the birthday girl...

I feel like I've made a lot of broken promises lately...and I'm sorry.
I will not have the prize info or the judges announced today for the Savvy Images Contest.
I'm working frantically to get it posted but I know it won't be happening today. 
My week has been quite eventful...if you follow me on facebook (or instagram), you know what I have been dealing with. My daughter was very ill this week and her birthday morning started with a call to 911 and a ride in the ambulance to Children's Hospital. It was truly the scariest thing I've been through as a parent...and I'm still trying to grasp everything that is going on. She is fine...as far as we can tell. We are going to see a neurologist next week and I just pray what happened was a reaction to her immunization the day before and nothing more. I'm so thankful for all of the prayers and kind words from my readers. I feel blessed. 
Here's a picture of my sweet girl on her birthday...not quite the birthday I had planned for her. 

Thank you all for your patience...I will announce the info soon.

The Savvy Images Contest is here!

The 2012 Savvy Images Contest is here! 

CATEGORIES:

Baby

Child

Family

Seniors 

Wedding

Pets

There will be six grand prize winners.

In each category we will award a grand prize winner along with a first and second runner up.

{in other words...18 fabulous prizes}


The prize packages will be announced tomorrow!
We will also introduce our wonderful panel of judges tomorrow.

Rules of contest:

Entries may not be from a workshop.

Entries may not contain a logo, watermark or signature.

Entries must be the Entrant's original work and creation.

A maximum of four entries per category.

Email entries to savvyimagecontest@gmail.com and the subject line should be the category you are entering the image in. Each category needs a separate email.

The submitted images should be cropped to 610 pixels wide. 

The deadline for entries is May 15th, 2012.

The Savvy Images Contest

Tomorrow "The Savvy Images Contest" begins...and we are so excited! I will give all the details on how to enter your images along with the contest rules and the fabulous prizes you could win...starting tomorrow,  Tuesday, April 24th, 2012. 
I can tell you the prizes will be fabulous { I already said that once but there's no other word to describe them besides fabulous!} 
We have six categories...and each category will have three winners...a grand prize winner, a first runner up and second runner up. That's a total of 18 winners! 
Start going through your images...grab the very best...and be ready tomorrow to start entering! 


We are thrilled to be able to offer this contest to our readers! So many great prizes and such a great way to get world wide exposure for your images. 


Check back tomorrow for all the details!

desk prints {super-sized} at a fabulous price!

When you think of a desk print, I bet a 30x40 doesn't come to mind. Maybe it will now! Can you imagine a 16x20 propped along that wall? It wouldn't make as much of a statement, would it? When a client walks in and is greeted by a canvas this size, what size do you think they will want? You are showing them how easy it is to go big...and put it basically anywhere. 


In order to sell big, you must show big. And now is the perfect time to order a big canvas! We are giving Savvy readers something special today...an introduction to a new canvas company with amazing prices and a coupon to make the discount even higher! You will be floored when I tell you the cost of the 30x40 above from CG ProPrints...wait for it...$64.99...yep...under $65 for a 30x40 gallery wrapped canvas. 
I was first introduced to the company, CG ProPrints at Imaging in New Orleans.  I was immediately impressed with the prices but wanted to see the quality closeup and in person so I recently placed an order. The canvas arrived one week later...and it would have perfect if the UPS driver would not have placed it behind my garage door. Crazy spot to leave something...and my husband texted me to deliver the news. He had driven over the box. I called the company the next day and they had another shipped immediately. Great customer service!

So what did I do? Ask them to offer a sweet deal to my readers! and they did! 
You know that crazy price I told you...well...they are giving $10 off that price for one week only! 


This coupon is good only for a customers first order (new customers) and it is good for one canvas only (so make it big).
The offer expires 4/25/12 (one week only) so don't miss out!
The coupon code is SAVVYCANVAS 

*You must be a professional photographer to order from CG ProPrints. 


side note~ I recently featured another 30x40 canvas that looked quite similar (different smile on her face but same pose) from another company...you can see that post here. Just wanted to clarify it's a different canvas from a different company. 

an office makeover from a Savvy reader

Today we are sharing a fun office makeover submitted by a Savvy reader, Tammy from Kissed By Tammy. We think she did a fabulous job decorating this cute space! To see the before pictures and a fun video about the office makeover, check out her blog post here. Thanks Tammy! 

Selling print ready images...

I received an email last week from a reader who wanted to submit an article for the Savvy blog . After reading it, I definitely thought it would be great to share here. It was written by Ashlyn Dawson, a Canadian photographer who specializes in weddings and newborns. I hope you enjoy it!


In no way is this post intended to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. That decision, ultimately needs to be made by you. This post is simply here to outline the reasons why I personally do not give away a disc of print ready images easily.


I have always enjoyed helping clients decide what images to print. I love sending out print orders and seeing the reaction on my clients faces when they receive their final products. To me custom photography is all about the experience; from beginning to end.
There is something so special about each moment. 


This year almost every single inquiry I have received started off with “ I would like the disc of my print ready images so that I can print them myself”. For a little while I had actually been considering offering digital negative packages as opposed to print packages. I had everything set up. Then I took a moment to really think about what I was doing. Here are a few things that ran through my mind:


At the end of each year I send out a survey to all my past clients, have them fill it out and sent back to me. I ask questions about their experience, what products they liked best, if there is anything I can work on etc. A few of the questions I had on my survey last year were directed to individuals who purchased a print ready disc from me. And not just individuals who commissioned me, but to those who won a free session with the disc of images, friends or family. 


The two questions I had were:


How soon after your session did you decide to print your images, 1-3 months later, 3-6 months later or 6+ months later?


How many images did you print and what sizes?


