interview by Leslie Kerrigan from Seniorologie.)

Seniorologie Week- Day Two

2011-10-25T08:53:00.006-04:00

All photographers have a certain amount of passion for what they do. However, some really exude that passion the minute you talk to them! Holli True is one of those photographers!
Five minutes into our conversation, I could truly tell that she is a girl who loves what she does!! Talking to her got me so excited for her, for me, for senior portrait photography and for photography in general! It was infectious! She really is someone everyone should have the opportunity to get to know!
Lucky for me and for you, that opportunity is below! I had so much fun interviewing Holli and I am so happy to share it with you! Be sure to check out her awesome website and more of her work here.

Tell me a little about yourself...Where are you from?  Eugene, Oregon

Married?  Yes, for 12 years to my high school sweetheart!

Kids? Yes, two...Cole is 8 and Addisyn is 5.

How did you get into photography?  When I was about 20-years-old, I lost my first baby when I was five months pregnant. My sister felt bad because she had kids and thought being around them would make it harder on me. But I realized being around kids was exactly what I needed. So I got a job at a children's portrait studio. It was very therapeutic for that time in my life.

Any formal training? I spent four years at the portrait studio so I got a lot of hands-on experience with film photography. I also have a background in art and I have always drawn and sculpted people so photography came naturally to me because of that background. When I decided to open my own photography business, I did have to learn digital, so I taught myself that by practicing on my kids. I also asked tons of questions on forums such as Open Source Photo. It really made me feel comfortable enough to ask questions and learn more about photography.

How long have you been in business? Since 2007

How would you describe your photography style? Unique, fashion, modern, stylish and centered around my clients! My style is definitely not cookie-cutter. I try to bring out the individual and I love to bring out their confidence.

Who or what inspires you as a photographer? I love inspiration! To me inspiration, is all about knowing what makes you feel and taking those things and using them to push yourself to create something. I love actresses like Kristen Stewart. She is awkward but beautiful. My goal is to take real girls and help them push through any awkwardness or nervousness to find their confidence! I also love music! Music is my poetry. I write and edit to music. I also look at magazines such as Rolling Stones or Vanity Fair.

Do you have a specific senior season? If so, when?  Our senior season usually starts in the late summer and goes through November. Then we have a little break and pick back up again in March.

What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors?  I love seeing a senior who starts out unsure of herself, end up exuding confidence. Seeing their faces when they see the images we are getting is priceless.

Can you share some tips for other photographers wanting to get into the senior portrait market?  The senior market is changing. People used to want safe but now photographers are allowed to find their voice. So stay true to you and seek out the clients that are like you.

What are your most popular senior products?  Books....I use Modera.com. Metallic or metal prints and mini accordion books are also popular.

Do you have a senior rep or model program and how does it work?  I changed my senior rep program by getting rid of all cards and printed material and totally use social media for my reps. The reps have to talk about us on their facebook walls and we give them promos to put on their walls. We use Showit plus sites and they let me keep track of who is commenting, etc. The reps get a 45 minute rep session and photos on Facebook. Then they work to get more stuff. If they get 2 sessions booked, then they receive a boutique session free. The levels go up from there. More booked sessions equals more stuff earned. We have 10 reps this year and they are really doing a great job so far!!

You use Lensbaby lenses on your senior shoots. Can you tell us a little about them and how they help you to achieve a certain look? I love Lensbaby lenses! I really feel like they took my business to the next level. Lensbaby helped us carve out our niche in the business a little further and helped brand our photography. They give my senior shoots a unique look. I like fluid motion in photos and these lenses help achieve that.

What tips can you share about using Lensbaby lenses? Start out using higher f-stops like a 4 or 5.6. You have to choose your aperture manually and focus manually. I would suggest taking a few more photos, even when you think you have it. They are sensitive but the pay out is awesome!!

What is in your camera bag? Canon 5D Mark II, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, 28mm 1.8 and 70-200mm 2.8

What is your favorite lens? Lensbaby Composer Pro with sweet 35 optic and 85mm 1.8

Favorite time of day to shoot? I schedule most of my sessions in the evening!

