AdoramaPix Blog » Uncategorized

Pro Memberships Announced

Libby — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:56:31 +0000

We are very excited to announce a new program for our members. It’s our Adoramapix Account Plans. We will now offer three levels of membership, Basic, Plus and Pro. The three levels are designed to accommodate all of our members from consumers to prosumers to professionals. To view the accounts, you can click HERE after logging into your account.

Under the free Basic membership, you will be able to have unlimited temporary photo storage, 3 GB of long-term image storage, and free pick up on in store orders over $20. All these benefits come automatically to everyone who has a registered Adoramapix account.

The next level is our Plus membership. For only $34.95/year you get all the benefits of a Basic membership as well as 25 Gb of long-term image storage, an unlimited maximum file size to upload, unbranded links to photo books and free in store pick up on orders.

The highest level is the Pro membership at $69.95/year. It includes all the benefits of Basic and Plus memberships in addition to an end of year rebate, pdf download of photo books,and free standard shipping on orders over $35.00. Because of the rebate, many Pro memberships will pay for themselves within that year.

We are sure you have lots of questions regarding our new plans. Here are some frequently asked questions with answers.

What is the end of year rebate?

Our Pro customers will receive a gift of AdoramaPix credits at the end of each year. The amount credited will be determined by the total value of all AdoramaPix orders during the year. Yearly orders in excess of $1000 will receive 1% of purchase value back. Orders in excess of $2000 receive 2% back. Orders in excess of $3000 receive 3% back. Rebates are issues as in-store credit only and can be used for the purchase of any AdoramaPix products. AdoramaPix credits have no cash value.

How long can I keep images in temporary storage?

Images can be left in temporary storage for up to 60 days before they will expire. When expiry of temporary galleries is imminent, notification emails will be sent as a courtesy. Expiring accounts should be transferred to long term storage to prevent deletion.Images can be left in temporary storage for up to 60 days before they will expire. When expiry of temporary galleries is imminent, notification emails will be sent as a courtesy. Expiring accounts should be transferred to long term storage to prevent deletion.

Can I upgrade my Plus account to Pro?

Yes. Customers wishing to upgrade a Plus account to a Pro account need only pay the difference in the account costs pro-rated for the amount of time that remained on their Plus membership. I.e. if you have 6 months of membership left it will cost you $69.95 – $34.95 x 50% = $17.50 to upgrade.

What file formats are supported?

We support the uploading of images in JPG, TIF and PNG formats. Basic accounts can upload individual images up to 60MB in size. Plus and Proaccounts have no limitation on the size of uploaded images.

What are unbranded links?

Some professional customers want to allow their clients to view their books online without finding out where they were purchased from. Plus and Proaccounts have the option of sharing their books online without an AdoramaPix logo or web address being visible in the browser.

What are PDF downloads?

Pro accounts have the option of downloading photo books as an Adobe PDF file. These PDF files are unbranded (no AdoramaPix logos) digital copies of your photo books and can be used for proofing to clients.

What is free in-store pickup?

AdoramaPix charges a small convenience fee for orders stored at our New York location for local pickup. This fee is waived on any pickup orders over $20. Pro members have the fee waived on orders of all sizes.

Do I qualify for free shipping?

Pro account members receive free standard shipping on any photo book and paper print orders over $35. Free shipping only applies to orders within the continental USA and is not valid on discounted or promotional purchases. Pro members that require faster methods of shipping will receive a $5 discount on the upgraded shipping method.

Adoramapix Sales

Libby — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:12:04 +0000

This is just our annual reminder about Adoramapix sales. We often will alert members of a sale through email, facebook, twitter and google plus. Our sales are not retroactive. In other words, if an order is place before a sale, it is not eligible for the discount. Also, we are not able to extend our sale beyond a certain point. We value our members and their feedback. Please feel free to leave comments here or you can always email me directly at libby@adoramapix.com if you have further questions/concerns. Thank you.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Libby — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:13:00 +0000

Just because there is snow on the ground and the temperature is dipping there is no reason why you still can’t be creative outside with your photo shoot. I recently ran across members Paul and Sylvia Nelson who made a photo book and literally blew me out of the water with their Snow Queen shoot. They were lovely enough to share with us some tips on how to make the best of a stylized shoot in the snow.

