Custom Image Proof Box as Featured in Design Aglow

Oh my goodness, I was so pleasantly surprised and extremely flattered to receive an email from the staff at Design Aglow today.  They liked the fan share I had sent them of the Image Box I created using Design Aglow's Le Petit Jardin template and posted my images on their blog!  To see the full article, click here.

Product Showcase: Keepsake Album

The Keepsake Album is probably one of the most popular items that I offer!  Clients love the simplicity and timelessness of these beautiful albums, which come in your choice of many lovely covers.  It is a flush mount album with a true photographic image on each page.  Typically, each page comes with a bordered image or you may also opt o add a customized design layout which always turn out quite amazing, if I do say so myself :-)  The albums start at 5x5 and go up to 12x12 and can have either 20 or 30 pages.  I would have to say that the 8x8 is the most popular size for boudoir sessions while the 10x10 are the most popular for family sessions.  The 5x5 albums usually end up being gifts.

In my excitement to ship out an album to its rightful owner, I usually forget to take pictures beforehand!  But I did remember to photograph this one with the sapphire cover which is currently on its way to a very special lady from her kids and grandkids.

Here are some others that I did remember to take pictures of.  You have to see it in person though, to truly appreciate its beauty.

Product Spotlight: Spiral Bound Photo Booklets

I had a client ask to see what the "Spiral Bound Photo Booklet" looks like so I thought I would do a post here so you too can see!!  Typically the booklets are sized at 5x7 but you may also opt to go with a 5x5 like this one shown below.  Each page comes with a bordered image from your session (up to 50) and the cover is customized with your favorite image from the session.  The rounded corners are a nice touch and everyone loves these little booklets which you can easily carry in your purse and show off to all your friends, co-workers.... even the cashier at your local grocery store ;-)

Here is another booklet, this time shown as a 4x6.  The images in this booklet are not bordered so the image fills up the entire page.  This is not my preferred way to show the images because a part of the image gets chopped off in the process.  I definitely prefer adding a nice border around each image so that (a) you can see the entire image and (b) it looks more classy in my opinion.  But it's a matter of personal taste.  No matter how you order it, trust me when I say that you will fall in love with your very own booklet!

If you enjoyed this post, let me know what other product offerings you would like to see and I'll be happy to share!

Product Showcase - Metallic CD and Wallet Tins

Every once in a while, I like to showcase a new product that I can't get enough of!  These are metallic CD cases that I'm now offering with my CD orders and they come in either square or circle (you choose!)  I LOVE the way each case is customized with your own portrait on the cover so if you have any ideas on how you would like to see your own CD case, just let me know.  Aren't they so cool?!!

This is a little wallet tin - How cute is this?!!

Whimsical Frames Now With New Colors!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these Whimsical Frames! Each solid-wood frame is hand painted and lightly distressed for a beautiful look and feel. The outside of the frame is 4" wide and the frames come with your choice of either a wavy or round trim. You get to choose from lots of fun colors that you can mix and match: chocolate, licorice, boy blue, girly pink, apple green, lipstick pink, vanilla, tangerine, teal.... and now introducing barn red and vintage yellow!!

When you order a Whimsical Frame, it arrives with your image from the session already mounted and lustre coated and ready to display. These frames do not come with glass which is terrific since you won't get that annoying glare either. You certainly won't see something like this in any of the usual frame shops so you can be sure that you are getting a unique, custom product!

Honestly, you just have to see it in person to appreciate them... but take my word, the quality is gorgeous and the size of these frames are quite substantial. In the first image below, Tristan is holding an 8x10 Whimsical Frame -- the photograph itself is 8x10 but with the frame, you add 4 inches on all sides to get a nice 16x18" piece of art for your wall! The frames come in all of the popular sizes ranging from 8x8 up to 20x20 and let me reiterate that the frames come with the photographs in them!

And since I really love these frames and I want every one of my clients to have at least one in their home, I will be offering a 25% discount on your first Whimsical Frame order!! Leave a comment or email me if you're interested and I'll send you the pricing information. This offer applies to both past and future clients and has no expiration date... until I change my mind ;-)

You can read my previous posts about these frames here and here.

