{Charla Blue Photography} New Branding & Packaging

First, thank you to those of you that participated in the book(s) giveaway. Nicki was our winner and I will be delivering her books shortly.

Since I rebranded this last couple of months, I was in need of new business cards and packaging of client products. This was so fun to think up and envision how I want to deliver client products. My goal this year was to create a boutique experience for my clients and come up with a custom product and/or packaging each month. Well, you know how that goes. Life happened and I'm a bit behind. But my goal is not lost and the year is not over. So I have a lot more ideas and more products to come, but you can see the start of my new brand here. I'm still just so happy at what an amazing job my friend Cora did at making my ideas come alive.

 I really wanted my new business card to look like a luggage tag. I just love how they turned out! Cora did the design and we printed through Uprinting, using their die cut option. I'm super impressed with the final product. 

 The back of my business card...

(the three hearts represent 3 significant places to me, and the start of Charla Blue Photography...

Seattle, LA, & Barcelona)

 I ordered my preprinted DVD discs from Millers. Printing disc labels is just one of my pet peeves and I really love the look and quality of these preprinted discs.

 I'm using red & white bakers twine to package my client products. 

 As a teacher too, I have always had a bit of an obsession with rubber stamps. I love them and use them daily!
I really wanted a stamp that looked like a post office postmark. I just love how this turned out... 

 I have an entire collection of map stickers and cards now that I ordered from Etsy to hand write cards to clients
(such a lost personal touch...and one I'm trying to bring back).

 I'm using these awesome boxes to deliver client proofs & prints when custom ordered...

So there you have it! Check back soon because I have more stuff to come...new custom stickers, albums, guest books, and a really fun way to deliver my wedding clients their discs and images. I can't wait to share!

{Charla Blue} In Wedding Action | Long Beach Wedding Photographer

First, a huge congrats to Chip & Mavy for winning the couple photo session giveaway! It was such a fun contest and it came down to a very close race. Thank you for helping to spread the word and taking time to read their stories and vote.

Since Amanda has been shooting all of my weddings with me this year, she always takes five photos of me in action. I thought I'd share a few of here on the blog since I rarely share photos of myself (I must get over this!)...

Thank you Amanda P!

{700th Blog Post} Save $700 on your Wedding Collection

I can hardly believe I'm writing my 700th blog post (a post for 1.98 YEARS). I'm old enough to tell you that I did not grow up with computers or Internet. It wasn't until I was in college that I was introduced to the Internet. I typed papers on my Brother word processor in college and later bought my first computer with a student loan check my sophomore year of college. I'm still just amazed at the amount of information available at our finger tips and I remind my students constantly of this reality. Kids these days will not learn the Dewey Decimal system and what's it like to search for a book in the library. I'm so grateful for social media and the impact they have had on my business. It's pretty much amazing!

So, in honor of this momentous occasian, this day when I've been able to blog 700 times...that I extend to you (my readers and my clients) an opportunity to say thanks. My next wedding client that books with me (by signing contract and paying deposit) will save $700 on their wedding collection. That's just crazy...so act soon! But I'm really so appreciative of the support many of you have given me over the past four years. So please help me spread the word by reposting to your Twitter or Facebook status: "Charla BLUE is offering a $700 savings to the next bride that books with her in honor of her 700th blog post: http://tinyurl.com/3l6k4by"

THANK YOU for letting me be a part of your lives. I'm grateful. And honored.

{About Me} The Story Behind the BLUE

Hi! Welcome to my little corner of the web. I'm Charla and I'm so excited you found me. If you already know me, you can skip this blog post because it's probably old news to you. If you don't know me, I hope to meet you soon! Please leave a comment, so that I know you visited. In the meantime, grab a coffee or diet coke and read a little (or a lot) how charla BLUE came to be...

Sometimes I still can't believe this journey that has led me to photography. In other moments, I can't believe that I did not discover my love for photography earlier. I have been an avid picture taker since I was in elementary school. I have filled up so many photo albums and scrap books throughout the years and my travels, that I probably would have had to invest in a storage facility to store them all (if it wasn't for digital photography). During college, I even taught a film developing class at the state juvenile detention I worked at. I love pictures and the stories they tell. They are my prized possessions.

There was an actual moment that I discovered photography! As a fulltime high school Spanish teacher, I have been taking my high school students abroad during Spring Break for 11 years. In April of 2007, after just marrying the month before, I led my largest group yet of 54 to Spain, France, & Italy. My friend, co-worker, and co-chaperone Aaron Volkoff lent me his DSLR to shoot with for the day in Barcelona. From the moment I took my first photograph with his camera, it was love at first click! Seriously. I couldn't believe the speed of the shutter, the sound of the click, the clarity of the images. I declared that day that I wanted to be a photographer while shoe shopping in Barcelona. I even took a picture to commemorate my declaration...

Taken in Barcelona on April 10, 2007

I called my newlywed husband back in California that day. I told him I was going to be a photographer and he had a little chuckle and replied "what?" It was a bit out of left field at the time, but he is use to my crazy ideas and spontaneity. Upon returning home from Europe, I bought my first DSLR and launched charla BLUE photography. I started shooting everyone I knew...my pregnant friends, newborn babies, or practicing at weddings that I attended (from my seat of course). I jumped into it head first and have learned so much on this journey. I knew nothing about the rule of thirds, fstops, shutter speeds, and ISO 2.5 years ago.

If you look at my life story, photography really just makes sense. I'm so grateful to have discovered a career that brings passion and love to my life every day. But really I think photography discovered me!

So, why BLUE? Because I am obsessed with the color turquoise and have been for as long as I can remember. You can find various shades of blue decor throughout my home, my clothing, accessories, and it was even my wedding colors. My husband coined the term charla BLUE around the time we were getting married. I'm just drawn to the color and it makes me happy.

Thank you for visiting and I hope to capture your story.
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A huge thank you to my friend and co-worker Cora, who is the one responsible for incorporating my personality and colors into my logo, for being my graphic go-to-girl, and my all around biggest cheerleader!

To Aaron for sharing your camera with me! You are the reason I am a photographer.

To Kristi for talking shop with me, teaching me all the technical mumbo jumbo, and providing me with beautiful photographs of my family.

To my husband Dan who has supported all my crazy ideas and big purchases. He has believed in me and supported me every step of the way. I have big dreams for us, babe!

To my baby girl Brooklyn for making me smile, laugh, and grow as a mother and human being every day. You are my inspiration for everything.

To Becky and Dana for being my models and guinea pigs from day ONE. It has been an absolute joy to watch your families grow!

To all of the rest of you it makes me just emotional thinking how awesome you have all been with your kind words and encouragement on this journey.

charla BLUE in action!

Photos courtesy of Kristi...