reason to project your photos at proof time

[carrbowl]

So I like many of you would like to use projection for proofing and have thought about it, at times been motivated to do it, but never really buckled down to do it. I have signed up for the small business management seminar thru ppa and one of the things to do was to read their 2005 financial benchmark survey. Basically it is a survey that looks at alot of photography businesses-home based, retail, small, large, etc. and here is what hit me between the eyes
" Studios using projection were almost twice as profitable ast the 44 studios still using paper previews only"

[JohnT]

And probably more profitable than using just online proofing. It can take forever for a client to review the images, put together their order, and get back to you.

[HeatherLou]

I can definitely tell a difference since I started projection proofing. My first session sold with projection proofing paid for the projector. (Don Barnes told me it would, and I didn't believe him at first) Plus its another opportunity to go wow the client, and make that personal connection with them. I would say my sales have tripled due to it.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

I can definitely tell a difference since I started projection proofing. My first session sold with projection proofing paid for the projector. (Don Barnes told me it would, and I didn't believe him at first) Plus its another opportunity to go wow the client, and make that personal connection with them. I would say my sales have tripled due to it.

That's great, Heather!

[w9ctm]

That's really interesting to read. I don't do weddings, and don't really do portraits, so it is a little more difficult for me. But I shoot a lot of events and am thinking about trying projection to show off my shots to promoters, organizers, etc. of the events I do shoot with hopes that they might be more interested in purchasing....

Interesting bit of information there Renae and Heather. Got me thinking now........

[HeatherLou]

I don't shoot many wedding either, (and honestly I am not missing it) so all of my work are senior and family portraits. Not sure how it would work for event photography but it couldn't hurt showing off to promoters LOL

[HotHolly]

We've been doing projected proofing for a while now. Hands down - its the BEST way to proof and sell. No question.

Renee, I think another part to consider is that photogs who project made another investment in the business side of their biz. They are past the point of being weekend warriors and are serious about SELLING.

With the projection - they get so caught up in it that if you manage your sales correctly, you can close on every single person in the room. Even if they had no intention on buying anything. Paper proofs cant do that.

Thingine number next: I think those who decided to spend a chunk of money on the projector also decided they have to learn how to sell with it so it doesnt just sit in the box and collect dust. I know Heather talked to a lot of people about it and she read books too. Fear of dust bunnies on your projector is a motivator.

[carrbowl]

Thanks Holly, I actually think the thing that has been keeping me from buckling down and making it a priority, is the learning curve. I have so many other irons in the fire, I feel overwhelmed!! I am hoping to get some advice as to the order in which to tackle these projects when I attend the seminar. I have definitely quit using the website to do proofing. I was using that as a lazy persons tool, and finally put that to rest..now I need to tackle the next one!!

[epoh]

Gah.. I should really get out the projector from the garage and see if it works. You've got me thinking...

[Mindy H]

Since we are chit chatting about projection....Renae, hopefully you don't mind me butting in a bit with some random thoughts that I've been debating about projection...

My fear....if I go to projected proofing....I have to find the time to do that....which cuts down on the time that I have to do sessions.

I do online proofing right now with my average well over the $1k mark and my high just over $3k. I do not do weddings or large groups, so I feel like I'm doing pretty good with my online sales figures and I find myself questioning how much my sales will actually go up with projection.

Hurdle #2 is....I *know* I am not good at sales. It's something that I am going to have to force myself to learn. So, I am scared of the decrease in $'s during my learning curve. There is not really any way for me to estimate how long it will take me to get into the groove.

Sorry...just rambling about this because I've been holding back on this for about a year now. I'm hoping someone will step in and give me a swift kick in the BooTay!

[Cornbread]

Originally Posted by Mindy H

Hurdle #2 is....I *know* I am not good at sales. It's something that I am going to have to force myself to learn. So, I am scared of the decrease in $'s during my learning curve. There is not really any way for me to estimate how long it will take me to get into the groove.

Why not hire a knowledgeable person to help with the sales side? Pay commission. No money lost. I was in sales for four years. I closed more deals because of my own personality than I ever did because of the superiority of my product.

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by Mindy H

Since we are chit chatting about projection....Renae, hopefully you don't mind me butting in a bit with some random thoughts that I've been debating about projection...

