Holiday Cards From Minted: Review

If you are still in need of getting your holiday cards printed, you should definitely check out Minted. I had the opportunity to try out their site this year and I have to say, I am very impressed not only with the quality of the cards but the ordering process.

As you all know deciding on the photos you want to use for your holiday card can be a challenge.  And once you've made that decision, the next hurdle is finding a card design that "fits" your photo.   What I love about Minted is they have a "find it fast" feature which allows you to see your photos in many cards.  It really helps give you an idea of how your card will look in a variety of designs without having to go through them one by one.

Here is a quick example of some designs I tried out with my photo.  I loved getting this quick snap shot which allowed me to quickly eliminate designs.

After finding my perfect card, I submitted my order and received a proof from a designer within 24 hours.  Getting a proof was helpful because it made me realize that the photo I had chosen for the back of my card was not going to print as I expected, so I was able to swap it out.

Feeling confident about my selection, I ordered my cards and received them within 3 days (I was provided with express shipping as part of this review, so you will want to check the turnaround times based on your needs).

When I found my package waiting on my steps I was so excited to open it up and check out my cards.  I loved how they were packed with a little ribbon and note...nice extra touch.  And the cards looked fantastic!

The card stock is very thick (you can see the thickness below) and they feel so great in your hands.  The colors were true to the image and I could not be more pleased (although I did go back and forth with my designer on the blue color in my son's shirt to get it just right).

Spoiler Alert:  If you are on my holiday card list, here is the front of my card (I'll leave the back as a surprise).  I just love it!  Now I need to get busy and start addressing my cards (I still handwrite mine).

So if you still need to get those cards ordered, definitely check out Minted.  You can get 15% off of orders of $150 or more and 10% off orders $100+ by using the code Holly.  And if you have not picked out a photo yet, you can take advantage of this deal now and upload your photo later (offer ends Thursday, Dec. 5).


Note:  I was provided with 75 holiday cards in exchange for this review, however the opinions are entirely my own and I am truly THRILLED with my cards.  

Red Tricycle Event at the Drybar Palo Alto and a HUGE Surprise!

by Kristina Rust

Every so often, we are invited to very fun blogger events where we are provided with the opportunity to try out new products and have fun connecting with fellow Bay Area bloggers.

Last week, Red Tricycle along with Microsoft invited us to an awesome event where we received complimentary blowouts at Drybar Palo Alto while getting a sneak peek of the all-new Microsoft Surface 2.

I have to say, that spending a couple of hours in the afternoon getting pampered while testing out this very cool tablet was a great way to start my week.

I was very interested in learning more about this product because our laptop had just given up the ghost and we were in the market for a new device.  I have two kids in high school and two more in middle school and we can't get by with just one computer.  

What really intrigued me about the Surface 2 was that not only is it light weight and super portable, it comes equipped with Office 2013...yep, Powerpoint, Word, Outlook and Excel.  It is a tablet that my kids can do school work on as well as have fun playing around with hundreds of different apps.

And unlike some other tablets, you can actually transfer/add files using the USB port...oh and did I mention that it has up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge?  I was sold!  I thought this would be the perfect device for my family.

The Surface 2 comes in a 32GB ($449) and 64GB ($549) version and for a limited time you can get a free Touch cover (a cover you can type on) with purchase.  

And here is the surprise part of my post.......The event concluded with a drawing where one lucky person would go home with a Surface 2.  And guess who won?  Yep, ME!!!  I was shocked, thrilled and so grateful.  I still can't believe it!

As soon as I got home and shared the news with my kids, the battle was on as to who would get to use it first.   My son called "dibs" and was the first to explore our new toy/learning tool while hanging out at our local Starbucks.  Too fun!

We've had it now for a week and everyone (but me..but that is going to change soon!) has had their hands on it and they all love it.  Thank you so much Red Tricycle and Microsoft!


If you are not familiar with Red Tricycle, they are a digital city guide and community for parents.  They scour the city and share their picks on things to see, eat and do with your kids and are in eight cities so far.

Jacqui Boland the CEO and Founder started Red Tricyle when she was pregnant with her son and her mission is simple, to help parents have more fun with their kids.

