This week’s Websites of the Week come from Studio Alive and Phillip Wise Photography.

Blaine Wright of Studio Alive shot Trent and Katie’s wedding in Royal, IL. Blaine recalls, “The central Illinois rural setting was perfect for Trent and Katie as they both grew up in large farm families. This location also gave us the opportunity to challenge our creative abilities while using natural surroundings. These images honestly show how fun and in love this couple is.”

Phillip Wise of Phillip Wise Photography shot Travis and Lindsay’s engagement session in downtown Bend, Oregon. Phillip recalls, “Travis and Lindsay live down in San Francisco and will be coming up to Bend for their wedding in February. We love spending as much time with our clients as we can, and are so excited for their wedding!”

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

The specials listed below are only available Monday, November 30, 2009. Offers are time specific, so get ready by preparing your images today! Each offer has special instructions, so be sure to read the details below.

Place your orders on time. Latecomers will miss these great opportunities!

Offer: Free high gloss book with every album order
Time: 9AM – 12PM EST
Your brides are going to love this! Place your album order and give your client the free high gloss book whether they ordered one or not. If, however, you are feeling like you need a gift this holiday season, keep the high gloss book as a sample for your studio. You don’t need to do anything to redeem this special. Collages.net will watch out for your order and send you a high gloss book automatically.

Offer: 50% off all prints 11×14 or larger
Time: 12PM – 3PM EST
Order large prints via collagesColor + ROES and showcase large prints in your studio. This offer is perfect to fulfill holiday client orders or update your studio sample prints. If you haven’t ordered from collagesColor before, here’s what you can expect: great service, consistent color, and competitive prices. The discounted pricing will not appear in collagesColor + ROES but will appear in the Collages.net cart. This includes Kodak Endura or Metallic papers, textures, sprays, and finishes.

Offer: Buy one gallery wrap, get a second copy FREE
Time: 3PM – 6PM EST
Place an order for a gallery wrap, change the quantity to two, and pay for one! Surprise your favorite clients by giving them an extra copy of the gallery wrap they ordered. They can give the second copy to grandparents or another special family member. Or they could hang the second copy in their office at work and expose your work to many potential clients. When placing your gallery wrap order through collagesColor + ROES, choose a quantity of two, and then when your order is processed by a Collages.net lab technician, the cost of the second print will be deducted from your total.

Offer: 50% off your entire press printed card order
Time: 6PM – 9PM EST
Do you need cards for your studio? Of course you do! Press printed cards are perfect for sending follow-up thank you notes to clients and vendors. This keeps your studio top-of-mind. Use Collages.net’s free templates or design your own. It’s your choice. Use coupon code 26746DM at checkout in the Collages.net cart to receive 50% off your order.

Photo Credit: Brett Chisholm Photography, Forever Photography, Genovese Photography, Robert & Kathleen Photographers, Small Wonders Photography

Happy Thanksgiving from Collages.net! We hope you and your family enjoy a fun and relaxing holiday.

Collages.net’s production facilities and customer service department will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th. Collages.net will open again on Monday, November 30th for our regular business hours, 8:30AM - 8:00PM EST.

It’s also the time of year when we need to be reminded of USPS and FedEx’s closing schedules. USPS and FedEx will not pick up or deliver packages on Thursday, November 26th. On Friday, November 27th, all USPS and FedEx shipments will resume. To check on the status of your current album, book, card, print, and gallery wrap orders, go to your Order Tracking area in your Collages.net Administrative Area. There is a quick link on the Home tab or you can click to the Products & Prints tab to select the menu item, Order Tracking.

Also, don’t forget that Cyber Monday is just five days away! Become a Collages.net Insider by becoming a Facebook fan and Twitter follower to be the first to receive notifications about these outrageous deals. If you have any questions, contact customer service at www.collages.net/chat or customerservice@collages.net.

Photo Credit - Small Wonders Photography

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

Caroline Ghetes of Caroline Ghetes Photography shot Yvonne and Greg’s wedding at the Apple Barn in Boone, NC. Caroline recalls, “It was a gorgeous, sunny, and breezy day. The wedding had a beautiful country setting, and what made it even more special was their DIY décor. Everything was tied together beautifully with the country theme they chose. My favorite part of the whole day was the live band. They sounded absolutely amazing!”

Sae Lee of Sae Lee Portrait Gallery shot Ann and Robert’s engagement session in several locations throughout downtown Los Angeles. Sae recalls, “We shot Ann and Robert’s engagement session at the Disney Concert Hall, MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), and at the Union Station in Los Angeles. We had such a great time shooting their engagement session and can’t wait for their upcoming wedding!”

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

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 in the New Haven Business Center. 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.”

Steve Blazo Photography

Steve Blazo, who graciously opened his studio space to the group, was a big part in organizing and overseeing the shoot out. From coordinating the models and makeup artists, to setting up the different shooting locations, Steve made sure the day ran smoothly for each of the photographers.

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!

Outrageous specials! Limited time only! Your studio’s bottom line will benefit. Do you know what we’re talking about? Collages.net’s annual Cyber Monday specials are coming soon. Do you want to be the first to know about outrageous deals on Collages.net’s hottest products?

Then mark your calendars! We will be announcing several product specials that you can take advantage of only on Monday, November 30, 2009. Cyber Monday is Collages.net’s response to Black Friday.

Collages.net’s hot product specials will be posted on Collages.net’s Facebook fan page and Twitter page throughout the day, so stay connected to these social networking sites. These specials are so incredible that they will be available for a limited time only. You don’t want to miss this!

Collages.net’s most outrageous deals of the year will be available to Collages.net Insiders first on Saturday, November 28th, so become a fan and follower today!

This week’s websites of the week come from More Than An Image Photography and Unique Portraiture.

Lacy Dagerath of More Than An Image Photography shot Erin and Chris’ wedding in Las Vegas, NV. Lacy recalls, “Erin and Chris are two of those people you just can’t get enough of! They are beautiful people both on the inside and outside. Their relatives flew in all the way from Scotland to attend their wedding. Erin and Chris were married at the Valley of the Falls in Mandalay Bay, and we did a quick day after session at the Neon Boneyard.”

Christi Curtis of Unique Portraiture photographed Maddie’s portraits at her grandparents’ home in Tampa, FL. Christi remembers, “Maddie was such a wonderful and happy baby. Her big blue eyes were to die for! We put her here and there and she just relaxed, taking everything all in. I don’t think she fussed once in two hours. I was so excited to find a beautiful painting in a spare bedroom that became an incredible background for little Maddie.”

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

We recently interviewed a member of our production team, Kate Campbell. Kate specializes in collagesColor printing. If you have already ordered from collagesColor, chances are, you have heard from Kate C. as she is affectionately called in the office.

Kate Campbell

Tell me about your background in photography.
I took my first darkroom class in community college and instantly fell in love with photography at that point. I decided to enroll in the Art Institute in Philadelphia, where I earned my B.S. in photography. After college, I took a job as a fan photographer at Citizen’s Bank Park where the Phillies play, but that only lasted about two months. During the following year, I worked at a children’s portrait studio until I started working at Collages.net. Once I started at Collages.net, I met Kate Madell, another production team member, who I now help with shooting weddings and events!

How long have you been working at Collages.net?
I began working at Collages.net in July 2008. At that time, I was responsible for scheduling Innovations appointments for our sales team and other general production duties. Then I started working in the collagesColor department and I’ve been there ever since.

What do you love most about your job?
Truly, I love the people that I work with. For me, they are more than just my coworkers; they have become my good friends. The team atmosphere at Collages.net has been overwhelmingly amazing. I love the team player, family-like, supportive environment working at Collages.net. I really love coming to work every day. Also, I love that I get to look at other photographers’ work every day, which provides a great deal of inspiration for me.

What is your favorite Collages.net product and why?
I’m very excited for our press printed card line! When I worked at the children’s portrait studio, I understood how important holiday cards were for families. Our press printed card line gives photographers the ability to design their own cards or use our creative designs for free, which takes a lot of work off their plate.

Since you work for collagesColor, what is your favorite collagesColor print product?
To me, event cards are a great product that can benefit any wedding or event photographer. I think they provide a professional way to spread the word about your studio and also tell people how to view photos from the event for purchasing.

What is currently playing on your iPod?
Surprisingly, I don’t have an iPod! However, when I’m at work and am listening to CDs, I listen to a lot of Save Ferris. It’s perfect for busy days as the upbeat melodies allow me to plough through my work!

How would you describe your shooting style?
I typically shoot using the thirds rule. I like to break up a scene in thirds and keep the subject in the left or right third of the frame. I always find that most of my landscapes and portraits are shot in this style - I think it makes for the most interesting look.

