Some of you have noticed that our recently discontinued cover materials have disappeared from PJ Remix, and asked what's going on. Fair enough too. We haven't been as clear about it as we should, and we apologise for not explaining this earlier. Although some cover materials have gone from PJ Remix, it doesn't necessarily mean we can't supply them. In fact our policy is, if possible, to make them available for two years after removing them from our swatch book. So how do you order them in PJ Remix? It's fairly simple... 1) Choose 'Other' in the Cover Material options. 2) Then click 'Add Note' and To View More >>

We've just removed the password protection from the knowledge base on our Partner website, making most of it accessible to anyone. Most of it's just detailed product and service information that our clients might want to check out from time to time - so it's not like Wikileaks would be interested! - but some of it's a bit sensitive, which is why it's been restricted. Some of you've been saying it's frustrating having to log in, however, which is why we've put most of the content out in the open. The only exception is the Marketing and Business section which is still locked down. That's where all To View More >>

Ok, the coach has said to pass it to the backs and they will chip and chase. For those who don't know what that means, stop a Kiwi in the street and ask. Or an Aussie. Maybe a Brit or the odd South African … although they do tend to get their forwards to drive it up the middle and kick the pill between the sticks. Sorry, I digress. Coach wants me back on the field, keep it short and get over the line. Come on, Ref, blow the whistle and let's get started! 6. Alignment tools OK, I'm cheating a bit here – this isn't a button but a complete tool kit. But get these working for you and life becomes To View More >>

This post won't mean much to those of you who's knowledge of social media is limited to, "You know, Facebook and Twitter etc". But the rest of us are trying to get good at it without feeling like it consumes all our time. Anyway, I've just been asked my opinions about automation and social media. It's something I feel strongly about, and my advice is to "approach with caution". Here's why. 1. We're in the 'intimacy business', and automation is usually the the enemy of intimacy. If I skype my wife, "Hi darling – love you!", we both feel good about it. It was impulsive and heartfelt. Automate it To View More >>

4. Create Album from Templates Coach reckons this isn't as clever as Divide and Conquer but we think it's really cool. Do you have a collection of templates that you love and use all the time? Click Create Album from Templates, select an image collection and your template collection, and PJ will build an album from the templates and pop all the images in the apertures. Sit back, have a coffee if you're American, or a nice cup of tea if you're a Brit. You Aussies will want a cold one, and as for us in New Zealand, it'll be a nice Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, thank you. Just let PJ do its thing. To View More >>

My two children are getting married, and In Part 1 I talked about how my eyes have been opened by the experience. What would my kids get if they hired a "professional photographer” for $3500.00 or so? Generally the photographer's time on the day, a DVD, no post work, often from someone who doesn't know how to give a "wedding day experience" on top of everything else. $3500 feels like too much money for that, but as I pointed out, the wholesale costs involved are too high to expect much more. Prices like that encourage couples to go shopping with unrealistically low budgets for photography … To View More >>

My son is getting married in six weeks, and my daughter next year in May. So everyone's asking, “ Who did you pick to photograph your kids’ weddings?" That's not what I asked myself. I asked the same question as the people who come and see me: "How much is this gonna cost?" The answer really opened my eyes… When I analyzed it, I'm paying the photographer and their assistant for their time that day, and they are giving me the files. After the wedding, I personally will edit, color correct, create 4x6 proofs, order a proof box, design an album, do the post production work, order the album, To View More >>

Things have a habit of creeping up on you, as our friends at Seldex have reminded us by sending an email to their clients reminding them that come July they won't be able to use Photojunction's cover design and Send Order functions. (We announced as much here back in February.) We've counted Seldex as friends for years – in fact they sold Queensberry albums in Australia back in the day! - so this is a rather sad time, the culmination of a process that started to unfold a couple of years ago when we realised that most suppliers weren't going to support PJ as a universal album design tool, which To View More >>

Johannes has a better metaphor, but the photo is from iStock. - Ed. The Bumble Bee Effect. Different to the Butterfly Effect because they haven't made a movie of the same name with at least two sequels. The Bumble Bee effect is all about buzz and pollen. It's about being talked about. We successfully did so by putting on an earthquake (a really big one). There are other ways to create a buzz that are much more positive. Obvious buzz topics are awards, photographing the wedding of Kate and Prince William, standing tall in the face of adversity, scandal, heroism, and achievement. (Actually 'scandal' To View More >>

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary. Today, I bring out our wedding album and indulge in the enjoyable recollection of the beginning of OUR love story. I revisit with those who were with us on the day, and remember those who aren't with us now. Our wedding album gets more and more precious as the years go on. I know he still loves me. How? He still turns my light off. He knows I still love him because I stroke his hand... sometimes :-) Love, Sonya To View More >>