Take a Hike--Photo Collage | Wordless Wednesday

by: Kristina

Instagram Magnets from Pic Pack

Oh how I love these magnets from Pic Pack.  They are so cute and a great way to utilize those awesome photos you've been taking and sharing on Instagram as well as photos you've been taking with any of your other cameras.  Yes, it's time to do something with all that wonderful art!  

Ordering is super easy, just sign up on their website....www.getpicpack.com, link your Instagram account (or upload photos from your computer) and choose 12 photos for 18 Euros (approx. $25 US).   They ship from Berlin and take about 2 weeks to arrive, but they are worth the wait.  The photo quality is very crisp and sharp and the colors are vibrant.

I think these would make a very fun holiday gift for friends, family or yourself!



Note:  I was provided with a complimentary pack of photo magnets in exchange for this post.  The opinions expressed are my own.  

Friday Freebie--Templates from Squijoo

Earlier in the week we told you about our latest find for awesome templates, Squijoo.  Today we wanted to share with you that they also have a terrific selection of FREE templates.  If you want to get a sampling of all the great goodies they have to offer, check out their freebies.   We are sure you'll find something you'll love!  And don't forget that you can save 50% off their monthly membership fee (regularly $10 per month) by using the code 1EE3B.  So for just $5 per month, you can have access to everything they offer!  This is too good of a deal to pass up.  

Fabulous Templates from Squijoo

I'm so excited to share this wonderful template resource with you....Squijoo!  I found this fabulous site that is full of amazing templates when looking for a collage board and fall marketing template.

I have made templates on my own, but it takes me forever.  I can't decide on a design, I don't have all of the digital elements that I'd like and in reality I just don't have the time.  That is why I have become a huge fan of Squijoo.  They have everything a photographer needs, from collage boards to holiday cards, CD labels to calendars.  They also have wonderful tools to help you run your business including contracts, marketing boards, pricing guides, thank you cards, and more.  Seriously, they have thought of everything!

How it works is you pay a flat monthly fee to have access to ALL their designs.  For just $10 a month you can get EVERYTHING they offer.  And the best part is there are no binding contracts.  You can cancel your membership at any time and keep whatever you downloaded...not that you'd want to cancel because they keep adding cute templates each month.  

But wait, there's more......The wonderful folks at Squijoo are offering our Moms Who Click readers 50% off membership.  Just use the code 1EE3B and get unlimited access to all of their templates for just $5 bucks a month!  

Here are just a couple of templates I recently downloaded for my business.....super cute, eh?

I love this word art!  So easy to customize!

I needed a collage board for a client and this was perfect.  The original actually has a cute little label in the center but I didn't need it and was able to easily customize it. 

Friday Freebie--PaperLark Designs

by Kristina

I have been doing more and more senior photo session this year and have been on the look out for "senior" themed templates.  I found PaperLark Designs on Etsy  and purchased one of her senior marketing templates which I absolutely loved.

From there I found her Facebook page where she has some awesome monthly freebies.  And guess what, this month she is featuring a whole set of coordinated beautiful senior goodies!  Here are just samples.... to get your hands on these terrific templates, just LIKE her Facebook Page and click the FREEBIES tab on her page.

Wordless Wednesday--August At a Glance, Project 365

by Kristina

This year I am doing a project 365 with my iPhone. While I am still taking loads of photos with my big girl camera, I am finding it easier to stay on top of this project by using my iPhone. It feels like less pressure and since my phone is always with me, it is easy to stay on track. So here you go....a look back on August.


.

My New Favorite Lightroom Presets From D Sisk Photography

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to try out some of the wonderful presets and templates from D Sisk Photography.

If you have not visited her shop, you need to do so today!  Deitra, or Dee, is an amazing photographer located in Southern Indiana who not only does stunning portrait work but also has loads of fantastic tools for photographers.

And lucky for me, I was able to try out a few of her fabulous products.  My favorite, hands down has to be The Essentials Collection for Lightroom 4 & 5.   This great set is actually three collections in one....

