• Vision Art Corner RSS Feed

    Guest Signing Books – a win-win product to offer! 

    by
    happyfish
    Published on 08-09-2012 03:17 PM


    I love using Vision Art Books for guest signing books and have been recommending them to my photographer clients for many years because of their high end feel, beautiful matte paper, lay flat invisible crease, great photo cover and sturdy construction. These books are more luxurious than a simple press printed book with thin pages. After helping photographers get into selling guest books for the first time with great success here are some tips I've gathered throughout the years:

    SELLING


    "How do you sell Guest Books, we would love to hear your comments below"
    Image Courtesy of: CHRIS+LYNN PHOTOGRAPHERS http://www.chrispluslynn.com


    • to sell guest signing books the price point will need to be lower than what the client is expecting to pay for their main wedding album. Usually this means a change in product style, thickness, type, size etc. to keep the difference relational. Perhaps this means using a VA Photo Art Book in leather for the main album with a VA Original for signing ... or using a VA Original for the main with a VA Dulce with fabric for signing etc.
    • to help with the overall price, I offer a discounted ‘per image’ price when I design guest books specifically rather than my regular ‘per page side’ price in order to help keep the price point down for my clients.
    • is usually a last minute up-sell once your clients fall in love with their e-session shoot - they have a lot of expenses at this time with preparing that the guest signing book needs to be attainable and irresistible
    • the size of the guest signing book should be smaller than their main wedding album that they’re buying and perceived value should be proportionate
    • have a guest book sample on hand for client meetings and bridal fairs – I have heard that when showing the guest books that they have actually booked new clients on the guest book alone!! I love to hear that…… if they don’t see it – they won’t know that they want one!
    • depending on the market of your business I have designed guest signing books in both Dulce and Original lines - since the pages are the same inside, the price boils down to cover style and quantity of page spreads
    • typically from what I’ve seen a horizontal format is nice, square would be nice too – vertical not as easy for writing on (but still works though)
    • popular sizes seem to be in the 10×8 or 8×6 range (pages added for size of guest list if very grand) Check out our Dulce line for an economical guest books with the same quality as our other books. - VA
    • since the guest books are typically a quick turnaround situation for the couple to receive them in time for the wedding - this is where VA shines. Most companies take weeks longer.
    • be careful on recommending what ‘kind’ of pen your clients should use – depends on the type of paper. Inkjet vs laminated etc…. would behave differently.
    • Guest books are perfect not only for engagement sessions – but also for destination wedding ‘before or after’ shoots for bringing back to their hometown for the big local reception party
    • Money aside, these are an easy sell – your couples have a fantastic way to share their great engagement session with their friends & family besides just having a couple great shots framed on their shelf. The comments are fun to read too years later and a great record of who was there to share the special day with them. I sure wish I had one when I got married in 1999!
    • the reason why I say ‘win-win’ … is because not only does the couple have an incredible way to enjoy and share their engagement or destination wedding, but also possibly hundreds of guests will be seeing the album at the venue and many will indeed be curious how and where they got the great photos and book – and will result in potential new referrals for the photographer. I have heard stories of this happening already. (Make sure your logo and/or website is on the back of the cover in case they don’t get a chance to ask the bride & groom but don’t get too pushy and put your phone number on their too as that can look desperate
    • make sure you have a sample or samples to show at your bridal shows and for coordinator/venue meetings.



    DESIGN



    • I like to use lots of negative space to give ample room for writing – guest signing books like these allow for guests to express themselves more freely and tend to write longer notes … than the old fashioned ‘who they are, where they live, congrats!’
    • I like to keep the negative space and photo placement changing from spread to spread – keep the eye moving and keep the interest up from beginning to end of the book.
    • Some spreads really big and open vs. a fuller larger panoramic can been dramatic
    • Is helpful to know how many guests the couple is having …. more more guests, the more writing room they’ll need and possibly more pages….
    • I design each spread so that it looks fantastic whether there ends up being comments from guests on the page … or not ! This is important – because sometimes people are like lemmings – and like to glom onto the same pages that other people have written on. (Just like how you can park at one end of a practically empty parking lot – and come out of the store and people have parked right next to you anyway !! hehehehe) Point being, IF there are ‘empty’ pages near the end of the book – those pages should STILL be beautifully balanced in design and not be boring.
    • I don’t like to add a lot of design elements if it distracts from the photography – a bit here and there can add spice, but not too much – additionally, too many color blocks etc. ‘might’ impede someone from writing on it if too dark etc…..
    • Some people like to add ‘prompting’ text …. like ‘funny story about the bride or groom’ …. while this can be ‘fun’ and create some interesting reading for later – be careful what you say in case there is a chance that nobody will really want to put their answer etc. and leave you with a page with no commentary.


