What are your portrait percentages?

[klynam]

Wondering what everyone's approximate percentage breakdowns are in the following categories of portraiture. Just answer whichever you like - I'm just curious...

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional =
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) =
Sports (individual / team) =
Bridal / Engagement =
High School Seniors =
Families =

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant =
2-6 yrs old =
6-12 yrs old =
12-18 yrs old =
College =
Adult =
Senior Adult =

Locations:

Outdoor =
Indoor (non-studio) =
Studio =

Lighting:

Natural Light =
Natural + Flash =
Flash only =

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by klynam

Wondering what everyone's approximate percentage breakdowns are in the following categories of portraiture. Just answer whichever you like - I'm just curious...

It depends on what year I look at, but I will give you 2007 a total of 377 sessions

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional = 2%
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) = 4%
Sports (individual / team) = 3%
Bridal / Engagement = 3%
High School Seniors = 56%
Families = 11%

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant = 3%
2-6 yrs old = 2%
6-12 yrs old = 1%
12-18 yrs old = 56%
College = 1%
Adult = Individual 1% excluding business portraits Couples 2%
Senior Adult = I don't use this category

Locations:

Outdoor = Families on location 2%
Indoor (non-studio) = This is in figure above on location
Studio = Studio Families 6%

Lighting: This is something I have no reason to track. I use whatever the situation warrants.

Natural Light = rarely
Natural + Flash = mostly on location
Flash only = everything else

You didn't ask, but our business included: Weddings 3%, Commercial 3%, Charity 5%, and Other 2%

[Cajungaltx]

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional =
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) =
Sports (individual / team) =
Bridal / Engagement = 10%
High School Seniors = 30%
Families =60%

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant = 30%
2-6 yrs old = 2.5%
6-12 yrs old = 2.5%
12-18 yrs old =
College =
Adult = 30%
Senior Adult = 35%

Locations:

Outdoor = 50%
Indoor (non-studio) = 50% (I'm assuming 'non-studio' means outside of a home)
Studio =

Lighting:

Natural Light = 20%
Natural + Flash = 70%
Flash only = 10%

[CaptainTom]

Don
I'm not an accountant but I think your numbers don't add up right.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional =
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) =
Sports (individual / team) =
Bridal / Engagement = 10%
High School Seniors = 30%
Families =60%

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant = 30%
2-6 yrs old = 2.5%
6-12 yrs old = 2.5%
12-18 yrs old =
College =
Adult = 30%
Senior Adult = 35%

Locations:

Outdoor = 50%
Indoor (non-studio) = 50% (I'm assuming 'non-studio' means outside of a home)
Studio =

Lighting:

Natural Light = 20%
Natural + Flash = 70%
Flash only = 10%

Wow, totals to almost 200%. You must pass yourself going to and from sessions.

[CaptainTom]

All of Donna's numbers add up to 100%.

Each category must add up to 100% since they are distinct from each other ?

i.e. 30% were seniors and that could be broken down by 50% indoor and 50% on location.

[klynam]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

You didn't ask, but our business included: Weddings 3%, Commercial 3%, Charity 5%, and Other 2%

I was just curious about specifically portraiture work so I didn't put "weddings" in as a category. But "Charity" is an interesting category.

I'm donating a portrait package to a couple of silent auction fund raisers. Does everyone else do some REAL pro-bono work? (not just TFCD type stuff)

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Each category must add up to 100% since they are distinct from each other ?

Yes - or thereabouts...



Also, here are my own estimates...

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional = 5%
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) = 20%
Sports (individual / team) =
Bridal / Engagement = 5%
High School Seniors = 50%
Families = 20%

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant = 5%
2-6 yrs old =
6-12 yrs old =
12-18 yrs old = 50%
College =
Adult = 45%
Senior Adult =

Locations:

Outdoor = 50%
Indoor (non-studio) = 10%
Studio = 40%

Lighting:

Natural Light = 55%
Natural + Flash = 5%
Flash only = 40%

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by klynam

I was just curious about specifically portraiture work so I didn't put "weddings" in as a category. But "Charity" is an interesting category.

I'm donating a portrait package to a couple of silent auction fund raisers. Does everyone else do some REAL pro-bono work? (not just TFCD type stuff)

I give away gift certificates. You have to be careful regarding reporting these on your taxes. It's my understanding you can only declare the actual out of pocket cost of the item. i.e. 8x10 costs me $3. I can't declare what I usually get for an 8X10.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Don
I'm not an accountant but I think your numbers don't add up right.

I looked at my printout and tried to add and subtract to fit his questions. Since my categories are different it might not add up. Here are my categories with further breakdowns within each category

Pre-School 22 sessions 6%
Undergrad 2 sessions 1%
Seniors 213 sessions 56%
Individuals 21 sessions 6%
Groups (2 or more) 45 sessions 12%
Weddings 13 weddings 3%
Eng & Bridal 13 sessions 3%
Activities 11 sessions 3%
Commercial 11 sessions 3%
Charity 20 sessions 5%
Other 2%

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Wow, totals to almost 200%. You must pass yourself going to and from sessions.

Ummm... no... 100%... at least based on my understanding of what he was asking.

Portrait types:

Individual / Traditional =
Individual / Commercial (headshots, business portraits, etc.) =
Sports (individual / team) =
Bridal / Engagement = 10%
High School Seniors = 30%
Families =60%

So this is what type of portraits I do... 100%...split into the categories.

Age Groups:

Newborn/Infant = 30%
2-6 yrs old = 2.5%
6-12 yrs old = 2.5%
12-18 yrs old =
College =
Adult = 30%
Senior Adult = 35%

this is the age group... (oops = I saw 'senior adult' and thought 'senior'...lol)


I shoot about half of my sessions outdoors... and the other half in studio.

Locations:

Outdoor = 50%
Indoor (non-studio) = 50% (I'm assuming 'non-studio' means outside of a home)
Studio =

When I shoot - I use natural light + flash a majority of the time...

Lighting:

Natural Light = 20%
Natural + Flash = 70%
Flash only = 10%

Maybe I misunderstood something - but I thought that was what he was asking for?

[klynam]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I give away gift certificates. You have to be careful regarding reporting these on your taxes. It's my understanding you can only declare the actual out of pocket cost of the item. i.e. 8x10 costs me $3. I can't declare what I usually get for an 8X10.

I wasn't going to deduct anything at all - just work it for the PR...

klynam added 1 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

Maybe I misunderstood something - but I thought that was what he was asking for?

You got it right - nothing scientific here just beer and peanuts talk...

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Don
I'm not an accountant but I think your numbers don't add up right.

I gave the percentage of the total 377 sessions. Ask the wrong question or ask it in the wrong way and you usually get the wrong answer. My numbers were not a guess or an estimate, but a factual breakdown of the actual figures.

I was in a photographers marketing group for almost twenty years that didn't allow guesses or estimates. You were expected to bring real numbers to the table to share with the other members. If you don't keep good numbers how do you know what is working and what isn't or where you are making a profit and where you are losing money.

And if we use the same category breakdown, but do it for sales the numbers and the percentages will be a whole lot different.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I gave the percentage of the total 377 sessions. Ask the wrong question or ask it in the wrong way and you usually get the wrong answer. My numbers were not a guess or an estimate, but a factual breakdown of the actual figures.

I was in a photographers marketing group for almost twenty years that didn't allow guesses or estimates. You were expected to bring real numbers to the table to share with the other members. If you don't keep good numbers how do you know what is working and what isn't or where you are making a profit and where you are losing money.

And if we use the same category breakdown, but do it for sales the numbers and the percentages will be a whole lot different.

Now I get it. i.e. your numbers are not a COMPLETE breakout of all your categories, but only a representation of the data for the specific categories in the original question. ME NOT STUPID, ME JUST DUMB.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by klynam

But "Charity" is an interesting category.

I'm donating a portrait package to a couple of silent auction fund raisers. Does everyone else do some REAL pro-bono work? (not just TFCD type stuff)

I would suggest making it a family wall portrait, so they will need to get a few extra prints for grandmas. If you give a package then you leave them less opportunity to spend additional money with you. I give most auctions two certificates for a session and an 11X14 portrait. For bigger auctions I will make it a 16X20 or even a 20X24 if that will get me into the live auction.

Always include restrictions and an expiration date.

And yes I do quite a bit of pro-bono work.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

All of Donna's numbers add up to 100%.

Each category must add up to 100% since they are distinct from each other ?

i.e. 30% were seniors and that could be broken down by 50% indoor and 50% on location.

Thanks Cap! ;-)