• The Brush Collection--26 brushes to smooth skin, retouch, dodge/burn, and much more....
• Quick Fix Collection--presets that allow you to make quick adjustments such as sharpening, noise reduction, mattes, and vignettes.
• And Workflow Collection--contains a variety of workflow options that are categorized for you into 5 categories:  Clean Edit, Rich Edit, Light and Airy, Creative Coloring and Black & White.

I have to tell you that these presets have been my go to editing tools and have simplified my workflow immensely.  I am usually drawn to a clean/natural edit but sometimes I like to get a little creative with my images and this product allows me the flexibility to do it all.  

And I have to say, that while I do find some excitement in editing images, it is one of those things that can really suck away the time and with Dee's presets, I'm able to spend less time at the computer and more time doing what I really love, shooting.   

Thank you Dee for these awesome presets!  Be sure to LIKE D Sisk Photography on Facebook and check out her wonderful freebies as well her gorgeous work!

Here is just a small sample of the edits I've done using The Essentials..... 

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

DIY-Lampshade Using Slides

by Kristina

Last week while visiting my mom in the Midwest, I made this awesome lampshade.  My mom got the idea while visiting a local craft fair.  So while I was there we decided to work on the lampshade she started and make another one for me.  Isn't it cute?  I just love it!

My mom had boxes full of slides from when she and my dad first got married and I loved looking through the slides and picking out various images for this project.  It was so fun to see my parents as newlyweds....they were and are such a good looking couple!

Anyway, this craft looks easy at first glance, however the original idea involved using jump rings to attach the slides together which was extremely time consuming (and a bit frustrating).  We improved on the idea by using lanyard clasps to attach the slides together....which made this so much easier and I was able to whip one out in an afternoon.  My moms project on the other hand is still waiting to be completed as we ran out of jump rings.  :(

So here is what you need to make one of these treasured beauties.....

• An old lampshade---you'll want to tear off the shade portion and just use the wiring.  Try and find one that is not too big or this project will require more slides.  The one I used measures 7 inches across.
• Hole punch.  Get a heavy duty one.  One that can punch through the thickness of the cardboard slide.  My mom picked hers up at Michaels.
• Slides--of course it is more meaningful if they are of your own family but you could probably find some at the Goodwill or flea market.  For the lampshade I made, I used 36 slides.  
• Lanyard clasps.  I bought a pack of 60 at Michaels for $3.00
• Crystals to hang on the last row of slides or any other decorative element.  You can also attach the slides to the wire base from your lampshade but I preferred using the decorative crystals.

Assembling the lampshade is pretty simple (if you use the lanyards).  Basically, all you have to do is  punch a hole in the middle of each side of your slide and use the lanyard clasp to attach them.  Note:  in order for the images to be right side up, your slide will actually face upside down.  I made all the rows and attached them all together before hanging them onto the lampshade wire.  

The project took my mom and I about 3 hours.  She punched holes, while I attached the slides.  It was such a fun project to make together.   

I absolutely love this lampshade and have it proudly displayed in my family room.   If you decide to make one, we'd love to see it!  Please share a link in the comments below. 

Printic App--Get Those Photos Off Your Phone

by Kristina

When was the last time you printed your photos?  You know the ones that you take weekly or daily with your iPhone or Android?

Are they just sitting there on your phone taking up space?  If you are looking for an easy way to print those photos check out the Printic app.  It is one of the easiest ways to print and share those amazing images you've been accumulating.   You can not only print photos from your phone but also Instagram and Facebook.  

Just download the app, choose your pictures, crop them, select your recipients and the pictures will arrive in a vintage little envelope in the mail.  Prints are .99 cents each and shipping is free.   The prints are 3" x 4" glossy and have that cool Polaroid look.  

I loved the pretty orange packaging and am excited to send a little mail love  to my family from our recent trip to the Midwest.  I know my grandmother is going to love a little photo surprise in her mailbox!

As they say, "snail mail is back!"


**I was provided with 6 credits in order to try out Printic.  I was not paid and the thoughts and opinions in this review  are my own.  

Syncing Your iPhone Photos with the PhotoSync App

I am so excited to tell you about this app that I recently found...PhotoSync.  I stumbled upon it while on vacation in the Midwest because I needed to make room for photos on my iPhone.  Sound like a familiar problem? 