    SHOOTING FOR GUEST BOOKS


    "Shoot for the Guest Book"
    Image Courtesy of: CHRIS+LYNN PHOTOGRAPHERS http://www.chrispluslynn.com


    • It’s fun to have ‘atmospheric’ or ‘scene setter’ or ‘detail’ shots as well in the layout … not just all ‘people pictures.’ This can add different points of view, add interest to the pages and provide the potential for different layout options or semi-translucent backgrounds that if done careful can add depth or new places for comments to be written on top of as well.
    • Keep the locations VARIED …. nothing is more boring to a guest book than spread after spread of the same beach rocks, or bench or path etc…. go to as many different backdrops as you possibly can!! ie. street scape to park to alleyway etc…. all create a totally different environment. If you can’t go to more than one location — vary up the background scene, don’t stick to the same light post or pier or whatever….
    • If you can … have them change their clothes – this can create more visual interest as well. Not critical… but many of the books I’ve done do feature the couple looking ‘different’ within one book. But have the ‘setting’ change with their clothes … otherwise that would look odd.
    • for a guest book – typically I receive about 28-38 images roughly for a 30 page side/15 spread book
    • shooting action sequences is also fantastic for guest books
    • don’t always just shoot ‘faces’ … vary it up, go for different points of view …


    If you have any questions or need any help feel free to contact me.


    Karen Dahlquist
    Designing Vision Art books since 2006

    HAPPYFISH DESIGN


    For more information and inspiration, check out some of these posts on our Forum:

    Vision Art books as Guest Books
    Why I LOVE VA originals for GuestBooks!
    Vision art guest books simply the best!
    Wedding Season=Guest Book Season!
    VIDEO: Bryan Caporicci talks "The Engagement Book" - Guest Sign In Book
    Guest Signing Book 10x10
    3 Comments

    Understanding Bleed Lines Can Save You $100s 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 12-20-2011 08:31 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. General Photography
    Article Preview



    Bleed lines are often misunderstood. Fundy contributed this helpful guide to better understand them when designing your book. Feel free to ask any questions or leave your comments at the end of this article.

    An album reprint can be a costly mistake, going well into the hundreds of dollars. Know what bleed lines and cut lines are, can keep you from making this costly mistake. Album companies have a few different names for them, but ...
    Read More Read More 1 Comment

    How To Create A Simple Photo Booth - PhotographyConcentrate.com 

    by
    robnlauren
    Published on 10-17-2011 09:36 PM
    Article Preview


    At a recent wedding Lauren and I had the opportunity to set up a photo booth. Photo booths have become a popular addition to weddings and are a ton of fun for party goers. I suspect we’ll see quite a few of them for the holiday season, and even more during next year’s wedding season.

    First, a little disclaimer: there is likely no single right way to setup a photo booth. I’ve seen a variety of awesome setups all producing great shots, so feel free to adapt these instructions to your liking! Experiment! Have fun! ...
    Read More Read More

    How To Make Your Own Album Templates in 10 Seconds (Or Less) 

    by
    robnlauren
    Published on 09-20-2011 06:47 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Vision Art News
    Article Preview

    Yep. It’s seriously that easy to make your own album templates in InDesign. Just a few seconds, a couple clicks, and you’re laughing!

    You’ll save yourself hundreds of dollars (yikes!) over buying pre-made ones, and get to let your own creativity guide your designs. Plus, using templates speeds up your workflow like mad.

    So check out ...
    Read More Read More

    FREE Shipping for Everyone - EXTENDED! 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 08-11-2011 04:59 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Vision Art News
    Article Preview



    FREE SHIPPING
    on everything to everyone
    August 15 through September 19, 2011


    Take advantage of this great opportunity to save!