Where do you find your artistic inspiration?
I draw a lot of inspiration from shooting photos of my niece. It’s hard for me not to have my camera around her! It makes me feel great knowing that I can document the early years of her life, and I know my sister really appreciates having so many images of her first child.

What is your favorite candy?
Anything with peanut butter and chocolate, for sure!

What was the last book you read?
I most recently read a book by Janet Evanovich about a bounty hunter in Trenton. It was definitely a good read!

What is your favorite movie?
Anything with Tom Hanks is amazing to me!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’ve never been abroad, but I would love to go to Ireland or Italy. I’d really like to go anywhere where I can bring my camera and shoot amazing photos!

I’d like to thank Kate for taking a time out to talk with me. She wanted to give a surprise present to anyone who read her interview. So, we got approval to give you FREE SHIPPING on your next collagesColor order placed before Thanksgiving. Just use this coupon at check out: 18206EM. If anyone has questions for Kate, give a shout out by leaving a comment below and we’ll get an answer.

A wedding can be one of the most exciting, yet stressful events of a bride and groom’s lives. With all of the  details to take care of, brides and grooms have so much responsibility and potential stress to handle on this one special day that many couples feel moves far too quickly.

Elegant Images and Photographs

As a photographer, your duty is to capture your couples at their best. However, it can often be difficult to get a solid chunk of time to shoot the couple alone without being worried about the day’s schedule. With this in mind, successful photographers are choosing to shoot day after sessions for their wedding couples. Shooting day after sessions eases the stress for both the couple and the photographer. Without time limitations and the stress of keeping an entire group of wedding guests entertained and happy, the couple can really shine. Collages.net consulted with two successful studios that shoot day after sessions regularly for advice to share with other photographers.

Infinity Images

Heather Byrd of Infinity Images in McBee, SC says, “Our studio promotes day after sessions to all of our couples. The uninterrupted, no-stress time with the couple makes for magnificent images. Not to mention that it’s always preferred to have better control over lighting situations. Most of the time, the bride and groom feel very rushed to get to the reception, so they end up with very little time in less than perfect lighting conditions. We want our couples’ images to exude romance, whimsy, and most of all, their personalities. It’s so difficult to get that when you feel rushed.”

Infinity Images

Ross and Kammi Bothwell of Elegant Images and Photographs in Longmont, CO frequently shoot day after sessions and trash the dress sessions for their wedding clients. They truly understand the benefit of shooting portraits after the hectic wedding day. Ross states, “As far as day after sessions go, we love them. We include them in all of our destination packages. Day after sessions give us a chance to play in a relaxed, no-pressured timeline. We can be more adventurous with what we want to capture without worrying about getting the dress dirty and having to worry about holding up the reception.  Some couples even opt for another change of clothes, so it gives them greater freedom in choosing the look of their portraits. I think one of the benefits of shooting day after sessions is that our brides know about them going into their wedding day. When the weather is bad on their wedding day, they know that they have the dress and the man, and can go get some great images another day. Offering day after sessions to our clients has opened up a whole new world for creative images and also more sales.”

Elegant Images and Photographs

Both Heather and Ross are absolutely right. Day after sessions equate to better images and higher sales. In addition to engagement sessions, which we wrote about in a previosu post, day after sessions can boost both your package revenue and print revenue.

Images Copyright: Elegant Images and Photographs; Infinity Images

This week’s websites of the week come from DiasPhoto.com and Laura Leslie Photography.

Edson Dias of DiasPhoto.com shot Sarina and Brian’s wedding at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston.  Edson recalls, “This mango and red-themed wedding took place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston.  The reception took place at Radius restaurant, the culinary apex of the Boston food scene. From the Vogue-esque, naughty bridal party shots to the faux-to booth, the details from this wedding made it a photographer’s dream to shoot.”

Laura Leslie of Laura Leslie Photography photographed baby Hunter’s portraits when he was only three weeks old. Laura recalls, “Armed with his soft skin, chubby cheeks, and sweet little toes, he was a gorgeous and easy baby to work with. I shot his session in Athens, GA at his home and then his mommy and I ventured to an empty field in the country. The weather and lighting was perfect and we had the cutest baskets, blankets, and chairs to prop him in. At the end of the shoot, we found a vintage milk jug to photograph him in, too!”

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