Monthly Archives: July 2011

The Big Day. It’s one fraught with chaos, a whirl of activity, of tears, smiles and constant movement. What’s a photographer to do? Thankfully, when you carry along Design Aglow’s Essential Wedding Photography Shot List, you’ll know you’re covered before, during and after the wedding ceremony. We list everything to remember, from the bride and groom getting ready, to details, to formals, to location and more! And because there’s space for your own notes and ideas, you can add your own inspiration and creative thoughts for images that have your personal flair, and all without missing the big picture.

INCLUDES:
• 62 not-to-miss images your brides and grooms will love
• pre-ceremony, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and formal categories
• space for notes/special requests
• one page, easily printable and customizable
•great for new photographers or seasoned pros
•give an additional copy to your assistant(s)

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 8.5×11 form
• Fully customizable, layered Photoshop PSD file
• Compatible with Photoshop CS and newer, Photoshop Elements 6 and newer, Windows and Mac

Click here to check it out in the shop!

Struggling for the right words when writing to everyone, from future brides to disgruntled clients, vivacious vendors and hopeful assistants? Design Aglow has partnered with professional photographer and wordsmith extraordinaire Heather Rivlin to create this extensive collection of 20 professionally crafted letters to deliver the perfect prose for any situation while establishing your studio’s solid business policies. Whether you draw from this complete catalog of correspondence for emails, phone scripts or mailed content, you’re sure to appreciate these time savers while your clients and contacts appreciate your customer service and attention.

1. Email response to price shoppers.This welcome email aids you with responding to price shoppers/hagglers and provides a strong education in the value of wedding/portrait photography.

2. Style and Session. This email explains the photographer’s shooting style, the session, the ordering process and payment.

3. Pre-session email. This email sets the rules for the shoot and reminds customers via key bullet points what’s included in the session fee.

4. Second Photo Shoot Rescheduling. This email sets forth studio policy regarding rescheduling for a second time.

5. Second Order Appointment Rescheduling. This email sets forth studio policy when rescheduling for a second time.

6. Photographer as client. This email shares how to approach a local photographer who wants a shoot with you.

7. Addressing post session digital files and sticker shock. This email shares how to handle a miscommunication regarding digital file inclusion, or when a client experiences cost concerns after the session.

8. Economic concerns post session. This email covers how to address reticence in ordering after a session when a client asks to postpone ordering.

9. Unauthorized internet use of an image. This email addresses how to approach a client who has scanned/copied your images to or from the internet without permission.

10. Mentor request. This email shares how to address a request from a local photographer wishes to be mentored by you or wants to assist you

11. Client order session preparation. This email prepares clients for the upcoming order session.

12. Client session clothing choices. This email outlines practical suggestions regarding clothing choices for the upcoming photography session.

13. Difficult client returns. This email shares how to respectfully handle a difficult former client who wishes to hire you again.

14. Vendor barter request. This email addresses a vendor who has requested a free shoot in return for future referrals/word-of-mouth in lieu of payment.

15. Money past due. This registered letter shares correspondence for money owed on a session or order when the client is unresponsive.

16. Creating potential bride interest. This email illustrates how to respond to potential brides in order to compel them to continue the conversation.

17. Pleasing anxious clients. This email outlines how to reassure excited clients whose continued queries regarding the status of their order are drawing your attention away from processing orders and handling other business in your studio.

18. Session Follow-up Email. This email shares gratitude to a client for a wonderful session and shares an incentive program for referrals.

19. Client Questionnaire. This email shares a sample questionnaire to send to clients to get to know them and their needs before the session begins.

20.  Client Reshoot Request. This email shows what to say when a client requests a reshoot for reasons that are not due to studio negligence (clothing choice, hair not brushed, child not cooperating, etc.).

Click here to check it out in the shop!

Now there’s less reason than ever for an image to ‘act its age.’ Tantalizing effects in the form of an easy and versatile action set add an unlimited number of looks to color and black and white images: Bella Vintage lends a very aged, textured antique look; whole Golden Vintage is a beautiful, golden-hued feel with the faintest touch of faded color; and Bella Vintage Soft is a versatile action that allows adjustment for just the perfect amount of “vintage.” This luscious set comes with three vintage actions and two different vignettes for 12 distinctive effects.

PERFECT FOR:
• Weddings
• Portraits
• Landscaping work

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 12 beautiful effects
• Compatible with Photoshop 7 or newer, MAC and Windows

Click here to see all 12 effects in the shop!

Too often the legalese of owning a business draws artists from the muse, so Design Aglow is pleased to present our Photography Print Release. This must-have for selling digital files to clients will protect your rights AND beautifully coordinate with our Wedding Client Welcome Packet, Portrait Studio Welcome Packet and Client Care Cards, for a seamless addition to your studio. Order yours today and release the stress of copyright wording as you release your prints to clients.

Beautifully coordinates with our Wedding Client Welcome Packet, Portrait Studio Welcome Packet and Client Care Cards.

