Category Archives: Photo Stuff

So For the past year I have printed my wedding photo-books through Blurb.

To all those newbies out there- learn from my mistakes. Do not use a photo book company to print your wedding albums. It just looks…cheap.

So yea.

It is time to put my big-girl panties on and move to a full-fledged, lay-flat, leather bound, smell-expensive  ALBUM COMPANY.

Here are the Contenders:

Option #1: 

Diversified Lab- at divlab.com Looks legit, and very reasonable for a 11×14 album. Album would end up costing me aprox $180.

Option #2:

Asukabook.com Aside from the fact that their name sounds like “A Sucky book” they seem pretty darn legit. Owned by Kubota (the famed producers of Kubota Photoshop Actions which I envy and adore) they are so Pro they aren’t even open to the public. That or they are super elite and arrogant. Not sure which. Don’t worry, I will leave no rock unturned in discovering their true identity. Anxiously awaiting my registration to go through I have no idea what their albums will cost. May $30 maybe $3,000. I’m rooting for the former.

Option #3:

Mpixpro - has a cool homepage, I’ll admit. Very creative. Something some of these other album companies could use a little help with. I like the sizing options here…again a “sign in” to find pricing…here we go again. But VERY fast processing. That’s a plus.

Option #4:

My solo Cut and Paste Project. I make a cardboard cover and print out the images at Costco. Little glue and snip-snip…voila! I’m liking the sound of this. Maybe for the eco-bride?

….and there goes my credibility. ;P

Further research is obviously needed. I will proceed into the album world with confidence and courage!!!

Everything we send to our clients, every extension of our business should reflect our brand. From the emails we send to the stamps we use.

After a few years of using a boring old word doc, I have upgraded to a lovely menu style collection description. This little beauty is sent to the bride after she inquires on pricing and details.

If I was a bride, I would want everything I receive from my photographer to be as classy and chic as possible- wouldn’t you?

“…I’ve shot here like 5 zillion times. I am such a lame photographer. Christa, that wall mural can be shot only so many times.”

Yea. You’ve been there. The creative juices have long since ebbed away to nothingness and you’re left with a paint brush and no paint.

To avoid creative melt-down- here’s what I suggest. Ready for this? Oh this is brilliant:

PLAN AHEAD.

Yes, so simple. so divine. So often ignored. (myself in particular) Photos don’t just happen- you have to make the moment. And that takes thought and planning and day dreaming and imagination. It’s like Disney on steroids.

WRITE A LIST. 

Not a list person? Then I can’t help ya.  Keep a running list (or mental photo album for the none-listers) of photo shoot spots as you see them.  Just yesterday I ran into an amazing mural and jotted down the street address. The sweet boyfriend also sent over a sweet location in the least likely area of town. These are pockets of magic and you need to keep that little bit of Disney handy for those days when your brain feels like a limp noodle, or inebriated vegetable, or soggy sandwich…you get the idea.