Written by Pink Photographer Christine DeLessio

You’ve heard the expression about planning down to every last detail, right? That’s what Lauren Grove wants to help you do with your wedding. Her blog – not coincidentally named Every Last Detail – aims to help provide inspiration, ideas and insight during the planning process. “I want to educate brides,” she says.

Part of that education comes from a wonderful concept she calls a “Wedding Style Dictionary.” She has taken 25 common wedding styles, including bohemian, eclectic, rustic and whimsical, and gives you the dictionary definition of the terms. But that’s just the beginning. She then invites stylists, photographers, designers and do-it-yourself gurus to create inspiration shoots based solely on the definition of the word – all while keeping budgets in mind.

Lauren advises brides to look not only at her blog, but others like it for ides. Not the DIY type? Check out www.esty.com, and try to bring in something home- or hand-made when you can.

She says she’s always looking for new submissions for her blog, especially those with a focus on every last detail. “I want unique and cool details for each aspect of a wedding,” she says. She wants to see it all, “from a DIY cupcake bar to interesting table numbers.” She suggests keeping submissions simple, and avoid using fisheye lenses or tilt frames when photographing the details. “Make sure to have clear, clean shots of the ideas and details,” she says. “Brides want to see everything.”

Lauren says she’s excited to be able to use her talents to contribute to IFAC. “When I heard it was a nationwide event where everyone can participate and 100% of the sitting fees went directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, I knew had to partake in it, too,” she says.

Of course, don’t forget to check out her blog, http://everylastdetailblog.com/. You can also follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/ELD_Lauren and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ELDblog.

Written by Platinum Photographer and Workshop Committee Chair, Michelle Guzman

Hi. My name is Michelle Guzman, and I am so excited to be a part of Images for a Cure!

I love that so many photographers and businesses have come together for one great cause. Through IFAC, I’ve met some amazing photographers and gotten to know other photographers better. It’s also encouraging to me that any help I have given, no matter how small, is contributing to something big. I am so happy to team up with other photographers around the world who are compassionate and giving. It’s amazing to be a part of something like this.

IFAC has many wonderful sponsors who generously stepped up and donated amazing products or services. One of IFAC’s sponsors is Adorama. Adorama is one of the USA’s largest photo retail and mail order stores. They have teamed up with IFAC from the start and are once again donating fabulous giveaways. Not only does Adorama carry a great selection of cameras and accessories, but they’re one of the most personable companies I have ever heard of. If you’re on Facebook, you may have seen Joel’s fun status updates or received a comment from him.

I’m a big fan of their Facebook page. You can get information on sales, links to current photography news, updates on what’s new with Adorama, and more. Recently, a friend of mine was looking for the Canon EF 70-200 2.8L lens. I saw on Adorama’s Facebook page that they had a recent price drop on that lens, so I was excited to pass that information to my friend. You’ll also notice that Adorama answers questions and offers help to anyone that posts on their Facebook page. I love that a large company is so accessible and willing to help its customers. Great customer service makes the shopping experience a great one. Visit their Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/Adorama.

If you’re on Twitter, you can also follow Adorama at http://www.twitter.com/adorama!

Adorama also has a learning center online and workshops at their NYC headquarters.  If you’re in the market for new equipment or accessories, check out their buying guide and reviews. Once you’ve made your purchase, take advantage of Adorama TV. They have different episodes from shooting lightning to photographing self portraits to freezing motion with your shutter. Adorama not only provides photographers with a great buying experience, but they provide different opportunities for us to learn something new.

Adorama has generously donated some fantastic giveaways!
3 $100 gift cards
Flip HD Video Camera in Pink
Fuji Instax Camera in Pink
Apple 8GB iPod in Pink

Notice the pink theme here? Love it!

Thank you Adorama for your enthusiasm and support! It’s sponsors like you that makes IFAC possible.

Written by Pink Photographer Melissa Knowles

Don’t have enough time to design?

Then “The Album Café” is for you!