INCLUDES:
• client personalization
• number of files included
• your studio information
• print license specifics
• allowable/not allowable uses
• legal terms and conditions
• studio rights, including copyright
• US Copyright Act verbiage
• consumer lab recommendation
• liability clause
• backup reminder
• cost of additional copies (in case of loss)

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• Two-sided, designed 5×5 card template
• Fully layered Photoshop .psd files for unlimited customizations
• Designed using WHCC’s flat 5×5 card template but can be printed at any lab
• Can be customized to be flat or folded
• Vector designs may be printed as large as you like

*Special thanks to JG Photography for the lovely sample image.

Click here to check it out in the shop!

Time for another inspiring do-it-yourself project from the lovely Ashley Campbell. Enjoy!

Ashley writes:

I’ve constantly got a project going on in my house. One of the things I appreciate most about Design Aglow products is their versatility. Recently I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for a friend. I wanted to create something to display the baby’s birth information that would look great at the shower, but also in the baby’s room. I used the Delightful Text Accessories to create a little display, which also coordinated with other elements of the baby shower.

Supplies:
Canvas printer paper – can be found at most office supply stores
Small dowel rods
Paint
Fine Grit sand paper or sanding block
Wood piece – mine is 1″x1″ and a foot long
Thin wire – I used the kind that comes with picture hanging kits

Step 1:
Mark spots on your wood, 1 inch apart each.

Step 2:
Using a drill bit that is the same diameter as your dowel rods, drill 5 holes where you marked on the previous step. After drilling the holes, sand down all the edges of the wood. I consider a hand drill a key crafting tool. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend purchasing one. They come in handy for all kinds of small projects, not just big ones!

Step 3: Paint a couple of coats of white paint on the wood. Once the first coat dries, lightly sand the entire surface. This will smooth out the wood fibers the paint raised. You can add another coat. Once the second coat was dry, I sanded down the corners to give it a more distressed look.

Step 4:Using Photoshop, create the information for your flags on an 8.5×11 document. I used Helvetica Neue as my main font & Arenski as a secondary font. I created flags for the following information: Baby’s Name, Birthdate, Birth Length, Birth Weight, Birth Time. To keep the look consistent I used coordinating Text Accessories. Once you create your document, print it on the canvas paper. (Did you know you can buy canvas printer paper? So many possibilities!)

Step 5: Cut your flags out to your desired length and width. Mine were about 4 inches long and 1.5 inch wide. I also cut a small triangle out of the end to create a flag look.

Step 6: Decide the layout of your display. I opted for different heights. Once you know the look you want, trim your dowel rods to that height.

Step 7:
Cut a piece of wire just a bit shorter than the flag. On the back of the flag, hot glue the wire down the middle. You can cover the wire with scraps from the canvas paper you printed the designs on. Hot glue the scrap on top of the wire.

Step 8:
Using your hot glue gun, glue the top of the dowel rod to the edge of the flag. I chose to paint my dowel rods black.

Step 9: Once the flag is secure on the dowel rod, you can create waves with the wire. I added a bit of baker’s twine for a touch of color.

To create a coordinating look with the Baby’s Information display, I made small tags with the same Text Accessories to label the food items also on the table.

Supplies:
White cardstock paper
Small dowel rods
Wood disks

When we got our Christmas tree from the local tree farm last year I asked the guys working if I could have a bag to fill with all the scrap wood from the trees they cut down. They thought I was crazy, but I left with a great tree and a bunch of disks for future projects. You could create similar ones from branches around your place.

To make these holders, I simply drilled a small hold in the wood (same diameter as my dowel rods), punched two holes in the cardstock labels and slid it together. I added more baker’s twine to help coordinate with the other display.

The Delightful Text Accessories made for such an easy addition to a basic idea. They helped create fun, classy & coordinated look without being matchy matchy.

Have fun creating!

Today’s share comes from Trudy of Trudy Holtz Photography. She says, “I used the adorable Deliciously Fresh album templates and customized the colors, backgrounds and design elements to fit my Summer Fun Activity Calendar. For the magnets I used a variety of the different backgrounds and different design elements from the pages, customized the colors and printed them as 3×3 squares. For the summer banner I used two different page backgrounds along with two different design elements and the Traveling Typewriter font.

I love Design Aglow products for their versatility. Not only can I create amazing products for my clients but I can also make projects for myself and my kids with fun designs and cute graphic elements. With summer upon us I wanted something visual as a reminder of all the fun stuff we would like to do this summer- and to help keep me focused on making their summer full of wonderful memories. My girls and I came up with a “bucket list” of activities like “go to the beach and build sandcastles”, “play twister outside”, “make milk carton boats”, etc. I then I went to work making a magnetic chalkboard calendar and custom magnets using the Delicious album template. We even have a fun Summer banner also created with Delicious album templates. My kiddos helped me put up all the Delicious magnets and my littlest declared “I wuv it”. Thanks again Design Aglow for adorable, versatile products.”

What a fun way to plan out your summer! Thanks for the great share, Trudy, and enjoy your $75 shopping spree on us~