This week’s websites of the week come from Candi Coffman Photography and Kemmetmueller Photography, Inc.

Candi McKinney of Candi Coffman Photography in Norman, OK shot Rebecca and Chad’s engagement session in midtown, just north of downtown Oklahoma City. Candi recalls, “Rebecca and Chad were a wonderful couple to photograph and were great at ignoring the camera. They loved to laugh and were very sincere with each other throughout the entire session.”

Matthew Kemmetmueller of Kemmetmueller Photography, Inc. in Deephaven, MN shot Lindsey and Jeremy’s wedding in Edina, MN.  Matthew remembers, “Lindsey and Jeremy were referred to me by past clients and booked an eight hour wedding package with a day after session. The wedding was at a large church and the reception took place at a photographer’s studio in North East Minneapolis. The day after session was about two hours long and was shot in the warehouse district in Minneapolis, the Mill City Museum, and the Guthrie Theater.”

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

Collages.net recently had the chance to talk to Wai Reyes of Wai Reyes Photography in Brea, California about her blog.

How would you describe your studio’s style?
Our studio style is a blend of unobtrusive photojournalism and artistic modern portraiture. People want to have their photographs taken for a reason, and we’re here to turn that story into vivid photo art that transcends through time.

Wai Reyes with husband, Leandro

What type of photography are you most passionate about?
Portrait photography is definitely our passion. Just being able to capture someone’s emotions, especially when he or she is truly happy, is an amazing feeling. And because we enjoy shooting engagement portraits so much, we are now offering wedding packages starting this fall!

How did you come up with your blog’s design?
Prior to getting into photography, I was a designer and developer for ten years. In my work, I was always drawn to a look and feel that’s clean and elegant with a hint of subtle, earthy tones. It conveys a feeling of warmth and welcome. Before putting together our blog, we first created a style guide that included our color palette and typography. We give importance to the impact of brand familiarity and recognition, as it’s a means of communication with our future clients. It gives our studio a visual identity that makes them remember and eventually trust us. It’s also important that modifications made on the blog are not major and that we stay true to our style guidelines for consistency.

What was important to you in selecting  a blog vendor?
The most important factor that we looked for in a blog vendor was our studio’s ability to design, host, and manage our own blog using our own server. We started with a generic Wordpress template that we tweaked to match our layout. Wordpress also has tons of plug-ins that facilitate our SEO.

Which entry has been your most popular entry this year?
The “muscle session” is what gets more hits than any other lately. We posted some of the photos from this session on our Facebook and I think that’s what makes it more popular than the rest.

How do you increase blog readership?
Throughout the past year, our latest sessions are always the most popular, as our clients are sharing our blog post with their friends and family.

What content do you put on your blog?
We mostly write about our latest works and very little personal stuff. It’s very important to us that clients get to see our work, and not read about what we had for dinner. That’s what our Twitter is for!

How do you think your blog benefits your studio?
Aside from being able to feature our latest sessions, it also gives our visitors an idea how we shot previous sessions that are similar to theirs. It sometimes helps them decide the location where they want their sessions to be done. For us personally, it helps give us an idea how much our style has changed over the past year and will evolve in the years to come. It acts like a time line of one’s craft.

Do you have any blog stalkers?
We do have people who come back constantly, especially recent clients and new bookings. We’re always so thrilled to see fellow photographers’ visits and blog comments.

Do you use social networking sites to promote your studio and blog?
Yes, we’re on both Facebook and Twitter!

What advice would you give to photographers who are looking to start a blog or revamp their blog?
It is important to have a clear design goal before anything else. It helps to put together a style guide that will help to keep the consistency in your design. Clarity in your layout helps getting a sense of familiarity with your brand. My biggest advice: get a custom blog in your own URL. It adds strength to your online presence.

Collages.net would like to thank Wai for sharing this information about her studio. If you would like to be considered for a blog or studio interview, contact customerservice@collages.net.

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.

This week’s websites of the week come from Kimberly Craven Photography and Trystan Photography.

