Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
CLASS Meeting,
Collages.net Updates.
On Monday, November 16, a group of over thirty professional photographers gathered in New Haven, CT for a CLASS shoot out. CLASS is an acronym for Collages.net Learning and Sharing Sessions. It is a professional photographer’s networking group focused on building friendships and strengthening business skills. Although it is sponsored by Collages.net, professional photographers at all stages in their business and members of all event-hosting companies are welcome to join CLASS meetings. Collages.net believes that by sharing information, all professional photographers benefit.
Hosted by Anthony DeCarlo and Steve Blazo, the New Haven CLASS of photographers met and shot together in DeCarlo and Blazo’s studio. A special thanks to them and everyone who helped put this excellent event together.
Rob and Kathleen of Robert & Kathleen Photographers state, “We had a bit of a change from our traditional meetings focused on studio business needs, with a shoot out in Anthony DeCarlo & Steve Blazo’s New Haven studio. We thought a shootout would be a great way to get the creative juices flowing but also a great way for everyone to challenge themselves and learn something new. Not only did Steve & Anthony set up several different shooting locations in their industrial space complete with studio lighting, they also enlisted many models (with help from David Apuzzo), make-up artists and hair stylists to work their magic.”
Here are just a few of the many images that were taken during the CLASS shootout:
Anthony DeCarlo Photography
Anthony DeCarlo of Anthony DeCarlo Photography, host of the event, states, “The shootout was put together by Steve Blazo and I. It was a fun and interesting day with everyone working together in a collaborative effort. I didn’t shoot too much as I was mainly assisting other photographers who haven’t had much experience shooting in a studio setting.”
David Apuzzo, Photography
David Apuzzo said, “The CLASS shoot outs are really helpful because not only do you walk away with some great shots, but you also get to meet new artists and share ideas together that can only benefit your work and help you to be inspired. You also get to work in ways that you might not be accustomed to. For example, this shot was done with all hot lights without any synching with strobes or anything like that. It’s a great challenge because in the end, you can really do many things with hot lights especially with color balancing in the camera and in post production. It’s a type of lighting that the average photographer may not be familiar with, so it was especially great to share these ideas and techniques with other photographers and take their experiences working with the hot lighting to create something in their own style of photography.”
Peach Tree Portraits
Meagan Ebersole of Peach Tree Portraits and Collages.net All Star Product Consultant, describes the day: “There were several models who were each assigned numbers. Each photographer rotated through the different numbers and shot the models in their different settings. The models each ran through three looks, each getting their hair and makeup redone for the different looks. For my shot, I used a ring light. The final result doesn’t reflect typical ring light images, but I loved the different effect that it had on my image.”
Robert & Kathleen Photographers
Kathleen Trenske of Robert & Kathleen Photographers said, “CLASS meetings are all about learning and sharing and this shoot out was the perfect opportunity to do both. Thanks to the work of our gracious hosts, Anthony DeCarlo & Steve Blazo, we have about half a dozen models with several ‘looks’ each and a variety of lighting situations and settings. Since not everyone in attendance had photographed in a studio setting before, they were able to learn from those that had and were able to share with one another some tips and tricks that can be applied to pretty much any photo shoot. ”
More images from this CLASS shootout can be located on our Facebook fan page.
If you’re interested in starting your own local CLASS group, contact sales@collages.net for more information. The New Haven CLASS group is on Facebook. Join the group today!
Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Products,
Collages.net Updates.
‘Tis the season to make your holiday deadlines! In order for products to ship by Friday, December 18th, orders must be placed before 12PM EST on the following days:
| Product |
Date |
| Design Services * |
Wednesday, November 04, 2009 |
| Hard Cover Matte Finish Books |
Monday, November 30, 2009 |
| Premium Leather Albums |
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 |
| Brilliant Albums |
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 |
| Genuine Leather Albums |
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 |
| Gallery Wraps |
Thursday, December 10, 2009 |
| Presentation Materials |
Friday, December 11, 2009 |
| High Gloss Finish Books |
Friday, December 11, 2009 |
| Soft Cover Matte Finish Books |
Monday, December 14, 2009 |
| Press Printed Cards |
Monday, December 14, 2009 |
| Professional Prints (color corrected and/or with mounts, textures, and finishes) |
Monday, December 14, 2009 |
| Photographic Cards |
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 |
| Professional Prints (non-color corrected and/or without mounts, textures, and finishes) |
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 |
| Sign-In Albums |
The cover choice determines this deadline. |
*Design Services - In order to get an album design by November 20th, which gives you two weeks to review with your clients, design orders must be production ready by November 4, 2009.
Posted on October 28, 2009 at 10:30 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates,
Marketing Tips.
Claim your vanity URL before it’s too late. As you may have noticed, Collages.net recently overhauled your Administrative Area’s Marketing Manager tab, which features an updated View an Event Portal with the option of a personalized URL. We couldn’t be more excited about this exciting new update!
