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Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Sang Chen Photography is now a proud owner of their first Sample 12×12 leather wedding book!

“Imagine my glee when I got notification that my first ever sample wedding album had arrived! A lot of you have been asking for this, and I’m happy to announce that Shang Chen Photography is proud to partner with KISS wedding books for gorgeous wedding albums. There are many album companies out there. I chose these albums because this is what I would love in a wedding album of my own.

Albums are delivered to my door using rigid cushioning in a large UPS box. The cover options are either 100% full-grain natural leathers or linen covers in 7 solid colors. I chose a 12×12 leather version for my sample because it is more durable and I’m going to be showing it around a lot. Your albums are accompanied by nifty cloth dust covers.”

Here’s Shang Chen sporting the 12×12 book

What really sold her?

“The pages are lay-flat with a micro fold, which means that panoramic photos are seamless, allowing for jaw-dropping large spreads. Each spread is a photographic print that is folded and glued to the middle substrate – this binding process is called flush mount. The leather albums’ pages are hard pages with substrate separating the prints. They are thick and durable. The linen books have flexible pages. Consumer companies like Blurb are press-printed, they use inks and print on paper, and yes, they are cheaper. However, KISS wedding albums have individual pages that are exposed on Fujifilm – this is a true photographic print that will not yellow like paper, is sturdy, and has much more detail upon close examination (doesn’t become pixelated when you put your face up close).”

“Wedding albums are a luxury item because they are a real remnant of your wedding. They are tangible end products of the hours and hours of work you put into your wedding. They exist in a form that you can wrap your hands around, you don’t need to start up a computer or TV to see them. You can see, feel, and relive the moments and colors of your wedding. Who knows whether the DVDs I’m sending you know would be relevant in the future, and if you don’t back them up properly, you could easily break or lose them. Books will always be there.”

Much love, Shang! We can’t wait to get you a few KISS books for your future brides!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Kate from Kate Noelle Photography has decided to add KISS Wedding Books to her line for 2010. Check out her post!

“KISS Wedding Books is just that…. timeless… classy chic…. and more than that, it’s beautifully simple. My first KISS book was delivered this week and in all seriousness… it made my week. I knew that wedding pictures were better in print and in albums, but FOR REAL… this wedding album ROCKS!”

“Something that KISS prides themselves in is their “no cut, lay flat” binding, which makes for beautiful 2-page wide spreads that are seamless…. no line down the middle. Each 2-page spread is one big picture print that lays completely flat for seamless panoramic images… (happy sigh…)”

“And the thing I love most about these albums are the prints. Some album companies print with the type of printers that leave “dots”… like they used a simple home ink-jet printer or something. I hate “dots” in my prints. KISS books don’t have any dots… and the prints are super clean and crisp looking…. Plus, the paper they use shows significantly less discoloration and deterioration over the years… which means these babies LAST!”

Thanks for the killer blog post, Kate! We can’t wait to KISS your 2010 brides

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Kisa Koenig posted some killer photos of her linen KISS books and little leather KISS on her blog!

“They now offer a hardback linen album that has flexible pages vs. the hard ones in the leather albums. These are about half the cost of the leather albums, but have the same beautiful printing. They make great parent albums and are a less expensive option for bride and grooms during these financially burdened times. I still highly recommend you purchase an album with your package since I know first-hand that if you don’t do it right away, it gets put on the back burner.

The other album shown here (green) is the new version of the Little Kisses. These measure 4″x4″, come in either a leather cover or linen cover, fit perfectly in your purse with a canvas bag for protection and also make a great gift for your family/attendants.”

Both of these are classic ways to display your baby and family photos as well!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Check out Sara Gray’s blog post about the new books she’s offering her 2010 clients!

A KISS album, that is. Trust me when I tell you that you want one. I’m offering these albums in all of my wedding packages this year because I feel it’s important to have something real to hold and touch and remember with.

