In a recent blog post, we outlined several marketing tips that any studio can put into practice to generate more business around Halloween. Now that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, here are a few tips that will help you market your studio this Thanksgiving.

• Send every client you booked this year a thank you card. Send an unexpected note to your past clients, thanking them for their business and wishing them a joyous day with family and friends. Use your studio’s logo or a portrait of your family and print them on Collages.net’s Press Printed Cards available through collagesColor + ROES. Offer your clients a special referring bonus in the card.
• Photograph local turkey day activities. Most towns have their own turkey trot, turkey bowl, or other activities on Thanksgiving to raise money for local charities. Photograph the event and hand out event cards on the day so people can easily see your studio and purchase their photos online. Remember to customize your own View an Event Portal to drive traffic to your studio. Then, donate a portion of your print proceeds to the charity.

• Emphasize the meaning of family. Send your clients a marketing e-mail or Facebook message from your family on Thanksgiving day. Thank them for their past business and share with them the importance and value of professional family portraits. Who wouldn’t be moved to book a portrait session after receiving a compelling message on one of the most family-oriented days of the year?
• Photograph your local Thanksgiving parade. Does your town host an annual Thanksgiving day parade? If so, photograph the event and contact your local newspaper and submit your photographs of the parade and crowd to be published in the next day’s newspaper.
• Assist at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Have your studio (or your family on behalf of your studio) help serve a meal in a soup kitchen or local homeless shelter. Not only is this a good thing to do. It’s good PR for your studio. Blog about it, Facebook about it, tweet about it, and don’t forget to write a press release about it and submit it to your local paper.

In addition to the above suggestions, delivering your clients’ albums before Thanksgiving is a great way to ensure your studio will be talked about around the turkey table. Submit your album order by the date listed below and choose FedEx 2Day shipping. You will receive the album by November 24th, so you can deliver it by November 25th.

Premium Leather Albums - Wednesday, November 4th
Genuine Leather Albums - Wednesday, November 11th
Brilliant Albums - Wednesday, November 11th

Photo Credit: Small Wonders Photography

‘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:

This week’s websites of the week come from Krisha Martzall Photography and JPix Photography.

Krisha Martzall of Krisha Martzall Photography in Lancaster, PA shot Matt and Lindsey’s wedding in the backyard of Lindsey’s parents’ 155-year-old home. Krisha recalls, “Matt’s favorite band drove from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to provide entertainment to a crowd of almost 200 guests. Their first dance could not be stopped by periods of rain and even the occasional clap of thunder. It was dancing in the rain at its finest.”

Jermaine Turner of JPix Photography shot Vikeya’s senior portraits in his studio and in downtown Washington D.C. Jermaine recalls, “I had a great time shooting Vikeya’s senior session. She is a free-spirited young woman who is willing to try anything and loves to laugh. Her parents keep her involved in a variety of activities, including working as a volunteer firefighter and EMS responder. She’s such a joyful young woman with a bright future ahead of her.”

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

Collages.net recently had the chance to speak with Otto Rascon of Otto Rascon Photography in Chicago, IL about his studio.

How did you get into the photography business?
The first wedding I photographed was my dad’s, which was about five years ago. However, I had been taking pictures for fun and photographing my family for years. I really started learning how to use the camera after my dad asked me to photograph his wedding in Mexico. After shooting his wedding, I began feeling that photography was something special that I enjoyed doing and that could make other people happy. So, I decided to pursue it full time.

Otto Rascon

When did you start shooting?
There has been a camera in my hand since high school, but I officially started my business about three years ago.

How would you describe your style?
I would say that my style is more of a mix of the classical/traditional approach with a little bit of photojournalism. It’s kind of an infusion of different approaches with elements of traditional lighting and posing.

Do you have any influences?
David Ziser has been very influential for me. I actually was able to meet him this year, which was an incredible experience. I really enjoy his sense of lighting and composition. It makes his brides and grooms look and feel important. I really like that.

What do you love to shoot?
I love shooting weddings and family portraits. Ideally, I’d like to be known as a family photographer: shoot a client’s wedding, maternity portraits, baby portraits, and then family portraits.

What gear do you use?
I use all Nikon gear. I shoot with D700 and D300 bodies and I use three lenses: the 80-200mm f/2.8, a 50mm f/1.4, and a wide angle 12-24mm f/4 lens.

Do you have a favorite lens?
I would have to say my favorite lens is my 50mm f/1.4. I love the result I get when I shoot the lens at f/2.0. I get that great limited depth of field that allows me to focus on a single area of the frame, while making everything else blur out.

