Matt Kennedy recently wrote a fabulous article on fstoppers.com about outsourcing -- one of our favorite topics! Matt is a photographer himself and he also interviewed other busy pros around the nation about what they choose to outsource and why. Four common tasks that take up a lot of time made Matt's list, and not surprisingly, album design was one of them. 
 
A huge thanks goes to our fabulous clients Justin & Mary Marantz and Katelyn James for sharing their love for Align with Matt! We are so honored to be featured as a solution in his article! 
 
In addition to album design, Matt talks about three other options for outsourcing. Click here to find out what they are, and see what Justin, Mary and Katelyn have to say about their experience with Align!

-----------
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill

Here is yet another gorgeous wedding shot by Virginia-based photographer Katelyn James that made it onto our favorite recent designs short-list! This girl consistently sends us amazing images. I'm always blown away by the variety in her couple's portraits especially.  
 
How romantic and gorgeous are these?

What a great design! Thank you for allowing us to showcase your beautiful work Katelyn! 
 
Click below to see this design in full: 
 

-----------
Design by: Michelle (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill

Katelyn James is a super-sweet and super-talented wedding photographer based out of Virginia. But she photographs weddings all over the US. I love this recent wedding she photographed in Atlanta in the ruins of an old plantation home. This intimate affair is one-of-a-kind and I love how Katelyn's stellar photography and this album design come together to tell the story of the day! 
 
This is one of my favorite spreads from this design -- what a fun location to shoot in!

You'll definitely want to see this full design! Click below to do so -- 
 

-----------
Design by: Michelle (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill

Today one of our favorite clients, Melissa Arlena -- a pro photographer based in Virginia who specializes in weddings -- is sharing how she uses Align to make her clients happy and to increase her profit. Thanks Melissa for being a rock-star client and for your openness and willingness to share!

Oh Align Album Design how I love thee, let me count the ways! I love how your beautiful designs really showcase my photography and tell the story of my couples' wedding days. I love your quick turnaround and fast response to all my questions. I love that every single one of my clients has upgraded their album since you started doing my designs. Most of all I love that instead of sitting behind my computer attempting to be an album designer I can spend that time with my husband and our new baby sailing on our boat! (photo by Katelyn James)

This view definitely beats looking at my computer screen!

Last year I decided that I needed to look into outsourcing my album designs. I had bought several templates to create albums with, but it was still taking me nearly an entire day to design an album and I didn't think they were as good as they could be. I believe my clients deserve the best I can offer and they weren't getting that with my designs. I also needed to get back some of my time, and outsourcing was the best solution. When Melissa Jill announced she was starting an album design company, it was a no brainer for me. I was already using some of her templates and looking at her album designs for inspiration, so why not go right to the source to get beautiful designs? 
 
My base album includes 10 spreads but I thought I'd try having Align design double that and see if my clients would upgrade. Even if they only took a spread or two I still made extra money on the album. I've completed 6 designs with Align and every single client upgraded by at least one extra spread with most taking all 10!! I even had a client add an additional 2 spreads on top of the 20 originally designed. I've made over $2500 just from having Align design those extra 10 spreads per client. Easiest money I've ever made! 
 
I'm confident that my clients are getting the best designs possible and they must love them too, or they wouldn't be upgrading. Align has made my business better and that makes me a happy photographer! 
 
----------------------------------------------------- 
 
Yay!! We love hearing how Melissa has used Align to improve her life and business. And we're a little jealous of the boat.  
 
Below are a couple of spreads from Melissa's favorite designs. Her photography is amazing and so fun for our designers to work with!

-----------
Design by: Andy (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More)