Free sessions....with the intent of selling prints

07/22/2008 03:18:28 PM · #1

Is this a good idea? That way, the person isn't actually financially obligated or anything ...but HOPEFULLY the great photo's will get them EMOTIONALLY obligated and convince them to buy prints?

Message edited by author 2008-07-22 15:19:43.

07/22/2008 03:21:28 PM · #2

I am sure there will be a lot of people here that will say no way!! But I would do it....and have done it..! I look at it as I *need* people to practice lighting techniques..etc... on and they arent obligated to buy, so they feel more comfortable. Then it gives me the experience and hopefully some photos for my portfolio, and sometimes the added bonus of them wanting to buy the photos.

07/22/2008 03:23:48 PM · #3

Originally posted by gwe21:

Before. I never offered prints. Now that I offer prints...people buy them. I just am not getting much buisiness. I thought this would be a way to hook em...before getting them to spend their cash.

glad2badad

DJI Mavic Air 2

Sears 55mm f/1.4 M42

07/22/2008 03:26:28 PM · #4

Why the duplicate thread? As you well know (since you've posted in the other), this subject has been discussed at length in this current thread ==> Free senior pictures

07/22/2008 03:27:24 PM · #5

well I can say that one thing parents do is buy good photos of their kids. When you do a session for free, then they see the photos, they usually will buy a lot.

I know I was always one of those moms that would spend hundreds on prints because I couldnt decide and would buy them ALL! LOL

07/22/2008 03:41:39 PM · #6

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Why the duplicate thread? As you well know (since you've posted in the other), this subject has been discussed at length in this current thread ==> Free senior pictures

Mine is a different subject. Her's is WHERE to get the prints.

Mine is based on strategy. I know where I am getting my prints...I know how much I am going to charge. I just want to know if anyone thinks

a.) this is a good idea?
b.) has it worked for them?
c.) personally, what would you think about such a deal?

Thanks for your concern though.

(*btw, who died and ordained you the Priest of Threads?)

Message edited by author 2008-07-22 15:45:13.

07/22/2008 03:42:06 PM · #7

Originally posted by gwe21:

THAT! is what I am hoping for. :D

07/22/2008 03:46:44 PM · #8

It may work, but what you'll find is those that go for 'cheap' and 'free' sessions are 'cheap' and 'free' kind of people -they'll buy the very minimum.

You have the same time invested in a $10 sale as a $1000 sale - shooting, processing, selling. If you shoot 5 sessions a week and get $50 a session you'll soon quit. Get $500 a session and you'll be happy as a pig in slop. They key to success is a high average sale. The session fee is part of that...so if you give up the $30 or $70 per sale you'll have to make it up on the products they buy.

07/22/2008 03:49:12 PM · #9

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

hmmm. Maybe make it so that IF they order prints they have to order from a Package? that insures a profit?

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/22/2008 03:53:12 PM · #10

You could waive the session fee if over some amount is spent on prints.

07/22/2008 03:54:45 PM · #11

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

You could waive the session fee if over some amount is spent on prints.

Also a good idea!

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/22/2008 03:55:20 PM · #12

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

.... $500 a session ...

Five days a week with that as an average.... That's more than I make as a geologist! Though it's not out of reach, as I did close to $600 in sales (over $500 profit) after a 45 minute session. But it would be a challenge to sustain five clients per week for an entire year. I suppose after a few years they'd start to be repeat customers, but that's only because Slippy is Totally Awesome! :-)

Message edited by author 2008-07-22 16:05:32.

07/22/2008 04:05:11 PM · #13

$2500 a week won't keep a studio in business. There's a thread here about someone building a studio in a mall and the rent is $2500 a month. They plan to have sales around $4000 a week and i'm sure would like more.

Yeah, packages are one way to insure an average sale. Walmart studios around here want a $99 average (or the employee will not have a job). They offer a $7.99 deal, the next package is $59 for 1 pose. Want 2 poses? You can by additional 'sheets' (8x10 unit) for $12 or some figure like that. Enhancements as they call it, like vignetting, stars, names, borders is extra (about 30%).

If the cheapest store on earth, the america's largest employer (2nd largest on earth excluding governments) makes this model work so can you. Or something similar.

But the have a formula. Take 7 to 15 shots/poses. no more, no less. You've got 15 minutes to shoot. 45 minutes to sell. Hmm...three times as much selling time as shooting time. That tells you something right there!

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/22/2008 04:07:31 PM · #14

oops, I edited as you posted...

I'm thinking at a different scale, as if I'm just working alone, as opposed to a studio. So I see what you mean.

trnqlty

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

07/22/2008 04:08:10 PM · #15

This can certainly work but, as has been said, you just need to be confident people will spend money with you. I run an heirloom quality family portrait business and we have multiple marketing partners that we give gift certificates out for free sessions that they in turn pass on to their clients. If a family is willing to spend the time and money on clothing, haircuts etc.. and assuming the pictures come out nice, they will more than likely spend money with you. If its any help, we have an average sale of roughly $700.