In terms of your style and what you shoot, what inspires you?
I get inspiration from various sources. I graduated from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago with a degree in graphic design. In school, I was heavily influenced by the artists of the Renaissance and ancient Greek statues. I also find inspiration from other shooters that have more experience than I do, such as David Ziser, Joe McNally, and Zack Arias. The meaning of family and the closeness of family also inspire me. For weddings, I try to shoot with the bride’s future in mind. I think about what the bride will appreciate 20-30 years from now, not just what she will love right now. I’m inspired to shoot for what bride will like down the line – something that is timeless.

Do you use Facebook or other social networking sites?
I do use Facebook and Twitter. It helps me to get the word out when I shoot events and more importantly, lets people know that I exist. After a wedding, I’ll get the slideshow up by Monday, upload photos to Facebook and tag each person in the photos.

Have you found that Facebook has benefited your business?
Definitely. Facebook is a strong lead generator for my studio and creates some buzz.

What is your favorite part of the wedding day and why?
I really like the moments when the bride and groom are getting ready. They are usually so nervous, which allows me to calm them down and let them know it’s going to be okay. It’s exciting for me too because I don’t know what the day is going to be like. I used to dread these moments because I didn’t know how things were going to turn out, but I see it as a challenge now. It’s become very rewarding for me.

Do you have a favorite venue or location where you love to shoot?
The Morton Arboretum in Lisle Illinois is a beautiful place to shoot because it provides gorgeous backgrounds. I recently shot a wedding at the University Club in Chicago, which was an absolutely breathtaking venue.

What was the best business decision you’ve made this year?
It would be attending a workshop taught by Dane Sanders. Attending the workshop helped me learn about what kind of business I want to run. It helped me learn more about how to run a successful studio and market myself, instead of how to shoot.

Do you ever run promotions or specials for your clients?
I haven’t run an official promotion yet, but I love to surprise my clients with a gift when they’re not expecting it. I’ll typically send clients an additional print in their package that they didn’t order, which they see as a gift from me.

When people leave your studio, what impression do you want them to leave with?
I want my clients to feel that I took care of them and that I was able to fulfill my promises without them having to worry about their day. It’s important for them to feel that they are being taken care of and satisfied with their experience.

What is your favorite Collages.net product or service and why?
The flush mount albums are my favorite. They are so beautiful and when my clients see them, they are wowed by them. I recently delivered a 60 page album to one of my clients, which she loved. It’s so nice to give my client a great product that is stored and packaged so nicely.

We would like to thank Otto for sharing this information about his studio! Let us know who you would like us to interview by contacting customerservice@collages.net. Who knows, you could be next.

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.

This week’s websites of the week come from Candid Expressions and Hadar Goren Photography.

Jette Fagela of Candid Expressions shot the Heavey family’s portraits in their backyard in Kennesaw, GA. Jette recalls, “Marianna and Robert kept mentioning that they needed family photos, but they have been too busy to set a date. When they finally contacted me for a date, I was super excited! They are all so beautiful! The children were very comfortable being photographed and it definitely made my job so much easier. I had a great time.”

Hadar Goren of Hadar Goren Photography, Inc. shot Cindy and Tim’s wedding at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. Hadar recalls, “The 14th floor reception had a stunning view of Washington, DC and the Potomac River. We started our day by photographing Cindy getting ready about five hours before the ceremony in order to have some time for some fun bride and groom portraits around Washington, DC.”

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

We recently interviewed a member of our production team, Liz Halvorsen. Liz specializes in Collages.net’s Albums and Gallery Wraps and is also a member of our design team.

Tell me about your background in photography.
I fell in love with photography when I was a kid. I inherited my dad’s Canon AT-1 at an early age and taught myself how to shoot. In high school, I took classes in photography and then went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where I earned my BFA in photography. After school I started my career at Berry & Homer in Philadelphia, where I worked for about three years.

How long have you been on the Collages.net team?
I have been with Collages.net for almost three years. When I first started working at Collages.net, I like all employees was in the customer service department where I was responsible for a lot of product research and development. At that time, Collages.net was just starting up our product line. My first  project was to help create the gallery wrap product line. Design was my ultimate goal and passion. I love the $1 an image album design and from the feedback I get from studios, photographers and their clients are loving it too.

What do you love most about your job?
Every day, I get to use my creativity; I love the creative freedom I have at Collages.net. My favorite projects are level three designs, where I use flourishes and other design elements to make a truly personalized album or book. I also love my teammates. I work with a terrific bunch of talented girls. We learn a lot from one another.

What is your favorite Collages.net product and why?
Do I have to pick one? I would say the high gloss finish books and albums are my favorite. High gloss finish books are excellent in quality and price. I love the paper stock we use for these books since they remind me of the glossy children’s books I would read as a kid. Albums are another favorite product of mine. The print quality is amazing and the Premium leather choices are absolutely yummy. Plus, we offer a wide variety of hot colors! I may be a little bias because the album line is my baby. It’s the primary line that I manage.

What would you pick for your sample album cover?
Green Premium leather albums are my absolute favorite.