Kimberly Craven of Kimberly Craven Photography shot Joy and Michael’s wedding at Smack Mellon, an art gallery in Brooklyn. Kimberly recalls, “The space was flooded with light from windows looking out on the East River and Manhattan Bridge. Both Joy and Michael are very creative and put together most of the wedding details themselves from the dried lavender and cotton branches to napkins with random typewritten facts about the couple. Homemade cookies made by the bride and her bridesmaids served as guest favors. Michael shared a surprise slideshow of images he had taken around New York of various friends, family members, and strangers wishing the couple good luck on whiteboard speech bubbles. Joy’s dad is an Alaskan fisherman and provided crab he had caught himself for the reception.  He also wrote and performed an original song on the harmonica for the couple.”

Charlotte Bundgaard of Trystan Photography shot Andrea’s bridal session days before her wedding. Charlotte recalls, “I with Andrea and her fiance, Cary, about three days before their departure to be married in Mexico. Andrea really wanted some photos to be taken before they left, but didn’t want Cary to see her in the actual wedding dress. We decided to photograph Andrea and Cary together while Andrea wore her reception dress. We then told him to scram so we could get photos of Andrea in her bridal gown. We had a blast together!”

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

Collages.net recently had the chance to talk to Lindsey Turner of Lindsey Turner Photography in Kennesaw, Georgia about her blog.

Lindsey Turner

I love the large images on your blog. Where did you get the idea for your blog’s design?
I wanted my blog to represent my personality and the type of clients that I am trying to attract. I love color and I wanted my blog to be bright and inviting.

What type of photography are you most passionate about?
My passion is weddings. I believe in love and what weddings represent. To be chosen to capture someone’s wedding day based on the way you see it is a true honor. I have to pinch myself every weekend!

How would you describe your shooting style?
I like to think that I have a laid back, fun approach to weddings. My pictures are modern with a touch of magazine glam. I really love having fun with poses and pushing the limits of traditional wedding photography.

When looking for a blog vendor, what was most important to you?
When choosing a blog vendor, the most important thing to consider is the management. I wanted to make sure that my blog could be easily maintained. A blog should be easy to post so that you can keep your blog fresh and always have something new for your audience to see.

Which entry has been your most popular entry this year?
I would say Heather and Justin’s wedding. It was the first wedding in almost seven years where it actually rained during the ceremony. It still, to this day, was the most incredible ceremony I have ever photographed. It was amazing!

What do you write about on your blog?
My business is built around relationships. I love getting to know each of my clients and I like to incorporate their stories into my blog. I want it to be personal and mean something to you when you read it. I’ve always loved to write so it’s amazing to have such a huge audience!

How has having a studio blog benefited your studio?
Having my blog has significantly increased traffic to my website. Clients love when I post pictures from their session and so they send their friends and family there as well. It has also been a great way for my clients to get to know me before they even book me. A lot of my clients are out of town, so my blog allows them to see me on a day to day basis and get a feel for who I am if they can’t meet with me personally.

Do you have any blog stalkers?
I know that I am guilty of stalking a few blogs myself. I have a few photographer friends that check it weekly, but I’m not sure if I have any crazed fans out there! If I do, leave me a comment and let me know who you are!

Do you use social networking sites to promote your studio and blog?
I love Facebook and all that it has done for my studio. It allows me to connect to my past, present, and future clients on a more personal level. I also post my current sessions so my clients can share them with all of their friends on their own Facebook page. Recently, I’ve gotten into Twitter as well.

What advice would you give to a photographer who does not have a blog?
I think that blogs are just as important, if not more important, as your website. It is a place where customers can come and see the session you just shot on Saturday and see pictures from your family vacation. It really allows everyone to connect with you in a way that they couldn’t just from your website. Make sure that your blog reflects your personality and who you are away from the camera. It should be something that you are excited about updating and having people follow. If you make it a fun place to visit, you will always have an audience coming back for more!

Collages.net would like to thank Lindsey for sharing this information about her blog. If you would like to be featured on our blog, please contact customer service at customerservice@collages.net.

