What are your portrait percentages?

[klynam]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

...Always include restrictions and an expiration date.

Not to hyjack my own post - LOL - but here is the offering I submitted (below).

Please note the terms & conditions I included (thanks to Don's recommendation) at the end.

Your thoughts???

__________________________________________________ _____________

Professional Portrait Sessions and Gallery Quality Print
(Retail value $400)

KLYNAM Masterworks Photography is very proud to support the (insert auction cause here) by offering a complete portrait photography package and wall print. This package is perfectly suited to family portraits, senior portraits for 2010 high school seniors, and bridal/engagement portraits!

Your package includes two 1-hour photography sessions: one on-location (outdoors or indoors) and one in studio. You’re free to choose the location, or we’ll be glad to make recommendations; and you’re free to make as many clothing changes as you like during each session.

The best images from your sessions will be posted to a private online gallery for review and selection. From your gallery, you’ll select up to ten images of your favorite photos. These will receive your choice of stylistic or corrective digital retouching, and will be provided to you as hi-resolution images on CD rom. Finally, you’ll receive the image of your choice as an 11x14 color print suitable for framing.

Terms & Conditions: This offer to be redeemed by 12/31/09. No cash value. Precise scheduling is subject to the artist’s availability. A talent release, allowing the artist to use all images for promotional purposes, is required for any/all persons appearing in the photos. The artist retains original copyright to all images. You receive unlimited reproduction rights to the final images provided the images are not made available for purchase and the artists logo and/or copyright information appears on all digital and/or printed copies. Additional prints and/or services are available via the online gallery.

[zebulus]

I noticed a large percentage of you guys sessions are with seniors. How do you break into the senior market? Or is that a question for another thread.

[klynam]

Originally Posted by zebulus

I noticed a large percentage of you guys sessions are with seniors. How do you break into the (insert your key interest here) market? Or is that a question for another thread.

LOL - the $64,000 question...

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by klynam

LOL - the $64,000 question...

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured.

[klynam]

I had the same question and was told it's basically too late to get in on the 2010 senior market (puzzling to me*) but a good time to start making strategic moves to get in on the 2011 seniors.

*Seems like parents and seniors would want to wait a long as possible to get their portraits - possibly even into the Spring. I suppose it has a lot to do with the yearbook photo requirements that they get them so early in the school year.


But back on topic - any other shooters care to share percentages?

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by klynam

I had the same question and was told it's basically too late to get in on the 2010 senior market (puzzling to me) but a good time to start making strategic moves to get in on the 2011 seniors.

Okay...that tells me nothing about HOW to break in, just WHEN to break in. I want to know HOW. Or at least some tips or something.

[ronocnikral]

i don't know if it's too late to get into the 2010 market. I know a lot of people have done their's already, but it doesn't mean every one has. who told you that? people who shoot senior pictures?

the easiest way is to find someone you know and do them cheap or for free. our aunt referred us to a person and hopefully it works out...if we do this girls pictures, we'll get her 50 business cards with her picture, name and our name and number. Then we will tell her that each one of these cards that come back to us and they book at full price (so they don't tell about the discounted price) we give her an 8x10. hopefully we book and it all works out.

there was also an article in I think ppamag or rangefinder about a couple in denver who started a "hottie" program. i will spare you the details here, but the number that sticks out in my head is like $1.1m or $1.2m in gross sales last year.

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

i don't know if it's too late to get into the 2010 market. I know a lot of people have done their's already, but it doesn't mean every one has. who told you that? people who shoot senior pictures?

the easiest way is to find someone you know and do them cheap or for free. our aunt referred us to a person and hopefully it works out...if we do this girls pictures, we'll get her 50 business cards with her picture, name and our name and number. Then we will tell her that each one of these cards that come back to us and they book at full price (so they don't tell about the discounted price) we give her an 8x10. hopefully we book and it all works out.

there was also an article in I think ppamag or rangefinder about a couple in denver who started a "hottie" program. i will spare you the details here, but the number that sticks out in my head is like $1.1m or $1.2m in gross sales last year.

