“Hi Doug,

Just wanted to let you know that I received my wedding album on Friday and over the weekend I brought it with me everywhere – I showed our neighbors, family, friends, the bar tender at the pub! I love it! And everyone that has seen it has been so impressed. It’s so incredibly awesome that our friend Ravi nick-named it the “Wow-bum.”

You already know that I love your work, but the whole album process could not have been easier and the “Wow-bum” came so fast! Thank you, thank you!”

Mel, The bride.

She took it to the bar! And she called it a “wow-bum!” We love this bride And, of course, we love you Douglas Levy! Many, many KISSes to you and your bride.

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

If you’re an AlbumExposure client, you can now upload to KISS -and- get the advantage of using our KISSup! system to preview your layout. When you upload from within AE, you will be asked for your KISS login, and then presented with a list of jobs you have that are waiting for upload. Just click the job/design you’re uploading and you’ll be off and running!

Design customers upload change

We’ve tweaked the KISSup! Loader to allow people to upload images for Simple and Custom Design. So, if you order a book you designed and one you want us to design in the same order, you can now upload both the spreads and individual images in the same place. Just another improvement to help keep things Simple!

Cruise with KISS! (USE THE CODE “KISS” for 10% OFF!)

Immediately after this year’s Partnercon, Kevin and Shaun (the KISS Boys) will be speaking/teaching on this year’s Camera Cruise, November 11th-November 15th, departing from Mobile, Alabama and stopping in Cozumel. This family-friendly (Shaun and Kevin are bringing their kids/wives) cruise is a perfect opportunity to blend a vacation with a write-off. You can learn from some awesome industry leaders like Frederick Van Johnson, who will teach you how to leverage social media and the web to market your business; Sara France, Apple’s featured photographer, will help you get the most out of your Apple products, showing you all the latest hardware, software, and services that will streamline your business; the world-traveller, David Beckstead, will give you an intensive workshop on framing and composition in wedding photography; the Bui Brothers will cover how video has impacted photography and how to use it in your business; and more speakers/classes/shoots!

If you’re attending Partnercon, it’s a quick drive to Mobile and you can do the cruise right after.

$1250 registration includes:

• chance to win prizes (Spider Holster, Drobo Storage, Apple iPad)
• 7 in-class workshops
• discounts on industry products/services
• 1 excursion/outdoor workshop
• cabin
• gratuities
• meals/drinks
• travel insurance

Cruise Questions?: Phone: 1 (888) 493-4459 — Email: info@cameracruise.com
Click here to find out the details or sign up. If you register 2 or more, you get a 20% discount.

Pictage PartnerCon 2010: New Orleans

November 9-11, 2010 – Astor Crowne Plaza

If you went last year, you know PartnerCon was an amazing event. If you’re a Pictage or ShootQ user, the signup is only $199 (non-members: $299). They sold out last year in record time, this year they have 500 spots available. The speaker list is solid: Joe Buissink, Bob Davis, J, Amber Holritz, Jared Platt, David Wittig, David Beckstead, Mike Colon, Carlos Baez, Sara France, Mike Larson, and many more. For a couple hundred bucks, it’s a no-brainer.

Compared to something like WPPI, the smaller size of this conference means you have great opportunities to talk with these industry giants, instead of being swallowed up by 12,000 attendees. Plus, you get to hang out with the KISS Crew! Shaun, Kevin, and the Helpful Hottie, Rachel, will all be there. If you have questions or want to inspect a book or two, feel free!

Click here to learn more or sign up.

Kevin, Shaun, Rachel.
The KISS Crew.

The best thing about her vacation… the KISS book that was waiting at her front door, of course

Check out her blog post:

“So I know I’ve been MIA but I’m back! I took a few days off (supposedly) to go to my country, Venezuela, and visit my family and friends! I say “supposedly” because normal people don’t work on their vacations. Obviously I’m not that very normal and there was no a single day I wouldn’t work. I answered emails every day, signed two new clients, scheduled four consultations, designed three albums, edited two photo shoots, started a new ad campaign and well… I also enjoy my vacation too My mom was freaking out because every day I was in front of my laptop, LOL. What some people don’t understand is that when you love what you do, “work” is not draining but energizing and if you’re motivated there is nothing more fun than that! Looking at your dreams materialize in front of your eyes is awesome! Anyway, one of the albums I designed was for Kelly and Nathan’s engagement and since I wanted to introduce a new album brand into my company I decided to try KISS WEDDING BOOKS… OMG! I’m in love, I’m in love… They are like me: SIMPLE & CUTE – Just kidding Easy to order, easy to comprehend, few but quality options, bright and rich colors and just nice and modern! Oh! and they come in the cutest black & white cover-bag. Take a look, another one in bright green coming soon… This is my new favorite book company, enjoy!

With Love, LARA”

Thanks for the killer post, Lara! We can’t wait to KISS you with the green book!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

“The colors, the dancing, the light effects! This reception party was so. much. fun. When I opened the box from KISS Wedding Books containing the 12×12 Leather Album and 8×8 Linen Album both in “Forbidden Green” – I was blown away. The photographic quality was superb, as always, and the 12×12 size was epic-ly delicious! It’s the first 12×12 I’ve ordered as of yet and to say I was impressed would be a giant understatement….

There’s no better way to tell the story of your wedding than a custom designed KISS Wedding Book… you’ll never want to put it away!”

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

“For as long as I have been a photographer, I have been searching high and low for a display album supplier that was the perfect fit for my photography.

In 2010, I am happy to report, we found each other. Yep, it’s love.

These are my new display albums and they are exactly what I have been looking for. Check out the video to get a glimpse of them.

In the past my criteria for selecting an album company has been influenced by the gazillion customizing options offered by the album companies.

At the start of 2010, I decided it was time to pair up with suppliers that meet MY criteria. From this new viewpoint, things started to fall into place. I basically narrowed my selection process down to the follow 3 key requirements:

1. Classic designs with freedom to implement my style.
2. Quality – ZERO room to skimp here. Only the best for my clients.
3. Would this be THE album that I would want for my own photos?

Something that surprised me was that my priorities had shifted, it no longer came down to price, nor did it come down to having 600 front cover combination possibilities.

At every step of my research, I imagined I was the client. For my clients I wanted the following:

1. Easy to understand ordering options
2. A small selection of top quality products
3. Room to customize number of pages and album size
4. An album that makes the photos look nothing short of fabulous!

Taking photos is the fun part of my job. Displaying them in a beautiful way is rewarding. However, creating lasting memories is the powerful significance of my job.

I imagine my clients opening their wedding album in 30 years time, showing it to future generations, proudly. It’s been looked at over the years with warmth. Sometimes people have cried, wished they had been there, or remembered someone special.

So, when I take your photos and put them in an album, I do so with love.”

It’s official, Gemma. We love you and think you ROCK!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

Zilos Photo is thrilled with their first KISS book! Check out Daniel and Ariana’s review on their blog.

“Wow, OMG, Awesome, Fantastic, Stunning!!!….ok can u tell im a little bit thrilled about something? I cant begin to express how I feel when I saw what arrived today at my house and what beautiful the contents in the box where. Thats right ladies and gentlemen, the first KISS Wedding Album we have ordered!! Wow! This book is simply amazing! Not only is the craftsmanship stunning, but the images came out just the way I designed and wanted them. The packaging on it was great. And when they, KISS Wedding Books, say Simple is Hot, I couldn’t agree more.

I am super pleased to be a part of a fantastic Album Company and I highly recommend them to the highest degree! Not only are these books great for wedding albums, they can be great for engagement, anniversaries, portraits or any other special event you want to embrace you moments in.

We offer the following sizes:
4×4 – Mini KISS books – Perfect for carrying in your purse or for gifts to friends and family. 8×8, 10×10, 12×12.

We have been KISSed!”

This book is huuuge! 40 Spreads, 80 pages of pure bliss!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

“We have been looking for a new book to show off your pictures in way that you will always love and cherish! Today we introduce to you the KISS Linen book! We LOVE this book, because it is thin, durable and classy! There is no better way to show off your Wedding, Family or Children than with one of these books! So here are some pictures of it. You can order your very own KISS Linen book from us in a variety of colors and sizes – plus they’ll arrive to you in these cool black & white slipcovers!

We also have the brand new Little KISSes Book!!! Girls, you can put this in your purse and show off your pictures to everyone! It’s small, cute and leather! There are some pictures of it below the KISS Linen Book!”

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

JJ Horton Photography posted some killer images of their own wedding album… as well as a couple client books

Check out the blog post!

“Two weeks ago, I made it a mission to finally sit down and design our wedding album. I feared that if I didn’t accomplish this soon- it would never happen. So I sat for 2 nights in a row after work to complete all the spreads. I had just set out to do the minimum 10 spreads- but quickly realized that once I was designing slide 9… and just starting the ceremony photos, I had a problem…. this book was quickly becoming way more than the intended 10 spreads. So I sat… mulling through the 700+ fabulous photos Story Photographers gave us…. hemming and hawing over which ones to include- which ones would tell the story of our day the best. Multiple times I asked Jeremy to come and look at this- do you like this? What about this? ect. ect. ect. At the end of the 2nd night I had 22 spreads, and they were all perfect. I then uploaded and ordered to KISS… and idiot me…. I chose media mail….. why? because I’m cheap, and it was the cheapest option. As soon as the order was placed I wanted that book in my hands, I just couldn’t wait to hold it! I’ll probably never pick media mail ever again…. I ordered that thing like 10 days ago, and 10 days is just too long to wait for such an amazing book.

Then…. I decided I wanted needed a 4×4 mini KISS sample. The green one pictured on our products page was a for a client, so we didn’t have one. So- I decided out latest engagement shoot of Andrea & Steven would be perfect! I got to designing again…. and I have to admit, once I ordered it, I was almost as excited to hold it in my hands as my own wedding book! Well, KISS has a new policy on their 4×4 mini KISSes, you have to order them 2 at a time now…. so guess what Steven & Andrea…. you’re getting a little present in the mail soon We’re not greedy and we don’t need 2 copies of the same book, so we’ll be sending you one of the two shortly!

So here’s the lovely books that were waiting for me when I arrived home (an hour early from work…. yes, I was so excited I left work early!)”

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie

“I just received my first sample album from my new album provider, Kiss Wedding Books. It is so gorgeous! I looked for a long time before I found an album that had everything I wanted: Lay flat, no cut pages so the picture prints across the page; stunning print quality; and simple, classic covers. A wedding album is something the bride and groom will have for a lifetime so it had to be wonderful.

Right when I got the box, I grabbed my camera and snapped some pics!”

We look forward to lots more KISSing, Letter M Photography!

Thanks for KISSing!
Rachel : The Helpful Hottie