What question do photographers ask you the most?
Since I work with gallery wraps, customers always ask me how to set up bleed for their gallery wrap orders. A lot of our photographers also have questions about our album trim lines.

What are you listening to on your iPod right now?
It really depends on my mood! For a rainy day like today, I like to listen to slow music like Massive Attack, NearLY, and Death Cab for Cutie. When I need to meet a deadline, I pump myself up with 70s, 80s, and 90s punk: The Casualties, The Ramones, and Bikini Kill.

How would you describe your design style?
For my work at Collages.net, I like to keep a very clean and modern design style. For my personal work, I have a grungy style and love adding textures to my images.

Where do you find design inspiration?
Inspiration comes from the images. I wasn’t at the event, so I rely on the images and the photographers descriptions to create a design that is perfect for the clients. My shooting inspiration comes from shapes, negative space, and lighting.

If you had to eat candy bars for the rest of your life, what kind would you choose?
It’s hard to say, but Take 5 and Kit Kats are two of my favorites!

What was the last book you read?
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. It’s an interesting, fictional book about life in Stalinist Russia. I was disappointed with the ending though.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
On the top of my list is Ireland, but I’d also love to see Scotland, Denmark, Russia, and the Netherlands.

Is Elvis really dead?
Yes. Why would anyone even question that?

I’d like to thank Liz for taking a time out to talk with me. If anyone has questions for Liz, give a shout out by leaving a comment below and we’ll get an answer.

This week’s websites of the week come from Wagner Photography and Studio Viohl.

Spring Waugh and Jackie Wagner of Wagner Photography shot Kara and Mike’s wedding at the Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, IL. They recall, “The day began with raindrops, but by the time they reached their reception, there was plenty of sunshine for some fabulous photos. We had a great time with this charismatic crew.”

Carrie Viohl of Studio Viohl shot Preston’s portraits at her studio in Moultrie, GA. Carrie recalls, “We are always on the lookout for interesting faces here at the studio, and put a call out for freckle faces. Preston fit the bill perfectly and was a huge character as well! Not only was he coated with adorable freckles, but his personality was incredible. He was full of energy and life!”

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

Professional photographers gear up for the big seasons in the business: wedding season, senior portrait session time, and the holiday season. What about the forgotten holidays that can be capitalized on as a way for you to create additional marketing and sales opportunities? Are people going to be talking about your studio on Halloween this year?

We haven’t eaten too much candy corn here at Collages.net and lost our minds. Halloween is a great opportunity to create a buzz about your studio! Parents do not want to forget the years their little angels dressed up as goblins, cute little witches, scary scare crows, and let’s face it, Hannah Montana. Similarly, your adult customers want to capture memories and relive the fun feelings from childhood that Halloween sparks up.

Here are a few other tips you can use this Halloween to make sure your studio is part of the holiday party buzz:

• Throw your own Halloween party and promote it on Facebook. Open your studio up to past clients and community members. Create a Facebook invitation and send it to all of your friends and Facebook fans at least two weeks before the date. Offer door prizes and ask clients to dress up as they will be photographed at the event. This is a great way to remind old clients about your services and build your presence in your community. Set up a photo booth and share images on a Collages.net Premium Website. Using the social networking links available on the site to post the event site to your Facebook profile.

• Photograph charity Halloween events. Offer to photograph a Halloween or fall-based charity event for free. Hand out event cards during the event and post the images to a full service Collages.net Premium Website. You’ll gain additional revenue, exposure, and referrals.

• Start a costume contest. Create a Halloween costume contest for your client base. Ask your clients to send you images of them dressed up in their Halloween best from the past. Promote the details on Facebook, Twitter, and your blog. Offer the winner a prize such as a free portrait session or print credit from your studio. Be ready to see some truly crazy costumes, but don’t be shy. Make sure that you add images of yourself as well. This is a great way to connect with clients and let them see more of your personality.

  

• Schedule a Halloween photo shoot. Forget the session fee and book several clients in a 2-3 hour period. Give clients 15 minutes to be photographed in their costume and post the images to a Collages.net Premium Website within a week.

• Photograph your child’s Halloween party in school. For those busy photographers who balance their business with parenthood, offer to shoot your child’s school Halloween party or parade. You’ll get to spend more time with your child and build a relationship with the school and other parents.

There are always ways to capitalize on the holidays. Make sure your studio comes up in conversation. Delivering albums to your clients on Friday, October 30 is the perfect way to make sure they are talking about your studio and showing off their album all weekend. Submit your album order by the date listed below and choose FedEx 2Day shipping. You will receive the album by October 29th, so you can deliver the album on October 30th.

Premium Leather Albums - Tuesday, October 13
Genuine Leather Albums - Tuesday, October 20
Brilliant Albums - Tuesday, October 20

Photo Credit: Small Wonders Photography

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.