To my surprise, the answers were not what I was expecting at all. Many of the individuals who purchased (or received) a print ready disc seemed very excited and ecstatic to receive it. Their excitement conveyed  to me that they already had plans to print many of the images, and very quickly for that matter.


43% of people said they printed their images 6 months to a year later.  57% of people said they forgot, or lost their disc.
30% of people said they printed between 5-10 gift prints (8x10 size or smaller)


Conducting this survey made me realize that as much as people professed that they wanted the disc, their actions did not line up with the excitement they once showed. It made me wonder if people want the disc solely for the purpose of preserving their images? Having peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, they always have the disc of their images to fall back on?


Many other photographers I have spoken to have noticed the same thing. Clients often return with e-mails or phone calls about lost discs over a year later. 
When I got married last year I immediately purchased an album when I received my wedding photos. To this day I have NO clue where the disc of our wedding images is. For the life of me, I cannot find it. I tucked it away somewhere and it’s probably lost forever. But, I have my wedding album to show. I show that off to each and every individual that walks through my door. I even take it with me on occasion when I’m meeting up with someone who didn’t get the opportunity to attend our wedding. It was the best way to preserve my images. And I’m so thankful I did it. 


-- 


Did you know that CD’s will be phased out by the end of this year? USB’s are expected to follow that same route sometime over the next two years. Many large companies have already stopped making both items. Once they’re completely done with, we’ll find another way “preserve” images. In a few years, computers will be made differently to accommodate whatever new technology is set to replace CD’s and USB’s. Which leaves you to wonder; how will you be able to view your images in a few years? How will you be able to share them? Will you have the ability to print them the same way?


Technology is constantly changing, and I personally do not want to take the chance of offering my clients something that they may or may not (likely not -- remember cassette tapes, and a-tracks?) be able to continue using in a few years.


The best way to preserve your images is not on a disc, or a usb, the best way to preserve your images are printing actual photographs. Remember when you were younger, at your grandmothers house. And she showed you her wedding images, or photographs of your parents when they were children? They were perfectly preserved in an old photo album for future generations to enjoy them. That’s the same way in which you must preserve yours. We’ve been able to travel back in time and view things from over one hundred years ago through photographs, paintings, sketches etc. These artistic pieces had one thing in common; they were tangible.


If you’re going to spend the money on the luxury of custom portraiture, wouldn’t you prefer to have something that will last a lifetime? Photographs and albums that your children, and your children’s children will enjoy for years to come?


By no means am I trying to deter you from purchasing print ready discs. And to photographers; by no means am I trying to persuade you to stop offering them. I do believe they have their place. Consider my points outlined above and make your own decision. 


Clients: If you choose to go the route of print ready images please, please do not wait until it’s too late to print your images. Now is the perfect time to dig up that old disc wherever it is and get those images printed! And if you choose purchase one in the future, please print your images right away. Don’t wait until it’s too late.  The most awful thing that could happen is having invested in custom portraiture and having nothing or very little to show for it.

Thank you Ashlyn for the great article!

It's a manic Monday...wish it were Sunday...

Monday morning...we are on the countdown to summer...and everyone is ready!

First I want to announce the lucky winner of the Memento Action Set from The Shoppe is Daleea Barrett. Congratulations Daleea!!

Also, the Shoppe is offering Savvy readers $25 off the Memento Action Set until Wednesday, April 18th...use coupon code savvy25.


It seems like everyone is having babies right now...and just we love the Chalkboard Baby's First Year album templates they recently released. 

We are also getting ready to kick off Spring with a "Savvy Images Contest"...and the prizes will be fabulous! More information will be out this week, so stay tuned. I'm excited to see all of the amazing work from our readers!


Have a great Monday! 

The Savvy Review of "The Thriving Photographer" by Leah Remillet

The amount of products and marketing programs, etc. for photographers are endless...each day I see new things pop up geared toward helping photographers. But so many don't live up to the promises of helping you become a successful photographer that actually profits and loves her business! I am so impressed with the new program from Leah Remillet called The Thriving Photographer. Leah is also the face behind the popular blog go{4}pro. 

Leah has created a fabulous product to help you "thrive" as a photographer and it's absolutely wonderful! I've had the chance to review all of the materials...and when I saw all...I mean all...which is a ton of learning materials (including the Thrive Sheets...these are awesome) and a generous amount of  templates for your business, I knew this was a product I could recommend to my readers! 

The amount of information here is huge...she has included everything to take your business to the level of success that we desire. And the best part are the audio portions that you can take anywhere with you and listen on your ipod. These are also perfect to listen to while you do your late night editing.

My favorite audio is about her referral plan...love it!

Leah has created an amazing amount of info and I'm thrilled to recommend it to you. This isn't a bunch of fluff that you will quickly read through and wonder what you got out of it. This is so much information and learning tools (along with an amazing active business plan which is wonderful!) and the huge amount of audios (twenty five of them!).

Here's more from Leah telling about The Thriving Photographer.

It's a giveaway of the Memento Action Set from the Shoppe

The girls from The Shoppe will be giving away one set of the Memento Actions (valued at $125) to a lucky Savvy reader! They would also like to offer the Savvy readers $25 off the Memento Action Set using code savvy25
We love these actions! Head on over to the Shoppe and check out all of the fun new additions to their store.
See below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This promotion is in NO WAY sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You will NOT be notified publicly via Facebook if you are a winner. You MUST be 18 to participate. By entering this giveaway, you are providing information to The Savvy Photographer and NOT to Facebook. Prizes do not have cash value. There will be no returns/exchanges on any of the items.

the perfect marketing tool- Sticky Albums

Have you tried Sticky Albums yet?

You can try one for free!
Thank you Sticky Albums for offering Savvy readers such a great deal!!