Don't take your stocking down yet. Our website optimization DVD for photographers is in the warehouse and shipping begins Monday. Exciting.

If you haven't ordered one yet, hurry up and do so. They are selling quickly and once they're gone, they're gone.

For those of you who pre-ordered, you'll receive an email near the end of the week with instructions on accessing the exclusive Rank Higher Forum where you can ask questions about the DVD and download bonus content.

BTW, we don't really have a warehouse.

In the spirit of the holidays and giving, I'm going to give away two free BIG Folio websites and a year of hosting. Actually, you're going to give one away.

Contest 1: Give a Site to a Photographer in Need

For this contest, you can nominate a photographer who needs a new site and you get to give it to them for Christmas. Perhaps your 2nd shooter is going full-time in 2008 and needs a new website. Maybe one of your peers just needs a website facelift. In 200 words or less (yes, I'll be counting), tell me why someone you know needs and deserve a new website. Once I pick the winner, I'll let you know and you get to notify the lucky photographer.

Deadline: December 25th at 2pm Pacific Time To enter: email your entry to erik[at]bigfolio[dot]com

Contest 2: Give Me a Break

My entire family is visiting all week and I need a break! (I was an only child so I get a little claustrophobic.) I need a fake work emergency so I can get some fresh air. Send me a text message of 20 words or less with a crazy website or technology emergency. Funniest message wins a new site. Bonus points for holiday themed emergencies or getting me at dinner time :)

Deadline: December 25th at 10pm Pacific Time To enter: send a short email or text message to eriksphone[at]bigfolio[dot]com

by Cameron Ingalls I love engagement sessions because they are like double dates. My wife and I tag team the conversation and creative picture taking ideas. The engagement session is always the best way for me to really get to know a couple before their wedding day.

It turns out that Tim and Mindy are stinkin awesome! On the surface they appear quite and reserved, but as we got to know them we discovered that they are really a lot of fun!

From the first time we met Tim and Mindy they expressed a deep appreciation for my photography, which in turn, translated into a great engagement shoot. It really makes my job a heck of a lot easier when people believe in me and my skills. Anytime I suggested something random they were more than willing to try it out. I have been eye-balling an old laundry mat for awhile and I knew this was a great opportunity to turn it into a backdrop for some awesome pictures. Tim and Mindy just played along.

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. California Real Life Wedding Photographer

by Cameron Ingalls As I am entering my winter season I am spending intentional time reviewing how I do business and how business does me. It is one of the most amazing things to own a business, but sometimes I must admit it feels like the other way around. My constant determination to improve my services and systems fuels me towards hard work, but I am also determined to not burn out my most valuable tool; me.

I ran across an article in Reader’s Digest called ‘Get a Grip’ that really spoke to me. It addresses the new ‘Age of Technology’ that we find ourselves in and the adverse affects it may be having on the average business person.

Ron Geraci writes, “Surveys show that the average office worker sends and receives 108 e-mails a day-an onslaught of electronic clutter that can take hours to slog through. Even when we manage to clear out the in-box and escape our desks, most of us are still reachable by cell phone or some other handheld device. Sure, these gadgets add convenience and fun to our lives, but there’s a price to be paid. ‘Technology is allowing us to do things we’ve never been able to do, and it’s positively incredible,’ says Edward M. Hallowell, MD, author of ‘CrazyBusy’. The downsides are that it’s addictive and you can become tied to it in ways that are exhausting.’”

‘8 Tips to Fight Info Overload’ is my favorite part of the article. Check it out! (I will adapt them to fit us photographers)

1. SPOT THE SIGNS Feel alone even as you communicate with people all day? That’s a signal technology is dominating your life.
2. TAKE BABY STEPS Try being accessible for short spurts to see what happens. The world probably won’t implode.
3. REPEAT THESE FOUR WORDS: “I have a choice.” People who say, “My boss (or client’s) want me to be reachable after 8p.m.” are likely exaggerating the control others have over them.
4. SET LIMITS Rein in office e-mail, (blog-stalking) and instant message traffic. (Who truly needs to view 35 photographer’s weddings from the weekend?)
5. GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS Try an e-mail signature that reads “I answer e-mail at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. If you need a quicker response, please call.”
6. MAKE A TASK LIST If you’re interrupted, you’ll get back to wrok faster if you have one.
7. STICK TO A SCHEDULE Handle recreational Web surfing, (blog stalking) and e-mail at set times. Dipping in and out is classic self-interruption.
8. DO A REALITY CHECK After five minutes of unplanned surfing/stalking, ask yourself, “Should I really be doing this now?”

I really hope that this article is of encouragement as you take time this Holiday season to reflect on a busy year and prepare for a potentially busier one to come. Ask yourself, whether you own your business or does your business owns you. Take time to evaluate where you spend the majority of your time; with people or technology? Take this Reader’s Digest quiz, Are You a Tech Junkie? And if you are like me you will probably score ‘Always On’. Then make some decisions in your life to prioritize the most important things (relationships, rest, play) so that you will avoid the technology burn out.

Take the quiz and let everyone know how you rate. Does this speak to anyone else but me?!

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. Central Coast Real Life Wedding Photographer

by Lawren Ussery

The web is the greatest thing since sliced bread for those of you who loathe braving the throngs of people out Christmas shopping. Here are some BIG Folio gift idea favorites, all of which are available for order via the web.

Etsy.com :: If you always have trouble shopping for that eclectic girl in your life, look no further. Etsy is the home of thousands of online shops featuring handmade accessories, clothing, furniture, and even ‘geekery’ (not quite sure what that is, but it’s bound to be interesting). The jewelry selection is extensive. Here are some of my faves: ElisabethSpace , Loops Designs , Pretty Theory

Wee Buckaroo :: Where comfy blankets meet cowboy couture. These unique throws are fashioned out of cowboy style bandanas with a soft fabric backing. WB specializes in baby blankets, but can make custom sizes upon request.

Canon Powershot G9 :: One snazzy digital snapshot camera for the amateur photog in your life who wants a decent camera without having to splurge on a Rebel Xti. All the reviews love that Canon (re) added the RAW shooting feature.

Pottery Barn Smart Storage :: I have to hand it to Pottery Barn. They must have one efficient consumer research department because they have come up with something that many people suddenly need for their home office: a convenient way to store techno gadgets on your desk while hiding all of those unsightly wires.

An album or two contending for Album of the Year :: This is a great gift idea for you economy shoppers out there. Most are available at Amazon.com

On a regular basis, and with permission from the stalked photographers, we will borrow random blog posts of theirs and post here at the bf/stop.

Maria & Alexander, married
by the Bigfatknot Studio

Last week we went back to the super elegant and exclusive Indian Creek country club in Miami Beach for one of the most amazing weddings we have shot recently. Alex was getting ready with the guys at the beautiful Setai Hotel in South Beach and Maria was at the Indian Creek. From the first second we arrived there I knew we will have a picture perfect day with amazing details and beautiful looking people.

I wanted to thank Maria & Alex for making us part of your amazing wedding on a very short term notice, working with you was a true pleasure, we had an amazing time. I also want to give my fellow photographer friend Miguel Irias a huge plug and say”thank you” for the referral. I owe you one.

Anyway, lets get to the pictures. I had a hard time choosing 15-20 images after I had already picked 90 for the blog. I will save some for my website.

The entries are in and the winners have been picked for our “Name that Photo” contest. We received a ton of witty, hilarious entries, but only three could win…so here are our favorites:

“Bagged and Carted”: 1st Place and Winner of a sweet BIG Folio Standard Site; entered by Sarah A. Gaffney of PhotoArt Click Click.

Sarah of PhotoArt Click Click has been photographing weddings professionally for the past five years. She and her staff pride themselves on shooting weddings “with a fashion edge” and love to hear brides say afterwards that they feel like they were on “America’s Next Top Model”.

“Groom ala Carte”: 2nd Place and Winner of a BIG Folio Blog and Texture Set; entered by Tracey Hanson of Two Rings and a Dress. Tracey, owner and founder of 2 Rings and A Dress Wedding Story Photography & Lifeshare Photography, has made her life long passion a Dream Career. Both her wedding & family photography business models are based on the motto: "Share your life... one image at a time!". (Oh & ... She's funny too!).

“Basket Case”: 3rd Place and Winner of a BIG Folio super stylish tee; entered by Salvador Ramos.

Here are a few honorable mentions that were oh so close:

“I-do-tarod”; entered by Denice Woyski

"Grooms on Wheels: We even deliver..!”; entered by Kelly Munce

“An off the shelf groom - all the modern bride needs”; entered by Isis Photography

“Clean up on Aisle 4”; entered by Cardas Photography

"Blue Light Bride Special--Aisle 7"; entered by Maureen Roy Photography

Thanks to all our entrants, it was great fun to read your titles!

by Lawren Ussery

Despite the advent of the super sized desktop screen, I have lately noticed the continued use of small image sizes on websites. Many web designers have been pushing away from this trend, but not enough to make an impact. I hate the anticlimax of entering an image gallery, expecting a series of big, beautiful images, and finding a display only worthy enough to be called glorified thumbnails, like this:

What’s with all of that unused white space? Sure, there’s nothing bad about a minimalistic website design, but this one is just boring. Simplicity doesn’t mean “have nothing going on” (as this one does), it means “have the least going on to create the greatest amount of impact”.

Why use a sixth of a computer screen when you can use half? Why go half screen when you can go full? These are questions that professionals using websites – specifically photographers – should be considering. What good can forcing prospective clients to squint as they view your image galleries do? Super sizing your images is a key component in getting noticed and creating impact.

BIG Folio has recently put out some gorgeous designs featuring bigger than ever image container sizes. Here’s a screen shot of Redmond, BIG Folio’s unique, high-def design. Images can be in either vertical collage format, or in single image horizontal layout.

Next is Sunriver, BIG Folio’s first full screen offering. Now this is how you do minimalism and simplicity; no bells and whistles, just great big photos and no distractions.

by Cameron Ingalls

Looking for meaningful Christmas gifts for your family and friends? Help children out of poverty by purchasing clothing from Rise Up International.

Rise Up is an innovative group of artists, idealists, and social entrepreneurs, who are using the fashion industry to help children out of poverty. By purchasing clothing from Rise Up International you are in effect giving two gifts. Your friends and family receive a quality, stylish shirt or sweater, and a child in a country you may never visit will receive sanctuary, education and a home.

Jesse and Seth Roberts are brothers who are the designers for Rise Up. Jesse is the founder of Rise Up International along with his wife Maria. Seth is the co-owner of a design company called the 805 Collective. Together they form the creative design team for Rise Up Clothing.

Rise Up uses the proceeds from their clothing to help provide free education for over three hundred children in India, China, and Nicaragua with the goal of ending the exploitation of those children. With your purchase you provide safe homes, education, counseling, and empowerment projects.

To get involved all you have to do is purchase Christmas gifts for your friends & family. Buying a couple of t-shirts and a sweater will give children the chance to escape a life of poverty and they will experience a life of hope.

Visit the Rise Up website and online clothing store to purchase clothes today.

Thanks for joining an Uprising of Compassion!

Here are some shots of a few of my favorite shirts. Joshua Caine came over to model and co-photograph these.

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. California Real Life Wedding Photographer

by Cameron Ingalls So this guys says to me at a wedding reception where I was feverishly shooting people crazy-dancing, “Someone should take a picture of you!!!’ (As if I haven’t heard that one before). I usually hand my camera over and do some ridiculous pose but for some reason I didn’t completely trust this guy. Instead I ventured over to one of the many wall plaques bearing the remains of some horned animal that just wasn’t quick enough. I got into position and turned my camera on myself. Here is the result; the perfect shot in one attempt! Dorky, huh?

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. California Real Life Wedding Photographer

Ok, everyone, here’s the details. This photo, shot by the illustrious Cameron Ingalls, needs a name. Entries will be judged based on creativity, appropriateness (yes, that’s a real word), and silliness.

Lame example: Groom in a Basket
Deadline: December 7, 2007, at 9:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.

1st Prize: Winner will receive a Standard BIG Folio Site of their choice
2nd Prize: Winner will receive a (new!) BIG Folio Texture set + BIG Folio Blog
3rd Prize: Winner will receive a super stylish BIG Folio Tshirt

Submit your entries to contests@bigfolio.com.

Many of our new website designs now support textured backgrounds—another way to make your BIG Folio site truly unique.

Guess what–you don't have to have a BIG Folio site to purchase and use these textures for your site background or page background anywhere on your site.

Find out more by clicking here.