Monday
02Nov2009

Jennifer Chaney - Dream Featured Photographer 

These are the Dream Album product images from Jennifer Chaney ( www.jchaney.com ), a cherished client and one of the best lifestyle photographers in the San Francisco Bay area. We wanted to share with you the amazing way she presents her simple, modern, and beautiful work using Dream Album products. 

These are her 12x12 dream albums: one is 40 pages and the other is 50 pages. 

We contacted her as our first featured photographer because the feel and look of her work, her website, and her Dream Albums are the perfect match! And whenever we see her new album orders come in, we know that her clients also cannot get enough of her amazing artistry.
Jennifer says, "Your albums are so customizable, which is important to me because the Bay Area has a large photography community, and I know my albums will always be different from ones my neighbor designs.  And I love that the same album comes in three square sizes, and with customizable covers I can really create an heirloom album for my clients.

My photography is lifestyle and candid, so my clients need an album that is large enough to show their sessions in a storytelling layout.  I can easily do this with the 12x12 album - it's big enough to handle the largest of sessions.  And with my album style being clean and classic, I have a lot of freedom in designing layouts this large.  I can do a beautiful full spread of a favorite picture on two pages, and then on the next page have 9 pictures to complete the story.  For me, it's the ideal combination because I shoot a family session much like I shoot a wedding - lots of detail shots and a lot of large portraits.  

For the clients wanting fewer pictures in their albums, I offer the 9x9 album with up to 40 images.  This has been a lovely option because my clients don't have to deal with several different album prices. The 9x9 is the same price for 30 pictures as it is for 40, so most of my clients opt for all 40 images.  I don't offer the 6x6 album as a single purchase because I don't think it's large enough to be a standalone album.  Instead I usually suggest it as a gift for the grandparents, and a number of clients actually purchase one for the newborn or child.  What a fabulous gift to give them when they either get married or have kids of their own!  I've also discovered that I can take the storytelling spreads I've already designed for the 12x12 and use them in the 6x6 - that's my favorite combination, but you have to be sure to use the spreads with larger pictures in the simplest layouts.

Which leads me to why I design the albums with a white cover, white core, and why I upgrade to the white box.  I do a white cover and layout because I want the images to truly pop and I don't want the viewer to be distracted by wording or colors.  And it's very important to me that everything I offer is timeless.  What is hip today may not be so fabulous in 20 years (feathered hair, anyone?)  This is why I also use the white boxes.  They are sleek and modern just like the albums.  At first, I switched to the white boxes because it coordinated with my packaging, but now I order them because I see them as an extension of the album.  It's what I hand to my clients, so the look and feel of the box is an important part of the finished product.  

I'm in the process of designing a couple of Dream wedding albums, and I'm excited to see how they turn out!

In the end, I don't offer what I don't love or what I wouldn't own myself.  The same goes for selling;  I would never try to sell something to my clients that they don't need or want.  And all of my clients fall in love with these albums as soon as they see them!" 

We cannot wait to see the wedding albums that Jennifer is currently working on. Knowing her timeless style and commitment to quality, there is no doubt they will go exceed our expectations - and her client's too! We feel very honored to work with such a dedicated and talented photographer like Jennifer. 

 

Saturday
31Oct2009

Wish Albums - new product :: Self Mount Album 

We are super excited to introduce our new holiday product "Wish Albums" to you. There are so many reasons for you to wish for this album to come true this time of the year. More details including pricing and templates will be announced in our blog website within a couple weeks when Wish Albums become available to purchase. But here is the sneak peek~ (please click on the play button to view more Wish Album images)

  • beautiful custom cover (same as Dream Albums')
  • 10x10 24pages or 8x8 20 pages
  • quick 1-2 weeks turnaround
  • easy self mount (peel and stick) freedom- you will use your own favorite lab for prints!
  • great price 

This will be great for last minute holiday sessions (please order by 12/7 for custom cover, or you can order bulk with generic design with your logo on the back ahead of time for be lated holiday orders. You will be so pleased to see how Dream Album Co. can turn a self mount album into a work of art. we can not wait to hear what you have to say about this!!!!
Please note that we have made them in a limited quantity for 2009 holidays. the orders will be received while supply lasts.
The images used for making our first wish album sample are from Stacy Larsen, one of our very much loved clients and top photographers in Florda. With Kristie Serra, she is offering a super fun and informative workshop called Launch for the beginner natural light photographers and they are giving a free seat on their blog right now! All you have to do is leave a comment and you are registered, it is that easy. The contest runs through November 1st (TOMORROW, hurry~~) so be sure to head over and check out their newly debuted blog. 


The inside design layout was by Dream Album Designshop and the templates for Wish Album is available to purcahse. 


The beautiful cover design was by Luxecetera as always. Thank you!


Dream Album Team

 

Monday
26Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Cindy Chen

Remember this? We've got these images from Cindy ( of Cindy Chen Photography ) long time ago, and finally we are posting here.  For those who are new to the blog, please visit the earlier posting how to design a full bleed cover when there is not enough width in image. When Cindy contacted us if she could design the cover with one image that her client chose as a full bleed, we absolutely loved the idea and started work on the image together. And when the album came out, by the way it is 9x9 40p Dream Album, we LOVED it even more!

She added, "I am absolutely IN LOVE with dream albums and my clients are too. Once they see the dream album, they have to have one!  As a photographer, I love the versatility of the custom designed cover.  It truly makes each and every album a unique and treasured work of art for my clients.  The album itself is outstanding… high quality and very well made.   Thank you for making my dream album… literally! "

Her client must have LOVED it, too! We are thrilled to see the wonderful work of art presented in a very special way in Dream Album... Thanks so much for the images and great work, Cindy. 