At Collages.net, we believe that sharing an idea, a bit of information, or a technique not only benefits others, but also ourselves. Many people believe that if you have a unique product, service, or idea, it’s best to keep it to yourself. However, sharing these ideas can be so beneficial to others and to you. Many of our photographers share helpful tools and information out of their generosity, but receive so much back. For example, Dustin Meyer of Dustin Meyer Photography created several short videos about how to use Collages.net social networking links and showed off high gloss finish books with YouTube users. Dustin’s studio name and brand is becoming viral and in 2010, he will be a featured speaker at WPPI.

Dustin Meyer of Dustin Meyer Photography

Robert and Kathleen Trenske of Robert & Kathleen Photographers host photographer meetings called CLASS (Collages.net Learning and Sharing Session) around their Fairfield, CT studio. They believe sharing information about their studio’s success does not hurt, but truly helps their business.

Kathleen and Robert Trenske of Robert & Kathleen Photographers

Another studio that has built its business on helping and sharing both shooting and business ideas with others is TriCoast Photography in Lake Jackson, Texas. Mike Fulton explains the importance of sharing to his studio: ”Through the years as a photographer, both part and full time, the foundation on why TriCoast Photography was and is successful was sharing freely with other photographers. Truly, our no-secrets approach has allowed us to meet so many photographers, learn and grow as we shared, and made lifelong friends which have helped us out in crucial situations. Today with the viral marketing tools stronger than ever, sharing as well as learning is easier than ever. The power of sharing with other photographers is endless. By staying ethical, helping out other photographers, especially the ones in your area, your business and your art will grow to levels you never thought before.”

Cody Clinton and Mike Fulton of TriCoast Photography

There are plenty of ways you can reach out and share business or marketing ideas that have helped you improve your studio’s business or learn ideas that have helped other studios. Kevin Casey, Collages.net’s CEO, has been leading interactive idea sharing workshops across the country to help studios grow their business. The workshop called Finding Your Blue Ocean has served as an opportunity for photographers and Kevin to share ideas, network, and inspire change. In September, Kevin is hitting the road again with both east coast and west coast dates and locations. Check out our Blue Ocean site for detailed information.

Kevin Casey, Collages.net’s CEO

Another method of networking with other professional photographers is to join social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Many vendors, including Collages.net, have Facebook fan pages and Twitter accounts that allow customers to join, learn more about the company, and also share ideas with other photographers in a common space. Collages.net recently wrote a blog post called Twitter 101 that explains how Twitter can make your studio’s brand truly viral.

Don’t forget to share with those who refer you! Building strong vendor relationships is key to word-of-mouth marketing, so make sure to reciprocate when vendors refer clients to your studio.  Photographing a vendor’s goods is not only a great way to say thank you for a referral, but also provides them with professional photographs they can show to potential clients. When clients view the images, they’ll know who to book for their special event.

Sharing is a free and easy way to help others, but also help yourself. Share your knowledge and talents with others and see the results.

This week’s websites of the week come from Robert & Kathleen Photographers and Leslie Spurlock Photography.

Robert and Kathleen Trenske of Robert & Kathleen Photographers shot Dagney and Michael’s wedding at an airport hangar in Oxford, CT. They recall, “Dagney and Michael are both pilots and their love for aviation runs nearly as deep as their love for each other. When they found out they could have their wedding reception in an airport hangar, it was the natural fit for both them and for us. We also happen to love all things travel-related. Michael’s uniform, the saber arch, and a WWII plane were the perfect finishing touches making for the ultimate 1940s-themed wedding.”

Leslie Spurlock of Leslie Spurlock Photography shot Gaby’s bridal portraits in and outside of a building in a small south Texas town. Leslie recalls, “Gaby is such an awesome bride to be! We shot Gaby’s bridal portraits in a small town and she was so willing to do anything I asked. I am really looking forward to shooting her wedding in Laredo, Texas, which is near the Mexican border.”

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

Collages.net recently had the chance to talk with Amy Raab of Amy Raab Photography in Annapolis, Maryland about her blog.

How would you describe your studio’s style?
I started out as a photojournalist, so the approach I take to shooting weddings is to try and blend in and capture the moments of the day while giving as little direction as possible. I’ve also learned to incorporate some of the traditional elements of a wedding like bridal portraits and group shots, but I try to add a little artistic flair to the composition or arrangements of the people so that they don’t look ordinary.

