Hey everybody!

We have a 7 day turnaround on all our weddings. For that, you might think we’re crazy (well, maybe we are). Our 7 day turnaround has helped us rise up to the top of the wedding photography pool in Northwest Arkansas. In the land and time of instant gratification, our speed is highly valued by our clients.

It takes a lot of effort on our part, as well as diligence, to deliver digital proofs the weekend after a couple’s wedding. First, I want to explain WHY we go through this trouble. There are two main reasons: 1) to generate buzz as close to the wedding day as possible. Bridesmaids and wedding guests tag the bride on facebook the week following the wedding while the iron is still hot. Every day I wait we lose excitement and relevance (which is why we normally tag a bride the Wednesday or Thursday after the wedding with their wedding portraits); 2) to be as prepared as possible for the upcoming wedding, with nothing hanging over our shoulders. So, not only is it our gift to the clients to be finished with one week’s wedding before we get to the next week’s wedding, it is also a gift to ourselves. We don’t want the pile of work to continue growing. It’s extremely important to me to be caught up so I can focus on the task at hand, not to fret about a growing stack of work on my desktop.

Okay, now that I’ve discussed why, let me explain HOW we do this so efficiently:
1) The first step is to get correct exposures in camera. This saves so much computer time.
2) Download the cards the night of the wedding (even if it’s super late, my adrenaline keeps me up).
3) Backup the images on an external hard drive and head to bed.
4) The following day I go through all 3000-4000 images using Photo Mechanic and mark my “selects” – typically around 700. This is the longest part of the entire process and takes about four hours.
5) Back up the “selects” to the external hard drive.
6) On Monday, I take the day off. Meredith goes through the selects and chooses her favorite 20-50 to “special tone” – This is the longest part for Meredith. It usually takes her around four or five hours.
*Optional step after 6: tweet and/or facebook tag a teaser image to create some buzz (do this on Monday or Tuesday for the best effect)
7) Sort (we put our “special tones” first, then chronological), batch rename, and burn discs.
8 ) Create final backup on external hard drive.
9) Upload to our online backup (we use Zenfolio for all our online backups).
10) Finally, we can reformat our CF cards for the next weekend’s wedding.

Like I said before, we blog the images on Wednesday and/or Thursday following a wedding. Then, we tag them on facebook on Thursday and/or Friday. Lastly, we release the images to our client through our online shopping cart on Friday/Saturday.

Feel free to ask me any follow-up questions in the comments and I’ll get in and answer them!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

www.benfieldphotography.com
www.twitter.com/dalebenfield

Senior photography season is officially here! Set your studio apart from other senior photographers with a unique Rep Card! Customize each card to represent your studio!

• Available at 1.375×3.5″
• Cover Stock, Pearl and Linen paper
• Sets of 25
• Printing available on both front and back
• UV Coating available on Cover Stock and Pearl paper
• Upload one image for the back side of the card and up to 15 images for the front side
• A free silver tin is sent with the first set of 25. Additional tins available for purchase.

Sizing Guides

We know that you love Gallery Wraps; and we do too, but we wanted to offer an exciting spin on an already great product! And what better way to show off the quality of a Gallery Wrap than in a stylish collection?

Gallery Wrap Collections offer you five different collections, all featuring different sizes and combinations of Gallery Wraps. We think you will love the simplicity of selecting and ordering a perfect grouping to compliment your customer’s home.

Learn More!

One of your favorite MpixPro products has been re-launched with all new improvements! The Custom Image Box has been a hit, but we wanted to make it that much better. How can we improve an already great product?

- Hidden magnets to ensure a closed cover
- An improved hinge for easy opening and closing
- A new creased print for a finished look
- An optional image can be added on the inside flap!

Download our sizing guides for the Custom Image Box!

When we first unveiled the new Custom Wallet Boxes at WPPI this February, the number one question was “When can I order one!?”. The answer is now!

• Available in 3.25×4″ and 5.57×4″
• Holds 2.5×3.5″ wallet sized prints
• Handmade and wrapped in textured satin
• Horizontal orientation
• Single holds 50 wallets; double holds 100 wallets

Learn More!

Check out the Dual Wallet Boxes (shown above)  too!

The product sure to create a buzz at WPPI- MpixPro Custom Wallet Boxes! Stop by booth #611 to touch, feel and fall in love with our new Custom Wallet Boxes!

• Available in 3.25×4″ and 5.57×4″
• Handmade and wrapped in textured satin
• Horizontal orientation
• Single holds 50 wallets; double holds 100 wallets

Looking for a simple, efficient way to make a beautiful presentation? Coming in late November try our new Boutique Packaging service! Your prints will be wrapped in French Vanilla tissue paper, and dropped in a luxurious cream box. A rich chocolate brown grosgrain bow completes the presentation.

Details:
- Available on all prints 11×14″ and below

- Not available if an order contains prints over 11×14″, Assembled Albums, Framed Prints, Wall Clings, Puzzles, Standouts, Frame Sample Kits, Gallery Wraps or Press Calendars

- Press Books are eligible for Boutique Packaging

- All orders are shipped in a cream box containing a rich chocolate brown grosgrain bow

- Your prints come wrapped in french vanilla tissue paper that adds another layer of protection

- The entire order will be shipped in the same package. It is not possible to separate the order into separate packages.

- The interior of the box has a reinforced white finish

- Your prints will be shipped in a box sized to best protect your prints.

- Wallet boxes are included at no extra cost! For every 60 wallets you receive one box.

Pricing: Boutique Packaging $7.00

To keep up with all of the great new products from MpixPro, check out our What’s New page.

(Having trouble viewing? Watch it here. The above video may be slow to load on some Internet connections. Do not be alarmed if you see a black screen, this means the video is buffering.)

Also, here’s a look at the MpixPro Booth: