Posted on January 23, 2011
I am glad to introduce our Jewelry line. The brochure can be downloaded here: Jewelry brochure
For current clients, the jewelry line will be loaded into accessories in the on-line ordering only from March. However you are more than welcome to order by either emailing me your choices/ or adding it to notes on any photo ordered.
These will make perfect gifts, or something to spoil yourself with. I have a bracelet, as do my sister in law. My daughter has an Ashlynn necklace and almost everyone in my family has a keyring already. I love the horseshoe keyring, it really is splendid. My next purchase this week is going to be a cellphone charm, a business card holder and maybe a mirror compact as well.
When you order, or seriously thinking about it, I will produce a proof for you of how your products could look like. It should make deciding easier. Here is what I mocked up for myself for the mirror compact:
And here is the business card holder:
And now for the good news. From now until 28 February there is a 20% discount! So mail me now with your requests. Please include the highest resolution image file you have available. If you are a client just mention which photo you would like to use for which product. Professional photos cannot be used without specific print release from the photographer that you may use the images for specialty items. Orders can be placed now till 10 Feb and again 25 Feb to 27 Feb. In between I am unfortunately out of the country and will not be able to process any orders.
* Items most probably will not reach UAE before 14 February, so its probably not a good idea to count on it being the only Valentine’s gift. If you are however like us, valentine’s day is just another day to say you love your loved ones and gifts can be given any day of the year:)
Posted on January 9, 2011
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I’ve raved and raved about the silver jewelry available and is in the process to add it to the on-line photocart, however it will take a little more time. In the mean time I wanted to show you an example! If you have a session before the jewelry accessory store has been loaded, just ask for a jewelry brochure. The is everything from keyrings, to necklaces, to cell phone charms.
Another set of accessory items added in 2011 is bags, pouches, tins, dog tags, you name it! The accessory store should be up and running hopefully by first of March. I am working on the brochure to have it ready so anyone that want to order something for valentine will be able to. I can make these items with images taken by me or images taken by yourself. I can only use professional images if the photographer gave you print release and specifically to make with as you wish. (sometimes images are sold with the limit of only printing as photos up to a certain size, being a professional photographer I honour these limits and releases fully)
When you decided what you want I’ll prepare a proof image so you can get a glimpse of how it might look. Here is one I did for my daughter (her christmas present). This is a very playful, very casual necklace. The chain is basic dog tag chain and as such I wouldn’t really recommend this particular chain for elegance, it is perfect for a child though as it comes as 18 inches and you can then very easily make it shorter according to the child’s size. And when they grow you just go get a dog tag chain easily obtainable from any hardware store.
Here is the proof I prepared to see how it might look like (before print I can always show you a proof of how it might look like)
And here is the real deal in working:
Posted on January 1, 2011
Oh my goodness I had written a whole post and then it all went away! I had wanted to just let the blog put up a post automatically but then decided against that idea so it will be more personal, now its already past 2pm and it’s still not up:) I’ve come to know that life just fly away, in the most fun way most of the time:)
I love UAE, love Abu Dhabi. It’s been almost 7 years since I moved to this wonderful country. I got married on 5 January 2004, and promptly moved to Dubai right after the honeymoon. I moved so soon after we were married even that my passport is actually still in my maiden name (no time to change it to my married name):) Every year January bring to me several things to remember, to celebrate, to be thankful for.
I celebrate life with the bestest husband ever, most gorgeous and funniest girls ever, life in a fabulous country with lovely people. I just adore living here, life to me seems so fun, so gracious here. Just having the opportunity to spend so much time with my children is so precious and most of us here have that gift, that we might not have been able to back home. I come from South Africa and of course I am completely in love with my own country and will definitely return one day, but for now and hopefully for the next few (8 or so) years this will remain my home. We moved to Abu Dhabi in 2007 and I love the little bit more queit life here. I still visit Dubai often since I lived there so long and miss my friends and the hang out. I must confess I get lost these days, so much has changed the last few years.
I sincerely hope everyone will have the most spectacular year ever in 2011. 2010 had been a blast and if that’s any indication 2011 is going to be dinamite! 2011 for us is going to bring so many things that I am quite excited to start with the new year. Things coming up, changes you can expect is for example:
- We are only a few people from the 1000 members on the facebook fan page and once we hit that target there will be a give away. So join the facebook page and suggest to friends to like it.
