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10/10/2008 12:09:13 AM · #1 |
Anyone else so booked they can barely breathe till after the new year? I find this to be a recurring trend.
As a baby/family portrait photographer primarily, I am busy year round, but I find the months right before Christmas are extreme to say the least.
Is this common everywhere else too?
ETA: NOT complaining... just asking...
Message edited by author 2008-10-10 00:09:34. |
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10/10/2008 07:38:02 AM · #2 |
I'm about as busy as I can stand. I'm always buys in november leading up to christmas, but this past 2 months I've had seniors like never before - 300% growth. And a few babies/kids and maternity. I'd like to see a few more '09 wedding bookings though.
Jan-mar is usually the slow time, but I was pretty busy last january so I'm hoping that holds up for this next year too.
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10/10/2008 09:28:40 AM · #3 |
So it's not just a weird fluke huh? :D That makes me hopeful for the future.
On another note, what kind of Christmas cards does everyone offer their customers and who do you order them from? |
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10/10/2008 09:54:29 AM · #4 |
I use either H&H or (usually) ProFilmet.
I offer photo cards (5x7, lab as the templates, cost if 55c w/ envelope). I try to sell 24 for $25 with a portion of the proceeds going to the local humane society.
Folding cards are a lot more costly, especially in smaller quantities. My COST is over $1 each, so one has to get $1.50 to $2/card. I struggle over the pricing (for grad, save the date, etc. You can design or use their template)
You can go on markup (%) or on a total profit per sale. So if you want to markup 100% and they cost you $25 for 24 cards, you need to sell them for $49 say. And you make $25. But if the client opts to go cheaper and choses the flat photo cards for 1/2 teh price, then you make $12 or so margin.
If you are happy with a profit of $12, then why not sell the fancier cards for perhaps $15 over your cost, or $40 for 24 cards? You make more, and the cost to the client is more incremental rather than double. If you using templates there really isn't any additional cost in time to you.
Message edited by author 2008-10-10 11:39:11.
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10/10/2008 10:23:18 AM · #5 |
| Thanks Prof. I am on my way to check out ProFilmet. |
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10/11/2008 11:33:49 AM · #6 |
| I just took candid/art photography style portraits of 67 preschoolers. I've already been at the computer for over 21 hours editing. LOL |
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10/11/2008 12:20:55 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Jutilda:
I just took candid/art photography style portraits of 67 preschoolers. I've already been at the computer for over 21 hours editing. LOL |
You can't make a living at that rate - unless you can charge a small fortune for the pics. The outfit that comes and shoots my kids' preschool gives back a 6x9 proof card with 6 shots and it shows 2 or 3 templated items and they sell all sorts of crap, I mean, stuff. Christmas cards and images on CD for example. I don't know what they're average is, but based on their pricing it's gotta be $40-50/kid. I don't think they have anything for under $20 or $25, and some of their top end packages are $130!
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10/11/2008 01:47:54 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
You can't make a living at that rate - unless you can charge a small fortune for the pics. The outfit that comes and shoots my kids' preschool gives back a 6x9 proof card with 6 shots and it shows 2 or 3 templated items and they sell all sorts of crap, I mean, stuff. Christmas cards and images on CD for example. I don't know what they're average is, but based on their pricing it's gotta be $40-50/kid. I don't think they have anything for under $20 or $25, and some of their top end packages are $130! |
I agree 100 percent with Prof_Fate here. You need to streamline your workflow. I use either lightroom or actually lately I have been using something called phototools by the kabota family. I have a look that I use on it and I batch process everything there. including slapping my water mark on the image. my actual work time is like 15 minutes. 5min to copy the images from my card, 9min to convert raw to tiff and import into cs3, and then 1 minute to fine tune and click batch process. Then I let my computer chew on that for awhile and I eat a sandwich/watch TV. Then if someone orders a print ONLY THEN do I do anything un automated in cs3. (unless there is something that bugs me and I remember to clone it out) |
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10/11/2008 03:50:50 PM · #9 |
| I don't mind it. I have some other work coming in but this was fun and I already have referrals coming in. :~) |
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