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02/29/2008 09:39:44 AM · #1 |
So I'm book for my very first school gig!!! and now i'm putting together packages etc (I had some but I'm thinking I can do better).
My question to all is this. if you had your ideal what would you want of the company that did your childs photos? (ie, types of packages, products, serevices, what you would want them to do or not do etc.)
thanks for the input. |
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02/29/2008 10:33:02 AM · #2 |
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02/29/2008 10:38:48 AM · #3 |
We did a really good family session at a local studio and some of the action shots are great. Instead of seeing the same old side on portrait shots, something a bit diffent, groups of friends jumping or leap-froggin' each other etc would be fun, as most of the time, even though the shots are supposed to be for the parents, the kids always usally keep a copy in their bedrooms - so if they were a bit more fun with mates--it would be something they keep for the future as well.
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02/29/2008 10:47:11 AM · #4 |
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02/29/2008 10:57:27 AM · #5 |
| My favorite school photographer did outdoor shoots with interesting poses - kids on playground equipment, etc. It's a lot more effort but they were really the only school photos I'll cherish. |
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02/29/2008 11:12:56 AM · #6 |
I never buy school pics for my son, because they have been horrible the past few years. Bad lighting...etc.. I am not sure who they use, but I am not paying 20 bucks for an 8x10 that sucks!
That being said, I think FUN pics are the way to go. The playground pictures sound fun, as long as its warm enough outside. Maybe a full body shot of them posing by the monkey bars..etc... instead of just a close up face shot.
Also I wonder what it would cost to offer 2 different photo samples so that parents could choose. Last year my son had his eyes closed and this year he was looking off to the side. But maybe having a choice would be a little more enticing to buy?
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02/29/2008 11:19:42 AM · #7 |
I've seen two school things and sports things - all similar in concept.
The sports guy is severely low end. No class, no personality, no marketing ability. But he has leagues locked up, so I suppose he bribes well. I have no other explanation.
The one school guy has crappy quality most of the time, but does some 8 schools. No one likes him (employees, customers or former employer!) He's very simple in his school packages, and cheap IF you order at the first setting. $7 8x10 cheap. A reorder slip comes with the prints and there an 8x10 is $22 or $24 or so. Normal prices. YOu can buy one sheet for $7 if you want. He then sells class photos in Janueary as a seperate sales thing.
The preschool (not high end, but private, church affiliated) brings in some outfit from out of state. They do a LOT of work - scenic backgrounds, 3 people to work with the kids, 6 poses, a proof sheet, TONS of products (xmas ornaments, CD of files, christmas cards, special effects, etc). Smallest package is $37, and that's only 2 sheets. Some packages push $140 (with CD).
I'd send home a few days before picture day the order form, with color photos of the products, and an envelope for the money and order to come back to shcool in on picture day. Get paid UPFRONT. Cash, check and CC. Kids can't lose CC numbers on a slip of paper, and Ssooooo many people use debit cards these days.
With the prints I'd send a note that sends folks to my website - as much for marketing as anything else, but it allows them to email the images to grandma who can then buy images!! It also gives me their email addresses for marketing purposes, so I can offer an xmas special or january sale, etc.
With 100 kids there are 80 or more families - that means more photos - maternity, baby, holiday, family, etc. and perhaps sports leagues too, and eventually senior pictures and weddings. IF you keep in touch. email makes that easy and affordable. I've sent 3 emailings this month- 2300 some odd total for $34.50. USMail can't touch that.
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02/29/2008 11:20:12 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Bebe:
My favorite school photographer did outdoor shoots with interesting poses - kids on playground equipment, etc. It's a lot more effort but they were really the only school photos I'll cherish. |
I like that idea!
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02/29/2008 11:40:36 AM · #9 |
I went down the school path last year and when everything was done and I thought finalized... the contracts were never signed as they "discovered" that they still had a one year commitment with the "previous global photography operation" whose name shall never pass my lips.
here are my suggestions
1) yes - money up front PRIOR to picture day
2) Schedule reshoots less than 2 weeks after delivery of prints to the schools
3) make sure that you use netural backgrounds
The school wanted to have all pictures done for the campus in 3 hours. That was 800 students so make sure your workflow onsite is flawless AND use you own wranglers don't depend on the school to provide useful help.
I can give you a lot more if interested ...
But for now ... good luck
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02/29/2008 12:09:49 PM · #10 |
This is some great information thanks...! I like the playground idea too... seems like a fair bit of extra work on the day, but could be worth it, especially for smaller schools.
 Prof_Fate and nomad469 whata is or would you general workflow be from before the shoot too after ( I have a good idea of what things need to be done... some things I'm fuzzy on the order to to and I'm sure I'm missing lots of things I should do... also what kind of programs do you use to keep track of that number of photo's/kids |
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02/29/2008 01:08:56 PM · #11 |
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02/29/2008 01:19:01 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Eyesup:
This is some great information thanks...! I like the playground idea too... seems like a fair bit of extra work on the day, but could be worth it, especially for smaller schools.
