Not your Typical Photography Studio

Simply Canvas Customer Rob Greer of Rob Greer Photography doesn't have what photographers would call a "traditional" studio space. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

"We're located near downtown Los Angeles in the heart of what is known as the Los Angeles Brewery Artist Complex. Although there are many buildings on the property, our studio is housed in the south facing wing of the former Southern California Edison Electric Power Station #3. The building itself was built in 1903 and is registered as a Historic Cultural Landmark by the City of Los Angeles."

The studio space totals over 5,000 sq. ft. It's four stories tall and includes a raised mezzanine deck, an outside patio area, client viewing area, a shooting location, bedroom, kitchen, workstation and drive in access. Not to mention large light structures, angled ceilings and skylights. The huge walls include great displays of framed and canvas prints. "All of my prints and canvases have to be huge because everything looks small on our huge walls. A 16x20 appears to have the same scale as an 8x10 might appear to have in smaller spaces," Rob explained.

A studio of that magnitude must receive quite a reaction by clients. "Every client, model and guest is always amazed. It's a great conversation started," said Rob.

And, the studio isn't just used for photography. According to Rob, the studio is available for rent by Hollywood studios and has been featured in an episode of "CSI Miami" on CBS. Making it not your typical photography studio.

New! Video Tutorials on Canvas Clusters

We've uploaded four brand new videos to our website detailing our newest product: Canvas Clusters. These FREE videos include how to download our cluster templates, personalize them for your clients, order them in ROES and turn them into digital clusters to use in your marketing materials and selling sessions. This is a great way to showcase another great product offering to your clients and increase sales.

To view these videos and other videos made specifically for ordering and file preparation, click here. And remember, our Canvas Clusters are always priced 20% less than our regular prices with $!4.95 flat rate shipping to anyone...anywhere. Click here to start ordering.

Simply Canvas Clusters...Always 20% less than our regular prices! And, a FREE Simply Canvas Clusters Webinar!

Increase your sales by selling multiple prints instead of single canvases...at 20% less than our regular prices! Introducing Simply Canvas Clusters. A grouping of gallery-wrapped canvases custom designed to fit your client's needs. Build canvas walls for your clients that tell a story from one session or many. Or create a canvas sample display in your studio or home. Purchase one of our Canvas Clusters and pay 20% less than our regular prices. And, all clusters cost a flat rate of $14.95 to ship!

Choose from 10 canvas clusters, each varying in number of canvases and size. Cluster Sizing Templates are available for download at SimplyCanvas.com/clusters. Download them as PSD's so your can personalize them for your clients.

Not sure where to start? Attend our Introduction to Simply Canvas Clusters Webinar. Our printing technician Anne Maddox will show you how to download our cluster templates, insert your own images and how to show them to your clients as digital clusters to use in selling sessions and marketing materials. She'll also show you how easy they are to order in ROES!

Join her on Tuesday June 23rd at 2pm EST for a live, detailed video training. All attendees will receive a $25 gift certificate to use on their next order. Register here.

With Simply Canvas Clusters...it's time to sell more canvases, for less!
-Christine, Marketing Coordinator

Saint Mary's Wall of Hope

Our customer, Jackie McCool, recently brightened the walls of the NIC unit at a hospital in the Metro Richmond, VA area using canvases donated by Simply Canvas. The colorful gallery-wraps of now healthy babies who were once patients at the hospital will give hope and inspiration to families for years to come.


"It has been a huge success and has received such a fantastic response from past and present families that have seen the wall in the NICU. It is such an honor to be able to help families during such an uncertain time of their lives and it could not have been possible with your very generous gift!

The people in the photos are: The nurse (Dawn) who came up with the idea for the wall. My husband and youngest son who helped me hang the wraps (you will notice how they are floating in the window openings...there are a ton of restrictions about what you can do on hospital walls!!!). And, myself and Dawn."

Warm regards,
Jackie

A "Show Big" Attitude from a Smart Customer

By displaying canvas prints in a home like atmosphere in her studio, Nicole Wickens-Smith of Green Door Photography was already on the road to success.