    ...
    Read More Read More 3 Comments

    An Awesome Album Workflow 

    by
    robnlauren
    Published on 05-31-2011 07:50 PM
    Article Preview

    Option #1: Albums can be super duper easy and profitable with an awesome workflow.

    Option #2: Albums can be insanely frustrating, take up a TON of time, and eat up your profits with an inefficient workflow.

    I don’t know about you, but the first option sounds a lot better to me. So let’s do that.

    You need to create an awesome album workflow for yourself. The is the step-by-step process that keeps your album creation fast and organized.

    There’s a catch. Like pretty much everything in photography, ...
    Read More Read More 1 Comment

    12 Reasons Why Albums Will Rock Your Business 

    by
    robnlauren
    Published on 05-24-2011 10:06 PM
    Article Preview

    Contributed by Rob + Lauren http://www.photographyconcentrate.com/ The first in a series about albums.


    Albums rock. That’s a fact. If you aren’t offering them to your clients, you are seriously missing out. Big time.

    We’re going to start chatting a LOT about albums, and how they can (and probably should!) become the cornerstone of your wedding/portrait photography business.

    Today let’s start off with 12 reasons why albums totally rock.


    1. They Tell A Story


    Cliche and cheesy, but completely 100% true.

    Modern photography is becoming increasingly about stories. In weddings it is the emphasis on photojournalism. And family photography is following suit.

    A single canvas above a fireplace tells you what a family looks like. But with an album you can show who is a family truly is. Page after page reveals more nuances. The story is in the details, and albums allow you to show them all.

    Perhaps it’s that portrait of the little boy hugging his sister. Or the bride’s ...
    Read More Read More 2 Comments

    New Release: The Vision Art Signature Clutch - Fashion Accessories for Your Fine Art Book 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 06-07-2011 11:27 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Vision Art News
    Article Preview


    Six modern designs

    Custom fit to Vision Art Book sizes

    A new stylish way to present your Fine Art book



    [/CENTER]

    New ...

    Read More Read More 5 Comments

    Album Proofer Review - Online Client Proofing 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 04-25-2011 11:35 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. General Photography
    Article Preview



    Album Proofer Review
    by Jason Groupp


    Those of you who know me know I've been at this awhile, and one of the biggest pains in my buttocks has been the album design process. I know I'm not alone, we all deal with this! That said, I am on a constant crusade to find easier ways to get through it.


    Let's face it, ...
    Read More Read More

    The Sales Process 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 04-11-2011 04:19 AM
    Article Preview






    Selling is one of the more difficult aspects of running a photography business. It helps if you know the sales cycle and the sales process. These tips are taken from
    ...
    Read More Read More

    NEW Biodegradable Packaging! 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 07-27-2010 02:04 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Vision Art News
    Article Preview




    NEW Vision Art Eco-Friendly Packaging

    Our NEW Biodegradable air cushions are the next-generation of sustainable packaging. The material is made from 100% recyclable material that will decompose completely ...
    Read More Read More

    Vision Art's Color/Saturation difference 

    by
    Joanie Thatcher
    Published on 08-11-2010 08:00 AM

    Some have noticed that their prints are a little more 'red' or 'glowing magenta' than their lab prints - let's talk about that.

    It really comes down to 2 things - 1) your monitor & 2) how the lab prints.

    So, your monitor: You most likely have adjusted and calibrated your monitors to match your lab settings. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. We would never ask you to tweak your monitor. Just know that you probably have up-ed the saturations to compensate
    ...
    Read More Read More

    New Release - The Exotic Line & 9 New Dulce Colors 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 10-24-2010 08:56 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Vision Art News
    Article Preview

    We are happy to introduce a new cover option and 9 New Dulce colors. They look amazing!



    ...
    Read More Read More

    The First Photo-less Generation? Yes, Really...... 

    by
    Trish Gumina
    Published on 08-16-2010 11:50 AM   
    1. Categories:
    2. General Photography
    Article Preview


    It seems as though the digital revolution has altered the world of photography forever....but are we now a culture
     ...
    Read More Read More

    Favorite PhotoShop tricks 

    by
    KyleKlingler
    Published on 08-04-2010 01:28 PM
    Article Preview

    Do you have a favorite PhotoShop trick? We would love to hear from you. Or maybe you could use a few shortcuts and tricks. Go to this thread to
    ...
    Read More Read More

  • No Split, Seamless, Lay-Flat