Amy Raab

What type of photography do you love posting on your blog?
True photojournalistic moments with strong emotion have the most impact in any realm, and are often the hardest ones to capture at a wedding. I always strive to capture those elusive, fleeting moments between two people that are as simple as a glance or a touch.

Where did you find your inspiration for your blog’s design?
I have always had a really simple, low tech website, and people have always complimented me on it. I believe that simplicity is always the best design to show off any work of art. When you look at photography in a gallery or museum, the prints are always framed simply with a white matte and a metal frame. I wanted my studio blog to have the same simple style as my website, which is designed by Sitewelder.

How did you choose your studio blog vendor?
To be perfectly honest, I knew I had to have a blog, but didn’t have the time to deal with it. I do all of the editing and processing for my studio, and the thought of blogging on top of that was just overwhelming! I am also totally “decision impaired.” How do you quickly look though a few thousand images and pick a handful of favorites? I hired my associate photographer, David Spence, to take care of it. He chose Squarespace. David always reminds me to just go for the “WOW” images with impact, without over analyzing. I just pick out my favorites, run some actions on them, and send them to him with comments off the top of my head. We also try and hook up our favorite vendors and venues with a link to their site. Not everyone makes it, though. You have to be cool, fun to work with, and treat us right!

Do you have any tips on what to write on a studio blog?
We try not to be cliche and write what a special couple the bride and groom are or what a “fairy tale wedding” it was. Let’s face it, not every couple can be special, and not every wedding is absolutely fabulous! We just write about our experience while shooting. It’s sort of a behind the scenes thing. People love to know how we get the shots we do and what we were thinking when we took them. It conveys what an emotional roller coaster a wedding is for us too and how much we care about the people we photograph.

How do you see your studio blog benefiting your studio?
The blog is just totally HOT! I don’t know if people even look at my website anymore! The thing that I love about the blog is that there are no rules. Depending on how busy we are, sometimes we get a wedding on the blog in a week, other times it can be a month. The bride and groom are given a turnaround time of six to eight weeks for their wedding to be on a Collages.net Event Site, which is a deadline we stick to. The blog is a bonus for them and they are so grateful for the sneak peek. They check our blog obsessively from their honeymoon on and e-mail and Facebook all their friends when their pictures are up! Eight weeks can be an eternity for them, so seeing our favorite images and heartfelt comments about their wedding reassures them that we care. Seeing the previous posts from the weddings before theirs also reminds them that our studio doesn’t revolve around their wedding. We are working hard on other weddings, too!

Do you have any blog stalkers?
Yes. I think my Collages.net Product Consultant, Meagan, is stalking us. She’s leaves a comment from time to time!

What advice would you give to photographers who are looking to start a blog or revamp their blog?
Don’t be cliche, don’t blab too much, and be yourself. Connecting with your bride and groom is the most important thing. Let your true personality shine through your images and words, and the right couples will come to you.

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

Are you a Tweeter or a Twitter? Studios across the country and around the world are learning how to harness the power of Twitter to communicate their studio brand with future and current clients, network with other photographers, and build relationships with vendors. If you already use Twitter, you may already know its potential, but are you seeing the results you are looking for? There are some Tweeters out there who are failing to reap the benefits of their Twitter efforts. If you are one of these individuals or are new to Twitter, continue reading for tips, suggestions, and best practices from two successful photography studios.

Dustin Meyer, Dustin Meyer Photography

JP Elario, Joe Elario Photography

After signing up for a Twitter account and branding your page, gaining followers is key to making Twitter a successful marketing tool for your studio. A good way to gather followers is to attach a Twitter Feed to your blog or studio website. Both Meyer and Elario are fans of this practice. Speaking of fans, it is also possible to connect Twitter updates to your Facebook fan page. This is a great way to “quickly and efficiently link up your social networks to keep content fresh,” according to Meyer.