You may be asking what the View an Event Portal is an why it is such a big deal. I’ll tell you! The View an Event Portal is a website that displays your event sites and allows your clients to log in to their event directly from y our studio website or blog. This means that you can pull more traffic to your studio website or blog. Picture this: hundreds of event guests or family and friends of the senior or family shoot you photographed, all visiting your studio’s site. Good picture, right? This can be a reality. There’s more, too!
These pages are now completely customizable. Add your studio logo as a header, create a greeting or generic message to your clients, and modify the background by uploading an image or choosing a background color to match your studio’s style. You can personalize your View an Event Portal using graphics and colors that match your studio website or blog to create a seamless transition.
Claim your name now! If your studio’s name is commonly used, make sure to customize your View an Event Portal’s URL before it’s unavailable. Log in by visiting this page and claim your name. Under the Site Address section, type in your studio’s unique URL. Customizing your URL gives clients an easy way to remember how to view their photos.
The View an Event Portal has never looked better because you are the designer! We are so excited about this feature that we will be giving away one free year of online posting to the photographer who is voted to have the best View an Event Portal by their colleagues! Check out our Facebook fan page during the next few days for more details.
Posted on October 21, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Kristen Weaver
Cause champion Kristen Weaver of Kristen Weaver Photography in Orlando, Florida knows that she can make a difference. Using her skills and gifts, Kristen began Images for a Cure as a fundraising effort for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. This foundation started in 1993 and is actively searching for a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. Kristen, along with hundreds of photographers around the world, is donating one whole day of session fees to the foundation.
On the Images for a Cure website, people are able to locate participating professional photographers in their area to book their portrait session. Participating photographers will donate all profits from portrait sessions scheduled on October 11, 2009 to Images for a Cure. Thanks to the powers of social networking, the message of Images for a Cure has spread far and wide. In fact, it was through Twitter that Collages.net first heard of Images for a Cure.
Collages.net joined this cause by donating six months of free online posting and $25 of print credit for all participants to use towards a collagesColor lab order as well as a grand prize of $250 of print credit. We are grateful to each photographer who is willing to donate their time and skills to make a difference.
Although you have missed your opportunity to participate in this year’s event, plan on being a professional photographer participant in 2010. If you have questions, contact Kristen Weaver at kristen@kristenweaver.com.
Posted on October 7, 2009 at 9:30 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Products,
Collages.net Updates.
We’ve released our updated products and services catalog containing all current product offerings and a few shocking developments.
Extensive information about each product line can be found in the catalog, including collagesColor print products, presentation materials, albums, books, cards, gallery wraps, design services, and online posting. From turnaround times and file requirements to marketing advice, Collages.net’s product and service information is clearly detailed in one place.
Prepare to be amazed! Make sure to check out collagesColor’s new shockingly low prices. collagesColor print prices have been significantly reduced so your studio can profit even more by using collagesColor to fulfill both online and in-studio print orders.
There are also several new sections in the catalog. Check out the page dedicated to Collages.net’s cycle of success – a workflow diagram displaying how photographers are using Collages.net as the one-stop solution for their studio. Another addition is the community page, which features proven marketing tips and ways to become a part of Collages.net’s unique community of professional photographers. The tips and suggestions on the community page allow your studio to experience the benefits of using Collages.net as your one-stop shop. Increase your time savings by eliminating paperwork from multiple vendors and generate more sales by using proven best practices to market and brand your studio.
For more information on our products, please visit www.collages.net/products. To download your copy of our new products and services catalog visit www.collages.net/pricing.
Posted on August 27, 2009 at 11:09 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates.
Collages.net is continuing to transform your studio’s workflow with updates in your Administrative Area.
One of the most exciting new features in your Administrative Area is product order tracking. In your Administrative Area, click on your Products and Prints tab and then on Order Tracking. In this area, you can view the status of every album, book, card, design, or print order you place with Collages.net.
The new Home Tab was designed to save your studio time by providing easy access to the tools and information you use on a daily basis. Quick links to your most used areas, an interactive To Do List, easy access to our latest video tutorials, weekly tips assist your studio in staying ahead of the curve, and more.
In the Quick Links box, you will find links to areas you use most often. Upload an event, order a product, access your account reports and receipts, and enter our support center right from your first screen.
The interactive To Do List keeps you ahead of the curve. Find important account reminders and notifications including site expiration notifications, order statuses, event statuses, and account information. You can click on each button for your account’s customized reminders and notifications.
Watch one of our videos under the Videos section to learn how to create a new event price list or how to upload on Site Builder. More videos to come, so stay tuned. View the latest Website of the Week for inspiration on shooting styles and techniques.
Event Backup & Recovery shows you how many Collages.net Event Sites you have uploaded that are not secure. From here you can be directed to where you can have your events backed up by Collages.net.
Keep up-to-date with marketing tips, studio interviews, Websites of the Week, company updates, and more by viewing our most recent blog posts via out Blog Newsfeed. View our Tip of the Week section, showcasing proven tips and tricks to set your studio apart, streamline your studio workflow, or increase sales.
Want to know what to expect next? Collages.net will soon be making these updates to your Marketing Manager tab:
Tell us what you think about our new Home tab and what else you want to see by leaving us a comment.
Posted on August 6, 2009 at 9:00 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates.