What is one piece of advice you can share with fellow photographers? Figure out who you are and shoot accordingly! If you are a studio photographer, then shoot in the studio. If you love to shoot on-location, then do that! Shoot what you love!

(Interview by Leslie Kerrigan from Seniorologie.)

welcome to Seniorologie week- day one

2011-10-24T08:22:00.001-04:00

Seniorologie is thrilled to be on The Savvy Photographer this week!! Seniorologie is an inspirational blog dedicated to the study of Senior Portrait Photography. Leslie Kerrigan, of Leslie Kerrigan Photography, started Seniorologie as a way to connect and inspire other senior portrait photographers all while learning all there is to know about senior portrait photography!!

We are excited to share with the Savvy readers some of our favorite spotlight interviews on some awesome Senior Portrait Photographers! Enjoy a different interview each day and be sure to check back at the end of the week from some exciting news! Enjoy!

Sometimes you have to photograph anything and everything you can in order to figure out what you love! From families to weddings to kids to seniors....photograph them all and figure out where your passion lies. Finding your passion and shooting what you love will allow you to enjoy your job as a photographer!

That is exactly what Amanda Holloway did when she started out. She pointed her camera at anything that would let her and she quickly found out what she loved and what she didn't! From there, it was easy to carve out her niche in the Senior Portrait Photography market!

Amanda is a fabulous senior portrait photographer out of The Woodlands, Texas who, for the past two years, has run Amanda Holloway Photography all while still maintaining a full time job as a Juvenile Probation Officer. She just recently decided to follow her dream and become a full time professional photographer! Congratulations Amanda!!
I had the opportunity to interview Amanda about her business, her workshops and her advice to other senior photographers. Please check out what she had to say below and be sure to check out her website here. Amanda is also offering a special discount on the Purpose Posing guide to all SAVVY readers! To purchase the guide, click here and enter the code SENIORFANS11 at checkout. The coupon code is for $25 off and will be valid until October 31!

How did you get into photography? Any formal training? My husband bought me my first DSLR when my son was about 2-weeks old. It was a Nikon D5000 with a Sigma 18-200mm f 3.5-6.3 lens. I learned a lot on that combination while I endlessly took photos of my son. As the usual story goes, friends started to ask me to take pictures of their children, and when they posted them on Facebook, their friends wanted the same. For a few months, I was a shoot and burn photographer, but I quickly figured out that that was not how I wanted to spend every free weekend and night. I soon moved on to prints and then up to products. I think my very first 5x7 was a whopping $5, and I remember thinking, "Is someone really going to buy a 5x7 for $5?" Ha!! Even my husband was a little leery when I told him I wanted to sell an 8x10 for $10. I honestly think I'm the classic case...I had a beautiful baby boy and I wanted to document his life. I owe all of my photography success to my son...he was my original inspiration and is the reason I got started in the first place.

How long have you been in business? I have been in business with full blown pricing since August of last year, after portfolio building with parallel pricing for another year before that. I made the decision that if I was going to do this...I didn't want to take 5 or 6 years to be finally happy with my income and art. I wanted to hit milestone sales and my target market in my very first 2 years and after a ton of research and trial and error, I did it. A lot of photographers ask how I can teach workshops and mentorships after being in business for as long (or as little) as I have. One of my photographers that I mentored put it best when she said, "Amanda, I don't want to learn from someone who it took 10 years to get where you are. I want to learn from someone who did it like you. It's refreshing to know that I too, can do this." And what's really awesome is that photographer just called me last month screaming that she just made her very first $1500 sale! Woo!! I put everything into my business, and I am one of those people who truly believe that you get out what you put in.

How did you get into the senior portrait market? I actually used to shoot everything and anything that would let me point a camera in their general direction. Ha! I suddenly started paying attention to myself and the way I would feel when I was shooting certain sessions. I quickly found out that I was not a fan of children or family shoots. I would literally dread these sessions and it showed in my work. I would get frustrated that the little girl wouldn't look my way or that the little boy just bit me (oh, yes...he bit me!). But when I was shooting seniors, I felt like I was on top of the world. My work was much better with seniors, and I felt at ease shooting them...like I was in the zone.

