As a wedding and portrait photographer, I spend a good deal of my time custom designing albums for my clients. It's not an easy process and it takes a good deal of my time. Part of me wants it all to be perfect. From the colors in the images to the layout; everything must match my vision and the energy of my clients.

Andrew Funderburg's Fundy Album Builder gives me just that option. As a beta tester and now full time user, I couldn't be happier. This isn't me just schilling some product to make a commission (though I do make a small amount to support this website). I have tried it, tested and been in touch with the developer who is continually making this a product you can use in your business. The cost of the program pales in comparison the returns you will make after you use this program on a regular basis. The video tutorials will help you get all set up and started in no time.

Interested? Now until April 15, 2008 receive 15% off of this product when you mention the following promo code: “seshu.”

Happy designing! Leave your comment here after you have had a chance to use Fundy Album Builder.

Pixish is a place for photographers and publishers to meet. It is another Derek Powazek production (remember JPG Magazine?)

SEO isn't an overnight thing. Want to rank higher in the search engines? Big Folio is behind the site called Rank Higher. Cost for the CD is $79. The ROI could be huge depending on your approach to Search Engine Optimization for your Flash-based site and how much time and patience you have. [Full disclosure – I get zilch for mentioning their sites or product]

Many of you receive a RSS or subscription feed delivered right to your inbox. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for subscribing. Recently, however, I have noticed Feedblitz the current provider pushing unwanted advertisements (like for a service called WebJay Yahoo!) through my subscription list. While I have valued Feedblitz's help in the past in coordinating my subscription list, I am not thrilled about these new advertisements creeping up on my subscribers or me. Frankly, I am pretty annoyed by them and I suspect you are too. So, starting today, I am moving the subscription service to Feedburner (no guarantees they won't push advertising either).

If you would please re-subscribe, I would be grateful and of course honored. You will notice a new subscription box on the website (it has a thin white line around it). I am also going to try and import all my subscribers over to the new service but I am not entirely sure how successful that will. There may be limitations with the new service, technical issues and other bugaboos. I ask for your patience during this transition time. [Update: Does not look like I can import your email addresses, so please re-subscribe … I am terribly sorry about the inconvenience!]

If any of you knows of a service that works well with blogs such as this one, please let me know. I am all ears.

In 2008, I expect to have some design and layout changes made so that the site loads more quickly, showcases more great photography from around the world and provides some consistency in how external links to your favorite photographers or other resources are displayed. There is room for a lot of improvement. It's about setting priorities and finding the right amount of time to get it all done.

To more illuminating posts in 2008. See you then!

If you are a Macintosh user like me, you will want to check out MacSanta for some year-end deals on software you will put to use right away. You get one day to buy a particular software, at a 20% discount. So, you do have to keep visiting everyday. This is almost as good as the MacHeist deals last year.

I bought Hazel, from Noodlesoft this morning because I swear I have to get better organized about my files. I am eyeing WebbnoteHappy to corral all those links that I have stashed away.

The MacSanta deals go on till December 24. Remember to use the discount code: “MACSANTA07” when you pay for your software at checkout.