Collages.net recently had the chance to talk to Martha Dickinson of Photography by Martha in Bloomfield, NJ about her studio.

How did you get into the photography business?
When I was about eleven years old, my father bought me my first 35mm camera and I have not stopped taking pictures since! I was in the corporate world for about 15 years and decided to take time off after I had my daughter. I knew right away that I could not go back to a nine to five job and miss seeing my daughter grow, but I also felt that I needed to do something for me. A friend of mine at the time was the one who planted a seed after saying, “Martha, you are such a great photographer. Why not start your own business?” That was all the encouragement I needed to hear in order to get the wheels rolling!

How long have you been in the photography business?
It all started when my daughter was about three years old. She is now twelve, so about nine years.

Describe your style.
My style is emotional. I love to photograph people doing something that touches the heart. I enjoy portraiture work with a little help from mother nature. I pick a background, position my subjects, then tell them pretend that I’m not there. That’s when the magic happens. When it comes to children, I just follow their lead.

What gear do you use?
I have a couple of Canon cameras and lenses.

What is your favorite Collages.net product or service and why?
I absolutely love the Power E-mail Marketing Tool! It is so easy for me to send out any specials my studio may be having at the moment to my clients in just a few easy steps. It’s also a good way for me to notify people every time I update my blog. I am also 100% satisfied with Collages.net’s Customer Service. They are so quick to return any of my e-mail questions or phone calls.

Do you use Facebook or other social networking sites?
I love, love, love Facebook! I have not checked out Twitter as of yet, but have heard so much about it.

What was your wackiest wedding moment?
I had photographed a wedding in which the couple’s first dance was to “Time of My Life” from the movie Dirty Dancing. The couple had planned to re-enact the entire dance. When it was time for the groom to pick the bride up in the air, everything went great until he could no longer hold her and they both fell to the floor. To this day, those are some of my favorite images!

What was your best business decision in 2008?
Hiring an amazing assistant!

What inspires you?
Nature and being in the moment. I know the second my finger touches the shutter release I have made history. I documented the moment, the day, the minute and that second to which I can never return. After having my daughter I have come to realize how quickly time goes. Freezing a split second in time inspires me.

Collages.net would like to thank Martha for sharing this information about her studio. If you would like your studio to be featured on our blog, please e-mail us at customerservice@collages.net.

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and yes, they were glad we came!

Collages.net’s CEO Kevin Casey delivered the fifth of eight Finding Your Blue Ocean interactive photography business workshops to an enthusiastic group of professional photographers in Boston last night.

Kevin began by sharing ideas about how successful studios are making their studios more profitable and how they are staying ahead in this tough economy. The group learned about studio finances and how they can plan for the future. Participants broke off into small groups to brainstorm practical ideas and strategies on how they can move their studios to the next level of success. Each photographer left the workshop with ideas they could implement in their studios immediately.

There are still three more opportunities to attend a Finding Your Blue Ocean workshop in your area. If you would like to attend, visit www.collages.net/blue for dates, locations, and more information.

If you attended the workshop in Boston last night, please feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and reactions! Cheers!

Work smarter by using free tools provided by Collages.net.

Collages.net event favorite folders and PictureChat make ordering albums simple. Each online event site you upload contains favorite folders, allowing clients to choose their favorite images from the site to be used in their album. Collages.net Premium Websites offer PictureChat, another communication tool that can be used for selecting and confirming album spread choices.

When clients use favorite folders, they can send an e-mail with their favorite files directly to you. You also have access to these folders through the Image Organizer in Site Builder. Once you receive your client’s favorite image choices, locate the high resolution copies on your computer. When you’re ready to place your album design order, send your client’s favorite images to Collages.net’s Album Designers, who will create the album spreads in the style of your choice.

After the spreads are designed, Collages.net can post the spreads to a Collages.net event site. Once we post the initial design, you and your client can communicate via PictureChat regarding the exact changes that you would like to see in the next revision of your album. Photographers are reporting incredible time savings and efficiency using this simple technique. Once you are completely satisfied with the design, you approve it, we then build it, and ship the album to you or directly to your client. Following your final approval, albums are shipped in two weeks or less. Ordering albums has never been easier or faster with Collages.net!

For more information or to get started with Collages.net Album Design, contact Collages.net Customer Service by e-mail customerservice@collages.net or collagesChat www.collages.net/chat.

This week’s websites of the week come from Crystal Molina Photography and Sae Lee Portrait Gallery.

Crystal Molina of Crystal Molina Photography shot Kimberly and Gary’s engagement session in downtown Nashville. Crystal recalls, “The downtown area of Nashville provided a variety of great locations to shoot their portraits. We had a blast together, walking from one spot to another, capturing their sweet moments together.”   

 
Sae Lee of Sae Lee Portrait Gallery in West Hollywood, CA shot John and Jennifer’s wedding at Yamashiro in Hollywood. Sae recalls, “It was a truly special day. John and Jennifer were a pleasure to photograph. The beauty of the hilltop setting of Yamashiro was matched by the inspired bridal dresses, floral arrangements, and enthusiastic guests.          