- I have been building on the facebook page to make it an interactive place to share ideas with me, to say hello etc. This will continue in the new year and I am also working on some webdesign ideas to make the page even more interactive to also introduce some webpage functionality into it
- Withing this first month I will be processing all the birthday give away winner’s stuff. Some items have already been ordered.
- Within the next few months there will be a 2010 client competition again. So if you were a client in 2010 check back on the facebook page often
- There will be discount items and vouchers leading up to valentine’s day. Keep a look out when it go’s live mid January as you would have to order well in advance to not have it arrive late.
- There is going to be new products available for example the jewelry, handbags and other items I have been raving about.
- I will be attending the WPPi photographers convention and trade-show in Las Vegas, USA in February and hopefully bring back loads of samples for new products.
- As the print-labs change up their prices our price list will also change, but I have decided to only do that in March so everyone, be sure to make use of current pricing all the way through February.
- You have asked and I have listened and therefore I will be introducing an on-line training course in various areas of photography from my personal point of view. I am currently working on course outline and those will also hopefully go life 1 March 2011. I will also be giving one on one sessions.
- Another fun thing I am introducing is a digital planning help. You would take a picture of your wall/ room where you would like the image be hung and I will render it for you digitally so you can see how it will look in different sizes and styles of mounting/ art.
Join in discussions on the facebook page, come comment here on the blog. Say hello or ask questions, I love to meet other people and would love to help out where I can. I sometimes get requests for photo-sessions that don’t particularly fall within my scope or where I’d like to focus on, but don’t feel shy asking I usually refer to people I know of that might fit best with you. If you have a particular product you would like also just ask. If I don’t have it I can either refer you to someone that does or I can source it somewhere.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to all my lovely clients in the last year, and welcome and hello to all my new clients coming in 2011. Here is a collage of some of the clients I got to meet this year. I took only one image per session and not even all the sessions. Only sessions where I have been given permission to share images. There were so many!
Thank you!
Posted on October 28, 2010
Time is starting to run out on getting the Christmas cards ordered. I’ve finalised all the template purchases. I literally have more than 50 maybe as much as 100 different templates to choose from. All 2010′s templates and of course nothing stops anyone from requesting 2009′s templates.
Use images from past sessions with me, or if own images is of sufficient quality (usually at least 2 megapixels) and good focus, use those. Let me create you a christmas card unique to send out this year. Any wording can be changed. Text could be added where possible.
The cards could be flat cards, like postcards. Each template comes with a back that has the same background. On the back, we can add text with your own message, have a single picture or whatever you can imagine. Flat cards is however not the only way to go, you can also select to have a folded card that resemble the store bought cards, where there is full printing on 4 sides. Front, inside spread and back.
Sizing for cards are anything from 5inch by 5 inch up to 5inch by 7 inch. Printed on card stock, paper texture could be standard, linen texture or pearlised. An ultra shiny UV coating could be applied to the card. They are sold in packs of 25 and comes with envelopes. For the basic flat card of 5×7 size expect to pay from Dhs 300. Discounted prices for past clients and clients using my images.
Here is a few examples and be sure to check out the slideshow below for even more. I used random images of my own two live-in models to populate the templates but have not change the text. You can customise any wording to suit your own family.
And here is the slideshow of the rest. The direct link for those that use blog readers are slideshow:
Cards usually take about 10-14 days to arrive once ordered so be sure to take that into consideration when you order. Leaving it into December will be too late.
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Posted on August 12, 2010
Readers of my facebook photography page know this already since they are usually the first to know. If you’d like to join my facebook photography page just follow the facebook link at the top of the blog page.
I recently finished the designing of two coffee table books. Both going to my own Mom and Mother-In-Law. Fitting that they both have birthdays during this Ramadan and I get to give a deeply personal gift to each. For both I designed a 12inch by 12 inch book. They have hinged pages that lays flat. When they come in I will be sure to take some pictures.
The one book will have 50 sides (that is 25 pages) and have a photo cover while the other book will have a leather cover with 40 sides (20 pages).
I made little video’s that lay out the design. Have a look below (wording inside the book is Afrikaans,as that is our home language. I can put any wording you’d like in your books to make it more personal to you, even if I don’t have any idea what the words mean).
The first is very sentimental. For my Mom. The pictures in this book (except for one or two landscape and building pictures) were all taken during the 17 days she came to visit. It’s meant to show her how much we love her. It’s for her as a reminder of her visit, of Abu Dhabi. I am making one for us too since likewise it will be a book for the kids to remember the same visit and remember their bonding time with Grand mom since they do not spend much time together. I’ve been meaning to do something like this forever and this is the first. It made me just realise again how special photos can be and what we can do with them. I do plan to do this more often, at least once a year.
The second is a 80th birthday present for my Mother In Law. These are a collection of photos (mostly just the girls) that we held as our favorites. Some were in studio (although its clear posing didn’t go far) and some were out while at play. Photos stretch from about 6 months ago. Amazing how much they have grown.
Posted on July 22, 2010
This album is very exclusive. Very substantial and heavy. This particular one is 13 inches by 13 inches. The back and spine is covered with real premium leather. We chose an image cover for the front. The image was printed and it feels almost like acrylic. The cover is at least 1/4 inch or thicker.
Photos are mounted in the album behind double matt. Therefore the pages become really thick as well, the back paper, the photo and the matts. Such a fabulously exclusive product. Really making the photos stand out.
I took some photos but deliberately did not want to show the inside of the album since its meant to be exclusive and will remain so, its for the family to decide who gets to admire it:).
I do think I might do a tiny one as sample product one day but I have a ton of products waiting on the list of samples and I can only manage to do one or two a month:) For now the photos will have to do:
The spine and back is real leather. Pages are bound hinged. Opens up flat and close flat as well, no bulging anywhere. (sorry for the bad product photography, not my strong point and I was not in the mood to get out the studio lights)
Here is a picture of the hinged pages and how neat the matt is adhered. Perfect workmanship
Close up of the double matting:
Do you dare to have something so magnificent?
Posted on July 22, 2010
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I just got these in today and I had to share. I really loved these two pictures, taken as snapshots of the children when we went to Summer in Abu Dhabi . I had them mounted on 1/4 inch foam. This is a poster type mount. Not meant for fancy mounting as its not very long lasting, but perfect for children’s rooms, playrooms (as I meant to do with these) and therefore I could go fairly large without spending too much. The picture in the previous post I will probably also do big as my Bianca is only interested in BIG pictures in her room (yep teaching her photos should go large from early on, she already has a canvas 10 by 20 in her room, and another foam mounted print of her and her sister with Grandma that is 16 inch by 20 inches).
These will go up on the playroom wall, they are 24 inch by 24 inch each. They will be right next to each other on one side of the playroom. The houses here are so gigantic that to make an impact one need to go large. 24 inches by 24 inches sounds huge but it isnt at all too big for what I had in mind.
I always advise my clients to first really think of what you want to achieve, where are you planning to hang your pictures. Don’t think ah, a popular size is 16 by 20 or whatever, really decide what you want. Each house, each family is unique and your art work should fit you personally. Are you someone that adore square pictures, then ask your photographer if the picture you love could be cropped that way.
Aren’t these just adorable, and perfect for a playroom?
Also got an unbelievably exclusive album in today, will take some photos when I inspect it for quality.
Posted on June 10, 2010
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Today was one of those days again. A day where the red and white little van stop with lots and lots of “presents”. I just love a visit from Aramex. Each package is very carefully opened with as much anticipation as if it was Christmas Morning and I know I have been a good girl:) And today I got spoiled too so it was extra fun.
First I’d like to show a lovely little product that has been very popular. An cute present for grandparents and also one of the items I usually give as a gift for larger orders. Recently I noticed that the cover options became so extensive and we usually select to have custom photos as covers. However when I saw this shiny fabric in floral design (this is the champagne colour) I knew it would be perfect for my client. It changes design depending on how the light catches it. The workmanship is superb. The one side of the accordion has 4 little panels and the other 6. The little book stays closed by itself since it is magnetic. Its 3 inches by 3 inches in size and therefore convenient to carry in your purse. They also come with slip covers these days that should protect them even further while they are in your purse. We sell them 2 in the first set and thereafter 3 per set.
A picture of the whole set:
A picture of the detailed workmanship:
The next product is another very popular item at the moment and that would be brag books of course. One can do these from as small as 5 inches by 5 inches (12.5cm by 12.5cm) all the way to as big as 12 inch by 12 inches. One can choose to have as little as 10 sides (although 20 sides are included in the price as a start) and could have as much as 50 sides. A page is made up of two sides. I recommend the hinged paged books as it folds flat and showcases your photos to their most. They are press print and therefore resemble coffee table books. These have to be seen to be appreciated. One of my summer projects will be to make a large one of these about our summer in Abu Dhabi.
