Beginning this week, we’ve redesigned our 8.5×8.5 inch press-printed photo books so that they are now 8×8 inches. This size matches our 8×8″ photo print albums.

Although you and your clients should never notice this small change, it will simplify the workflow in our book binding department.

This means slightly faster turn-around times on your 8″ photo book and album orders.

If you have any questions about the change, please contact heidi@jdlab.com or call us at 888-858-8084.

JD Photo Imaging is co-sponsoring the PhotoPro Expo February 2-5 in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio (just across the river. The expo includes 16 of the best pro photographer speakers in the country, as well as the largest trade show in the midwest this year.

Rarely does a photographic educational opportunity this exciting (and in our backyard!) ever happen. We feel it is so important, in fact, that we’ve decided to become a co-sponsor of this event. Do to our sponsorship, we are able to offer you a discount coupon worth $120 savings to attend all sessions and free 1-day expo passes.

The 16-speaker line up is, in our opinion, the best of any convention for 2012.  It includes Photoshop guru Scott Kelby, wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis, Pulitzer Prize winning legend Vincent LaForet, marketing genius Sarah Petty, high school senior shooter phenom Kirk Voclain, and NYC fashion photographer Lindsey Adler. Read about each speaker.

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I was at a great new year’s party, and watched several of my friends take photographs with their iPhone.

But Tiffany took the idea to a whole new level. She snapped several group photographs, uploaded them to Facebook, then “tagged” every person in the photos. The next morning, we were all notified with links to view ourselves in Facebook pictures.

Since it was Sunday morning, I was lazy. Rather than post about how great the party was, I found myself sharing Tiffany’s photos with my friends and family. I’m sure many other folks did the same thing.

This same process could work at any event.

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Our ___ is the only ___ that ___ .

Can you fill in these blanks for your business in 2012?

Here at JD, we’re constantly thinking of new products and services for you to offer your clients. But let’s be honest: anything we make can be purchased somewhere else. Every pro lab has the same list of products in ROES. And yes, we know it’s cheaper at Walmart.

Fortunately, our goal isn’t to compete with other labs – or even Walmart. A long time ago, we decided to focus on helping our clients – that’s you – build your business. So again in 2012, our answer to the first sentence will be:

Our lab is the only one focused on helping pro photographers make money.

While this is a pretty bold statement, we believe it is true. From our experience on both the lab and studio side of the business, to our focus on training and marketing, to our knowledgeable customer service folks, every aspect of our business is centered on helping you to build your photography business. And in 2012, you’ll see even more.

An important note for our ImageQuix clients:

Starting Jan 1st, ImageQuix will send you a check for the full amount paid for online orders minus ImageQuix processing fees. Therefore, JD Lab will need to charge your credit card we keep on file for printing and shipping.

This is not a price increase. Your service will not change. JD will continue to drop ship orders to your end customer. However, this change will simplify your accounting by keeping all your lab printing costs on one monthly statement.

If you have any questions, please call us at 888-858-8084 toll free, or email us.

Learn more about ImageQuix.

Get started with ImageQuix.

The folks over at J. Walter Thompson, an international marketing firm, have compiled a list of trends worth watching in 2012.While they list 10 significant trends, these are the ones we believe will have the most impact on the photographic industry:

1. Navigating the New Normal – Consumers are looking for low-cost ways to purchase high-quality brands. Even high-end photographers should expect to see more brides looking for a DVD of images instead of albums, or seniors looking for a small number of images. This makes it more important than ever that you focus on building your brand so that potential clients know they are buying your work, not pieces of paper.

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Although we constantly talk about social media marketing (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) , it pays to remember that their are many other marketing tools available for your studio. One of the most powerful is the cross-promotion.

Cross-promotions are low-cost techniques for getting your name in front of potential customers by promoting with other businesses. The classic example is putting a stack of gift certificates for bridal photography in a bridal store.

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Almost every client wants their digital image files nowadays, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they want the high-res originals to reprint.

In fact, most clients are simply looking for low res digital images to display online.

Instead of fighting this trend (and losing business), you can use this to your advantage by offering clients a CD of images “perfectly sized for Facebook, for cell phones, or for sharing with friends.” Then using Photoshop, follow the steps below to quickly build a folder of re-sized images you can email or burn to a CD.

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If you post to Facebook regularly, there will be days when you’ll look at the screen and think, “I don’t have anything to say.”

While you can always comment on, like, or share someone else’s posts, it isn’t the same as making one of your own. Posting is important, and posting daily is important too.

So if you’re ever at a loss to think of a post, here are some examples to help. Each will not only get you started, but are designed to get your posts read (of course, finishing them is up to you):

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JDCL will be exhibiting at ImagingUSA from January 15-17, 2012 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

If you plan to attend, register here with promo code 2012TSC to get your free exhibit floor tickets courtesy of JD (your promo code will be automatically entered for you). That’s a $35 savings!

For more information, visit the ImagingUSA website.

Looking forward to seeing you there!