Usually, before a vacation I sync my iPhone photos to my (because I know I'll be filling it up with images), but this time I forgot.  So here I am in the Midwest with over 1000 photos on my phone and no way to back them up.  I tried using the iCloud but couldn't figure that out.  

So after doing a quick search on the internet, I found PhotoSync.  What I love about this app is it allows you to wirelessly transfer your photos and video to not only your computer but to photo hosting services like Flickr, Zenfolio, Smug Mug, Google/Picasa and Dropbox. 

After downloading the app ($1.99),  I was able to easily select a group of photos and transfer them to my Zenfolio account. The transfer occurs in the background so you can actually still use your phone.  And PhotoSync is smart.  It keeps track of what photos you've transferred from your camera roll, so if you want to delete them you can feel confident that they've been backed up. 

After uploading 300 photos, I was able to delete them off my phone and am now ready to capture more memories of our Midwest fun. 

My Switch to Pro-Photo--A Blog, Site and Portfolio All in One

For the past few months I have been wanting to update my photography website (in addition to blogging her at MWC, I also have my own photography business and site Kristina Rust Photography).
While I was happy with my Zenfolio site, I found it limiting in terms of the customization options.

What I really wanted was a site that was easy to customize, one that could showcase my portfolio in a professional way and one that was affordable.  After hours of researching different options and asking fellow photographers for recommendations I decided to go with ProPhoto and I'm so happy I did.

ProPhoto is based on the Wordpress framework so what you need is your own domain name and a host to install Wordpress and ProPhoto.   This translate into the following fees:

• Web hosting (I used bluhost recommeneded by ProPhoto) $4.95 per month
• Wordpress--Free
• ProPhoto--$199 (for self-install, you can pay extra to have them install Wordpress and ProPhoto for you)

Although I was nervous at first about installing Wordpress and ProPhoto, I decided to embrace my DIY spirit and set everything up myself.  ProPhoto made it very easy with their online tutorials (both videos and written instructions) and I had WordPress and ProPhoto installed in no time.

Then came designing my site.   I must admit that creating my new site was a lot of work.....mainly because I needed to think through what I wanted and how I wanted to present my information (and I kept making changes along the way).  I would highly recommend sketching out the flow of your site before you dig in to creating it.

I used the Maxwell design (ProPhoto includes 13 free starter designs that can be easily customized and tweaked so that you can build something unique) as my foundation and totally came up with a new look.  It looks nothing like the original template.  Knowledge of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is necessary in order to tweak the design elements. 

When creating my site, ProPhoto's online tutorials answered most of my questions but when I needed a little extra help, their support via email was great.  I loved that the majority of my questions were answered the very same day.

In addition to their great support and easy customization options, ProPhoto also has built-in mobile sites, is Flash-free, is optimized for search engines and offers a 110% moneyback gaurantee.

If you are looking at creating a new website or revamping your current site, I would highly recommend ProPhoto.  If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Disney on the Road--An Inspiring Morning Spent in Berkeley

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend the Disney On the Road Social Media Moms Celebration.   Needless to say, I was excited to attend.  It was a great opportunity to network with fellow Bay Area mom bloggers as well as learn and become inspired by amazing mom-preneurs (and of course get some inside scoop on the Disney experience!).

The event took place at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley and after driving an hour in the pouring rain with my friend and fellow blogger Akemi, from Chalk and Cheese Chronicles, we were at seated in our chairs ready to be inspired!

The conference started with an introduction by Maria Bailey, the founder of BSM Media and Mom Talk Radio.  Hearing her story and how she started the whole Disney Social Media Moms concept was amazing.

Next we heard from Michele Himmelberg from the Disneyland Resort.  She gave us an overview on all the new and exciting happenings at the Disney Parks including the Cars Land, the Magical Map

The keynote speak was Mindee Doney, who invented Boogie Wipes.  Her presentation was extremely inspiring.  She took us through her journey of how she came up with the idea, turned it into a successful business and the trials and tribulations along the way.  I thoroughly enjoyed her honesty, her "truth bombs" and the entire presentation.

