|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
04/18/2005 02:21:37 PM · #1 |
i just wanted to offer a different twist on 'marketing' for those just starting to sell their services and/or prints.
last week, john setzler put up a 'human scavenger hunt' thread as a means to motivate people to get out and try something different, as well as a means to try to get over the fear of shooting strangers. i thought this was a great idea and jumped all over it, shooting 13 of 15 images last tuesday.
i printed out 5x7s of my images, and started tracking down my subjects to give them a little 'thank you' for letting me take their picture. everyone really seemed to appreciate this.
on friday, i got a call from the cook at the diner saying that the owner wanted to know when i could come in to talk. i set up a meeting for this morning. when i met him, he told how he was having the 5x7s framed, and he wanted to know if i could come shoot more--more of the employees, the establishment, and some candids of their customers. he wants to redecorate their walls with my images. the whole time he was asking me what it would cost and when could i do it, he was also talking about how much he liked the work.
this is a 24/7 restaurant that is a richmond institution. do you think i'm going to quote him a per print rate or an hourly or daily rate? hell no!!!!! basically, he's going to turn his walls into my gallery. i told him that right now, i'm just looking for exposure and to cover my expenses. and maybe breakfast every now and then ;-)
so, i'll have my prints for sale on his wall, and they'll get a ton of visibility, and it doesn't really cost me anything.
but wait, there's more...
he also wanted to know if i could be available to shoot his wedding. granted, i'll still need to sit down with him AND his fiance, but i'm quite sure we'll come to mutually agreeable terms for that, especially once he sees my coffee-table-book portfolio ;-)
i know this kind of flies in the face of a lot of the advice people get about 'not being taken advantage of', but i don't really look at this as 'being taken advantage of', but rather as
1) there are more ways than cash to get paid for doing something you love
2) it doesn't really cost much to spread your crumbs on the water
3) if you always try to get paid up front for the little stuff, you might not ever find out what big stuff you're missing out on, especially if you're just starting out.
just my 2 cents, for what it's worth... |
|
|
|
04/18/2005 02:24:29 PM · #2 |
thats so awesome! congrats and best of luck with the restuarant photos and then the wedding photos.
|
|
|
|
04/18/2005 02:43:09 PM · #3 |
I like your approach skip. Less likely to have dissatisfied customers that way. And a business built a little at a time would seem more likely to last. You are moving it forward but not trying to make big jumps and ending up biting off more than you can chew. We know you can do the photo part. There is no reason you can't do the business part too.
|
|
|
|
04/18/2005 02:47:22 PM · #4 |
What an awesome stroke of luck, Skip. Good for you.
I'm in the midst of major moving events (as in, from one town to another, not emotional :), otherwise I'd be "pounding the pavement" as it were, looking for a place willing to display my stuff! Maybe in the next town!
Good luck- I hope it really pans out for you!!
Andi
|
|
|
|
04/18/2005 02:48:16 PM · #5 |
Fabulous news Skip. You have to charge him breakfast now and again - that would just be cool.
E |
|
|
|
04/18/2005 02:59:30 PM · #6 |
That's fantastic Skip!!! And I completely agree with you about spreading crumbs on water (cute term btw). I was recently contacted by an old boss of mine to take some photos of her children after she saw some I took of my own. She really wants to pay me but I told her I'd be happy with her lovely "word of mouth" if she like the shots and it would give me great practice shooting kids besides my own. Also, I wanted her permission to use the shots in a portfolio if I really decide to persue photography more agressively. She insists she pays so I told her to wait and see how the shots turn out and then we'll talk.
Also, as a fluke, my husband and mom-in-law contated a local coffee shop about displaying some of my stuff as their birthday present to me. So that'll be happening next month. Now I just have to come up with some kind of pricing, decide how to frame, which shots to use, get them printed, and get them over there..... Sheesh, sounds like a lot of work for a birthday present to me!!! :-) So who knows what will come of it if anything.
I hope you get some big loaves of bread coming your way in the future! ;-) And even if you don't, which I doubt, at least you will have brightened some peoples days.
|
|
|
|
04/18/2005 04:34:16 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by jenesis:
Also, as a fluke, my husband and mom-in-law contated a local coffee shop about displaying some of my stuff as their birthday present to me. So that'll be happening next month. |
that is so cool! good luck!
Originally posted by e301:
You have to charge him breakfast now and again |
you can count on it! they have the best breakfast in richmond!
thanks andi, harvey, and nico!
it really is important to have a broader view of what you want to do in the long run, than to try to grab all the marbles the first time out. if you concentrate on building strong relationships starting out, they'll be there for you in the end. |
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 09/07/2025 05:38:58 PM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/07/2025 05:38:58 PM EDT.
|