Here is a picture of a big brag book, all of 12inches by inches
An inside spread:
Detail of the spine (sorry I didn’t realise I’d put the book down upside down)
Detail of hinged pages
And this picture I had to show as I think this is such a brilliant idea. There will soon be a baby in our family and I plan to do something like this for them too. A big brag book for the parents and then two smaller ones for the grandparents. What better way to keep a hold of your memories and be able to have quite a few pictures together.
The last part of the packages that came today (apart from the regular prints and more standouts for other clients) were two stand outs I had ordered for myself. As many of you may know I’d always recommend to go at the very least as big as a 11 by 14 for a wall print. In fact anything smaller than that is not technically called wall prints. I have gone smaller but then would hang 3/4/5/6 pictures together to still get a bigger display. In our houses here in the UAE that have gigantic walls small items just disappear. The smaller sizes could work if you have a specific place all worked out for it, but on an open wall they might appear just plain small. Even though the prints were meant for my staircase I still went for two 11 by 14 prints. They were done on metallic paper and mounted to a 3/4 inch standout. They come ready made with 4 holes in the back conveniently located to hang on a nail.
I absolutely adore these two pictures at the moment and wanted to have it on display as they grow so fast and I know 3 months from now some other pictures would be my favorites. I went for extreme close ups here purposefully as one usually have pictures from further away and I really wanted to remember their little faces perfectly. (I recently had three canvases done. with the same idea behind it. One of only their hands close up, feet close up and faces together. My way to record this precious stage with them)
Here is a picture from the front:
From the side. Here you can see the way the standout is mounted on black 3/4 inch core.
This last one I down scaled the exposure a little to catch the natural light from the side to show the shine of the print. Metallic prints have an unbelievable shine and vibrant colours, come alive.
Now I am like a little dog waiting wagging tailed for their owner, waiting for my husband to come help me hang the standouts on the wall as I just cannot wait anymore.
6 more stand outs arrived meant for my lovely clients. I will contact you as soon as I have sorted through and packaged up everything.
Posted on May 28, 2010
One of the items on the product list is brag books. These books are press printed and can be for as little as 10 sides (that would be about 5 pages as we know it) or 50 sides (25 pages). Sizing goes from as little as 5 inch by 5 inch (that is 12.5cm by 12.5 cm) all the way to 12inch by 12 inch (30cm by 30cm).
Cover options are vast. There is countless leather options and striking fabric options. Please ask to see the cover swatches. For the book I will feature today we did a custom photo cover. The pages are thicker than normal pages. For the proper coffee table effect I highly recommend the hinged pages, which lay flat when opened, showing your photos at their best. These books should be investments, little memory boxes almost. Don’t just stick a lot of images in there, add some poems and sayings, or more personal letters you may have written your child. A completely unique item.
Follow with us when the physical book is delivered as I plan to do some product photos to post here too. Without further ado, here is a little video presentation of a brag book. This particular brag book were commissioned by loving parents who are proud to share their book on the blog.
Posted on April 23, 2010
As I mentioned on my facebook fan page I am looking into starting an on-line course in the basics of getting to know your camera better and also gain some skills in photo editing.
The course will be around 6 weeks long and mainly will be run through e-mail. Every two weeks we could meet to practice skills. I will help evaluate your photos etc.
If you are interested, pre-register by sending me a mail, at brunilda@brunilda.me and in the heading have “pre-register july/aug” or sep/oct
Details of course index and will be sent to you later and you can then opt in or out. If there is enough interest I will run a course both in July/August and in Sept/Oct.
In your e-mail please mention how far along you are in knowing your camera, which camera you have and what would you like to gain from the course.
Hoping to meet and work with everyone that has been asking about this.
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Posted on January 27, 2010
Just a quick post to give an update of what is happening at the studio. At the moment I am working through all outstanding galleries one at a time. I am happy to say, only 3 more galleries to do then I am all caught up on the regular sessions galleries.
During the following 3 weeks I will be finishing up the school photos, and then process them. From 3rd of Feb some regular sessions will start again, yet their editing will wait just a week or so for me to finalise the school photos.