07/22/2008 04:08:49 PM · #16

Eric, I charge a session fee, then waive the session fee IF they order a package (and pay) the same time as their shoot. Otherwise I collect the session fee, and if they later order XX amount of prints or package, I will minus the session fee from the package.

does that make sense?

but since i do this at home, in my free time, and not trying to make a living, I guess that makes a difference.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/22/2008 04:11:37 PM · #17

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

But the have a formula. Take 7 to 15 shots/poses. no more, no less. You've got 15 minutes to shoot. 45 minutes to sell. Hmm...three times as much selling time as shooting time. That tells you something right there!

chris is right about that.... One time when my son was a baby, and we were dirt poor, I went to Walmart for one of those $4.99 packages... well they shot exaclty 7 photos, and 2 of them he wasnt even looking at the camera.. but they wouldnt shoot anymore.

I got 1 pose with the cheap package... and let me say that they were CHEAP in every sense of the word. The photos now are very faded and the colors look horrible!

angelfire

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/22/2008 04:14:21 PM · #18

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

You could waive the session fee if over some amount is spent on prints.

I've used this method before and it has worked.

07/22/2008 04:14:43 PM · #19

Photography is seasonal. Weddings are spring/summer and fall - usually (here at least) dropping off in august, jan, feb and mar.
HS seniors show up all over the place, but june/july are the hot months with some in august. Kids are busy - i'm trying to get one in now - she's in basketball, cheer and band - they've got summer camps for all of those and band practice and cheer start in august with football games starting the first week of september. And she has a job too!

Babies are all year round - so babies IMO are a good business part of a business plan. $250-300 a session, but in the first year you can get 3 or 4 sessions.

Jan/feb is annual convention time, get ready for the year time, etc. Bridal shows and bookings will also keep one busy.

Add in continual upgrades to software and hardware (new camera, CS3 or 4 or aperture or DPP or what have you - new software means learning new things) And labs and album companies are constantly adding new products - so you have to be aware of them and perhaps get samples if you think it will sell.

Some things work - perhaps a fundraiser/coop deal with a kids or pets program - they help bring in clients, you give away sessions and they get a porttion of the profit on any sales. You get advertising, a list of clients to market to, etc. Can be a real win-win.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/22/2008 04:50:56 PM · #20

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

oops, I edited as you posted...

I'm thinking at a different scale, as if I'm just working alone, as opposed to a studio. So I see what you mean.

It doesn't matter the scale - it has to be worth it financially. I've done Valentine Day photos in a restaurant for 'free' - well, they get a free 4x6 and I get $2 from the restaurant (per couple) and dinner. The couple can buy more if they want. $200 in sales over 2 nights (6 hours, plus setup/packup, travel, etc) IMO wasn't worth it. Even for the 5 weeks of advertising I got in advance of it.

I do a pet thing around Xmas in conjunction with a pet groomer to raise money for the humane society. Free sitting and we hope they buy. First year was the first professional thing I did - $25 average. last year the average was $85. 5 sales an hour max, but usually have a slow point during the day. 12 clients a day is a fair count (4 hours usually). So that's 3 per hour - $75 an hour vs $255 an hour. If you have proportional costs, donations, and split the profits then the net in your pocket difference is between $24 per hour vs $91 an hour. If your paying an assistant $10/hour and you have gas to buy in addition to your overhead of gear, advertising, insurance, taxes etc you can't live on $14 an hour but $81 is doable.

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

07/22/2008 06:32:07 PM · #21

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

You could waive the session fee if over some amount is spent on prints.

This is an excellent idea!! I like this a lot.

I'll tell ya, trying to "hook" someone with no sitting fee... you end up doing a lot of work for nothing, 0, nada, zippo. LOL

07/22/2008 06:34:40 PM · #22

Originally posted by TCGuru:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
You could waive the session fee if over some amount is spent on prints.

This is an excellent idea!! I like this a lot.

I'll tell ya, trying to "hook" someone with no sitting fee... you end up doing a lot of work for nothing, 0, nada, zippo. LOL

Yeah. At the very least, I will get a model waiver....so it could be used for my own adverts. But I see where you are coming from.

I like the idea of SITTING FEE is excluded if you buy X amount of prints.

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/22/2008 06:44:06 PM · #23

Originally posted by egamble:

Originally posted by glad2badad:
Why the duplicate thread? As you well know (since you've posted in the other), this subject has been discussed at length in this current thread ==> Free senior pictures

Mine is a different subject. Her's is WHERE to get the prints.

Mine is based on strategy. I know where I am getting my prints...I know how much I am going to charge. I just want to know if anyone thinks

a.) this is a good idea?
b.) has it worked for them?
c.) personally, what would you think about such a deal?

Thanks for your concern though.

(*btw, who died and ordained you the Priest of Threads?)

It looks like the same subject to me. Actually, it looks like a bit of damage control. :)