December 2010 :: A Giveaway to Make Your Day!
Dec 28, 2010*** The entries for this giveaway are now closed. ***
I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU! to all the vendors who so graciously made this giveaway possible and hopefully exciting and a lot of fun for you guys!
With a line up of lots of awesome prizes this giveaway will have 11 winners.
Well, a lot more than that, if you guys take advantage of some of the discount codes that part of the vendors made available for all those participating in the giveaway, and all EW Couture blog readers.
Have fun, spread the word and good luck!!
Jessica Drossin is a natural light photographer working in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. A self-described texture addict, she creates and uses textures in the vast majority of her photography work.
You can follow Jessica on Facebook through the FB Texture group, or browse more of her photography work at Jessica Drossin Photography.
Jessica is no stranger to EW Couture Collection. A few months ago she wrote an article for the blog and shared a few tips on integrating textures in photographs.
The winner of this prize can chose 2 sets ($50 value) of her very unique textures that she's been using in her own post processing.
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Miller's Professional Imaging is the largest professional lab organization in the United States. They provide professional prints and press products for professional photographers in all fifty states. Since the beginning, the lab developed a reputation for having the highest quality products, customer service, and technologies in the industry, which made them become a preferred lab of professional photographers nationwide.
Connect with Miller's Professional Imaging through their Facebook page and learn more about them and their products on Miller's website.
The winner of this prize will receive a free order of Accordion Minis and can also choose 1 of the Miller Lab's Exclusive EW Couture Accordion Mini with custom cover templates, available in Miller's Lab Design Market Store.
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" [...] You need to step back and put a price on your time. Start valuing yourself! Don’t wait for someone to tell you that you are worth $5K if you already feel like you should be! You determine your own worth- no one else can do that for you.
Think like a successful business thinks. Think like COACH handbags. You either pay my price or you don’t. Period. Bottom line. That’s how it is.
Do you see Coach, Louis Vuitton & Versace trying to figure out how to entice the Wal-Mart crowd to shop at their retail locations by offering an affordable product? Absolutely not! They know what they are worth and they set their prices based on worth. If they aren’t getting the sales they need- they evaluate their marketing efforts. How can we be more appealing? What is hip? What are our clients looking for? They do not base their prices on what they think will be enticing. They set their prices on what they know they are worth- and we pay them because we value them. If we don’t value $400 handbags- we don’t buy them, right?
It’s the same that goes for your clients. They may love your work- but if they don’t value your work, then they aren’t the clients for you. These types of clients will not give you the base that you need to have a longstanding, profitable, successful business. And isn’t that what we are all working towards.
So where DO you start when it comes to pricing? Easy As Pie gives the new business photographer the direction that they need through common sense thinking that will help them achieve a high sales/low volume business and the established photographer the ideas to maximize their sales and kick their business to the next level. From session fees to minimum order requirements, collections to baby plans- there is no need to pull your hair out trying to figure it all out. It’s now Easy as Pie ;-) " ~ excerpt from Alicia Caine's introduction to the guide for a giveaway several months back.
The winner of this prize will receive a copy of Easy as Pie pricing guide ($349).
Connect with Alicia through Easy as Pie Facebook page, and make sure to go and get a free chapter of EAP from her website!
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Michelle Kane is perhaps best known for her in-depth one-on-one editing mentoring where she teaches photographers how to truly understand and utilize the tools available in Lightroom and Photoshop to create stunning works of art. Now, she's taken her signature editing approach and translated it into a fantastically versatile and extensive set of Photoshop actions.
Michelle's actions were specifically designed to give you amazing control over color, tone and detail. By combining multiple actions, the creative possibilities for defining your look are endless. Best of all, the wide variety and ease of use will help to quickly and easily refine your editing, reducing valuable time spent behind the computer. From deep, rich and vibrant to light, airy and faded, Michelle's complete action sets work together to compliment any photo editing style to create an array of yummy customized results!