Prof_Fate and nomad469 whata is or would you general workflow be from before the shoot too after ( I have a good idea of what things need to be done... some things I'm fuzzy on the order to to and I'm sure I'm missing lots of things I should do... also what kind of programs do you use to keep track of that number of photo's/kids |
I was working with a lab that had a really nice setup.
I sent them the student list.
They created orderforms with camera cards
The order forms were sent home with the student
On picture day
We would photograph the student with the camera card
Burn the whole shoot to DVD and send it to them along with the order info by camera card number that had been data entered into a database that they provided.
They did the lab run with the prints.
Turn time 10 days max
Kinda nice flow.
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02/29/2008 05:43:20 PM · #13 |
| bump for the evening crowd |
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02/29/2008 06:07:09 PM · #14 |
my son just had his pre kindergarten pics taken, you had the choice of two things. one a plain blueish background and the other had infalatable crayons in it. Most parents choose this. There where crayons on teh background materical too though, and then about 3-4 infaltable ones.
This one could be a main bread winner, and maybe in the summer you could have the beach theme one, bucket , ball etc.
as soon as i get the price list, i will email them to you so you can see wht they charge too. |
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02/29/2008 08:26:02 PM · #15 |
H&H color lab has software for free - you but a $200 scanner. It's called EZEvent and it's great for sports leagues and smaller shcools. and it's free.
for set up you enter the students names (school will give you a list, make it excel format). import this. you enter some teacher and grade/class info (or team for sports).
You then set up your packages - 8x10, 2 5x7, memory mate, 2 5x7 and 8 wallets, etc, etc.
You then print out this info (barcoded)- the names on sticky labels and the rest on regular paper.
On the shoot day you sync the camera time to the scanner time. Shooting with 2 cameras? Then I think you need 2 scanners. It syncs on time shot and in order - first kid, then second, etc.
Your desk person asks kid's name, takes order form and money. Finds kid's name on a lable scans it, puts label on order form, scans the class/grade/team line, then the package. Put order form in basket to be dealt with later, photog shoots kid. ON to the next one. For teachers and group shots you scan the appropriate barcode.
Back in the studio you put the pics on the computer (JPG ONLY!!!!), plug the scanner into the USB port, start the software and let it rip. In a few minutes everything is synced up. You go thru and rotate images that need it, delete dups and blinks. THere is some basic editing capabilities as well.
Click SEND TO LAB.
In 3 days or so everything arrives back at your place, bagged for each kid and filed by class/team.
Easy as pie.
H&H EZEvents Info
(BTW, the largest lab in the nation is Miller/Mpix. Number two is H&H - they are big outfit with a personal touch, and local reps!)
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02/29/2008 09:09:23 PM · #16 |
Here is a list of what NONE of the "photographers" doing my kids pics provide...
- Don't bother with wallet sized crap... Every "package" has them and they are a waste of space... I guess they are check to add but pointless.
- Add an option to buy a .JPG directly instead of just prints (web/cd don't care). To save the people buying only the CD & printing themselves, only offer it in the packages above some reasonable $ figure... not just the top option.
- Have some 2-5x7 sheets.
- Have the kid actually look at the camera :-/
- How about something besides flash over camera with that flat look... maybe light it properly instead.
- Get them to take their flipping hat off or flash under the hood to avoid the shadow.
Mine have ranged from passable to pathetic.... nothing I would call a real shot. |
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02/29/2008 09:50:08 PM · #17 |
I'm a kindergarten teacher, not a parent, but I can tell you what our photographer does. Parents seem pleased, and many order photos, so he must be doing something right!
I work at a school with grades Nursery-8th, and for the youngest students (N-3 or so) he takes the photos in the classroom. The older students pictures are taken in the library. He schedules a few classes per day, and takes a few weeks to finish taking all the photos.
Whe he comes in to the classroom, he usually sets up a little wooden chair in front of a angled bookshelf, brings in his umbrella, and has 2 different lenses. He takes a bunch of shots for each child, some sitting, some standing, and the last shot being "make a silly face" (which they absolutely LOVE). He changes lenses half way through to give more variety (and I cringe at every lens change, just picturing all the dust floating in there!) He posts all of the shots in a web gallery by class that parents can order from, so there are usually about 8-10 shots to pick from per child. He prints up the shots and brings in whatever orders he's gotten once every week or so. He leaves the galleries up for at least a few months, and I know that I still have a parent here and there still ordering packages.
A few other thoughts...
-He also tells parents to let the teachers know if they want their children photographed together. We usually bring the older child down to the younger child's class on their picture day. He does some really cute shots of the kids together, which parents seem to love.
-Once he takes all the kids photos, he puts everyone together on the rug for a class photo. I love that the class photos have that "warm-fuzzy" feel with the kids sitting on the teachers laps, everyone giving a big group hug, and of course the "everyone make a silly face" shot at the end.
-He comes in to do family portraits during some of our school events... fall BBQ, family fun nights etc. I think families have to sign up for a time at some of them though.
-The kids pictures seem so much more natural when they're taken in our classroom since the kids aren't being whisked off to some strange setup in another room of the building.
Anyway, I don't pay much attention to packages, but I know that this setup is SO much better than having some company come in for a day! Good luck! :) |
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