We recently ran a contest on our MpixPro Facebook page asking for the coolest and most unique ideas on how professional photographers are using MpixPro Accordion Minis in their business. Here are some of the great ideas we found!

“I use the accordion minis as my wedding services guide. It has a little about me, pricing and a small sampling of my portfolio. These are given out to vendors and venues that I shoot at frequently. I also do the same with boudoir at salons and newborns/maternity at doctor’s offices.”
- Jamie Koppi

“We use the accordion mini as a portable portfolio. I have one for each category (weddings, boudoir, seniors, etc).”
- Claudine Jackson

“We use ours as mini-photographer portfolios, as gifts for senior clients with each order and have even used one for our family!”
- Erica McKimmey

“We order a set of 3 and surprise the client with two free accordion minis when they make a large purchase”
- Jenn Lewis

“We use them as ‘thank you’ gifts for clients who spend a certain amount on their session”
- Jamie Smith

As you can see, there is no limit to how creative you can get when featuring the Accordion Mini.

NEW: Download our newest sizing guides for the Accordion Mini today!

Hey everybody!

I received a reader’s email last week asking about engagement guestbooks and any other fun idea to offer with engagement photos. Let me just say that I sell a TON of engagement guestbooks!  If you don’t already offer these, I’m sure you will after you read how easy it is to implement this into your packages right away.  By the way, I have used both MpixPro layflat albums (LOVE THE MATTE finish) and the custom hardcover press book as guestbooks, and both work great.  I typically choose the stock paper because it is the easiest on which to write.

First, let me explain what they are.
After the engagement session I’ll design a book that will be used as a couple’s actual guestbook for their wedding. Their guests will sign (or write a little message) on their way into the ceremony. When designing the layouts of the book, I’ll leave lots of white space or fade out pictures so guests will have room to write. It’s a GREAT way to show off engagement pictures as well as make more money from your current clients.

(here are a couple of shots from one of my guestbooks – as seen on the MpixPro catalog page)

Next, let me explain how I sell them to clients.

Since I started showing these to couples in 2007, over 70 percent of couples who get an engagement session get an engagement guestbook. The keyword here is “SHOW.” It’s almost cliche: you sell what you show. However, that’s because it’s true. At every client meeting I have, I show this. Here are a few things we say when we’re showing this book:
—”It’s a great way to show off your engagement photos – nobody really ever sees them except for the image in the newspaper.”
—”This book, unlike the old book with lines, you’ll continue to get out for years and years. You can show it to your children and to your grandchildren one day.”
—”You should have your parents write you a message in it, as well as your wedding party. Their words to you will be great to read over and over again throughout your marriage.”
And so on. You see, we’re appealing to emotions, and when you pair that with a killer sample that’s filled with great images, who is going to say no?

Stay tuned next week for another fun idea to help you make more money using engagement images!

Here’s to great guestbooks!
Dale

I think I’ll take a reader question today.

From Eric, a North Carolina photographer:
“I own a photography studio in NC, I have only been doing it for a couple of years now. I admire your work and found you guys through MPIX Pro, I also use   them for my prints. On the paper samples book I noticed that Benfield Photography are the ones that shot for the Metallic samples. I tried it once but it did not   look right. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on the matter. Do you have to post process differently than you normally would for regular E-Surface or True B&W. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I really love the look of Metallic.”

Let me start by saying that not every image is going to work well when printed on metal. Some images don’t lend themselves well for the medium. However, there are some images that definitely deserve a metal treatment to do them justice.

In my studio, I love metal for seniors, some family shots, and our special maternity line, urban bellies. Urban and grunge images lend themselves perfectly for this medium. You’ll notice, however, that the few images MpixPro shows of ours printed on metal are from an engagement shoots and a bridal shoot, which are not common for the metal medium, I would suspect.

That’s where we enter the second part of your question, and to me, the more relevant part: processing. For our style, we have some great processes, whether it be presets or actions, etc., that complete our look. Don’t misunderstand me, we have plenty of shots SOOC (straight out of the camera) that we deliver to our clients, but when we look to have a metal print or metal mural made, we take extra care of the image and run it through our specialty processes.