My fear....if I go to projected proofing....I have to find the time to do that....which cuts down on the time that I have to do sessions.

I do online proofing right now with my average well over the $1k mark and my high just over $3k. I do not do weddings or large groups, so I feel like I'm doing pretty good with my online sales figures and I find myself questioning how much my sales will actually go up with projection.

Hurdle #2 is....I *know* I am not good at sales. It's something that I am going to have to force myself to learn. So, I am scared of the decrease in $'s during my learning curve. There is not really any way for me to estimate how long it will take me to get into the groove.

Sorry...just rambling about this because I've been holding back on this for about a year now. I'm hoping someone will step in and give me a swift kick in the BooTay!

Absolutely do not mind...I love random thoughts and different ideas...sometimes they go in different directions, but I can go with the flow!!! If you are a PPA member I suggest you go on their website and look at the statistics that show how much better places do with projection. They show all studios vs. home based studios vs. retail locations. paper only vs. paper and projection vs projection only.

I think it would make a difference if you could look at how your sales are now. It has been amazing to me to see how they break all this down and show you that sometimes what you think will make your more profitable isn't really what's going to work. i.e. sometimes your sales income is fine, but you are spending too much time proofing or too much on equipment or whatever. And they really help break it down for you. So Mindy, I think you could be right...without someone really picking apart your bookkeeping, I think it would be hard to tell. Some of us don't have much to pick apart so it's easy to tell!!!!

Mindy, have you read the book The E-Myth Revisited? It's a good book that I think would help you run your business where you are...

[photopam]

I have thought about using our HDTV to do this. I really don't have room for a projector or screen, unless we want to sit out in the garage in the heat...

Anyone tried this approach? Any Home based photogs out there like to chime in on how it works for you (either tv or projector)? I would be interested to hear.

Thanks!

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by Mindy H

Since we are chit chatting about projection....Renae, hopefully you don't mind me butting in a bit with some random thoughts that I've been debating about projection...

My fear....if I go to projected proofing....I have to find the time to do that....which cuts down on the time that I have to do sessions.

I do online proofing right now with my average well over the $1k mark and my high just over $3k. I do not do weddings or large groups, so I feel like I'm doing pretty good with my online sales figures and I find myself questioning how much my sales will actually go up with projection.

Hurdle #2 is....I *know* I am not good at sales. It's something that I am going to have to force myself to learn. So, I am scared of the decrease in $'s during my learning curve. There is not really any way for me to estimate how long it will take me to get into the groove.

Sorry...just rambling about this because I've been holding back on this for about a year now. I'm hoping someone will step in and give me a swift kick in the BooTay!

You know the answer to this...

You could do LESS sessions, and make MORE money... by making more 'per session' versus doing that many sessions... heck...

OR... hire someone... then you do same number of sessions... make MORE money... and retire in a few years. ;-)

Vicki Tauffer doesn't do their sales - said she'd give it away if it were up to them. So she does a 'artist suggestion' document - where she recommends a few images from the suggestion - and prints that out for the sales consultant to give to the clients when they come in.

Cajungaltx added 1 Minutes and 5 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by photopam

I have thought about using our HDTV to do this. I really don't have room for a projector or screen, unless we want to sit out in the garage in the heat...

Anyone tried this approach? Any Home based photogs out there like to chime in on how it works for you (either tv or projector)? I would be interested to hear.

Thanks!

The projected proofing offers one MAJOR difference.... if you use the right software, you can project an 8x10 over a couch... and the client goes: oh crap, that's really, REALLY tiny...

so they order a 30x40 of the print at $$$ versus $$.

[S-Man]

So, we're talking about a literal "Projector" here, right? Not just "Expected Sales" type of "Projection" right?

What do you do, invite a bunch of people over and make it like home movie night?
I'm curious in how this motivates more sales than just paper proofing or even online proofing? If a client likes an image they buy it. If they think it's too expensive, they don't, no matter how it's presented.
My clients "Love" their photos, but I'm assuming print prices keep them from purchasing more than a small batch of prints...Surely I'm missing something...

Interesting subject here Renae...

edit: Doesn't a projector kind of diminish image quality? When I think of projectors I'm not thinking sharp, contrasty, saturated photos, I'm thinking murky, hazy and low-contrast projected images on a wall...Am I wrong to think that?