Then she decided to turn it up a notch...by displaying BIG canvases.

"I ordered the monster canvas (84 inches) for a couple of reasons, to show people how big you can go with a digital file (I still get asked about the quality of digital all the time) and to make the 30x45's look affordable. Right after I hung the canvases, I had a client come over for a pre-consultation. She immediately fell in love with the 84'' canvas."

According to Nicole, she placed the 30x45's on small walls so she could show her clients the appropriate sized prints for the walls space. When her client noticed the 84'' canvas, she said that she didn't have huge walls or tall ceilings. Nicole then suggested she order a 30x45 instead, to which her client said, "I don't want one of those SMALL ones!"

Nicole continued to explain that before she had canvases on her walls, trying to convince her clients to buy a 16x20 was hard, because they thought an 11x14 was big. "Now the canvases on the walls do the talking for me."

"Having my studio walls lined with canvas makes a big statement and for people to see it in a home setting is really helpful for sales."

If you'd like to start selling big prints, Show Big. You can start ordering large prints from us today! Take advantage of our 50% off first time customer discount. Order up to 3 prints, 16x24 or larger! Or, use your sample wall discounts...receive 3-6 prints, up to a 40x60, at 30% and 50% off. And, if you'd like to see how more of our SC photographers are turning their studios into a home-like atmosphere, check out the rest of our blog for ideas.

Thanks,
Christine, Marketing Coordinator

One Crazy Photo by Chuck Arlund Featured on DWF U

Digital Wedding Forum recently aired a video of SC customer Chuck Arlund of Arlund Imagery. In the video, Chuck explains the concept in detail behind his famous family photo he shot and shares the secret behind how the image was created. To see this famous photo and view the video, click here.

Not a DWF Member? DWF offers a FREE seven day trial membership. Click here and take a FREE test drive of DWF Pro. Just enter your tax id number to get started. And, if you decide to become a member after the trial period ends, you'll automatically receive a $50 gift certificate to Simply Canvas.

Thanks,
Christine, Marketing Coordinator

Win a $1,000 Studio Makeover from Simply Canvas in the AsukaBook 2009 Design Contest

We are once again a sponsor of the AsukaBook 2009 Design Contest. Put your design skills to work and show them your best! Design a book of your photographic images that meet the specifications of any sized AsukaBook... and don't be afraid to let out your creative side! The Grand Prize Winner will win a $1,000 Simply Canvas Studio Makeover, along with other fantastic prizes. And, three runner-ups will win a $250 Gift Certificate to Simply Canvas. The Contest begins today June 1st, 2009 through August 15th, 2009. For a full list of rules and entry information, visit AsukaBook.com.

Turning Fine Art Photographs into One-of-a-kind Pieces of Art

Recently, Simply Canvas customer Jean Macaluso won first place in a juried call for a Gallery Exhibit at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. And, there were no limits as to what subject matter she could present and in what way. The decision was too easy. She chose to display her black and white fine art work as Simply Canvas Gallery-Wraps.

Jean initially ordered three 30x30 gallery-wraps, using her 20% off Entire Order Discount. "I received them and was blown away!" She then decided to buy ten more 30x30 canvases, using the Buy One, Get One 50% off Discount. Jean told us that with the canvases, the exhibit screamed "New York City" exhibiting. "Certainly the professional printing of the canvases by Simply Canvas contributes to and enhances the "professional gallery look," she said. She went on to explain that the Carlisle Arts Learning Center's goal is to expose the community to quality art and that this particular exhibit accomplished that. "With this exhibit, the center is changing the face of Art in the Carlisle, PA community.

The exhibit had a little bit of everything for art enthusiasts. Exhibiting alongside of Jean was potter Brooke Wiley, who showcased several pieces of her pottery. This artistry added to the professional gallery look, really exposing Jean's photographs as "art" as they were showcased with other traditional pieces of art.

Jean was pleased with the look of the exhibit as a whole. "I received so many compliments on my photographs themselves and the way they were printed as well. You all did an excellent job at producing superior canvases and I am grateful. Thank you for helping me and the Art Center reach a few of our goals for our community."

