I just to have to write this quick post because I’m so excited about the new logo our friend Marc designed for us. Out of the goodness of his heart. We didn’t even get around to submitting the font details or anything and he took upon himself to finish the project. What he came up with was nothing short of awesome! He is a rock star in my eyes! He does run his own multimedia company, so it’s only natural that he would be awesome, but I still want to share our new image with you.

So here it is with a dark backround and white lettering (I just love the layout):

And here is a horizontal version with black letter for light backgrounds:

To visit our new website or to get some pricing on photography (if you’re in the market) Wander over to juiceebee.com I’ve also update our pricing cards with the new logo and some new titles for our packages. (flowers and cool insects)

I just wanted to write a quick note about my Photography company Juicee Bee Productions. We have just completed our new website featuring a Grand Flash Gallery and Availability Calendar that are both Word Press plugins. We also found a great WP theme to use.

In fact our entire website was created on WordPress(dot org)! Amazing right! If you venture to our site, you’ll notice how ‘un-bloggy’ it looks. We even have a featured article homepage but it only shows custom fields with Photographs. The best thing about having this site, as opposed to a flash or html site, is that both my partner and I can update and maintain it, and we live on opposite sides of a Lake. Using Cyberduck for ftp uploads, I can add to each gallery from my collection and vice versa. This is also where you can view the contents of your ‘wp-content’ folders and make changes to code outside of the WordPress editor.

We also have the Contact Form 7 plugin so potential clients can ask questions without having to open their email programs. Another plugin we use is the Meta SEO pack -we found that other ones didn’t work with the hosting company we are using, so keep that in mind if you’re having problems with that.

Something else I really like using is Google Analytics. You have to have an account, but once you add sites and are given the code, you can download the WP plugin and enter the code to start tracking your traffic.

There are many other plugins I like for my personal blog, but for a business website, those are the only ones we need as we are not planning on writing articles. If we do, we will have a sub-domain created and download WP and have it as a separate page link.

I think customers coming to the site just want the information pertaining to them, and they want to find it fast and easy. And if those coming are blog readers, then they can go to the link as they so choose.

I thought I learned a lot about Word Press(dot com) from my own blog, but my company site has opened my eyes to even more possibilities. It really is a great platform, and has so much customization available. I will admit, that not everyone will understand it at first, and some may never understand, but Word Press is my new favorite Digital ‘thing’ these days. I know I’m probably really late in jumping on that bandwagon, but I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon.

My weekend business with my bff, is Family/Event Photography Juicee Bee Productions. I got really motivated after visiting the National Bridal Show in Toronto last Friday, to re-vamp our price list. We have realized that what we offered was more hassle then it was worth, so I managed to stream-line the process, so that only the services that Brides want, they pick and pay for themselves. This is as opposed to having packages full of things they might not necessarily want, and that I might not necessarily want to do. (my time is precious)

For example, some brides are very hands-on and want to make their own photo albums and prints. This is either because they are creative, or frugal, which isn’t a bad thing. I am also a firm believer that people should have the rights to their own photographs, I mean what do I want to keep them for?! That’s why we give every customer their photos on CD/DVD with signed permission to print and share, as long as they don’t sell them.

It was interesting to see how other photographers do things. Especially those who have been in the game longer than we have. Some of them have ridiculously low prices, and offer so many things within those packages, that it makes me wonder how they manage to make any money. It also makes me wonder what quality of products they are using to make their prices so low, like photo paper quality and photo album quality etc. It also makes me wonder what kinds of photographers they really are. I mean, I have an education in Television, and let me be the first to tell you that, that doesn’t always mean it’s interchangeable with Photography, but the principles behind good framing are so similar. I mean you still have to have a photographic eye, and not all good photographers have to go to school to become such.

I actually have taken film photography classes, and spend a lot of time reading manuals, books, tips and blogs. So while I don’t have as many field hours as some, I am a quick study and know what looks good and how to use my camera with out resorting to using the ‘auto’ feature.

I also think it takes a good ‘people’ person to work on weddings. Some photographers has such poor ‘bedside’ manners, it’s a wonder that they can stay in business at all.

With that all being said, I have a couple weddings under my belt, and I do value my time as much as my partner’s, so our prices are set so that we don’t undercut ourselves. I mean, really? Would you value my services if I didn’t value them myself?

We are relying mostly on ‘word of mouth’ at this point, but we’re hoping sometime soon to be showcasing our work in Bridal Shows, preferably the smaller low key ones. The Toronto show was so over-saturated with photographers, I wonder how any bride could establish a rapport and make a decision with any one of them. I have a feeling, that most brides go to one show, and pick one of the first vendors they approach (so booth placement is key) or being fortunate enough to be the ONLY photo vendor at the show. Like the Welcome Wagon Shows. We were approached to be in one in Barrie, but it wasn’t a good time for us, but hopefully the next one, we’ll be ready for.

So in my trying to spread the word, we have donated a Gift Certificate for a Silver Family package for my brother’s Jack & Jill as a prize for auction. I am really excited about that. So after I designed the Gift Certificate for that, I got inspired to make a Price Card, for the day when we do attend a show.

And Here it is! (I would love input about the design etc. also remember these are Cdn. $)

Juicee Bee Wedding Photography Prices (click to see full size)