This week, I’m going to help you out by listing a couple sites where you can grab some actions and textures.
www.gettotallyrad.com – these cost money, but are definitely worth it. I have them; I use them; I love them. I have purchased everything Doug has to offer.
www.thepioneerwoman.com – these are free, and probably shouldn’t be. They’re really good. I don’t use them as much as TRA but there are a few that I just can’t live without.
www.urbandirty.com – yummy free textures if you don’t want to shoot them yourself.

You have a week to get these and play around with them. Then, coming soon, I will show you a great tip on how to make these look super fabulous!  I know, teasers stink. Â

Here are a few examples from an Urban Belly session (Benfield Photography’s special take on maternity):

Here’s to making metal masterpieces,

Dale Benfield
website: www.benfieldphotography.net
follow me: www.twitter.com/dalebenfield

With the release of the first version of iPad, it really got my wheels turning about how I could use this in my photography business – mostly because I want to buy one and be able to write it off.  Ha ha!

For the sake of this post, we’re not debating on whether to buy one or not.  There are lots of existing blog posts about that.  Instead, this post is for those who are planning on getting one and incorporating it into their business duties.

If you haven’t already seen the iPad video, which discusses many of its capabilities, click this link (opens in a pop-up).  I’ve also checked out some of the apps for the iPad and have been pretty impressed.  In particular, the calendar app looks great!

Here are my top five hopeful uses for the iPad:

1) Slideshows for clients.  Duh! This one doesn’t take much creativity to dream up, but I do love the options to customize the slide shows.

2) Album proofing for clients, or album examples for prospective clients.  Because you can drop jpegs on the iPad, you can essentially show off current album designs for approval (from existing clients) or ooohs and ahhhhhs from prospective clients.  Instead of having your big ol’ MacBook Pro at dinner with your client, just pull out the iPad and give that WOW factor as you show off your sick design skills.

3) Give it as a gift! It’s no new idea to give an i{product} as a gift.  We used to do iPods until everybody already had one. Now, the iPad gives us something we can give to high-end clients either in a top package or as a jaw-dropping surprise (loaded with their images, of course). Additionally, they can use it as an expensive photo frame or take it with them to show ALLLLLLLLL their co-workers, family, and friends. Jackpot!

If you do this, don’t forget to load the iPad with your contact info, links to your blog and website and twitter, and throw on a best of the best images folder so they can show you off to the best of their ability!

4) Because it shows video, you can also show off your fusion pieces, assuming you’re in to that sort of thing.  Again, it can be a gift of a way to show off your awesomeness.  Bring this thing to bridal fairs, too, but keep your eyes on it!

5) Use it as your super-planner.  One thing I hate about my iPhone is that when I check an open date while I’ve met somebody out and about, it is SOOOO small!  Having my handy-dandy super-planner with me in the iPad will help me keep track of appointments and open dates so I’m ready to book on the spot.

~~~And now for a bonus~~~ This is something I HOPE to incorporate, but I’m not quite sure how to just yet: sign contracts right there on the iPad.  Wouldn’t it be great to have your contract stored on the iPad so when a client is ready and willing to give you the job you can have them sign the contract right then and there, and then you can immediately email them a copy (assuming you’re connected to the internet through the Wi-Fi or 3G).  Oh, and if you take credit cards online, just pull up your shopping cart page and hand over the iPad and get PAID!

Do YOU have any thoughts about how we as photographers can use the iPad?  I would LOOOOOOVE to hear them, so leave a comment!

Talk to you soon,

Dale

With Carey’s tools you can take this image:

And make it look like this:

Special thanks to Carey for providing these AMAZING tools for free!

With WPPI just a few days away, I thought I’d share my super seven tips for making it a success.

First, use hashtags on twitter to find out what’s going on.  Just by searching #WPPI you can find out a lot of great info about get togethers, impromptu shoots, classes, etc.  Oh, and if you don’t have a twitter account, get one.  It’s free and easy.

Second, download the WPPI 2010 iPhone app.  It’s free and very informative.  You don’t have to tote your schedule along with you (what room was that class in again?) because it is in the news features of the app.  Get the app here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wppi-2010/id355642796?mt=8

Third, plan ahead.  There is a LOT you can do ahead of time to save yourself sanity, and a massive footache (there is a LOT of walking).  If you head to the wppionline.com website, you can view the entire tradeshow maps.  Yes, maps, as in two.  For those of you who are lazy, here is the direct link. http://tradeshowfloorplan.com/wppi/2010/ But just know, laziness will get you nowhere at WPPI.  FYI, the MpixPro booth is #611 and is right by the BIG OL’ Canon booth.  Come see some great speakers throughout the week (schedule to be announced soon!), and get your fingers on some great products.

Fourth, bank sleep.  My dad is a sleep technician, so I should ask him if this is even possible.  Nevertheless, Vegas is not for sleeping.  You will be tired by the end of it, without a doubt, if you do it right.  Balancing between the humongous tradeshow, platform classes, and parties is tough, but is essential to the full WPPI experience. You can sleep on the plane home.

Fifth, don’t be shy.  My very favorite part of WPPI, or any tradeshow for that matter, is the networking.  I love meeting up with old friends, and meeting my cyber-photog friends for the first time.  There is no shortage of parties, so there is no excuse not to bond with some buds in the biz.  Also, if you see a photog you know from the interwebs, go up and introduce yourself.  Vegas is not for the silent types. Every big name photographer I know loves talking with people, so muster up courage and go have a handshake. Or a high-five.

Sixth, stay clear of the slots.  I know the Las Vegas mayor would ask me to apologize and retract this statement, but don’t come to Sin City to gamble.  Besides there not being any time, I’d rather spend 100 dollars on a delicious meal and dessert than losing it to bad luck.

Seventh, set up a WPPI email address.  I took this tip from a [b]school friend, Jason Aten.  You can read his WPPI tips here: http://www.startworkshop.com/blog/2010/2/23/some-thoughts-on-wppi.html Setting up a WPPI email is something I didn’t do before my first WPPI trip and I’m still regretting it.  I love getting emails from companies I love, but I dread clearing out my inbox from companies I don’t care about trying.  If you don’t want to set up a whole new email address, just create a filter that sends “WPPI” emails into a certain folder.

Here’s to a productive and enjoyable time in Vegas,
Dale

http://www.benfieldphotography.net
http://www.twitter.com/dalebenfield

P.S. Have a good tip?  Leave it below!!!

Much has changed in a decade.  Digital cameras changed everything.  Then, blogs changed everything.  Then, Facebook changed everything.  Change is so continuous, it’s sometimes a full-time job just to keep up with changes in technology, and that’s on top of actually taking photographs, fulfilling print orders, and all the day-to-day tasks a studio owner endures.

In order to launch our new brand, it makes total sense to examine what went right and what went awry the first time around.  So, here is my top five homeruns over the past 10 years.

5. Put money back into my business – When I made money for my business, I never paid myself with cash. Instead, I’d buy something the business needed, normally equipment. It was a great (and fun) way to build my business without going into debt.  I’m happy to say that I have never been in debt in my business.  Like in my life, my business doesn’t own a credit card.  I know, I know, there are lots of great reward programs that credit cards offer.  However, there is also the temptation to use them.  Coming from humble beginnings, I adapted a rule that if I couldn’t save enough money for something, I didn’t really want it.  It should be said that I’m not a financial expert, and there are many great businesses that use debt to create a lot of money, but I am not one of them.

4. Creating a huge online presence –  I started my website (www.benfieldphotography.net) eight years ago.  In 2002, there weren’t a ton of photographers who had good websites.  As a somewhat geeky twenty-something, I loved learning html, and then flash, and then css.  My website has been through a wild ride this past decade, and I learned a lot in the process.  However, my baby has been my blog.  In its relative infancy (started in 2006) I have devoted countless hours into growing this into the site it is now.  We now receive about 1100 hits per day, and half of those are email/RSS subscribers.  It helps motivate me to send out regular, relevant content when I know that over a thousand current clients and photographers will be reading it.  I’ve updated it every single day since 2008, and have no plans of stopping anytime soon.