They offer fully customizable, layered Photoshop templates for creating contemporary albums in record time. Designed to save you hours of design time and increase your sales, these storybook style templates are incredibly easy to use. They also offer more than just albums – Christmas cards, kids items, blog frames, cd cases and labels, and so much more! Each item purchased is available for download right after the purchase is completed and all you need to do it resize your pictures and insert them into the album of your choice.

Their templates are designed to work with WHCC but can be resized and used with other companies too!  (They include a free resizing tool  along with some free actions and templates.) For those who are just learning Photoshop there is a special “Learn how to” area designed to walk you through the process of using and ordering the items they have pre-created for you. As photographers, our passion is to capture each and every special moment, and these beautiful templates help us to tell the story without taking away from what we love to do.

The Album Café is a great time saver and their work is always and continues to be fabulous. The Album Café continually chooses to support wonderful causes and we are so happy to have them as a sponsor of IFAC! Now … if you aren’t already on your way to their site, you should be!

A huge thanks to The Album Café for donating 4 sets of Holiday Card templates plus a $50 Gift Certificate!

Written by Platinum Photographer Ryan Poirier

Got Ink?

WHCC has plenty of it. And they’ve been putting it to paper in ways that pro photographers have loved for years.  WHCC gives professional photographers the quality control & level of service photographers want, while continuously delivering new and innovative products that customers demand.

With the tools & information provided, such as WHCC’s ordering application, Photoshop templates, and embedded color profile support, professionals can ensure that the colorful designs & images created in the edit room are exactly what the customers receive, whether it be an 8×10 Print, a 20 page Printed Press book, or a 40×60 Gallery Wrap ready for hanging in the gallery hall.

IFAC is proud to have WHCC on our team in the fight against cancer. As photographers, it’s our job to capture colorful stories & personalities of those we photograph. And WHCC helps us present these stories in the colorful ways in which they deserve to be told. While we are not scientists, lab technicians, or even doctors; together we can help to give a strong voice to the many stories & people that make up our lives and inspire us to never give up as we continue to fight against cancer.

Written by Platinum Photographer Cheri Root

Marketing is essential to any business and encompasses several elements including branding, pricing, communication, packaging and social media. A lot, huh? Too much to do on your own or figure out for that matter. Sometimes as photographers running our own form of a boutique business we feel as if we have to do everything, be everything and accomplish everything (especially when we are first starting out!) I believe the success of our business depends on us leaving some of that stuff to the experts…and who better to guide you through the marketing windmill but Sarah Petty with The Joy of Marketing. Utilizing the numerous marketing tools she has created to assist us in maneuvering our way through, we can, as photographers, do what we love to do-take pictures.

Most notably is Sarah’s Café Joy monthly membership-month to month support in growing your business and access to a member’s only board. Sarah also offers webinars, marketing templates (and not just any templates-creative, unique pieces you won’t find anywhere else), marketing pieces, branding analysis and Sarah’s version of a podcast, which she calls “Joycast”-tackling many business and marketing issues directly targeted at the success of your business. Sarah’s Joy of Marketing website http://www.thejoyofmarketing.com is full of information and resources including recommended books and her downloadable e-book-The Boutique Experience.

Along with Facebook and Twitter, Sarah also takes advantage of another social media-YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thejoyofmarketing! Free learning videos are accessed through The Joy of Marketing YouTube channel-tutorials, tips and how to’s! As a photographer and owner of my own business, Cheri Root Photography, the information provided through The Joy of Marketing is invaluable. To have someone walk you through the marketing process and provide relevant information on a monthly basis, that is pertinent to the growth and sustainability of what you are trying to accomplish, is what I appreciate.

A huge thank you to Sarah Petty:  The Joy of Marketing for supporting Images for a Cure. As soon as I found out about Images for a Cure I knew I had to be a part of something so amazing. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor and my great-aunt is currently fighting breast cancer for the second time. How better to honor them and all those who have fought and are fighting this disease.