I’m slowly phasing out DVD’s, and in fact, from now on DVD’s will not be an option with lifestyle shoots.  So… this meant that I needed to get proper branded boxes for my USB/memory sticks that I deliver the photoshoots on.

My last few batches of memory sticks were delivered with black boxes that were branded by the company that supplied the USB’s… and I didn’t think they were nice enough.  So to cut a long story short, I LOVE my new boxes and matching memory sticks so much that I had to show them off! I think they are gorgeous

I’ve had small white linen-look boxes branded with my logo, and filled them with either purple straw or white strips of paper… and then the package is tied with ribbon.  Because I couldn’t decide on one colour, I’ve got a few options for delivery, and I’ll decide based on the shoot which colour to deliver.

What do you think?

I’ve just received our 2013 calendar that I print for the family, and I LOVE it!! This is the third year that I’ve done one… and you may think it strange that me… the tech geek… uses a paper calendar, but I love these A3 calendars hanging in my kitchen.  I actually use it only for school stuff. At the beginning of the year I transfer all events and weekly themes from the school newsletter, and this helps me plan  a little better.

One thing I do in the design of the calendar, is have the right child depicted in the month of their birthday… so Connor is in Feb, Erin in April and Bradley in May.  This year for July, I added the kids holding a birthday card they made for my dad’s birthday this year, and I added a photo of Elaine for her birthday in August

These calendars are awesome gifts.  The first time I did it, I printed it as a Christmas gift for my mom, and she loves having it in her house… and it becomes a talking point with guests in her kitchen

Looking at the images this year also makes me realise how my style has changed over 2012.

I’m thrilled to report that most of my brides now order a photobook or album as part of their wedding packages.  It’s so important that you don’t keep your images in digital form, and you actually get to print them in some form, and there’s nothing better than the tactile feel of a book.

A year ago most of my clients were mostly booking digital packages and then I did a lot of work with my packages and that’s changed. I think it’s partly got to do with the way in which I’ve now structured the packages and the way that I present the various options… more about that another day… because today’s post is about this gorgeous album that I collected yesterday for delivery

Mike and Ginny’s wedding was at the end of April, and you may think that this has taken a while to deliver, but I only send my books to print once my client is happy with the layout.  If you’re wondering about the designs of the pages that you can’t really see in the images… I believe that the albums need to be classic and timeless and that it’s about showcasing the images… so I don’t embellish pages with frills and curls etc, it’s about the images presented with white space… to make the images pop.  I also believe that it’s important for the books to tell a story (just like my photography does) and the story needs to flow from the beginning of the day to the end.

This wedding photo album is a Designer album with a personalised cover backed in black genuine leather, it’s 30x30cm in size and it has 60 pages.

… and this is how I package all my books (very similar to the way in which my DVD’s and memory sticks are packaged)

I really hope they like it as much as I do.

If you follow my Facebook page you’d know most of this already, but you would not have “seen” what I’m talking about… so you have to read this post anyway

I’ve been planning a few changes to my business for the last while, and it’s finally all come together.   I know that the changes will mean a much better experience for my clients and will result in a better quality product.  And actually, that’s what my business is all about… creating quality reflections of special memories at a point in your life.

And here are the list of changes:

1.  I have slightly amended the packages for the Lifestyle and Boudoir photoshoots with effect from March 2012 with new print options and my rates has been adjusted.

2.  I now offer the option of delivery of your edited images on DVD (as it was before) or on my new swanky branded memory sticks!! I’m so so very pleased that I have finally found a supplier that can get me USB sticks with enough capacity for weddings!

3.  I have implemented new online questionnaires that all my clients will now be sent once their booking is finalised.  The questions allow me to get to know my clients better before the shoot, and as a result, I’ll be able to properly prepare for the photoshoots, resulting in a much more customised and personalised experience.  It’ll not only guide the actual shoot, but also the location and how I deliver the photos.

4.  I am almost finished with new online session booking forms too!! It’ll be awesome for my clients not to have to print out the forms and sign them and scan them to send them back to me

I know that these changes will result in a better experience for all my clients

I was thrilled when the box company I use, Piper Fox, contacted me yesterday to say that my new boxes were ready, and I went there this morning before work to collect them.  My new branding is virtually complete now.

If you’re a client, you’d know that all my sessions get packaged in a ribboned box… and here are my new ones to match my new logo and new colours…

The lids are plain black in a linen finish, and the bases are black and white floral “damask”.  And the most exciting bit is that I’ve finally taken the plunge and had them branded with my new logo!! The lids have got my new logo embossed with a black foiling.  I also have new ribbon to match… black with white edging.

I’m so very pleased with the way they’ve turned out.  I’m now going to order the A4 boxes too!