3. Make a commitment to social media/marketing – As a business owner, I’m constantly paranoid and therefore strive to keep my name out there.  Yes, even though we booked up all of 2010 way back in October, I still freak out.  Now, I’m freaking out about 2011 because I only have 5 weddings booked.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s how I motivate myself.  It also might be why I’m bald.  Ha ha.  The main way we combat this and to get our name out there is through social media.  We’re big on twitter (www.twitter.com/dalebenfield) and on facebook (www.facebook.com/fayettevilleweddingphotography) and now get most of our business through the two sites.  We tag brides weekly, but we also tag vendors (one of Meredith’s brilliant ideas).  Our fan page has more than 2000 members, so every time we send out a post it reaches a fairly large audience.  I love keeping my name on the forefront of my clients’ minds!

2. Give back to my community – My community has been really, really good to me.  It has allowed me to leave my “real job” of teaching, though I loved it, and support my family.  From humble beginnings, I realize the value of charitable organizations.  For that reason, among others, it has always been supremely important to give back to the community that has given so much to me.  We’ve made a commitment to give every single month, whether it be monetary donations or through shooting, for the past 25 months, and plan on giving even more in 2010.

1. Form relationships with my clients and vendors – this was probably the hardest for me to wrap my brain around.  Luckily I wised up about three years ago.  By taking my clients out to dinner and by meeting our vendor friends regularly, I’m now high on the referral circuit and get most of my business this way.  With my clients, I make sure to give them an unforgettable experience, not just great images.  Vendors want to work with photographers they enjoy, so getting to know them on a personal level is a way to ensure our longevity.  Plus, it’s great having friends with similar interests, right?!

So, there you have it.  I believe if we use these same principles to our new branch of services we will succeed.

Here’s to you hitting some homeruns yourself,

Dale Benfield
website: www.benfieldphotography.net
follow me: www.twitter.com/dalebenfield

It seems like a decade ago… because it was.  College was a fun time for me; I chewed up photo classes like daily vitamins, growing stronger with each one. My favorite college photography professor, Mike Gullett, told me something during one of our independent class sessions that I’ve never forgotten:

“Every single session you do, I want you to do something completely different that you’ve never done before.”

That was easy at first.  And then it got really, REALLY hard.  Since then I’ve photographed 300 weddings and more than a thousand portrait sessions.  For that reason alone it’s easy to see how difficult it would be to do something new and that I’ve “never done before” for every single session.  Let me just say this, though: it is possible!  I know because I’ve done it.

The second reason this is hard is because you’re clients usually see images on your blog or website and, to a degree, choose you based on those images.  You might be afraid that you’re not meeting client expectations if you don’t give them the shots they’ve seen, want, and love.  However, you have to take care of YOU.  I believe my professor instilled his meesage in me to keep me fresh or, more importantly, prevent burnout.  I believe that if you keep the creativity part of you burning white hot, you’re not going to experience burnout.

Here’s a shot from a recent session that is, for me, completely outside the box.  It’s like nothing else you’ll see on my website, but I L-O-V-E it!  It’s probably my favorite from the session.

Here’s to keeping your creativity burning white hot,

Dale

website: www.benfieldphotography.net

follow me: www.twitter.com/dalebenfield

Have a last minute order after the 20th? Don’t count us out! With our awesome 1-2 business day turnaround time you have a great chance of receiving the order before Christmas.

Here are a few tips to help ensure you receive your last-minute orders when you expect them.

• Place your order as soon as possible. Most orders uploaded on the 20th will be delivered by the 22nd when choosing our overnight option.
• Please note that overnight shipping does not guarantee your order will ship the same day. It only expedites the shipping method once the order is complete.
• Please keep in mind our estimated processing times.
• FedEx will not be honoring its money-back guarantee between now and Christmas. Most packages will be delivered in 1-2 days.

One of the most popular MpixPro products has been our Custom Image Boxes. The demand for this product has been outstanding, but we needed to make ordering even easier. To do that, we have added the Custom Image Boxes in to the Proofing catalog in MpixPro ROES.

You can forget the hassle of multiple orders, and save $4 on multiple shipping charges, because the Custom Image Boxes are available in the Prints, Specialty and now the Proofing catalog. This allows you to order this awesome product no matter if you are ordering large prints to be mounted, $.29 proofs or specialty products. Our goal was to make ordering Image Boxes as easy as possible, and we think we have.

Downloads:
Custom Image Boxes Product Guide

4×6″ Box (50 count) Sizing Guide
4×6″ Box (200 count) Sizing Guide
4×6″ Box (400 count) Sizing Guide
4×6″ Box (800 count) Sizing Guide

5×7″ Box (50 count) Sizing Guide
5×7″ Box (200 count) Sizing Guide
5×7″ Box (400 count) Sizing Guide
5×7″ Box (800 count) Sizing Guide