Next we heard from a panel of mom-preneurs who were all Huggies MomInspired grant recipients.  They discussed how to take an idea and turn it into a viable product.  Alma Moussa, founder of Babee Covee, Erin Kelly found of Hulabye, and Romy Taormina found of Psi Bands, were so inspiring and really made us all feel that anything is possible.

And our last speaker was Michelle Stepney, Disney Parks Global Content Director.  Michelle provided us all with valuable tips on conducting interviews, representing your brand, and a big reminder that nothing is off the record.

The morning went by so fast.  I learned so much and loved the opportunity to learn and be inspired by so many amazing women.

Ear Candy Digital.....A Great Music Resource for Photographers

Lately I have been doing more and more fusion videos for my clients.  While I love mixing still photos and snippets of video to create these multi-media presentations, the one hurdle I kept having was finding good, reasonably priced music to license for these projects.

If you have ever needed music for a project, I'm sure you would agree that finding it is not as easy as you'd think.  Most sites only offer one time usage licenses and each song can run up to $50 a pop.  

There are some free sites out there, but sifting through the selection to find a song that fits your project can be time consuming.  And finding good music at these sites is like searching for a needle in a haystack.....you gotta sift through a lot of not so great tunes.

But then one day I stumbled upon Ear Candy Digital and was so excited to find a site that was easy to navigate and offered royalty free music that I can license to use with slideshows, videos, on my website and client DVDs and the best part is their license covers UNLIMITED uses during the LIFETIME of your business.  

What is the cost?  Ear Candy Digital provides both single song licensing for $25 and they also have an ALL ACCESS PASS that allows you unlimited access to their library for one year for $199.  And now through July 15 they are offering 50% off their ALL ACCESS PASS which is a FANTASTIC deal!  

To take advantage of these savings just click here and sign up before July 15, 2013.  You don't need a coupon code, it is an instant 50% off.  

I have downloaded several of their songs and plan on downloading more for future projects.  The music is great, the site is easy to navigate (it even provides songs based on type of project i.e. wedding, senior portraits, baby, sports, etc.) and downloading your selection is a breeze.  I HIGHLY recommend this site to anyone looking to license music for their projects.  

Here are just a couple of examples of how I used their music for my own projects.  I thought the selections worked perfectly!   I'm sure you'll find some great music too!  

Jack's 9th Birthday from Kristina Rust Photography on Vimeo.



Surf's Up from Kristina Rust Photography on Vimeo.


Disclosure:  I received a one year membership but the opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.  I love this site and feel fortunate that I found it!  I was not compensated for this review.  

Chic Critique--Magazine, Resource and Community for Women Who Love Photography

by: Kristina 

A few weeks ago while surfing around the web, I came upon Chic Critique and after several hours of perusing this site, yes it totally sucks you in, I knew I had to share this fabulous resource with you!

For those of you not familiar with Chic Critique, this fantastic resource was started by Kelli and Matt France.  Kelli had been consulting photographers for several years and noticed that a lot of photographers struggled with confidence.  She decided to create Chic Critique to help photographers increase confidence, be a part of a community and get honest critiques on their work.

Not only did she create a positive community to receive honest crique from peers and pros, but she also created an elite educational resource for women who love photography.   The Chic Critique blog is full of great info.  You seriously will find yourself immersed in this site for hours!

Chic Critique also has a membership subscription.  Members receive the Chic Magazine, a Celebrity Tutorial Library, ChicTV Interviews and tons of freebies (gift cards, templates, biz kits, What-to-Wear guides).  If this sounds of interest to you, check out their free 10 day trial (I know I am going to!).

Below is a sneak peek of Chic Magazine (the images inside are going to make you swoon).  I have the full version and LOVE it.  The images are gorgeous, the business tips are terrific (loved the packaging ideas), and the photography tutorials on creating backlit images and glitter bokeh are making me want to go out and shoot!  I think I'll become  a member for this magazine alone! 

So go and check out this fantastic resource and let us know what you think!

Midwestern Gothic--Cover Photo

by: Kristina

I am thrilled to share with you that one of my images was chosen to be on the cover of Midwestern Gothic's summer issue.  If you are not familiar with Midwestern Gothic, it is a quarterly print journal dedicated to featuring work about or inspired by the Midwest, by writers who live or have lived there.