Saturday
24Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Marci Lambert

What a beautiful boudoir book!  - we just received the images from Marci (of www.marcilambert.com ). They are 6x6 20p mini dream album and she had them in Milk and Black core color. Depend on the color of images, you can choose core colors to match the total look. We are in LOVE!

She said, "These are the first of the Dream Albums I've ordered and I hope there will be many, many more. I made two albums for my boudoir clients and they flipped over them. They couldn't believe how beautiful they are. I agree, especially with the wraparound covers. And I liked the ability to use either black or white cores, depending on the images. Thanks so much!"

We are very excited to show off our amazing dream photographers' creative work. It is so inspiring! Thanks Marci for the images. We just sent a special thank you gift coupon for you!

 

Thursday
22Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Lisa Woods

Look these great product images from Lisa (of now and then photography ). When we received the images from her, we thought the CD with this great looking branding and Dream Box made a perfect digital package.   

She said, "I just got my 2 5x7 dream box's in today.  I immediately headed out the door into the field behind my house to grab a few shots of these bad boys!  I adore them!  Thanks for a great product!"
These are the coolest bad boys... Lisa. Thanks so much for sharing. 

Side note: we receive great product shots for "show off your dream" with water marks, but we can not post images with watermarks here. please make sure to send us images in 1000px width (either collaged or individual shots /  with NO watermark ) with your story to ensure your images to be posted, and thus you will receive our special thanks credit!!! We LOVE to hear from you.

 

Friday
16Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Andrea Halsey

We've been meaning to post these exciting SHOW OFF YOUR DREAM images from Andrea (of Andrea Halsey Photography). She custom designed the covers of all three dream albums in 12x12, 9x9, and 6x6!

She added, "The Dream Albums have become my album arsenal in my product lineup. Each time I put them on display or show them off at consultations, everyone's heart just melts away. When I had my 6x6 album, I sold one to every client, when I was showing my 9x9, I was selling that to every client... and now that I have a 12x12 album, even lower-budgeting clients determine to find a way to have one for themselves. I can claim that my Dream Albums have thrust me into a whole new world of album selling, increasing my profits, and making my clients thrilled." 

Above is one of her 9x9, 30 page (our the most popular item)  Bridal Album - it's beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing Andrea! We just sent you a special thanks credit for your show off images.

YES! We do reward for SHOW OFF YOUR DREAM images when it is posted on our blog. Don't forget to send us in your product shots!

 

And our holiday schedule is out today. Please check out 

http://thedreamalbum.squarespace.com/09-holiday-schedule/

and 

http://thedreamalbum.squarespace.com/lead-time-and-services/

for detailed information. 

 

Friday
09Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Lora Carr

We are in LOVE~ when we saw the images Lora (of Lora Carr Photography took of her beautiful 12x12 Dream Album.) The colors are so bright, the design is simple and live, her work is stunning! We would call it as  "A PERFECT MATCH!" 

She said, "I finally had the opportunity to photograph my 12 x 12 dream album.  It is gorgeous! It sits on an acrylic coffee table in my studio's sales area and clients cannot keep their hands off of it. It really is a piece of art that families will treasure for generations to come."  And we thought it was so true.  Thanks Lora! Will send you the gift credit right now~ 
Again, we are SO CLOSE to have 15% off sale as promised! It is in any minute, we just need TWO MORE twitter followers. - well, I have been waiting this moment for a while- Let's get rolling. Don't forget, it is for 48 hours!!! 

Friday
02Oct2009

Show Off Your Dream - Teryn Glenn

We've got so many show off your dream product shots - and this is the very recent one from Teryn (of Teryn Glenn Photography, LLC).  She ordered two sets of dream box and mats (both in 5x7 size). 

She says, "what I love so much about these boxes is that everyone loves them, and they can be used for any client.  The two boxes I have displayed are from a newborn session and an engagement session.  Once a client holds one, they will want one.  They are just too beautiful not to own.

I also really likes using these for engagement sessions because it gives the client a beautiful display for their engagement images instead of an album; since their wedding images will most likely be displayed in an album.  One of my clients saw the dream box and said, "Does this company make wedding albums too?"  I will be ordering some sample Dream Wedding Albums shortly and displaying them in my studio as a new line!  Thanks for a wonderful product." 

We will send you the special thank you credit to you Teryn. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!

Yes, we do appreciate your dream product images. Please send them in to get a special gift credit ($25 when your image is posted on our blog)! When you do, make sure the image is at least 1000 px wide with NO watermark.

Tuesday
22Sep2009

Show Off Your Dream - Evelyn Savage

By the way, the images in Bridge screen shot in previous post was Evelyn's (of evelyn laws photography) beautiful 9x9 dream album. Her style is clean, lifestyle and goes so well with our product! look~

She sent in this beautiful collage of product shots and we LOVED it. Thanks so much Evelyn!

Send in your product shots, we will give you $25 gift credit for your next purchase at Dream Album Co. We love to show it off to all our members.

Tuesday
22Sep2009

BATCH rename files: how to

Recently we had received many similar questions about how to name the image files for your dream albums. As we talked about in HOW TO PREPARE images section, the images must be arranged and named the way you would want them to appear in the book. It is very important to know all our books starts from the LEFT side. - so if you want certain pages to be side by side or there are some pages for spread designs, please make sure those files are named accordingly.

We thought Adobe Bridge's BATCH RENAME function is pretty nice. Please refer to the screen capture for easy instruction. 

1. arrange the files in the way you want them to appear in the book within Bridge thumbnail window.
2. Tool>BATCH RENAME
3. choose the correct setting as listed below:
     (it is recommended to use UNDERSCORE instead of hyphen or space within the file name. and two digit             numbers are better than one)