[caption id="attachment_7717" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Click to view image full-size"][/caption] It's been said that the first rule of online social media is, Invest your time, not your money. Which is why it's so hard to do. Let's face it – who has the time? So how about a marketing opportunity that requires just a button-click? We've just snuck (if that's a word) a new feature into Queensberry's Photojunction Resources, and judging by the emails already coming in it's going to be a popular idea. If we're printing and assembling your album, you'll see a question asking if you'd To View More >>

I recently held a small workshop in the UK at the studio of Zoe Richards just out of Liverpool. It was intimate (there were only nine of us). We discussed album design and particularly spoke about the Musée. One of the ideas of that album is to create a feeling of intimacy. The resounding lesson from our discussion was about that and simplicity. Too often people cram images into albums to the point where there is no room to rest your eyes. The Musée design uses space to reinforce the luxury and quality feel of the product. There is something exciting about an intimate moment in a cupboard but To View More >>

Yesterday we packed for a tradeshow we're about to attend in Australia. One of the things I enjoy about packing is browsing through our sample albums as we work. Not often are there so many in one place. Looking through them all yesterday got me pretty excited about my own album. I was reminded that there's something quite special about seeing something you're buying in the flesh. Just as you may use a crafted slideshow online, to show off your work to prospective clients in the hope they'll come in to book, a (real) sample album has some serious pull when you're face to face. Sending clients To View More >>

Every now and then we see a sample album with images from several weddings in it. We call them "Greatest Hits" albums. Even after discounts a sample album can be a big investment – we know that, especially when you're starting out – but this is not a good idea for at least three reasons. 1. Because it's not what your clients will be buying, it's hard for them to relate to. A bit of a puzzle. 2. Even worse, it's not convincing evidence that you're up to the job. Couldn't you find enough good images from one wedding, they'll be thinking... 3. What an album does is tell a story – of their day, To View More >>

It's been a while, but this year Photojunction and Queensberry are returning to PMA's Digital Life Expo in Melbourne, Australia. If you're attending the show we'd love you to drop by and say hi. We'll be there with the Queensberry team who will have an impressive bunch of new albums with them including their newly released Musée album, so make sure you come and check them out too. The details: PMA Digital Life Expo: 4-6 June 2010 Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Center, Melbourne @ Stand # 450 See you there! Cheers, Danny PS Pre-register online here and gain free entry to the exhibition and To View More >>

Think of the best stuff you ever had. The best meal, the best coffee, the coolest shoes, the wittiest tee-shirt ... a fantastic book store, those amazing heirloom tomatoes. The people who provide you with amazing stuff are obsessive. Yes, they want to sell you something, but it's their obsession that drives them and makes them outstanding. There's a lot of obsessiveness in a beautiful album too, from the photography and design to the printing and binding. Every now and then we remind the obsessive people who work at Queensberry that our business is "not about the albums". Sometimes we remind photographers To View More >>

Who do we hope will read our Bride Book? Your clients! Our Bride Book is designed to drive business your way and add value to your photography. We currently include two books with every album we sell. Here’s how we suggest you use them. Don’t give them to the bride and groom Yes, we include books with each album, but they’re not for that happy couple ... they’ve already purchased. Take them out of the box and use them to book more weddings and more albums. When they book with you, give couples a copy to take home They’ll have something beautiful to confirm the value of Queensberry albums, To View More >>

We met Jeff Youngren and his wife Erin (The Youngrens) a couple of years ago at WPPI and they've been on board with PJ ever since. Danny's received numbers of calls from Jeff about ideas for new Photojunction features, and it was one of those that is partly to thank for the new integration of albumexposure with Photojunction. 1) How do you like the albumexposure online album proofing feature? Why should others try it out? "To me, the Albumexposure/PJ integration is a game changer in the industry - never before has something so common been integrated so well into the whole design process. I'm blown To View More >>

After all my talk about branding, I suppose I need to acknowledge that you don't have to buy "brands". The truth is most people don't. Commodity products sell on price (low price), and of course some brands do too ("The Warehouse, Where Everyone Gets a Bargain"). But what Queensberry sells is "packaging", and the purpose of packaging is to enhance the product. When the packaging is albums and the product is your photography, it's important to ask how much enhancing will be going on if you buy on price. It could be that much harder to avoid selling on price as well. Cheers, Ian To View More >>

I am so proud of this from Ross Grieve (a UK-based Kiwi photographer) because it's Queensberry to the core. I'm sure Jo is too. When Ross's photos arrive we'll feature the album on our consumer blog. - Ian [caption id="attachment_7424" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Ross & his idea guru"][/caption] Last year our Queensberry Account Manager, Jo (or our idea guru as I like to call her), suggested we get a Duo sample to have something unique in the studio. Now the thing I like about Jo: she is not a sales person, she is someone who is there to help you and your business. With that in mind To View More >>