Two lucky winners (prizes 4&5) will each receive the pre-release of Michelle's 2 hearty action collections.
Look for the highly anticipated wide release of Michelle Kane's Signature Actions at the end of January. Be sure to visit her on her blog and Facebook page and subscribe to her newsletter, "In the Know," to receive valuable tips, tutorials and discounts.
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See the info on prize n˚4! ;)
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"Talent is absolutely necessary, but it can only take you so far. The Workshop Workbook will help you turn that talent into a sustainable and enjoyable career by arming you with the knowledge you need to become the amazing, successful photographer you know you can be.
The Workshop Workbook will help you turn that talent into a sustainable and enjoyable career by arming you with the knowledge you need to become an amazing, successful photographer. The Workbook shares my personal process and shows you how I have made a successful career as a child photographer. I share my secrets and strategies, in both business and creative inspiration, to help guide you. Everything that I taught in my Soulographer workshops is now right here at your fingertips, for you to work through at your own pace and always have at your disposal to refer back to."
~ Skye Hardwick Edmonds of Work of Art Photography
The winner of this prize will receive a copy of the Workshop Workbook ($399).
Connect with Skye through her Soulographer Blog - featuring giveaways, articles, interviews and more, or through her Facebook page.
Discount Code Offer - the first 15 people to use the discount code " ew " will get the Workshop Workbook for $199 (reg. $399) - this includes the free goodies such as the Posing Guide (reg. $125) for free. Offer ends 1/4/11
Find the Workshop Workbook here and the Posing Guide here.
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Ready to take your post processing to a whole new level? Andee of CRAVE PHOTOGRAPHY will be giving away a FREE mentoring session!
You will be able to view her computer screen and watch her go through her editing process live! Everything will be explained and demonstrated step by step! You will learn how to get creamy skin tones, razor sharp photos, beautiful eyes, deep rich shadows, juicy light, vivid colors, vintage looks, work with textures, etc..... The mentoring session will take place in January.
Connect with Andee through her Facebook page and learn more about her work on her blog.
Discount Code Offer - "I will be offering an exclusive discount to Crave Photography and EW Couture fans. Receive $50 dollars off when you book a group online or private one on one mentoring session. Offer expires February 1st 2011. Just make sure you mention EW Couture to receive the discount. You may contact me to learn more about the details at andeet8@gmail.com"
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Shaun Paul, is a well established cellist, performer, and composer of contemporary music and music for film. His compositions span a wide range of styles and emotions and are eclectic and powerfully visual and emotional. His imaginative, emotional, and thought provoking melodies feature the cello and are accompanied by a wide range of instrumentation, very often the entire symphony orchestra. Shaun's music has received numerous accolades from those attending his live performances and is turning heads of film producers and photographers worldwide.
His intent is not only to offer original music for license, but also to work with and support those businesses and organizations who's intention are to inspire, enrich and serve their surrounding communities through there visions, creative endeavors and services.
Connect with Shaun Paul and learn more about his work through his Facebook page.
Discount Offer -Shaun Paul is offering 20% off all music licenses purchased between now and the end of January, plus an additional 2 free compositions. That’s 6 beautiful, emotional, original, hand crafted compositions featuring solo cello written and composed by cellist Shaun Paul for $80 for the entire year! OFFER expires January 31st, 2011. Please contact Shaun Paul at info@shaunpaul.com to secure your license. Visit http://www.shaunpaul.com/licensing/licensing.htm to learn more about licensing, listen to clips and to sign up to receive a FREE full length demo album of his music!
Sound as good as you look with original award-winning compositions by Shaun Paul!
Where to purchase a license? (Be sure to contact Shaun Paul directly to secure your 20% off before the end of January before using the link.)
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photo credit - Brenda Horan Photography
The winner of this prize will receive a 16x20 frame - winner's choice of style and color.
The Organic Bloom - Spunky & Elegant Custom Framing available exclusively to Professional Photographers.