Meyer brings up an excellent point. Twitter should not be used in a vacuum. Yes, Twitter is a huge resource, but it can’t be your only way to connect with your clients. As Meyer states perfectly: “All clients are different in how they want to connect. Twitter provides another way to connect.” There are several social networking sites to consider, but Twitter and Facebook are the 800 pound gorillas in the social networking sphere. Combining these two services along with your blog gives your studio maximum exposure to your target market whether you shoot weddings, portraits, or birds.

Meyer says, “The bigger the web, the more flies you catch.” He has been using Twitter for five months now and has been more than happy with the results. Using a predetermined strategy, Meyer systematically posts new portrait sessions and weddings on Collages.net’s Premium Websites, asks clients to use the free social networking tools to link the site to their profile, creates a blog post, and then updates his fans and Twitter followers. This approach is working well in his studio to create buzz around the images and to spread the Dustin Meyer Photography brand. Meyer even created a video to show clients how to link their event site to their Facebook page.

Elario uses a similar process by using Tweetdeck to update his Facebook and Twitter statuses simultaneously. Whenever a new blog post is ready, he cleverly gets people’s attention with witty comments driving traffic to his blog. Personality is important. “I try to show I am me and not a computer generated Tweeter,” says Elario. “Be yourself and don’t sound like a machine.” Tweeting gives you a chance to show clients your personality and make a connection with your studio. Consistently telling them what you’re eating, watching on TV, or doing at work is okay within reason, but watch it. If all you talk about is your food choices, people will get bored and stop following you.

When tweeting, use a model of 70-20-10. Seventy percent should be interesting content. Think of your target market and what might be of interest to them. For brides, this could be wedding images, wedding blog articles, good ideas for favors, etc. Seniors may be more interested in celebrity gossip, music suggestions, or sports. Whatever your audience, post updates that will be valuable to them. Twenty percent of your tweets should engage people in conversation. This could be an @ reply or starting a dialog with an interesting comment. Both Meyer and Elario do a great job of this. View their Twitter pages for examples.

Finally, ten percent should be studio promotions. Talk about new products and include images using Twitpic. Elario advises that studios should try not to always talk about the studio, but instead include enough personal information to keep followers interested. Meyer says that mixing it up with a variety of messages and formats (Tweetmic, Twitpic) also keeps followers engaged. “Just keep it fun, interesting, and original,” he says.

There are studios out there that are hesitant to take the Twitter plunge. Elario says, “Why be hesitant of something that’s free and takes thirty seconds to reach a large audience of people?” So what’s stopping you? After all, “The number of people you can reach is insane,” Elario says. It’s true; the small amount of time it takes to Tweet has a huge impact. If you are stuck all day editing images, why not take a break every so often to send out a Tweet message with a cool image? Reaching your clients on social networks gives your studio an edge. Gain larger sales, more referrals, and a hip image with this free marketing resource.

Do you still have questions that have been left unanswered? Contact us at @collagesnet or leave a question or comment below and we will respond to you. There are several excellent sources on the web for using social networks to market your studio. One resource that has truly been helpful is @mashable. They have a Twitter resource that will blow your mind. Twitter has recently released their own site Twitter 101 for Businesses.

Collages.net would like to thank Dustin Meyer of Dustin Meyer Photography and JP of Joe Elario Photography for talking with us on how they have incorporated Twitter into their marketing mix. Follow them on Twitter @dustinmeyer and @jpelario respectively.

This week’s websites of the week come from Imagen Photography and Blue Pictures, LLC.

Nathan Migal of Imagen Photography in Cleveland, Ohio shot Shelly and Scott’s engagement photos on the campus of Case Western University. Nathan recalls, “I had a great time shooting Shelly and Scott’s engagement photos. They were laid back and fun and I think their love for each other really came through in their photos.”

Peg Sejdi of Blue Pictures, LLC shot Stevie and Luke’s wedding at the Stone Mountain Par’s Marriott Evergreen Resort in Atlanta, Georgia. Peg recalls, “From the rustic-chic backdrop of their lakeside nuptials to the elegant glamour of their sit-down reception, every detail of the day was beautifully thought. The amazing energy surrounding this awesome couple was so abundant you couldn’t help but take a little piece home with you!”

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