Paul and Sylvia Nelson of Paul & Sylvia | Photography & Design are Toronto and destination wedding photographers, world travelers, a team in love who love to photograph other people. Great people, great relationships, and positive outlook fuel their lives and their business. It’s about making a connection with every client and every person they encounter.

You can follow them on their Facebook page,Twitter, and our website.

Here are some tips from Paul and Sylvia on their Snow Queen photo shoot.

It’s no secret that creative wedding inspired photo shoots have their challenges, but when Sylvia started planning one for a winter’s day in central Ontario I knew those challenges would be unique. Inspired by one of her favourite books as a child, Sylvia’s vision for “The Snow Queen” took off. Shooting in mid February we hadn’t really thought of the lack of snow as being an issue, but as one of the warmest winters on record continued, it quickly became one. Some last minute location changes had to be made to find the most snow we could. Living in Canada, one rarely hopes for more snow in winter! After some creative shovelling and re-shovelling of snow, we were ready to shoot.

With some light snow on and off and occasional 10 minute snow storms throughout the day, we learned quickly that we couldn’t move anything on the table set up. If we did, you could easily see were we had disturbed the snow, which would have to involve more postproduction work in photoshop. A lesson in making sure its right the first time! With several set ups in various spots and with cold temperatures I wanted to keep the lighting portable and simple. Speedlights with some simple modifiers were the way to go. As we know, proper exposure can be tricky on the snow. A little over exposure kept the snow a crisp white, I found about +2/3 of a stop seemed to do the trick. You also have to consider your white balance, especially if you want to consider submitting your images to a magazine as they always look for color consistency. We had to consider how our images are going to look when we shot in natural light, with flash, in sunlight, in the shadows of evergreens, in a snowstorm, etc. The white balance was changing constantly. Looking back we wish we would have had the expo disk to make the job easier for post production. Facing all these challenges of shooting in the snow you have to also make sure you’re shooting in RAW format.

Sun up till sun down, it was a long day. We had two awesome table set-ups, an amazing ice bar, a gorgeous cake and the models. All this had to be shot between warming up! Being a wedding photographer, I find myself at complete ease during creative shoots. You just don’t get this kind of time and control at a wedding.

Winter shoots seldom seem to have a game plan set in stone. You find yourself shooting between set ups quickly, all according to the weather. If this is something your willing to take on, the biggest words of advice we have for you is to surround yourself with good vendors. Good, experienced people make a world of difference. Happy shooting my friends.

For more photos from the shoot please click HERE.

If you would like to see the finished photo book click on the image below or you can click HERE.

Thank you so much Paul and Sylvia for sharing your experience with us, your work is simply stunning.

365 Project: @Dpixel’s Advice

Libby — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:45:30 +0000

So you’ve been thinking of starting a photography based Project365.. Snap out of it (pun intended). This was my third successful year of attempting the task and the second (almost successful) year of blogging daily.

Click HERE to see last year’s blog post.

What’s different this year to the previous year?

Last year, photography filled my life outside of work, marriage, parenting and friendship. It was my Alone Time. This year, Life itself got in the way. I had to close my business and it was very stressful to blog each day knowing that the “tone” of post was not upbeat. However, Photography became my therapy. I did continue to take photos daily but blogging proved difficult.

Day118/365:

Day143/365:

How did I get back into the groove?

Having my followers request my posts was a major support. Comments on my blog and/or Twitter encouraged me to post when I could, even if it meant skipping days.

Any other visible changes to the your Project365?

I attended Blographer hosted by Adorama in New York, got home and immediately changed the look of my blog to reflect what it was. It was a PHOTOGRAPHY based Project365. Learning to identify your audience also helps.

Did I follow themes or techniques this time around?

If you read last year’s blog post for AdoramaPix, you see that I recommended that you try not following a theme, not stress about technique, just own your photo and update your blog. Well this year I discovered “Little People” and fell in love all over again with my passion. They allowed me to story tell through my photography, the one thing I love to do. So while it was not a theme per say, I did find myself wanting to post more scenes with them on my blog.

Day287/365:

Day307/365:

Day195/365:

What other factors may have had an influenced your Project365?