Make sure to check out Organic Bloom's Facebook Page to learn more about them and their fabulous products!
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Debi owns Life's Images Photography and has been photographing newborns for 9 years. After searching for unique props and marketing ideas for her own studio she decided to share these with other photographers. At Marketing and Props for Photographers you'll find marketing guides and newborn props like beautiful antique bowl replicas and one of a kind finds from the local auction house.
The winner of this prize will receive a $40 gift certificate toward a newborn bowl at Marketing and Props for Photographers.
Connect with Debi through her Facebook page.
Discount Code Offer - This link will take you to a secret sale page and give you 10% off your order. Offer expires January 6th 2011.
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The winner of this prize will receive a copy of the Posing Guide.
Connect with Skye through her Soulographer Blog - featuring giveaways, articles, interviews and more, or through her Facebook page.
Discount Code Offer - the first 15 people to use the discount code " ew " will get the Workshop Workbook for $199 (reg. $399) - this includes the free goodies such as the Posing Guide (reg. $125) for free. Offer ends 1/4/11
Find the Workshop Workbook here and the Posing Guide here.
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The winner of this prize will receive a free order of Rep Cards and can also choose 1 of the Miller Lab's Exclusive EW Couture Senior Rep Card templates, available in Miller's Lab Design Market Store.
Connect with Miller's Professional Imaging through their Facebook page and learn more about them and their products on Miller's website.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************** There are multiple chances to enter - you can pick and choose, or use them all :) Remember to make separate comments for each one of the entries, so each comment counts as a separate entry! First Entry: Leave a comment answering the question: "What are 1 or 2 of your main goals for your business in 2011 and what are you going to be doing to work towards achieving them?" Extra Entries: (want more chances? here is a SUPER easy way) Give a shout out! Facebook, tweet, blog, post to a favorite forum… spread the love about the giveaway :) Come back here and leave a link to your shout out in the comments for each posting - each counts as a separate entry. NOTE (edit 12.31.10 // 11:51 a.m.) - Since it could so easily get out of hand, please keep the entries in the comments at one per each "venue" - one for the business FB page, one for the personal FB page, one for twitter, and one for each of the any other forums you might be a part of (i.e. ILP, clicking moms, groups on flickr...). please do include the links to the posts you made, in the comments. Please read the details carefully before you enter, so you make sure your entries are qualified, if one of your comments is picked as a winning one. • To have your comments count as separate entries, please leave a separate comment for each one of the entries. Disclaimer: EW Couture Collection/Elena Wilken only recommends products that she believes are worthy of being recommended. (Elena Wilken does not receive compensation for recommending services or products and the opinions and views expressed on the blog are simply the blog owner's views and opinions.) However, any product claim, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or vendor. EW Couture Collection (Elena Wilken) can not be held responsible for products or services you are buying from other vendors. ***********
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How do you enter to win?
• If one of your entries is randomly picked as a winner, not having a name associated with the comment and/or a website address will cause you to loose the winning status. (if you choose to leave your e-mail address rest assured it is safe; I hate spam probably even more than you do. A name and website/blog address will suffice though.)
• The contest starts now and will close on Thursday, January 6th, at 10pm PST. The 11 winners will be announced on Friday, the 7th. Good luck everyone!
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Reader Comments (957)
I am trying to find more balance in 2011. So far I have created a schedule to my day to help make time for life and work. ALSO - would like to be more organized... so I put all the empty organizing things I have together so they can stare at me??? yeah, we'll see on that second one. ;)
Awesome giveaways!!! One of my main goals for 2011 is to learn how to say no. It's a word that I didn't often use in 2010 and that added to my stress levels!!
My goal for 2011 is to set GOALS! I really think this will help me a lot. My other goal is time management. This means I might have to hire someone to help me in photoshop (I hate that part) I just want to be behind the camera at all times :)
My number one goal is to get the business side of my photography biz organized... it's tough! I hate business stuff! Fortunately, I've got great resources through my fam and friends so I'll be tapping in to them as much as possible. 2nd? Learn, learn, learn! I've been scouring the internet for new classes and photo resources/services, can never get enough!
