HappyFish Blog

Starting in early January 2010 the conventions begin!

IMAGING USA and the DWF Convention will both be in Nashville, TN January 10-13.

A very big MAHALO to Finao for including HappyFish cards at their booths. You’ll definitely want to check out Finao while you’re there, they have TONS of new materials and really innovative products for the new year.

Soon after in February is the SYNC Conference in  St. Pete Beach, Florida January 29-February 1.

WPPI in Las Vegas, Nevada follows in the Spring March 4-11.

For those of you who are attending, safe travels and have an incredible time!!

Everyone knows how I love babies!! If I could freeze time and enjoy my kids as babies just a while longer …. I would. Designing albums for new parents is the very best next solution. Not everyone knows this yet … but I have a special pricing structure for portrait albums. Please contact us for details.

Here are a few layouts from some of my favorite albums that I had the fun of working on with the absolutely wonderful and talented Diana Hall of Diana Hall Photography:

Diana Hall Photography

Diana Hall Photography

Diana Hall Photography

Diana Hall Photography

And …. a cutie pie from the always amazing, Jennifer of Jennifer S Rau Photography:

Jennifer S Rau Photography

Today I was sitting with Malia looking through her memory box from when she was a baby. In it was a book I designed for her first year - she giggled and was asking about each image about the baby that she does not remember. As she gets older, the more treasured those images become as well as the joy in looking at them and remembering. Sure there are some big firsts in there…. but most of the images are truly average day to day things - like spinach all over her face or playing with her toys or just making bubbles and smiles. And now …. Sawyer took his first steps Christmas Day, officially entering into toddlerhood.

I see the same thread in all of the books that I design for families - an ordinary day captured … becomes amazingly extraordinary.  Suddenly, brothers sitting down having a snack together - or playing with their pet lizard is highlighted, made bigger than life. As a a viewer you stop and savor that exact moment in time and just enjoy it. In our hectic lives these moments pass in a blur as we move onto the next to-do or appointment …. whenever a photographer contacts me about designing a book like this I always tell them how much I love to do them!!

Here are just a few examples of layouts that I’ve designed capturing some quiet moments… and some not so quiet moments….

Jennifer Wilson Photography

 
Jennifer Wilson Photography

Jennifer Wilson Photography

 
Charlie Johnson Photography

 
Charlie Johnson Photography

Diana Hall Photography

Diana Hall Photography

Ken Luallen

Ken Luallen

 
Ken Luallen

Studio Iris

Studio Iris

J Clare Studios

Jay Goldsmith Photography

Danny Weiss Photo - dwKidZ

For more information about design services please visit www.happyfish.com!

I LOVE this time of year!! After the last minute rush of album deadlines and orders calms down - being able to enjoy some time with friends and family is absolutely priceless. Reflecting on the year that has come and gone so quickly, it’s also a perfect time to be thankful for the blessings that we have received and the joys that each day brings. This year my parents and brother have come down from Vancouver, BC to visit with us for a few weeks. Malia and Sawyer have really been keeping them busy with non-stop activities.  They were able to come to her Kindergarten class to experience a real ‘Dr. Suess Party’ and watch her swim class. Sawyer got his first big top front tooth AND took his first real walking steps as well during their visit. Sawyer turned 1 year old as well and we had a little party for him too. Didn’t like the cake at all … just wanted the plate. It doesn’t seem like that a year has past when he was to be due to be born on Christmas Day last year! I will admit that having him exactly a week early has proven to be helpful in terms of planning and celebrating. Chad went overboard again with the lights … at least we’re transitioning to LED now to save some electricity! Took the kids to sit on Santa’s knee …. Malia is now too big to sit … and Sawyer, as expected, squirmed and squealed with horror.  I’ll spare further details ….

From the deepest part of our hearts, we would truly like to thank all of our clients, as well as Finao, for your support and partnership this year. We look forward to another great new year full of adventures and creative projects with you and we wish you and your loved ones good health, happiness, and prosperity throughout 2010.

Happy Holidays and blessings,

the Dahlquist Family

As we sit with bellies full of turkey and pumpkin pie, there is so much to be thankful for this year.