Instagram. I opened an account on Instagram and began to share my love of my city, New York. My followers grew quickly and I suddenly, I found another voice, one where I didn’t feel the need to share my feelings. @dhannylovesNYC

Will I do a Project365 again next year?

You betcha!!! Evolving as a writer, as a photographer, as a person.. Having the ability to return to past posts and just smile or cry. One of my most popular post on Google is a post on First Love. Whenever I read it, I learn a little more about myself and my relationships. So yes, I will do another Project365. Possibly follow a similar pattern of diary posts.

First Love:

Words of advice on beginning a Project365

Just do it. Figure out the WHY you want to do it. Changing my view on maybe it is good to have a Theme, to hone in on your skills. Think of it as an open diary that doesn’t always have to involve a photo. Remember that it is YOURS. We, your audience are not there to judge but rather there to take a peek into your world.

Wishing you all good luck. Remember to tag me @DPixel so I can add you to my list of Project365 blogs to follow… Happy New Year, Pix

Winners Announced

Libby — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:34:19 +0000

We had an amazing webinar this past Sunday evening by Broomfield, Colorado Family Photographer Natascha Lee Studios.

It was our most popular webinar so far, and I’m still receiving messages this morning about how helpful the free webinar was. We had over $1,500 in door prizes and blelow is the list of winners. If your name is in bold, please be sure to email Natascha to claim your prize. Rather than publish her email here (go away spam bots!), message me for her email address, or pls visit her website or her Facebook page to get in touch with her.

Vendor Winner
Love Bugs Photography Kae Ponder
Triple Scoop Music Jeff Ben Yirmeyahu Mills
Triple Scoop Music Peyton McCollum
Triple Scoop Music Dustin Grau
Animoto Pete Jones
Red Boot Designs Rachel Mason
Red Boot Designs Anette Kerns Marshall
Kubota Image Tools Jamie Carollo
Kubota Image Tools Michelle Skinner Tanner
Zenfolio Lina Ska
Photo Vision Peyton McCollum
Photo Vision Becca-Rae Gilman
Adorama Pix Didi Rose Huntley
Bird Design Greg Wong

Time to Make the Season Cheery and Bright!

Libby — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:48:39 +0000

It’s time to rake in the savings with great sale on our hardcover photo books. This week only you can save 30% off hard cover photo books with the code: pxbkfall30. You can choose any size of hard cover photo book you would like to receive this great deal. Choose a cute little 6×6 to put in someone’s stocking.. or better yet, how about a 12×12 to make a statement? Hurry though, savings start to fall the longer you wait.

Hurricane Sandy and Adoramapix

Libby — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:51:37 +0000

The images are haunting and heartbreaking. We are talking about the photographs emerging from Hurricane Sandy that swept through our beloved city. As most us were able to prepare the best that we could, we had no idea how powerful a storm Sandy would be and the path of destruction she would leave behind.

Everyone in the city was affected in one way or another. We also did not escape her wrath. We are located on West 18th Street in New York City and were closed yesterday and again today. We have no power, our email is down and with transportation shut down in NYC, no one can get back and forth to work safely. We understand this is an inconvenience for our members who need their orders. We only hope you’ll be patient with us as we get back on our feet, asses the damage and get back to work fulfilling your orders.

Our members are everything to us, without you we would not exist. We do not take this lightly. If you need to reach us, please feel free to reach out to myself, Libby, on all our social media channels. You can also use this temporary email in cases of urgency, temp_info_line@adoramapix.com.

This photo courtesy of NASA really shows the magnitude and power of Hurricane Sandy.

Spooktacular Ways to Capture Halloween

Libby — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:07:48 +0000

Costumes, children, trick-or-treat buckets… Oh my! Halloween is here and with it, sugary sweet moments and memories just dying to be photographed.

Capture the spooktakular excitement of the holiday with these easy-to-follow tips.

Halloween Photography Tips

Photograph the details

Throwing a Halloween party? Don’t forget to photograph the itty bitty details. Take a few shots of your tablescape and treats before guests arrive.

Find unique perspectives

Switch things up and have some fun. Stop shooting straight on – look for exciting and unique perspectives when shooting Halloween decorations.

Up high. Down low. To the right or left. Experiment as you go!

Capture candid moments

Watch, wait and prepare to click. Capture eager hands digging into bowlfuls of candy corn.