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

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!

Last night, Collages.net CEO Kevin Casey held the fourth of eight Finding Your Blue Ocean interactive photography business workshops in Houston, where he received an enthusiastic, Texas-size welcome.

Professional photographers from the greater Houston area gathered to hear from Kevin and learn from each other. Kevin started the night by sharing ideas about how successful studios are making their studios more profitable and staying ahead in this economy. Together, photographers learned what studio finances really mean and how they can plan for the future. Then participants broke off into small groups to brainstorm practical ideas and strategies on how they can move their studios to the next level of success. Participants left with ideas to implement in their studios immediately.

Gerry Hanan of 2ARENOW1 and HANANEXPOSURES with Kevin Casey

Gerry Hanan and Mike Fulton and Cody Clinton of TriCoast Photography

There are still four more opportunities for you to participate in this interactive workshop. If you would like to attend a Blue Ocean 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 the workshop in Houston! Please feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and reactions toward the workshop.

This week’s websites of the week come from Lisa Webb Photography and Jessica Smith Photography.

Lisa Webb of Lisa Webb Photography in Aliso Viejo, California shot Taylor and Heather’s wedding at the San Diego LDS Temple. Lisa recalls, “Taylor and Heather make a gorgeous couple. It was an absolute pleasure sharing this exciting day with Taylor and Heather and their amazing families!”

Jessica Smith of Jessica Smith Photography shot Ashley and Scooter’s engagement photos in the beautiful Dumbarton Oaks Gardens in Georgetown, DC. Jessica recalls, “We enjoyed perfect spring evening weather during this shoot. I loved watching Scooter and Ashley interact and seeing them laugh with each other the entire time.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

Collages.net understands that photographers are constantly looking for ways to expand their client base and gain more referrals. Some of the most successful photographers have built strong vendor partnerships, allowing them to grow their studio’s referral business.

Building strong and worthy vendor relationships takes time, but can be done with little added effort. At your next wedding or special event, start printing post card-sized prints with a sample of your work along with your studio information and logo to hand out to vendors. At weddings, make sure to hand each vendor an event card with your studio information and username and password to view the photos from the wedding. This allows vendors to view a sample of professional photographs of their product or service.

For a more proactive method of building vendor relationships, try sending a thank you note on a press printed card to each vendor that worked during the event. Be sure to include your studio information and logo on the back of the card. This serves as an additional, personal reminder following the event.

Don’t be afraid of contacting local bridal shops, wedding, and event planners about your business. Brides rely on booking their vendors from word of mouth and vendor relationships, especially when they are unfamiliar with other vendors in the area. Set up a meeting with wedding and event planners and bring your laptop along. Show them a Premium Website demo that displays your best work and remember to pack a 5×5 sample press printed book in your bag. The small size is perfect for showing your work on the go and they are inexpensive enough to leave behind for the vendor to use when consulting with brides. As the relationship with the vendor grows and the referrals start coming in, upgrade the product to a larger press printed book.

Whatever you do, don’t be afraid of promoting your business. The strength and success of your business relies on creating and maintaining relationships not only with clients, but with other businesses. For more tips and ideas on marketing your studio using vendor relationships, read our recent Photography Studio Highlight from Dias Photo.

Last night, Collages.net’s CEO Kevin Casey held the third of eight Finding Your Blue Ocean interactive workshops in Tampa, and once again, it was a hit!

Professional photographers from the greater Tampa area interested in learning how to improve their studios’ businesses gathered together to hear from both Kevin Casey, Collages.net’s CEO, and Chris Santi, Collages.net’s National Sales Manager. Kevin shared ideas about making studios more profitable and how to stay ahead in this economy. Together, photographers learned what studio finances really mean and how they can plan for the future. Participants broke off into small groups to brainstorm practical ideas and strategies on how they can move their studios to the next level of success.

There are still five 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 the workshop in Tampa! Please feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and reactions toward the workshop.

This week’s websites of the week come from Life Long Studios and Phase 3 Photography.

Belivia Giordano of Life Long Studios shot Doug and Rebecca’s wedding starting at the historic Renaissance Venoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Belivia remembers, “One word I would use to best describe Doug and Rebecca’s wedding ceremony this winter is sophisticated. Family members and guests enjoyed an enchanting day with the bride and groom. The day finished at the nearby Hilton Bayfront Park in the historic district. The couple was engaging, the location was magnificent, and their memories will last a lifetime.”

Julie Shields of Phase 3 Photography shot Erin and Craig’s engagement session at The Cotton Mill in McKinney, Texas. Julie recalls, “The location really reflected their personality. Erin and Craig were such a fun and relaxed couple to photograph and it has been great getting to know them during the past few months. They are getting married in Grapevine, Texas in October of this year and we are so happy for them!”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.