I heard about Midwestern Gothic through my friend Rayme Waters.  Rayme is talented writer and recently published her debut novel The Angels' Share (a fantastic book if you are looking for a summer read).

Anyway, she mentioned to me that Midwestern Gothic was looking for photo submissions for their website that capture the essence of the Midwest.  Being a Midwesterner (I hail from Illinois), I was excited to look through my photos and submit a few entries.

Needless to say, I was beyond excited to be notified that my image from when I did the RAGBRAI (a 450 bike ride across Iowa) with my dad and sister was chosen for their Summer Issue (on sale in  early July).   To see the photo and learn about the story behind the image please pop on over to Midwestern Gothic's site.

I can't wait to get my hard copy of this issue and to share it with my dad.  And I am so grateful to Midwestern Gothic for giving me this opportunity to share a photo which means so much to me.

Thursday Throwback--Cookie Splash

Kristina
I can't believe that our blog has been up and running for almost three years.  Our first post was in July of 2010 and now hundreds of posts later we are still here sharing our passion.  We love sharing the tips and tricks we have learned along the way but most of all we love connecting with other photographers no matter where they are on their journey.  

Throughout the years we have learned so much and we thought it would be fun to pull out a few of our favorite posts from the archives.  Below is one that I originally posted in February 2011 on creating Cookie Splash photos.  If you have not tried this, go grab a box of Oreos, a cup of milk and get your splash on.

Enjoy!

Months ago I stumbled upon a Cookie Splash photo by a young photographer from The Netherlands.  Siebe (who publishes his work under the name De Vetpan Studios) is an amazing self-taught photographer who one day decided to test out how well the ISO on his new Nikon D700 would preform by taking a photo of a cookie dropping into a cup of coffee.  He posted his creation on Flickr and it had more than 5000 view counts in just one day.

Needless to say, he inspired many others (including myself) to do the same.   You can find nearly 1,000 photos in the Cookie Splash Group on Flickr.  If you want to create your own Cookie Splash photo, check out Siebe's tutorial that shows you how to set it up.  Basically, all you need is a colorful mug, a favorite cookie and a good trigger finger.

If you have created a Cookie Splash photo or are now inspired to try it, please post your shots.  We'd love to see them.  BTW, the photo above was my first attempt (by myself--no assistants were used to drop the cookie).    I got really lucky.  I thought I could perfect the shot and tried several more times but none of those photos turned out as well as this one.  Good thing I have long arms!

Capturing A Week Full of Milestones & Reflecting on the Past

This week was full of milestones for my family.  My son turned 16 (eek!) and my daughter graduated from 8th grade (double eek!!) and is now moving on to high school.  I know these words have been uttered by many, but I can't believe how quickly my kids are growing up.

While I'm excited for all of that lies ahead for my son and daughter, I wish that I could push a pause button.  Well, maybe not a pause button....I want them to continue down life's path......but how about the little turtle button used to slow down film when making movies in iMovie?  If only we could slow the passage of time.....just a bit.

It truly seems that only yesterday my son was the cherubic red-haired baby with big blue eyes, lying on the floor pushing his cars around and carefully watch the wheels spin.  Or that my daughter was the chubby-cheeked toddler with tight little curls framing her face, teetering around the house with her binky attached to her sweater.

Thank goodness that even though I didn't have a fancy DSLR during those early years, that I was always taking photos.  That my trusty Panasonic point and shoot was always in my diaper bag.  And because of my love for photography that I now have albums full of  pictures that bring back these moments so vividly.

These days the diaper bag has been replaced with a camera bag and although my kids are not willing participants in my quest to capture photos, I won't let that stop me.  For I know that in the not so distant future, I'll be thumbing through photo books (note to self:  print more photos!) with tears in my eyes, wondering where did the time go?

Fusion Videos--A Wordless Wednesday of Stills & Video

Making these short little Time Capsules (as inspired by Xanthe Berkeley) has become one of my new passions.  Here is my latest from our recent Memorial Day "Camping" trip.

Ab Camp 2013 from Kristina Rust Photography on Vimeo.