The Black and White Photography Exhibit began May 7th and run through June 13th at the Carlisle Arts and Learning Center in Carlisle, PA. Thanks for sharing, Jean!

Thanks,
Christine, Marketing Coordinator

Spring into Summer Sale...30% Off Everything and Anything at Simply Canvas

Now through June 1st take 30% Off Everything and Anything you order at Simply Canvas, in Any Size. Here at Simply Canvas we're celebrating Summer a little early, by saving you money! Enter discount code MDAY30 when ordering. No Limits. Use the code as much as you like and order as many canvases as you want through June 1st. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions, discounts or Canvas Cash. Visit SimplyCanvas.com to begin ordering.

A Great Idea from a Great Customer

Simply Canvas Customer Wes Hope of Hope Photography recently jumped at the opportunity to open new offices in the Knoxville Wedding Wonderland retail space that already housed a premiere florist, wedding planners and one of the nicest bridal shops in town.

When Wes needed to fill his space, he contacted Simply Canvas and was sure to mention his only roadblock. He had already taken advantage of our 30% and 50% off Sample Wall Discounts. So, he asked us if we could hit the Reset Button on his account. And we thought, how about hitting the Reset Button not just for Wes but for all of our customers who had already used their sample discounts, allowing them to order samples at 40% and 50% off this time around. Wes was thrilled, to say the least!

"That 40% really allowed me to do what I had dreamed of for our gallery space," said Wes.

"We now have a 12x18 room that we're going to use to meet wedding and portrait clients and do projection sessions in. We've had great success with projections so far out of our home, but the biggest we could show on our TV was a 16x20. Guess what the biggest canvas we've sold has been? Yep, a 16x20. So, now I'll be able to show up to a 40x60. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we sell one a week," said Wes.

He recently sent us images of the construction process of his new space from start to finish (shown above). "Nothing revolutionary, but it's pretty dang awe-inspiring to our clients when they walk in the room. We've already been meeting wedding clients and doing projection sales with our portrait clients. So far, so good! THANK YOU for getting my idea out there for the sample sale. It really saved our butts."

Thanks, Wes, for being the mastermind behind such a great promotion for our customers!

Thanks,
Christine, Marketing Coordinator

ALL Simply Canvas Designer Templates on Sale until June 21st, 2009...New Templates Added!

We've added 6 amazing one-of-a-kind Designer Templates to our collection at SimplyCanvas.com that you can download for FREE. And, right now, you will receive 10% off your order when you try them out! But order fast...they'll only be offered for a short time, and then they'll be discontinued and brand new ones added. Father's Day is just around the corner and we've created some terrific designs just for Fathers. As always, these are PSD files and can be customized any way you want...change colors, copy or layout to fit your customer's individual needs. Or use them as is.

Try out our new designer templates or any template available on our designer templates page at SimplyCanvas.com and get 10% off your order until June 21st, 2009. Use discount code: temp10.

"Move That Bus!!"- Richardson Studio Featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

The photography work of Simply Canvas customer Jeff Richardson, owner of Richardson Studio in Bloomington, Indiana, will be featured Sunday May 17th 8/7c on ABC in an upcoming episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Jeff teamed up with ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to unveil a new home for the McFarland family.

"The process was so different than what we imagined- seeing what goes into making a TV show is really mind blowing. We waited for approximately seven hours before we were given 60 seconds with the whole family. I had chosen a brick wall of the old house and I just pulled them together and let my instincts take over. I just held down the shutter and prayed I didn't even look at the back of the camera!"

Richardson Studio donated their services and contacted suppliers to give the McFarland's approximately $30,000 worth of photography pieces in efforts to help make their new house a home. Simply Canvas was pleased to provide all the canvas prints for free.

According to Jeff, the canvases were a huge hit. "Yes, they look outstanding! SC just knows how to do canvas. We had three labs offer to do our wraps for this project and I'm so glad you did them for us. The designers are very, very happy with them!"

Thank you, Jeff, for allowing us to participate in this very worthwhile adventure. Tune in and check out their amazing work on Sunday May 17th 8/7c on ABC.