Nice idea. Well, it looks like its time to find some seniors to recruit.

[klynam]

Originally Posted by zebulus

Okay...that tells me nothing about HOW to break in, just WHEN to break in. I want to know HOW. Or at least some tips or something.

I appreciate the discussion, but we're getting off topic.

Not slapping anyone's hands, just saying you (we all) may get better results creating a post about breaking into Senior Photos...

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by klynam

I appreciate the discussion, but we're getting off topic.

Not slapping anyone's hands, just saying you (we all) may get better results creating a post about breaking into Senior Photos...

Fair Enough, I can start a thread. Sorry for getting off topic.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by klynam

Not to hyjack my own post - LOL - but here is the offering I submitted (below).

Please note the terms & conditions I included (thanks to Don's recommendation) at the end.

Your thoughts???

__________________________________________________ _____________

Professional Portrait Sessions and Gallery Quality Print
(Retail value $400)

KLYNAM Masterworks Photography is very proud to support the (insert auction cause here) by offering a complete portrait photography package and wall print. This package is perfectly suited to family portraits, senior portraits for 2010 high school seniors, and bridal/engagement portraits!

Your package includes two 1-hour photography sessions: one on-location (outdoors or indoors) and one in studio. You’re free to choose the location, or we’ll be glad to make recommendations; and you’re free to make as many clothing changes as you like during each session.

The best images from your sessions will be posted to a private online gallery for review and selection. From your gallery, you’ll select up to ten images of your favorite photos. These will receive your choice of stylistic or corrective digital retouching, and will be provided to you as hi-resolution images on CD rom. Finally, you’ll receive the image of your choice as an 11x14 color print suitable for framing.

Terms & Conditions: This offer to be redeemed by 12/31/09. No cash value. Precise scheduling is subject to the artist’s availability. A talent release, allowing the artist to use all images for promotional purposes, is required for any/all persons appearing in the photos. The artist retains original copyright to all images. You receive unlimited reproduction rights to the final images provided the images are not made available for purchase and the artists logo and/or copyright information appears on all digital and/or printed copies. Additional prints and/or services are available via the online gallery.

I think you are giving away too much. What is your goal for this auction item? My goal would be to generate a session for little expense that has the potential of creating a great sale. So for that reason I only offer one session and one print. My certificate is only for a family session and it must include the entire family. Not "all my kids or grandkids" or "our family except for the one away in college". The reason is that a family session has a much better chance of generating additional sales. I usually give an 11X14 because it is not the size they want. It is too big for a desk and too small for a wall. I will let them choose one 8X10 instead or pay the difference to upgrade to a larger wall portrait. I will give a larger canvas print in order to get it on the live auction.

Your fine print is a little over the top in my opinion. I have a studio advertising policy that lists all the details so I just put: subject to studio advertising policies.

[ronocnikral]

i agree the t&c is a little over the top. we have all that crap in a contract. also, i would suggest removing the line "the best images..." we promise no delivery of any number of images. all our client sees is our best.

i would also suggest not giving away the digital negatives. an 11x14, ok. your edited images for people to print and no sitting fee...not in a million years. we just gave the similar thing away at a bridal show but we did it in a quarter of the words you did and we are not giving away the digis. Let them come in and sign the contract...

[bondarnes]

Here is the text from my gift certificate. The Colors, Fonts, and Formatting are missing, but you get the idea

Gift Certificate
The Photographers will create for the bearer of this certificate
A Fourteen by Eleven Coronet Color Family Portrait
Portrait must include entire family.
(including a Location Family sitting total value $314.00).
To: __________________________________________________ ____________

From: The Denton County Republican Party and
the photographers
1622-B West University Drive Suite 120 Denton, TX. 76201
(940) 566-1888
Some Restrictions Apply. Subject to Studio Advertising Policies. No two offers may be combined. Certificate expires November 30, 2010

[klynam]

Thanks guys - much appreciated and I will amend accordingly...

klynam added 1 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by zebulus

Fair Enough, I can start a thread. Sorry for getting off topic.

Dude - no worries - LOL - I keep hyjacking my own topic too !!!