Thank you to all of our clients who are out there working so hard during this tough economy - we appreciate your business so much and we look forward to continuing to work as a team player to do all that we can to help meet and exceed your clients expectations.

Chad and I so very much value each and every one of you and truly enjoy the relationships that we share on so many levels from friendship to partnership.

On a personal level, we are also so thankful for our health, family and friends and for the happiness of our children.  Our daughter is thriving in kindergarten and our son will be 1 year old in just a couple of weeks.  Honestly feels like yesterday when I was trying to complete holiday deadlines before I went to the hospital!! ;0

I know that this is a very hectic time of year getting your client orders in on time for holiday deliveries and we very much appreciate the patience and trust that you have in us to help you meet your album orders as well.

With that, I will sign off for the night, enjoy our little ones before we tuck them into bed, and have another glass of nog….

From our family to yours, we wish you the very warmest blessings,

Karen & Chad

Holiday cut-offs for the album companies are have arrived! Where did they year go ?!?

If you have an album with a specific holiday deadline, please let us know when ordering your album design.

Here are some important dates to keep in mind - please see the company websites for more information and criteria for meeting these deadlines:

FINAO - ONE: Nov 22 ; Elements and 3ditions: Dec 6 ; In-stock items: Dec 13

SELDEX - Bookbound Art: Nov 13; Gallery, boxes, folios: Nov 20

QUEENSBERRY -Nov 1

ASUKABOOK - International: Nov 5,  USA: Nov 12

GRAPHISTUDIO - Nov 8

LEATHER CRAFTSMEN - print & bind Nov 23; bind only Dec 4

We’re so honored and excited to become a Finao playmate! This company has it all - a diverse and high quality product line, friendly service, great packaging and attention to detail — and they sure know how to have a fun and playful attitude towards the day to day business of producing albums for photographers from all over the world. You can check them out at www.finaoonline.com and we can be found under FINAO > PLAYMATES > ALBUM DESIGN>HAPPYFISH DESIGN. If you are visiting with us for the first time because of spotting us on the Finao website, blog or email blast - please let us know. For more information about professional album design and post-production services please visit HappyFish Design.

HappyFish playmate page on the Finao website

For those of you looking for something new and completely different - you’ve just got to check out the Finao ONE with the Flipbook format 20×8 landscape.

This example was just delivered to Danny Weiss Photo for a venue sample album showing various events shot there. It was crazy fun to design - and you really have to think in a new way and the sense of dynamic balance changes completely. They offer fantastic cover options too - like the Bebbalicious wood laminate with image, metal covers - armor and erotika, mystery glass, gorgeous leathers and more. I’m doing another one right now and I can’t wait until it’s finished and delivered!!!!

too-Tone leather cover with cameo
Danny Weiss Photo

Danny Weiss Photo

Danny Weiss Photo

Danny Weiss Photo

Danny Weiss Photo

 
Danny Weiss Photo

Danny Weiss Photo

For more information about how HappyFish Design can work with you please visit our site at www.happyfish.com.

If you are having trouble sending an email through please give us a buzz at 480.308.0629. We have alternate email addresses until the server issue is resolved. It appears that this doesn’t affect everyone…..   Sorry for any inconvenience!

Recently I posted a few articles about Guest Signing Books featuring the images from engagement sessions - however, photographers aren’t just selling guest signing books, fine art framed prints and/or canvas … some are doing well selling complete engagement portrait session albums. These albums usually feature a variety of locations, have more photos than a guest signing book would include and really allow the story of the intimate time together shine through. Layouts in an album like this are perfect for big bold fabulous images as well as fun sequence shots of the couple. These pages are not meant to be written on - even if there is lovely negative space available!

From designing these, some thoughts on how to best shoot for these is similar to my philosophy I wrote about in my guest book post: variety - perspective - action - candid - sequences - show the environment too ! Don’t just fill the frame with the couple in every shot! BORING!

Here are a few examples from some engagement albums that I have designed - I love when the hue and tone of the environment creates a theme or mood on a spread

Audra’s Photography

Audra’s Photography

Audra’s Photography

 
Audra’s Photography

 
Danny Weiss Photo

Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

 
Noah Hawthorne Photography

If you are interested in learning more about what HappyFish Design can do for you - please visit www.happyfish.com or contact us - we’d love to chat!