How did you make the decision to only photograph seniors? Well, when I was shooting everything under the sun, I was quickly beginning to realize how much time I was spending away from my own family. My husband and I would argue about how much time I was spending on the computer, I was always gone on the weekends, and one day it came down to one question. He asked me, "Amanda, if you could shoot one specialty and never got paid for it, which one would you still be happy to shoot?" I blurted out SENIORS!! And there it was. That very night changed my career forever.

Do you have a specific senior season? If so, when? So far, I have found that February, March, April and May of their senior year is the season for my seniors. It's like someone called them one morning and said, "Psst...it's time for your senior pictures girls!" And then BAM! They're all calling and emailing all frantic because they're about to graduate and haven't had their photos taken.

What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors? Their willingness to do absolutely anything and everything I want to try. They are just as excited to be there as I am and that truly shows in their images. We've done some pretty crazy stuff and shot at some super weird locations, but they are so happy to be there and it totally pays off.

What are some tips you can share with other photographers who want to break into the senior market? Get acquainted with that generation's passion...all forms of entertainment and social media. You need to realize that they are spending tons of their time surfing the net, checking their news feeds on Facebook and looking at the latest and greatest in all the fashion magazines and music videos. If you're not letting them know that you are waiting for them with open arms, they will find someone else who will. you have to get out there, show them what you can do, and give them a reason to want YOU to take their senior portraits.

What do you think makes your business so successful? I've always said that if you want a successful photography business, you need to be a business person first, and a photographer second. Marketing is so important with seniors!!

What has been your best marketing tool for your business? Facebook!! Facebook is an amazing resource for photographers! The fact that I can get so many people's attention with just a click of a button is so awesome! Again, marketing is super important with seniors!

What are your most popular senior products for your clients? By far, my digital files. I sell them with a custom image box, custom CD hard case, senior slide show and a 5x7 of every showcased image. How can you say no to that?!?! My albums are big sellers too. A lot of my sales are psychological in the way that I present them and show my samples. You can hard sell your products while being subtle and maintain respect for your clients as well.

You have a Senior Posing Guide called PURPOSE. Can you share any posing tips for seniors? First and foremost, angle your senior girls away from you ever so slightly. This can trim their shoulder lines, jaw lines and waist lines, and be very beneficial to the overall look you are going for. Second, inverting her toes can do WONDERS for her thighs and legs. It can make short legs look long and long legs look well...even longer! Finally, press those knees together! You always want to maintain modesty when taking a senior's pictures...her parents will thank you for it! Ok...I lied. I have one more. Keep her hands in the frame. You want your viewer's eye to move around the frame while keeping focus on your subject's face. If you keep her hands in the frame, it will be a lot more interesting to look at and dynamic.
I decided to call my guide the PURPOSE Posing Guide because I wanted photographers who read it to shoot their seniors with purpose. Slowing yourself down and creating in camera exactly what you want is HUGE in cutting down culling time, editing time and the time you spend fixing what should have been fixed in the field. My guide is full of different types of posing with a ton of educational tips and tricks on lighting and composition for polishing your senior portraits to their very best! I've had tons of photographers tell me that they felt more complete when shooting their seniors after reading the guide because they felt that they had more of an overall knowledge of not just how to pose their senior girls, but they also understood WHY they were posing them that way - which I believe is very important!

(The above answer is just a glimpse into the tremendous amount of information that Amanda includes in the posing guide! She shows examples of the poses and breaks them down to explain why they work! It is definitely a must have for all senior portrait photographers!!) -Seniorologie

You also teach workshops and mentorships. Can you share some details about each of these? I named my workshops and mentorships The Kitchen Sink Experience because I truly try to give all of my photographers everything but the kitchen sink! It's a full 2 days packed full of everything including pricing a la carte and collections, session tiering, marketing, branding, in person ordering, psychological pricing, samples, contracts and releases, financial aspects, editing side by side for color, vintage noirs, tilt shift, vintage and textured styles and even styling your shoots. Add to that 2 full senior shoots full of TONS of gorgeous models who are made up with professional hair and makeup , and you basically have everything but the kitchen sink! My photographers go home with a workshop book over 100 pages (with full blown editing screen shots, composition and lighting examples), a DVD of tons of information, a great portfolio boost and hopefully a lifetime experience that will change their business forever.