Happy New Year!
My goal for my business is to expand my family and senior in a new city. so I need to work on my marketing.
to get my newly established business off the ground. still working out those details on how i am going to do that! thanks for the amazing contest Elena! (:
My goal for 2011 is to increase the number of clients I have. I am working on some new marketing materials thanks to you awesome freebies already. Thank you!
i tweeted. http://twitter.com/#!/judeW535
In 2011 I plan on making more connections with local people involved in the wedding market.
My first goal is to get complete my new website/brand/everything by March 15th - I can do it!!! :)
Tweet! http://twitter.com/sweetcaptures
My goal for 2011 is to be more involved in the ordering process with my clients. I want to give them ideas and examples to help them out and looking forward to this new method. I also want to start my own studio...this might take a couple of years, but at least I'm going to start in 2011
my goals for next year are marketing and business organization. I started low key, built a free website and blog. Now on to getting the word out and setting some modest goal. Since I am a homeschooling mom I will have to find a way to work around that and really step it up during summer break! Wish me luck :) and thank you for an amazing giveaway!!
My goals for 2011 have a lot to do with "growing" my business while raising my rates. I just got started and spent a few months with lower portfolio building prices, and I feel like now is the appropriate time to move on from that. I have been studying other rates in my area so that I can make the right choice as far as pricing goes. I am also looking for some new and creative ways to market myself.
For 2011, my goals are to make our spare room into an office and to get comfortable with our new pricing structure (Easy as Pie taught me so much)! It seems intimidating right now, but a lot of the things I did in 2010 seemed intimidating at the beginning of the year! Thanks for a great giveaway!
My goal for the coming year is to focus on what I love to do the most -- Senior Portrait Photography. Up till now, I have been spreading myself so thin doing weddings, family portraits, commercial work, that I feel like I'm going crazy. My favorite is the senior stuff and that's where I'm going to put the most time in.
Thanks for the extra entry! I posted this on my Facebook page.
My main goal for 2011 is to get a hold of the business side of my photography. In addition I too am trying to just say, "NO," I have a full plate and I always take on more than I should, leaving my loved ones behind.
Tweet - http://twitter.com/awagstaff
Great giveaway, guys! Some awesome amazing things to get! I think time management is always a goal I have to improve on! Spending time with my 5 kids and hubby, homeschooling, being the soccer mom and doing what I love to do.
My business goal for 2011 is to become more assertive with my ideas, to stay in controll of my shoot. I also plan to give myself a raise (lol)~
I'm very excited about the give aways & hope I win something to start off the New Year~ so cheers !!
I would love to become more organized and focused on my business in 2011. I plan to slow down and concentrate on just a few things and not 500,000 things at once. It's hard for me not to want to take on everything at once, but it's a goal of mine that I believe I can achieve!
I facebooked about it.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1387209991
Goals for 2011:
Pricing for profit!! - SMS workshop has given me the tools, now to sit down and get all my pricing set and implemented by Jan 15
In home consultations and viewing sessions beginning Jan 1! - redoing my dining room as an office so I can do this thanks to my wonderful husband! - halfway there
Redo the website and set days to blog weekly.
MARKETING!!! - Getting my name out there in the community as facebook and friends can't sustain a business. I am hoping to partner with Marathon press starting soon to get materials together! :)
Letting go! I've been an owner and fighting for my business and I figured out what I'm weakest at and now am letting go of it. I found someone who needs my talent and will take care of everything I'm not good at while allowing me to do what I do best. This is a huge relief for me as I was ready to completely quit this year. With this new endeavor I'll be able to better manage my time at home and actually get a paycheck instead of putting everything back into things such as failed marketing and updating product samples. My goal is to breathe finally and allow myself to grow and give into something bigger and better and be a part of a team. I don't have to be the whole wheel anymore, just a supporting spoke. I'm so excited.
