Limited Edition Portaits questions

[SkyeDawn]

This seems to be the current new "in" thing for photography right now (I keep seeing it on-line).

Is it basically a "Theme Portrait" sitting where you have a 3-D scene set up with costumes and props in a package price? (e.g. Fairies in a forest setting with fairy costumes and wings, or a beach setting with sand, etc.)

I'm just curious as to what these Limited Edition Portraits are, and what is so limited edition about them?

Do any of you do Limited Edition portraits? Are they good money makers?

Thanks!

Shannon

[SkyeDawn]

Does no one do Limited Edition portraits?

[jeffkohn]

Haven't heard of limited edition portraits. But in the fine art print world the term "limited edition" has legal meaning, and in many states there specific requirements that have to be met before you can call a print "limited edition" so I'd suggest looking into that before marketing a product as such.

[Dsheree]

This has been around for a while. Christmas with Santa, Bunnies for Easter, By the pond, Faries, At the ball game, Grandma's Attic.......all samples of themes that are set up for a limited time (two weeks) and have special pricing. They are usually (no the seasonal themes) set up for when regular busy times are slow (Jan - Mar).

Pricing is as such $99 for 30 min session including 2 5x7 prints.......I just made that up as an example.

[HotHolly]

It sounds like you are talking about special portrait sessions - where an entire set is created for use 1 time. (More detail and depth than just a kid with bunnies). You run a special ad, announcing the limited time offer. Maybe I havent had coffee yet, but thats what I thought of when I read it.

I have read about that and heard other photogs that use that marketing tactic in conjunction with their regular photography. It is supposed to be a great way to keep repeat customers coming - especially those with young children. The key to that - from what I read - is to advertise it hard and only offer it for a very limited time. Then you strike the set and its gone.

Are you thinking about doing one of these? What theme are you thinking of? Share!

[akimartymar]

Like Jeff stated, most fine art prints have a limited edition number. The artist sets a number of prints he/she will print. The prints are usually made on demand and not printed all at once. Once the set number of prints has been produced the artist cannot print any more. The closer to the set number the print is the higher price it sells for since production is getting scarce. For example, print 50/50 will sell for more that print 1/50. I wouldn't see any reason why someone would do something like this in the commercial portrait industry. It could be something someone labelled their product as to make it sound fancier.

[SkyeDawn]

Yes, I'm thinking more along the lines of Dawn and Holly's thinking: the theme portraits that are offered for a limited time. Not art prints.

I actually have some Victorian costumes and was thinking of doing a "Victorian in the Park" theme for a short amount of time this fall.

I don't have a studio, so I can't do the themes in the studio as of yet, but hopefully some day! My background was in film production, and I made some shorts in film school, plus helped out on other students films, so I LOVE sets and costumes!!! That was always my favorite part!

So, I look forward to the day when I can either have a home-based studio (need a bigger house for that!), or a brick-and-mortar studio. I'd be going gung ho on sets, props, and themes!!! I'm taking some fashion design classes this fall, along with photography classes, so that I can actually make some of the costumes myself, rather than having someone else make them.

Thanks for the info!

Shannon

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by SkyeDawn

Yes, I'm thinking more along the lines of Dawn and Holly's thinking: the theme portraits that are offered for a limited time. Not art prints.

I actually have some Victorian costumes and was thinking of doing a "Victorian in the Park" theme for a short amount of time this fall.

I don't have a studio, so I can't do the themes in the studio as of yet, but hopefully some day! My background was in film production, and I made some shorts in film school, plus helped out on other students films, so I LOVE sets and costumes!!! That was always my favorite part!

So, I look forward to the day when I can either have a home-based studio (need a bigger house for that!), or a brick-and-mortar studio. I'd be going gung ho on sets, props, and themes!!! I'm taking some fashion design classes this fall, along with photography classes, so that I can actually make some of the costumes myself, rather than having someone else make them.

Thanks for the info!

Shannon

Sounds fun! Make sure you use some models (or friends) to pose to get you some ad pieces. People have no imagination, in general. They see it, they like it, they buy it. So, make sure they have stuff to see. And make sure you post it for us too!