I Love My Phone Skin

Woo hoo!  I am loving my new skin on my Palm Pre! It was very easy to customize using my own images of Chase & Tristan, and it arrived at my doorstep just a few days later.  Cool, huh?!!  I got mine through Gelaskin.

Lay Flat Album Design (Southern California Baby, Kids & Family Photographer)

At the moment, I use several different pro labs and I do so for various reasons.  If anyone cares to know who I use for what products, let me know and I can do a separate post!  So I have experimented quite a bit all last year, hoping to find the holy grail... the ONE lab that has it all!!!  Alas, I am still searching; however, I recently ordered a Lay Flat Press Book from ProDPI and I am very pleased with it!  I selected the cover in plum silk and the semi-gloss paper in the layflat style vs. magazine style, and quickly designed a 20 page album.  Here are just a few snapshots to give you a peek at my book but please, please excuse the poor quality images.... product photography is definitely not my thing!  I just didn't know how to make the book laugh or smile for me ;-)

Our Latest Canvas

This 20x30 Gallery Wrap Canvas was a present for Daddy and as you can see, although 20x30 might sound big, it really isn't at all once you hang it up.  I had the boys standing in front of the canvas to give you a perspective on size... you might notice that they were slightly reluctant but did it anyways, those helpful boys!  I hope you are having a happy Wednesday!

I *HEART* these...

Just wanted to show you some of the necklace orders coming in.... they are SO beautiful!!

I love mine too!

Holiday Gift Idea... Photo Necklaces are Here!

Just in time for the holidays, I will now be offering a beautiful collection of photo necklaces! These would make a lovely gift for your Mom, Grandmother, Mother-in-Law, Sister, or even yourself!  What a gorgeous way to showcase the one you love!

For a limited time, please enjoy a 25% discount off the list price!  

{Testimonial on a Thundering Thursday} southern california kids & family photography

When I started to write this post earlier this morning, it did look like we might see thunder & lightning...  A couple of hours later, the skies are clearing and it's GORGEOUS out!  I kept the title because it's kind of catchy, yes?  No, not really?  Alright, forgive me for being corny. Anyways, one of the most rewarding thing about what I do is to know that I can affect someone positively on an emotional level through my images. In other words, my images make you happy!  I regularly receive notes and emails from my clients and their relatives, thanking me for capturing images of their loved ones. Heck, I sometimes get comments from folks completely unlrelated, letting me know that they enjoy my images... wow!  I get warm and fuzzy whenever I read a love note and it makes me want to work even harder to capture the next set of images.  Here's a recent testimonial from a Mommy of two beautiful little boys:


"Toki is a wonderful photographer. She can easily engage children and has such a loving, kind personality. Her photography work is BEAUTIFUL! Better than I imagined. I will absolutely go back to Toki for all my future family photo needs!!!"


Thank you "D" for the kind testimonial!!  I can't wait to capture those little monkeys again!  And now, here's an image of a storyboard that she ordered in a chocolate & teal whimsical frame.  Actually, she ordered two which means a lucky set of grandparents will be seeing this under their tree at Christmas time!

Have a happy day!


-Toki


P.S.  Is it work when you're doing something you absolutely love?!

{little black book} southern california boudoir photography

This is a cover of an Accordion Mini Brag Book.  These cute little books are 3"x3" in size and they open up like an accordion with space for 10 images.  It's perfect for carrying around in your purse, diaper bag or briefcase.  I know, I know!!  You're dying to see what's inside right?  Sorry but I can't show you what's inside this particular little black book.... it's for the eyes of one lucky guy only!!  I did, however, get permission to share a few spreads from the custom designed 8x8 20-page boudoir album that we created for the same lucky guy.  It contains lots of beautiful images of this gorgeous, smart and sexy newlywed.  I heard hubby was very surprised and loves his "little" black book.  Congratulations on your marriage K&B!!

You can read more about these cute little books here

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