Ali sent us an email about her first KISS!

I just received my first Kiss album. All I can say is that I am absolutely thrilled! The quality of this album is top-notch and I have nothing but the praise for your company’s kickass customer service and quick turnaround. I can’t wait to order another!

Best,

ali walker | photographer

We’re so excited to be working with you, Ali! We look forward to many more KISSes!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Michelle was sweet enough to send us this rockin’ email about her new KISS book.

Thank you Kevin! &&
To all the crew at KISS,

Thank you SO much for such a beautiful album! I truly appreciate your customer service, order status updates, and general liveliness to serve your clients.

I had to change something last minute, and was able to communicate with a real person about fixing the spread, and felt at ease knowing the problem was solved quickly (and in time!).

I couldn’t imagine a better album company, and keeping it simple works for me Thank you again so much!

Check out your awesome work!

Thank you,

-Michelle

Shaun and Kevin speaking at the Boudoir Diva’s “KISS and Tell All” at the KISS House, in Vegas. Great times!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Hey, KISSers!

I wanted to alert you of a slight price modification we’re making. Before you all freak out, things aren’t really going to change much… We believe in being transparent and (of course) simple about things, so let me explain:

Currently, we add about $18 to shipping and handling to cover the cost of the cute cloth bags, the boxes, the peanuts, the tape, etc. That’s why the price of shipping has seemed high to some of you. It’s been working out fine when someone only orders a single book, but when they order multiples, we’re losing some money on the bags/packaging/etc. Our profit margin is such that when we offer a sample discount, we break even; in some cases, after the cloth bag, the packaging, the shipping, the credit card/paypal fees, and the book itself, we actually lose money.

So. We’ve decided to adjust the price of each book by $15 ($18 was too hard of a number, and we belive in simple). So, if you’re ordering a single book, your price should actually decrease by a buck or two. The price per spread, etc. won’t change–just the base price of each book.

At this stage in our business, a LOT of people are ordering samples, which means we’re working for free. The adjustment to the price structure is an attempt to make sure we’re not slipping the wrong direction. We’ve been selling books for over a year now, and have had a good amount of time to review our information and processes. I think a $15 adjustment is fair–considering the qulaity of the books in that year has gone up significantly.

Anyway! The price change will take place in the next couple of days. Expect to see the shipping drop, too! For those of you who pick your albums up and have been paying the $10.00 fee, that will be discontinued as well.

As always, feel free to ask me or Shaun any questions…

Thanks for KISSing!
Kevin Swan : Simple-Minded Director

Victoria had yet to leave the parking lot when she sent us this email.

Hi! Ok just picked up my albums – actually I am still in the parking lot – kid is sleeping again so can’t come back in to say WOW!!!!!!!!!! I am so impressed!!!!! The albums are FANTASTIC!!! You guys rock!!! Thank you so much!! I look forward to a long relationship!!!
Victoria

Victoria Photography
www.photographybyvictoria.com

Not only are you stoked for this long relationship but so are we! Thanks, Victoria! We look forward to KISSing you with many more books!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Klodjana Dervishi experienced her first KISS and was so kind enough to blog about it! She mentioned so many nice things about KISS we couldn’t help but share.

I’m so happy I got to know these guys that like to keep it simple. When I arrived here in California (the States) from Italy I was looking for local printing service and at a certain point I was in total desperation. I couldn’t understand a word of what people offered (I won’t mention names of where I registered and asked for a sample package and pricing list… but there were a bunch of them), I just couldn’t figure out what the total cost of my album would be. Didn’t know how to consider a page (?)/a side(?) or if the album cover was included. To make a long story short, it was way too complicated for me, too many options, too much of everything. Ok, probably it’s my english… not good enough, not my first language (not even my second language), but when it came to KISS books I was amazed at how simple it was.

You’re so great, Klodjana! We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the book you’ve been designing for your Mom

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Captured for Life Photography claim us to be a part of their heat wave in Texas moving towards the East Coast!

Check out these albums I got in!!!!!! Whew! These things are smoking hot!

Even though all my wonderful clients have seen these beautiful Kiss Wedding Books, They haven’t seen the Redlight Red! I just got this 10×10 in for Julie and Jason and I almost wish I didn’t have to ship it out.

Here’s a few pictures taken of their Red HOT book

We are so glad you love your redlight red KISS book! You guys at Captured For Life Photography rock!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Our friends at Ella Blue Studio said the nicest comment about our company on Open Source Photo. Here is a few comments they made in their review:

Kiss totally gets it! This company understands that all the album options in the world will never replace excellent customer service, a quality product, an unbelievably simple ordering process, and ridiculously fast turn-around time.

I said all that to say this: Kevin Swan and Shaun Austin at KISS Wedding Books turn out a quality product. The leather is beautiful, the printing is awesome, and the albums are well constructed. In my opinion, their albums are probably similar in quality to all the other big companies out there. Not necessarily better or worse (which is neither praise nor complaint). What sets them apart is all the “other stuff.” The stuff I mentioned in paragraph two. I don’t know that I’ve EVER experienced better customer service with ANY company period (that includes non-photography stuff by the way). For example, the other night at around 10:30pm, I sent Kevin Swan an e-mail about my newest order. That was 10:30pm Seattle time (I think it had to have been around 1:30am his time). This friggin’ guy responded within minutes, and has completely made himself available to me for any questions or concerns I might have (even by way of cell phone). I was blown away. Really, have you ever had direct cell phone and e-mail contact with one of the owners of Starbucks, or Costco? I’d venture to guess you answered no to that question.

We love our friends at Ella Blue Studio! Thank you for your time and sincere words about our Company. We love you guys!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

A forum topic was started on KISS books and the thoughts behind our company. Our friend Oasis made a rockin’ posting:

The quality on KISS books is great, but so is LC and so is Finao, IMHO.

Where KISS differs is the customer service, hands-down. I’ll always remember the fact that 5 minutes after submitting a sample order, I got a call on my cell from Kevin Swan. And I’m not some high-falutin’ recognizable photographer, just a joe-shmo. But Kevin wanted to check-in, see if I had any questions, and see how the ordering process went for me.

KISS aims to succeed where other album manufacturers fail. Tired of a convoluted ordering system? Try KISS. Annoyed with lackluster customer service? Try KISS. Frustrated with long wait times? Try KISS. If you want options like variable page thickness, “interesting” cover options, embossing, etc., then you’ll have to put up with some of the downsides and go with someone else.

And Saad, I’ll also humbly request that you not abuse the sample code (or at least not spread the idea). Stuff like that will just make them either remove the sample discount or make the logo more obnoxious (what do you tell your clients about the giant lips on the back of their album??).

Thanks, Oasis. You nailed what KISS is about and our view on customer service, customers waiting, and simplicity.

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie