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12/20/2005 12:40:43 AM · #1 |
Okay, I've done 3 different photo shoots now and these are the lessons I learned:
Make sure you have at least a 2 week period or more in which to advertise.
Make sure the person you are working with (they are providing the space) are on the same page as you as far as advertising
Set up as early as possible so you can spot any potential problems
When in a very tight space, make a cubicle with 3 walls for your studio area and deal with that rather than the major cloning you will have to do later or creative cropping in order to hide the stuff in the store.
ALWAYS HAVE BACK UP EQUIPMENT!! Especially flashes!
Rather than print and give the 4x6 prints to them, do them at home and mail them to them with the information about how to order more as a reminder to order more, hence less time spent fighting with the stupid photo printer!
IF you decide to print on the location, bring the big equipment aka. monitor and desk unit, because it's like they say, LAPTOP monitors SUCK ROCKS at times!
Smile, smile and SMILE some more because you now have 3 location shoots under your belt (the last one was a BIG success except for the broken flash and jamming printer) and orders have been placed and more are coming! WOOT!
Deannda
I feel so professional now, NOT! :) |
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12/20/2005 12:42:39 AM · #2 |
Oh and wanna see some of the results? I can give you the password because everyone signed the release to use the pictures! :)
Neuferphoto
Check out Jungle Critters and Tropical Fish, password on both is santa!
Deannda |
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12/20/2005 12:43:10 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Neuferland:
LAPTOP monitors SUCK ROCKS at times! |
Can you say that on the internet with the new FCC guidelines? |
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12/20/2005 12:55:18 AM · #4 |
Some customers asked about picking which pose, and some expected on side printing. I vetoed both. It'd be nice to show them the poses, but unedited rought shots compared to the finished one can be quite different. Also, my laptop is an older model and has no USB port, so i'd have to move the CF card after every customer, load the pics, etc. No thanks. It was tough enough without all that!
I agree about the BG and such. Mine was done at the end of a hallway with a 7' wide BG - and that was not wide enough at times. Next time 9'! And that may not work for everything either...
Flash - i wish i had a complete second set as well. By day 4 i had it pretty well down pat, but the first day was technical hell. day 2 i tried something different and ran out of battery power part way through the day with no way to fix it (one batt, 12 hour recharge time.) Next time i'll have 120v strobes!
Yes, more advertising time is helpful I too started with 2 weeks, and by day 4 it was 3 1/2 weeks. say 4 was filled. (YAY!). I have thoughts on next year that should double or triple sales.
Might consider the net as a way to post and sell the images...at least the additional ones. I like that idea.
So the big question is - did you like it enough to want to do more?
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12/20/2005 02:09:56 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Some customers asked about picking which pose, and some expected on side printing. I vetoed both. It'd be nice to show them the poses, but unedited rought shots compared to the finished one can be quite different. Also, my laptop is an older model and has no USB port, so i'd have to move the CF card after every customer, load the pics, etc. No thanks. It was tough enough without all that!
I agree about the BG and such. Mine was done at the end of a hallway with a 7' wide BG - and that was not wide enough at times. Next time 9'! And that may not work for everything either...
Flash - i wish i had a complete second set as well. By day 4 i had it pretty well down pat, but the first day was technical hell. day 2 i tried something different and ran out of battery power part way through the day with no way to fix it (one batt, 12 hour recharge time.) Next time i'll have 120v strobes!
Yes, more advertising time is helpful I too started with 2 weeks, and by day 4 it was 3 1/2 weeks. say 4 was filled. (YAY!). I have thoughts on next year that should double or triple sales.
Might consider the net as a way to post and sell the images...at least the additional ones. I like that idea.
So the big question is - did you like it enough to want to do more? |
I loved the last shoot, it was fun, tight, cramped, crowded but fun! The only problem was getting the animals attention in that situation and mom or dad didn't help. I'm trying to get "rover" to look at me while everyone else is calling him as well from all different directions. That is another lesson learned, let mom and dad know that they need to stand behind me and stay quiet unless I ask them to call the animal or stand by the animal and watch it.
Deannda |
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12/20/2005 02:18:24 AM · #6 |
This is a untouched, resized for web only shot of what I had to work with, the space I had. The first place I had an entire room! This was in the front of the store, very little space, but I figure if I make a cubicle type enclosure with some pvc pipe and my regular backdrop that will help at least with the cloning part and keep the animals more enclosed and hopefully less distractions. The owner is already talking about Easter pictures!
Deannda
I have to put a collage together for her also, her file is Gleason on the picture site |
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12/20/2005 03:47:53 AM · #7 |
Deanndra, I know exactly what you are dealing with. When I lived down state, I had my own pet photography business. I would hold a shoot at a local pet store a friend of mine owned once a month. I also had an entire room of my house converted into a studio. I must say, home was so much better as I could control the the lighting better, had more room, and less distractions. The store space was never adequate, but at least I taqlked her inot letting me use the back storage room which she would stack all her supplies on one side so I could yuse the other part equivalent of a closet, lol.
When I did my first two shoots, I printed them on location. But as you said, the laptop screen as not the best to work with. So, I switched to printing at home nd they would pick them up at the pet store a couple weeks later - along with a reorder form to encourage them to buy more. It worked great that way. One it almost doubled the amount I made per shoot as I always had folks placing orders then, and it helped my friend as when they came to pick up their photos they often bought some food or pet supplies from her while they were there. I averaged about $200-$400 each session.
I think this is the only thing I miss since we moved to the Upper Peninsula. Folks up here don't seem to have the same mentality towards pets, so I would never make money like that doing photo shoots here. Thus, the business got closed down. :-(
Good luck to you.
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12/20/2005 07:57:16 AM · #8 |
Hey Shutterpug! First, love your profile shot, LOL!
Second, thanks for the great idea! Once a month pictures and they come back for the prints from the store! I have to go back and talk to Brenda and Linda today and deliver an 8x10 Linda ordered and will mention this to them. Something like the 3rd Saturday of every month type thing, send out reminders to people who've had it done before and also advertise for new clients. Maybe get another local store to do this as well or contact a locally owned shop in Ithaca as well. That way I'm booked at least 2 weekends a month! Most excellent! Thank you!
Deannda |
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12/20/2005 10:46:57 AM · #9 |
Did the store get anything money wise? Did they participate in teh promotion? DId folks make appointments or was it a wait in line type of thing?
What i did, for better or worse, was the humane society got 10% off the top - this did bring in some customers (3 that i am positive of).
The store did ALL the promotion and scheduling of clients, and notification that prints are in. They got 40% of the margin. I got 60% and had the printing done at winklfash.com (29c 5x7s, 39c for 4 wallets, 99c flat shipping- they also sell tshirts, mugs, mousepads, etc which I did sell a few of).
I got to decide on the package and pricing. ($15.95 for 2 5x7, 4 wallets and a proof set (PS action to make a 5x7 of 6 thumbnails). Product cost per package was about $1.30) I did use walmart for a few reprints and last minute wallets (2 on a 4x6 print for 19c)
I want to improve the workflow next time (paperwork, HD organization, etc). I will raise prices and offer 2 packages - probably $18.95 for the above package and $29.95 for 4 5x7s, 2 poses and 8 wallets. People wanted xmas cards but i couldn's find a way to do it affordably and profitably. I am still working on that idea and may have found something.
I plan on having tri fold full color brochuures this year ('06) and stuff them in each delivery envelope as well advertsing my wedding/senior/lifestyle stuff. I have a horse shoot coming up in the spring (horse too shaggy now to look good)
I want to do two locations next year. As it was (4 days, 4hrs a day) gross sales were a bit over $1000. My net was $410 or so..still finishing up on the detials and reorders). Next year i want $2500 from that place in sales, and would like to find another place and do 1500 or more there as well (with me getting more of the profits!).
I have an idea on where to get a santa (maybe rel cheap) as well. We had one at work last night - he is the local fire department santa...a donation or some pics there..help them to an xmas fundraiser maybe? Kids, santa, a firetruck photo...
I'd love to shoot and wirelessly move the pics to an assistant at the computer who'd sell the pics and maybe print them..but canon wants $999 for their wireless setup. Ouch.
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12/20/2005 11:58:03 AM · #10 |
Glad you're having fun with it! That's the important part.
I'm always learning. I don't think I'll ever feel like I've got everything perfect. I did a shoot this weekend, too. The space and lighting is always less than ideal. You just go with it. I seem to be the one that worrys and nit picks. Everyone is always very happy with their print (4by6 on the spot). It's set up different though. Usually the shoot is paid for by the company and it's a customer appreciation day. Their customers are getting a free 4by6 so why wouldn't they be happy? I frame it as tight as possible so no cropping. I was lucky this time and (almost)everything was straight out of the camera. I uploaded 4 into my port if you're interested.
Good luck with the next one! |
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12/20/2005 12:51:45 PM · #11 |
The deal with the stores was they took the appointments and got free sittings and half price on the on the spot orders. Also I will be making a collage for them to put up in their store. The pet store is owned by one sister and managed by the other. Between them they had brought in 8 dogs to be photographed and we had a blast. I don't split any profits with them, they put a byline in their regular ad and I printed up all the posters to put around town and at the vets place. They took the appointments as people called in.
This next time there will be no printing on site, too much hassle and really not enough room. I will bring along my trusty receptionist with the laptop to download each set into it's own folder and to take money for the sitting fee. My fee was $15, you get up to 2 pets in the picture, additional pets were $2 each. You also get 4 each 4x6 prints. Additional orders can be placed on site but with the acknowledgement that IF I let them see the unedited shot they realize it's going to look MUCH better in the end, LOL :)
I've been working through photo reflect, again, set your own prices, you get to chose the lab you want to work with, Mavrik steered me towards them. I haven't had to use them as of yet, since all my orders have been through me and only up to an 8x10 size which I might add, came out LOOKING FANTASTIC!! I'm thrilled with the look of the shots in the 8x10 size, I'm going to have to order a larger size to see how it looks and use for promotion. Probably do with the collage shot for the store.
This summer I plan on, as a matter of fact will email the director when I'm done here, shooting at the 4-H shows and printing on site (will bring the big computer to edit) and a portion of the sales will go back into the horse program.
Deannda |
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