And sneaky little children munching on brownies under the table.

There’s no limit to the amount of fun when sugar is involved. Stand at the ready to capture those awesome candid moments.

Grab that group shot without shedding a tear

Kids unruly, uncooperative and high on sugar? Don’t be afraid to bribe them into taking a group shot before heading out to trick-or-treat. Cotton candy, sleepovers, a brand new car. It doesn’t matter what you bribe them with.

Though you could always promise to let them unleash their silly faces once the nice shots are out of the way.

Heck, you might even prefer the silly shots over the calm, collected and properly posed ones.

Don’t forget the costumes

Photograph your pretty little princess in all her glory.

Position her in front of a mirror during the big reveal. You’ll get great costume detail shots and are guaranteed to get a few smiles too.

Get up close and personal with a portrait

Don’t forget to squeeze a few portraits in. Focus on your trick-or-treater’s beautiful face.

Who can resist big brown eyes, a sweet smile and a pretty painted face?

Think outside the box (or jack-o-lantern)

Forget those boring jack-o-lantern photos. Create a sweet and memorable photo this holiday by photographing your jack-o-lantern in a sweet and sentimental way.

Treat yourself to some cool trick-or-treating shots

Don’t be afraid to experiment once the sun goes down. You can still capture compelling trick-or-treat photos without the use of flash.

Kick up your ISO, shoot wide open, slow that shutter speed down and take advantage of pockets of light.

With just a little bit of patience, pre-planning and creativity, you too can capture the sugary sweet excitement of Halloween.

What are some of your favorite things to shoot during Halloween?

AdoramaPix Contributor: Kristi Bonney is a writer, photographer and speaker with a deep-seated love for all things social media. Her blog, Live and Love Out Loud, is a beautiful and inspiring hub for photographers of all skill levels – featuring photography tips and tutorials, freebies and inspiring photo challenges. Kristi’s passion for photography is matched by her love of parenting and empowering women.

Walking, Talking and Photo Plus!

Libby — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:53:35 +0000

It’s our favorite time of year! The leaves turn colors, the air gets a little more crisp, and Starbucks breaks out the Pumpkin Latte’. This can only mean one thing.. it’s time for Photo Plus in New York City! We are so excited to be at the show again this year. It is a time for us to step out of the lab, away from our computers and talk to our members face to face.

We want to invite you to come down to the Javitz Center October 25th and 26th to check out our amazing products. You can get a true hands on experience flipping through the pages of our amazing photo books on display. You can also check out our new Aluminyzed Metal Prints.. it’s ok to drool a little, these prints are amazing. We’ll be at booth 937 with Adorama. Also, if you just want to check out the Expo you can click HERE for your free Expo Pass.

The fun does not stop here. Oh, no we are just getting started. At the Expo, we will be having our famous Twitter Scavengener Hunt. Follow us on Twitter on the 25th and 26th for clues as to where to find the various prizes hidden throughout the trade show. Clues will be released at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both days.

Plus, we want to cut loose a little. Who doesn’t love a photo booth? We’ll be hosting a first of its kind, Instagram Photo Booth. So let loose, pick up some Halloween treats, put on some silly masks and get your mug posted to our Instagram Feed. Who doesn’t want 15 minutes of fame?

And my favorite part, let’s have a photo walk shall we? Join myself, Libby, Instagram Aficionado, Jay Wilson and NYC Nighttime Photo Guru, Matthew Pugliese for a Bright Lights Big City photo walk in Times Square October 24th at 7pm. Meet us with your dslr or smart phone at the TKTS area (big red staircase – where people sit) in the middle of Times Square. It’s located at the intersection of Broadway and 47th St. We will share tips, drag shutters and push those ISOs! Prizes will also be given out … so what’s not to love about a night time photo walk in Times Square with fun people and great prizes?

If you have any questions regarding any of these events, you can always email me at libby@adoramapix.com. I can’t wait to step out from behind my computer and meet you!

Remembering 9-11

Libby — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:32:02 +0000

We never forget. Prayers to all the families, friends and co-workers who lost loved ones on this day. You are always with us in our thoughts, words and actions. This amazing tribute picture comes to us from special member Matthew Pugliese. You can see more of his work here: www.matthewpugliese.com.