My main goal is to get more high school seniors this year. I'm working with a graphic designer on some marketing materials, outlined a "senior rep" program, and a fb ad to run locally. My 2nd goal is to relax and be more confident. I've been in business for 18 months and still fret too much over conditions and what the client will think. I've never had a client not like what I've delivered. I'm working on positive thinking and more reading/learning - can never learn too much - to make myself more confident and relaxed.
For 2011, I plan on becoming more organized! I have a toddler and a baby girl on the way, so to be more organized and balanced in life would be a great relief! A little more business wouldn't hurt either.
My two main goals for this next year, is to find balance with my business and family life...and learn as much as I can to improve not only my shooting abilities but also my editing skills aswell..This is a Photographers dream to win this..and I am one of them....Thanks to all the Vendors for participating and you for hosting...LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/danielle.nielsen
I "shared" the link on my fb page
These are AWESOME prizes. Kudos to every single one of these vendors!
My 2011 goal is to get serious about sales & marketing. Can't grow without those two things. Of course photography is an important part also, but some of these prizes will help with that, lol.
I am in the works toward closing my first wedding contract. Hope to get many more in 2011!!
I must say, I already have my list ready for 2011 - I am psyched!!! Going to work my tail off in January to put a lot of things in place, so that when the Spring rush begins, I can enjoy the busy-ness and not be swallowed by it.
New website, new pricing, new organization...
Bring on the new year!!!
My biggest goal for 2011 is to pay it forward more and give the joy of giving. I am inspired by all the giveaways I have seen lately and I am hoping to PIF this year. Happy New Year!!
I facebooked the link.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=486191337549&set=a.482714012549.266689.519387549&bcode=5yA6c#!/profile.php?id=519387549
My goal for 2011 is to get organized ... to do this I will begin with updating my website and then work on my pricelist and then prioritize the rest of the things I want to get done before Spring and it's time to start outdoor pics.
my goal is to also be more organized. And be able to say no to those who just want a quick session so I don't get so stressed!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000342072743#!/
wooohoooo!! Thanks for the extra chance to win some AWESOME giveaways~ I posted on FB ;)
1. Marketing -I just started my business in 2010 and I am working hard at getting my name out there. It's hard work! But I think I have come a long way already.
2. Workflow -finalize/formalize my workflow so that I save time and thus up my profit per client.
Thanks for the fantastic give away!
My goal is to have more steady business in 2011. I have purchased to different marketing calendars which are giving me lots of step-by-step ways to make that happen! Can't wait:)
I posted on my FB page about the great giveaway .... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=523057677
My goal for 2011 is to become more confident in my career as a photographer. Posing is my biggest struggle right now. In order to achieve this I know that I need to experiment and practice, practice, practice.
My goal for 2011 is to put myself out there and not be afraid to charge what I feel my time and talent is worth
Tweeted:
http://api.twitter.com/hdaileyphotog
A really good goal for me would be to better organize the business end of things!!!
Shared on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Baby/159235500779105
tweeted your giveaway!
http://twitter.com/slcook52
My #1 and #2 goals this year are to buckle down and finish my marketing scheme, website, blog, etc. Seems like a never ending work in progress!
And then, to really focus on my editing skills. I am proficient when it comes to shooting and understanding exposure, compositions, etc., but I struggle with post.
Posted to my FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/sylvia.cook
What an awesome giveaway!
I need to finish my website!!! I'm sooo picky and indecisive, it's a bad combo.
What an awesome giveaway! Wow!
I have a hefty list of goals for 2011... my main one is very specific - to make $10 000 profit in photography that I can turn over to the University of my choice in September. :)
My just as important secondary goal is to get on the ball with organizing my brand! Right now everything is sort of all over the place, but I want to make my website, blog, booking kit and everything that I show clients flow seamlessly.
Big thanks to all the vendors who are contributing to this!