The 2015 NCAA March Madness Brackets have been posted. The play-in round games are tonight (I’m actually watching them as I type!) And I’m definitely in the spirit for basketball!!!

And for a contest!

No, it’s not a bracket challenge. No basketball knowledge is required. This is all about picking those lucky cinderella teams with a double digit seed (seeded 10-16) that make it to the Sweet Sixteen. You know, the teams that are impossible to predict but oh-so-fun when you guess the right one!

Here are the details.

The prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card.

1. Sign up for my free email. 
2. Check your inbox for my Contest Announcement email.
3. Reply to the email with your Final Four picks, your two Cinderella picks and point score of the winning team.
4. Reply by March 19, 2015 by 12:15pm to enter.
5. Watch the games and check my emails throughout the tournament.
6. Winner will be announced on April 11, 2015.

Good Luck!!!

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The theme for the contest is: My Favorite Person Photo Book.  (use this link for all of the contest details)

Totally doable. Will you do it with me?

This contest is due in less than 30 days so I want to make sure I cater my book design into something small, unique, and manageable. (April 28, 2014 is the due date.)

I’m opening up my 30 Day Photo Book Challenge ebook specifically to help you with this contest!

Here’s how I’m approaching the contest.

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Let’s break this down a little more.

| 1 | Select a Person / Topic.

For this contest, it’s all about the people. So select your person, your category.

Now, let’s define them. Here are some questions to get you thinking.

Who are they?  Why did you select them?  What do they like?

What are quotes that they would say? Or quotes that describe who they are / their attitude in life?

How would you write a little to them / about them? Can you include this in your book?

|2| Define your story.

What your angle? Your take? It doesn’t have to be a beginning-middle-end type of story. But defining a concept will make it easier to execute. Since this is a contest, you want to develop a specific concept that will stand out beyond the entries and define your subject.

Can you document a day in the life to describe this person? Maybe each page is a “[Person] is ____” and then the photos on the opposite page describe the adjective.

For another example, instead of designing a generic book about my son, I could develop a photo book around his current obsession for legos. I could structure the ‘story’ (think book) around the legos all neatly put away in the morning, the mess created after 10 minutes of play, his creativity of characters, vehicles, and buildings, and the specific lego creation he chooses to sit next to his bed as he falls asleep.

|3| Create a design style.

Now that you have you story, you need to create a style that suits your person and story. Look for inspiration all around you. Maybe your favorite person has favorite colors or a graphic style that you can incorporate into your book.

For this portion of your book, you should consider the colors, fonts, margins, amount of text and/or white space you want on the page. Keep this consistent throughout your book.

|4| Take  + Select your photos.

Use a shot list (list of photos that fit your theme) to take (or select) photos that will match your story and style. The more specific the concept for the book, the easier it will be to develop your must-have shots! Plus this will save you time as you take or look for photos that are going to satisfy your vision.

|5| Design – Submit – Share

Time to design, submit and share! The Blurb contest ends on April 28, 2014 – so start designing now!!! I would love to see your finished book. Make sure you tag #bookthisproject when you share your photo book.

Want to see how I’m using these tips to design my book? Sign up for my 30 Day Photo Book Challenge ebook to watch my process. With this ebook, you’ll join my Facebook group where I’ll be sharing what I’m going to submit. Plus you’ll discover my 30 tips for designing an ebook!

Creating the first book is always the hardest. Once you get this book under your belt, I’d love you to join my Intro to Photo Book Design Workshop. To find out when the next workshop runs, sign up here.

Good Luck!!!

To enter this content, you must use Blurb’s software. My 30 Day Challenge ebook will show you exactly what you need to use their BookSmart program. 

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[divider] Let’s design a book in 30 Days!

Challenge

It can be done – I promise! In my November podcast (below), I explain 3 crucial steps to designing a photo book, in a time crunch.

We are all so incredibly busy…but I think it is so important to find the time to actually sit down and design your photo book. Whether you spend a couple of hours a night for 5 days or 30 minutes for 30 days, you can do this.

The result is having a fantastic looking photo book to share with family and friends over the holidays.

Special Product

Also with this challenge, I have a special new learning product, on sale during the month of November. You will receive a 45-page pdf download plus a 220-page book template for Blurb’s BookSmart program.

The pdf contains 30 tips to help you design your photo book, a calendar mapping out a strategy, and a guide on how to use and adjust the template to your book vision.

Also included in the purchase is a link to a private Facebook group where you can share your progress, ask questions and receive encouragement from others designing their books.

Contest

If you purchase this product, participate in the challenge and have your book ready (or almost ready) to order by December 9, 2013, you can enter my contest to receive $100 (via paypal) toward your purchase of your photo book. Only 1 entry will be randomly selected. More details are in the pdf download.

You do NOT have to print with Blurb or use the template to enter this contest. The main requirement is to have your book designed and ready to order by December 9, 2013.

Leave a comment below letting me know you are committed to designing a photo book over the next month. I want to see your progress and your book!!!

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