ALI

ONE!!!

ONE!  I say that with a big hurrah and a little sniff sniff.  The first year is by far my

least favorite year but I'm learning to appreciate it more and more.

By the time I love it I'll be done having kids which seems to be getting closer and closer.

Am I really that old?  It seems like it will never end but it also seems way too soon to be over.

Anyways, this is my 3rd post today but who is counting - woot woot!!!

Just for the record - all I ever want is for a one year old to grab two big handfulls and shove it in their
 mouth..... it has yet to happen.  Not fair.  I wanted my own little one to do it soooooo BAD!!!!!

I think I need to have a practice round - too much work.

DYING

Why am I dying?  Because I can't post the rest of this shoot or Jennica would kill me.

Just trust me - it was the most amazing shoot ever - if Victorias Secret saw the pics they'd stalk her to no end.

I'm going to beg her to let me post a couple more.......

Please??!!!!!

It was a present for her lucky hubby's birthday :)

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. 

I HEART TEMPLE SQUARE

Freezing, wet as crap, but it didn't matter, because it was BEAUTIFUL and these guys were mega troopers!
It was exactly like Jason & Molly's wedding and if you're a fan of the show you know what I'm talking about!
Seriously the sky was dumping buckets and buckets for hours, I looked like I had just gotten out of the shower!!

Jess don't kill me for posting this but your face just describes this day so well I couldn't help myself!
She is screaming "IT'S COLD!!!!"

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!