Collages.net is pleased to announce that our Twitter page was chosen as one of the 30 Absolutely Creative and Stylish Twitter Backgrounds from Beautifullife.info. Collages.net’s Graphic Designer Eric Haft created the Twitter background using inspiration from Collages.net’s products. Collages.net’s winning Twitter page design has also been featured on Twitter Backgrounds Gallery, a showcase of unique and stylish Twitter backgrounds from around the world.
In addition to its Facebook fan page, Collages.net’s Twitter page provides photographers with access to special discounts, product announcements, sales and market tips, studio interviews, and links to inspirational images. Become a Collages.net Insider today by following us on Twitter follower and becoming a Facebook fan. Click on the corresponding icons below to get started!
Posted on June 25, 2009 at 9:51 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates.
In late April, Collages.net turned ten years old! We wanted to celebrate this landmark occasion with you, our customers, the professional photographers that we seek to serve each day. In the last ten years, Collages.net has evolved from an online posting company into a comprehensive one-stop shop for professional photographers. With each step, we have maintained our core values of high quality, value for your studio, and phenomenal customer service.
Since we wouldn’t be where we are today without your feedback and support, we created a birthday contest providing prizes to ten lucky Collages.net customers. We are now proud to announce the winners:
- Cody Dame, Divine Productions, Winner, Free Year of Online Posting with Premium Websites
- Dustin Meyer, Dustin Meyer Photography, Winner, One Free Album Design
- Alison Douglas, ami&alison photography, Winner, One Free Hand-Sewn Press Printed Book
- Michael LaRose, Michael LaRose Photography, Winner, 10 free Premium Websites
- Jessica Robertson, Jessica Robertson Photography, Winner, One Free Set of 100 Press Printed Cards
- Dean Madson, Madson Photography, Winner, $100 in Free Prints
- Rylan Crooks, Fifth Avenue Digital, Winner, 10 Free Tickets to Kevin Casey’s Blue Ocean Workshop
- Ross and Kammi Bothwell, Elegant Images & Photographs, Winners, One Free Year of Image Backup and Recovery
- Julie Cheshire, Julie Cheshire Photography, Winner, Free Guest Book
- Dwayne Lee, Southern Flair Photography, Winner, Free Soft Cover Press Printed Book
Thanks again for ten great years and we look forward to serving you in the future!
Posted on May 24, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates.
Collages.net has turned ten! Birthdays at the office always mean something fun, but for our 10th birthday, we had to go all out with sugar and decorations.
Kevin Casey and Norm Racine founded Collages.net ten years ago. From Kevin’s kitchen table scanning proofs to now a one-stop shop, the company has grown significantly. Since the early days, Kevin and Norm have always had the same motto – work hard, play hard.
They attribute the company’s success to assembling a staff that never stops working toward delivering better products and technology and never says no to a party.
Even though we couldn’t have all of our customers at the party, we know that you are the reasons we are celebrating ten years! To continue our celebration, we have presents that we want to give away! We wouldn’t be where we are today without your feedback and support. Show us some birthday love by leaving a comment below, and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of the following prizes:
-Free Year of Posting with Premium Websites
-One Free Album Design
-One Free Hand-Sewn Press Printed Book
-10 free Premium Websites
-One Free Set of 100 Press Printed Cards
-$100 in Free Prints
-10 Free Tickets to Kevin Casey’s Blue Ocean Workshop
-One Free Year of Image Backup and Recovery
-Free Guest Book
-Free Soft Cover Press Printed Book
Winners will be announced in our May newsletter. Thanks again for a great ten years, and we look forward to many more successes together!
Posted on April 29, 2009 at 11:16 am
Posted by The Marketing Professionals in
Collages.net Updates,
Marketing Tips.
On April 15th and 16th in Chicago, Collages.net’s CEO Kevin Casey held two of his Finding Your Blue Ocean 
workshops. The first workshop on April 15 was held in conjunction with the Chicagoland Professional Photographers Association meeting. The next day, Kevin held the second workshop for Collages.net photographers interested in learning how to improve their businesses. Both interactive workshops, designed for photographers to take a hard look at their studios, were huge successes! Kevin discussed ideas about what profitable studios are doing to stay ahead during these tough economic times, what photographers can change about their businesses to become more profitable, what studio finances really mean, and how studios can plan for the future. Participants worked in groups to brainstorm ideas on how they can practically move their studios to the next level of success.There are still seven more opportunities for you to participate in this interactive workshop. If you would like to attend a workshop in your area, visit www.collages.net/blue for dates, locations, and more information.
We would love to hear from you if you attended either of the workshops! Please feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and reactions toward the workshop. Also, if you have any photos from the event, feel free to send them to customerservice@collages.net. We’d love to post them on our blog!
Posted on April 21, 2009 at 8:28 am
And MANY more… Truly… because you guys have hit the ball out of the park… yall are- AMAZING! 
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On November 4, 2009 at 1:32 am, Ashley Daige said:
Awesome idea! I’m new to collages.net but it seems like it is exactly what I need…saves me the hassle of having to get the images printed out myself. THanks!