I am also ordering calendars for several clients. I love them, mounted on magnets to be readily handy on the fridge (8×10 size). If any past clients would love such an item let me know, I can mock you up one for you to see.
Posted on January 24, 2010
Today was such a treat. Lots of the sample’s & products I’ve ordered arrived. I love that there are so many different things you can do with your precious photos. I personally enjoy surrounding myself with pictures of my family.
All of these could be ordered for your own sessions too. If you don’t see something you want on the price list, just ask. I enjoy a challenge and will try my utmost to find and source you the product you want.
Here are a few of the items I received today (please excuse the poor product photography, not my forte and these were basically snapshots).
This was a present to a very dear friend. Its a large canvas, 20 inches by 24 inches (50cm by 60cm). It has a glossy front with very vivid colours, 1.5inches gallery wrap image. I could hardly wait to give it to her. I think I must have been Father Christmas in a previous life as I truely enjoy giving presents! Seeing this large canvas, it inspires me to get one of my own as well. My measly 16inch by 20inch looks positively tiny next to this one.
On our fridge is a very handy calender mounted on fridge magnet. Unfortunately I did not take a picture but you get the idea.
Some more fun items were presents for Bianca. First a stainless steel mug with her own picture on it. She now wants to take it to school, hmm will have to think about that one. The picture is blended into the stainless steel and have a strong metallic look to it. gorgeous
and a puzzle with her and grandma. Its a little difficult, a 48 piece puzzle with fabric on top.
Last but certainly not least is a wonderful product that I am sure will be greatly appreciated by clients. Printed on chromalux panels. The closest I can explain is that it is hard black acrylic.
I got a sample for the studio that is an 8 by 10 inch picture. The panel has an easle fastened to it at the back. So you can display it immediately. Perfect for husbands’ desks at work, or your own!
The other item was also chromalux panels but this time two 5 by 7 sized panels cut in an arch shape and fastened to each other with a hinge. I got this for my husband’s desk at work of the two girls.
Posted on November 3, 2009
These storyboards came a while ago and since I’ve told many of you and everyone wants to see them, I thought I’d post some pictures. I love how sturdy the standout makes the print. They can easily be “hung”/ fixed to walls or where ever using plain double sided tape or squares. For one in my studio I used the removable squares. Should I want to move it, change it up it will be easy to do. For the ones on the girls doors, I used heavy duty double sided tape. There is no way its coming off soon.
The girls adore them, so proud of their rooms. Bianca shows all her friends that come to visit and Erika can’t pass by without stopping, pointing and telling me the longest story! Don’t know what she says, but it seems quite animated.
This is how they look, first Bianca then Erika’s
And this is how it looks on the door. Excuse the poor picture, taken with the point and shoot, while the kids were trying to take the picture themselves:)
Posted on October 17, 2009
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I ordered a new product about a week ago and it arrived this morning. I am very satisfied. So much so that I think its my favorite mount product now. It’s a step above the regular mounting of prints since it adds dimension to the mount. A shadow mount is a print on lustre paper, mounted to styrene, in turn mounted onto a wooden frame. The dark wood frame is about 1.5 inches thick and therefore the picture really makes a statement. Really lovely.
I chose 2 pictures of Bianca in 11 inches by 14 inches to mount and hung them below each other. Perfect effect, precisely what I wanted.
And from the side:
Posted on October 14, 2009
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I received a clients order and also my album I had ordered as sample for the studio and thought I should post some pictures. The storyboards are turning out really beautifully. The colours are vibrant. For sepia tone and black and white the pictures are perfectly balanced. The storyboards are printed on lustre finish (giving it a high gloss effect) and it is then mounted on either styrene (2mm thick foam board), as standouts of either 1/4 inch or 3/4 inch, or they could be mounted on Masonite (1/8 inch thick). This particular storyboard was mounted on Masonite. It is really sturdy. No need to frame these as they can go straight on the wall.
Here are some pictures of the storyboard. The front:
And from the side:
A new product is the assembled album. These albums are truly luxurious. They come in different sizes, e.g. 5 by 5, 8 by 8 etc. Finished with leather cover and with their own dust sleeve they are a more upmarket way to showcase your photos when they are not on the wall. The photos are chosen and the lab print them and assemble the album completely.
A few photos as example. How they are presented:
When opened up, from the front:
This was taken from the top, to show the finishing and hinged pages:
