Thanks For A Great Show!

We are back at the bindery. WPPI was a wonderful success for us this year and we couldn't be more excited to put all of the energy and momentum of the show into our plans for this year. Our booth was insanely crowded and we loved it! We will certainly expand our booth size next year. We want to say thank you to all the photographers who assisted us at our booth-Jose Villa, Yvette Roman, Bryan Johnson, and Michael Negrete! We can't thank you enough!

Also, a big thank you to the photographers who helped us put together some exquisite new samples-Elizabeth Messina, Jose Villa, Yvette Roman, Gene Higa, Ann Hamilton, Bryan Johnson, Danielle Biel, Andie Hamilton, Asgeir Bollason, and Elisabeth Millay.

And thanks to all of you for stopping by and introducing yourself, it was great to meet you all! For those of you who couldn't make it, here are a few photos:

Judi, Jennifer, Dena, Gia

Judi, Bryan Johnson, Yvette Roman, Dena, Jose Villa, Michael Negrete

Judi & Dena working the booth

Dena, Gia, Judi & Asgeir Bollason at Richard Photo Lab's cocktail party

Receiving A Package From Cypress

Everyone loves getting packages in the mail. At Cypress, we put care and effort into our packaging and presentation so that when you get a Cypress delivery, you and your clients know that you've received something truly special. We just wanted to share this blog posting by 6 of Four Creations, a husband and wife team based in Atlanta. They took a great photo series documenting the joy of opening their Cypress Album package. View here

New! Folio Ribbon Options

Do you have trouble tying the ribbon bow as nice as we do? Now you won't have to! We are now offering 3 different options for the ribbon tie on our folios. Just specify which option you prefer when placing your order:

Option #1: Folio ribbon bow tied around the front- Must untie in order to open folio, like opening a present
Option #2: Folio ribbon bow tied in back (Same as #1, however you are able to open folio without untying)
Option #3: Folio ribbon bow tied in front (Same appearance as #1, however you are able to open the folio without untying)

Cypress At WPPI 2008

We hope to see everyone at WPPI, please be sure to come by booth #300. We'll be giving out our great new Cypress cloth tote bags, so come pick yours up while they last! We have a lot of great new samples to show, including our Iris Book and our new magnetic closure boxes. We look forward to seeing you in Vegas!

Also, we are sponsoring photographers Jose Villa and Gene Higa this year and urge you to attend their "Young Guns" panel talk on Sunday March 16, 8:30-10:30pm. It should be a lively and informative evening! Jose Villa is also giving a talk, "Target Wedding Magazines That Will Sell You!", on Monday from 7:30-9:30pm.

Please note our office will be closed Mon 3/17 thru Wednesday 3/19. All of our office staff members are working at our WPPI Trade Show booth. This will NOT affect product production- our master artisans will be creating your handmade products as usual in our absence. Your phone calls and emails will be returned once we are back on Thursday. We apologize for the inconvenience. To expedite any new orders submitted during this time, please send via fax to: 818.551. 0028.

ProPhotoExpo Trade Show

We will be exhibiting at the ProPhotoExpo in Pasadena this year, booth #226. The dates and hours of the show are as follows:

Saturday 2/23 and Sunday 2/24 11am-4pm
Monday 2/25 10am-2:30pm

Contact us if you would like a complimentary trade show pass. We hope to see all of you Southern California photographers!

How Soon Will I Get My Order?

All of our products are handcrafted and custom made-to-order. Below are the turnaround times for all of our products. Please note that these times can vary, depending on the time of year, so feel free to contact us to inquire about our current production time.

The Cypress Album 3-4 weeks

The Iris Book: 4-6 weeks
The Juniper Book: 2-3 weeks
Self-Mount Albums (The C Album & The Artisan Book) & The Folio: 1-2 weeks
The Presentation Box w/Mats: 3-4 weeks
The Proof Box: 2-3 weeks

You may indicate on your order form a date by which you hope to receive your order, and we will do our best to accommodate.

We also offer a Rush Service, which is a 50% charge, and guarantees The Cypress Album and The Iris Book in 2 weeks or less, and all other products in 1 week or less.

And lastly, if you ever need a product ASAP, call us to ask what we have in stock, available for immediate shipment!

New! No More Velcro!

We are excited to announce an advancement in the design of our handmade boxes, elevating them to a new level of elegance and sophistication. Beginning February 2008, all of our boxes will be made with an invisible magnetic closure built into the box, replacing the Velcro. The magnet not only provides a more aesthetically pleasing look, but also enables the flap of the box to lay flush when closed.

Many of the improvements made to current products and the new products that we introduce are made possible by our wonderful clients who give us their feedback and ideas. Thanks for your ongoing suggestions and input- keep it coming!

Mini-Folios and Mini-Albums Now Available!

After receiving an overwhelming number of requests, we are doing another production of Mini-Folios! Mini-Folios are available in 3 sizes: Double (2 images), Quad (4 images), and Hex (6 images). They come in an assortment of our fabric colors with Black or Natural mats. The image window opening is 2x2" and the outer dimensions are approximately 4 ¼" square. Mini-Folios are sold in sets: Doubles come in a set of 5, Quads come in a set of 3, Hexes come in a set of 2. Contact Cypress for pricing.

We are also doing a one-time production of Mini-Albums. This new self-mount album is great for guest books, engagements or a small set of proofs. Its unique size makes it very portable. The album measures 8¼ x 5¼", with a page dimension of 8x5". The Mini-Album includes 14 pages/28 sides in Natural or Black. Image sizes such as 4x6, 4x5, 3.5x5, 3x3 and 2.5x3.5 look great in this album. Simply mount the images with acid-free double-sided tape. Mini-Albums come in a random assortment of colors and are sold in a set of 3, or as a single album in the fabric and page color of your choice. Contact Cypress for pricing.

Beginning February 1, we will start shipping the Mini-Albums and Mini-Folios and once we sell out they will not be available again until the Fall season. Order now before they're gone, they will go quickly! Please note that you are welcome to submit color preferences when ordering, however we can make no guarantees.

Contact Cypress for pricing and to place your orders!
phone: 818.551.0023
email: info@cypressalbums.com

5x5 Iris Book

Just wanted to share this adorable little 5x5 Iris Book
we recently created for Kathi Littwin.
This size is great for parent albums or for babies/children!

WPPI Tradeshow 2008

We'll be exhibiting at WPPI in Las Vegas this year, and we hope to see you there! We'll have a lot of exciting new samples to show, including samples of our popular new Iris Book and our sleek magnetic closure boxes. The trade show dates are Monday, March 17 thru Wednesday, March 19. For more information go the WPPI website. Click HERE to print out your complimentary trade show entry passes. See you at booth #300!

The Juniper Book: FAQ

product & wedding images by Yvette Roman

~How does this work exactly? What is the process?
1. Purchase pre-trimmed paper from us (or you can find it elsewhere). The required paper type is Hahnemuhle Rag #308. If you purchase it from us, we'll send it out within a few days.
2. You print the pages (or have them printed with a lab). Print the pages single-sided on the smooth, coated side. Spray protect your images and number lightly on the back. Send your pages to us along with your completed order form.
3. We glue and trim your pages, and then bind the album. Turnaround time is 3-4 weeks from the time we receive your printed pages.

~Do I have to use the Hahnemuhle paper or can I use another similar paper?
We did extensive research and testing of various papers for this product. We selected the Hahnemuhle paper for a variety of reasons including print quality, weight, resistance to scratches/scuffing/burnishing, and compatibility with our binding process. We require this paper because we know how it reacts to our process and how it performs over time, whereas with other papers, we simply cannot guarantee our high product quality standard. We do hope to add a couple of other paper choices in the future, once we've been able to adequately test them.
Depending on the paper, there may also be the option of doing a custom single-sided digital book. Please inquire for details.

~Do I have to use a protective spray? Is there a particular spray and method for spraying that you recommend?
Your images are going to be directly handled and touched, so they need to be protected. We strongly suggest you to spray your prints. We do not endorse any particular type of spray, and urge you to research and test various options. Some of our clients use and prefer PremierArt Print Shield, available at www.digitalartsupply.com.
After printing your pages, let the ink set overnight before spraying. Spray outdoors or in a spray booth and wear a protective mask. Apply at least 3-4 coats, alternating between horizontal and vertical motions for even coverage.

~Can you suggest a lab that prints on this type of paper?
Here are a few labs that we know currently print on the Hahnemuhle Rag #308 paper and have our specs:
Berkeley, CA: www.photolaboratory.com
Round Rock, TX: www.canvaspress.com
Los Angeles, CA: www.imageexperts.com
Los Angeles, CA: www.richardphotolab.com
Seattle, WA: www.pandalab.com

~Do you have any printer recommendations?
Our sample album (pictured above) was printed on an Epson Stylus Pro 4000. The photographer who printed this for us recommends the Epson Pro 3800, 4800 or 7800 as they use Ultracrome inks, which print great B&W's.

Cypress: Not Just For Weddings!

A lot of people take one look at our products and think WEDDING. However, in today's ever competative market, our products are attracting photographers of all types looking to offer their clients something fresh and different. To those of you shooting families, maternity, seniors, pets and more, we offer some great fabric color choices for all subjects and occasions, so think outside the box! We wanted to share this photo featuring Ann Hamilton's dog portraits displayed in a Cypress Tri Folio and 10x10 Presentation Box:

http://www.annhamiltonblog.com/

Happy Holidays!

Please note our studio will be closed on the following dates:

Monday, December 24
Tuesday, December 25
Tuesday, January 1

From all of us at Cypress, we wish you the very best for a happy holidays and happy new year!

Sample Time

The new year is just around the corner. That means time for creating new samples and new packages with fresh looks for your clients! Now is a great time to get your orders in for any sample albums and presentation boxes that you may want to showcase this year. We recommend updating your samples every year so that you are displaying your latest work and showing new color combinations that will also keep you excited. That excitement will be shared by your clients!

Keep in mind we offer a studio sample discount of 25% on the Cypress Album, the Iris Book w/Box and the Juniper Book w/Box. Please feel free to contact us if you need any printed materials, or would like a consultation regarding products, colors, or anything else. We are always happy to help! For last minute orders, we do have some Proof Boxes, C Albums, Artisan Books and Folios in stock, ready for immediate shipment. Happy 2008 to all!

Christmas Deadline Reminder

We have extended our holiday deadline for
Cypress Albums & Presentation Boxes until Friday 12/7.

The deadline for C Albums, Artisan Books and Folios is Wednesday 12/5.

All orders received after these dates will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please call us to inquire.

Also, keep in mind we have some Proof Boxes, Folios and
C Albums in stock for any last minute orders!

Happy Holidays!

Welcome To Our New Website & Blog!

We are excited to announce the launch of our newly revised website! The new site has updated product info and picture galleries. Use your same password to login to the Photographer's Login area. Pricing, order forms, and additional info will be visible under the various products when you are logged in. We will soon be adding new features that will make it easy to order online as well.

We have, of course, also added this blog! Check back for weekly updates on the latest happenings at Cypress, including new and custom products, important announcements, color paring ideas, and more. Thanks to our studio employee Gia, aspiring photographer, for our blog photos. Please feel free to leave your comments and feedback on our postings!

Farewell Old Studio...

Photos by Yvette Roman