What is in your camera bag? Nikon D700, Nikon MB D10 Battery Grip, Nikon Nikkor 35mm 1.4G, Nikon Nikkor 50mm 1.4G, Nikon Nikkor 85mm 1.4G, Nikon Nikkor 105mm 2.8G, CF cards: Hoodman RAW, Strap: Black Rapid RS-W1, Field Bag: LowePro Flipside 400

What is your favorite lens? I honestly have to say my 35mm 1.4G. That lens changed my shooting style FOREVER. I can literally look back at my work and see where I started using it. It opened up my creativity to a whole other level. I truly love that lens. I just bought the 85mm 1.4G so we'll see how that goes...I can already tell we're going to be best friends!

leaving Japan

2011-10-21T09:20:00.000-04:00

I leave Japan in about 12 hours...and I will not be returning. I had planned to leave for just a week and return for three more weeks. But my plans have changed. My mom needs surgery and I need to be there. The next month will be super busy which means the Savvy blog might get a bit neglected. I'm planning a few things in advance but I can assure things will get backed up just a bit. Please be patient with me during this time that I need to spend with my mom. The last few days here have been filled with tear filled goodbyes...leaving is harder than I thought it would be. Leaving here will be bittersweet.

And the winner is...

2011-10-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

The winner of the giveaway from The Shoppe is Heather Brulez. Congratulations!

It's a giveaway from The Shoppe!

2011-10-19T08:29:00.002-04:00

As a photographer, the branding and look of your business is extremely important, especially in an industry selling something so visual! Designers Meghan Aileen of Meghan Aileen Photography and Rebecca Shostak of Wild Magnolia Design collaborate to create a library of finished designs and design elements that are specifically tailored toward the photography business to make your company look its best. Both Meghan and Becca have won multiple awards in graphic design and illustration and designed for some of the most well-known companies in the world. You are in good hands! From seasonal cards and design elements to signature action sets and texture packs, The Shoppe intends to have everything you need for your company’s branding.

Below Heather from The Shoppe interviewed Shoppe designer Meghan Aileen.

1.Favorite Holiday Item at The Shoppe?
I think the die-cut cards are just awesome. Clients really respond to them and they are so much fun to design! They also don't have a huge cost as they are flat cards but since the look so fancy the profit margin can be great!

2. Favorite things in life?
My new baby girl, coconut milk ice cream and the fall weather.

3. Random Fact about yourself?
I have designed for Playboy and for Nickelodeon... and it was during the same year. I always thought that was funny :)
On a personal level, I love Sci-Fi and character driven TV shows. They are my escape.

4. All time favorite thing about The Shoppe?
Getting to make pretty things that can help other people with their business. Being a business owner is hard enough without us trying to do everything ourselves. Learning to give up some of the tasks that I was not strongest at was one of the hardest things I had to learn as an entrepreneur. I like being able to help others with a possible area of business that might not be their strongest so they can focus on shooting!

Thanks Heather and Meghan!

The girls are also offering a giveaway for Savvy readers~ a one year subscription to The Shoppe valued at $480!!
One lucky person will win an entire year of design goodness from these wonderful designers...here's how to enter:

Do the following and leave a comment here for each thing you do.

Like The Shoppe on facebook
follow The Shoppe on twitter
tweet this... The Savvy and The Shoppe are teaming up for a great giveaway...check it out! (and link to this post)
if you are a Pinterest addict, follow the Savvy Photographer and pin something fun from the Savvy blog!
blog about us...write something about the Savvy blog and link back to us...include a link to your blog (must be a public blog) and not only will you get an entry for it, but I will have fun reading the post and send five of my favorite blog post about the Savvy a prize...three digital goodies from The Savvy Store!

Have fun entering and good luck!
The contest ends Friday morning at 7am EST and the winner will be announced at 8am EST.

**comments need to be moderated and will not show up right away...thank you!

winner of the *emera camera bag giveaway

2011-10-18T07:21:00.001-04:00

The winner of the *emera camera bag giveaway is Kari Nichols! Congrats Kari!
Email us to claim your bag!