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Katrina Wheeler organized this awesome series of portrait shoots for families who lost everything in a flood in Atlanta. Her post on her blog is great, with lots and lots of photos and details—so go check that out!. We wanted to share with you the ‘big reveal’ when one of the families was surprised on Christmas eve with some Little KISSes that we donated to the cause.

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I know that lately you have been finding yourself sitting at home thinking, “Gosh, I would love a Jess Graham Photography album… I wonder what kind she makes…?”  Well, I don’t want you to be confused any longer.  Welcome the new KISS wedding books!  Here are a few little facts about these great lookin books:

- 3 sizes: 8″ 10″ and 12″

-7 colors: black, brown, blue, green, red, white, and pink

-2mm thick pages provide sturdy protection

-Beautiful RA-4 printing

-Fuji Crystal Archival Paper

-15-day turnaround

-100% full-grain leather

-Lays flat, no cut. All spreads are built with a micro-fold, not a cut- so each spread can be seen in its entirety.

-All albums are delivered in cloth bags.

-Photos by Matt Ramos

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Check out the blog and killer images from Stacee Lianna’s first KISS!

OHEMGEE. I have a gazillion things going on this weekend and am going to have a gazillion things to post on my blog coming up soon, including an ever so fabulous session from yesterday!! But I had to stop right now and post this blog really quick, in between the photobooth with a Junior High class and running off to pick up lenses for the weekend and then off to see “the” Christmas Lights with some of my favorite people [and THEN a sleepover!!] Because when I walked in the door right now I was greeted by a HUGE package from KISS Wedding Books. I almost cried I was so excited!

Having my first package waiting for me from KISS makes me feel like a real live legit, dare I say professional photographer. Nothing I have done thus far has made me feel this way. So, I had to blog this moment… so it will forever be documented in my photo business history. ;]

I am in love with these albums! There are 2 “Little Kisses” and 1 10×10 album. I want to hold them all the time and never let them go. [Too bad I have to actually deliver them to my amazing clients LOL] I want to get packages in the mail like this everyday! So everyone I’ve taken pictures of, you should ask me about ordering an album, like I’m not even kidding! They’re kinda the greatest thing EVER! ;]

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Check out Karen Reyburns video of her clients viewing their little KISS!

Much love, Karen!

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Rachel : The Helpful Hottie 

I am a huge fan of the Kiss Wedding Books and have recently acquired a couple, one of which is the little kiss book.

This little beauty is 4 x 4 inches and can be an exact replica of the main wedding album so is great for family and friends. The great size means it is perfect for your handbag or pocket, ensuring you get to flash it to all and everyone whenever you want. Fabulous!

My mum was visiting the other day and drooling over the little kiss book. She said “ooh it’s perfect for going in my handbag so I could take it and show everyone”

My heart sank. Why!! I hear you scream at me, that’s exactly what you want to do with your album. And absolutely I agree, photos are for sharing and looking at often, so here is why.

Anyone who knows my mum will know she is not known for a small clutter free handbag, in fact my brothers quote when they were moving house and apparently downsizing, is a family favourite. “Mum you can’t downsize your handbag let a lone a house”! That could only mean one thing, it would get crinkled and bent and lost amongst all that clutter! (They didn’t mange to downsize the house by the way, in fact it’s bigger than the last one!! so he had a valid point.)

The more we thought about this the more we realised that lots of people have big handbags, it’s the fashion, and these large bags attract a lot of contents. So everyone would have the same problem and these little albums are to be loved, cherished and shared, not lost at the bottom of your bag getting bent out of shape! ( The little kiss books don’t come with their own gorgeous pouch like the larger ones to keep them safe.) So what was the answer?

Well I am really excited to announce that anyone who orders a little kiss book from me will now get their very own pouch to keep it safe from the contents of your handbag, and because your Little kiss book will be as unique as you, they will be produced in limited numbers of each design.

The first 10 little kiss books ordered from me will come in this gorgeous hot pink heavy weight fabric to afford it maximum protection. As each new pouch design comes hot out of production you’ll get a sneaky peek on here.

Check out these gorgeous pink hotties!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie