Building portfolio question

[alwoodruff]

I have recently decided I need to build my maternity portfolio (my site is www.amandalynnphoto.com for those wonderful friends who have been helping me!) and to try to use that to build my baby plan program. I recently posted on my blog that about this (www.amandalynnphoto.com/blog & the title is "oh baby" to read what I said).

I received an email from a good friend whose cousin is having a baby out of wedlock and has decided to neither abort or put it up for adoption. So my friend is trying to be supportive as none other family is (they wanted her to abort). Anyway, my friend asked if she could get her cousin to do my free mini-session to help my portfolio building and then purchase a newborn mini-session as a gift (I don't offer mini-sessions at this point... except for holiday specials).

My dilemna. My goal isn't JUST to build my maternity portfolio. It's to utilize this promo to get into new networks and build my client base... I'm realizing perhaps I should put some sort of a stipulation on it but I don't know what (I don't have time to be handing out freebies that won't help me). So, should I update it to have it be an application process and I only choose a couple? Or should I leave it free for all and figure out how to handle a situation like this?

I don't want to tell my friend yes, but don't know how. An option is to say, "I wish I could" but "here's what I can do". But it's the last part I'm stumped on.

[HotHolly]

If you want to be nice, forget your portfolio building and just offer her the session. It sounds like you want to, but dont want a bunch of cheap-Os asking for free stuff. Tell her its a regular session, just for her, so long as you can use the shots.

As for portfolio building, you should be offering incentives you would normally offer. Otherwise you get type cast as the _____ photographer. Fill in what ever word fits. Im not sure what your promo is. Lots of photographers offer free sessions and then charge full price for prints...assuming full price isnt $6 for an 8x10.

If I see a baby that is so stinking cute I want her in my port, I offer the mom a free session (I tell them I waive the $275) and offer them 1/2 price prints, which still has my 8x10 at $45. All that is in exchange for use of the baby's image on our ad pieces which at times, have included print and tv ads. I get a free model with the look I want and they get a swank photo session. And since they buy prints, I typically gross around $500 from those sessions. That's pretty low for us, but it goes with the type of session it is.

Figure out what you want your bottom line to be and go back and price your portfolio building that way. It makes sure you arent working and going negative.

[alwoodruff]

I'm not sure I understand. If I don't normally offer a mini-session, I shouldn't offer them free for portfolio building opps?

This whole business stuff is so complicated the more steeped in it I get...

[HotHolly]

I think if you are ready to shoot pieces that are meant to be used as examples of your work, then you are ready to charge. You are using those samples to say you are good - then you had to be good when you took them, right? If you aren't ready to take images for payment b/c your skills are deficient, then you aren't ready to build your professional portfolio yet. Does that make sense? If you have the skills to build a portfolio that you will use to get more paying clients, then those images in your portfolio were worth payment as well. My opinion tends to vary from the norm, though. Maybe someone else will chime in.

[alwoodruff]

So you're saying not to give away free mini-sessions to build my portfolio? I apologize if I'm not quite following. To clarify, I AM charging ($100/session and 8x10s are $35 as a price point) and I do feel my work is quality (enough to post in boutiques/offices). I just happen to not have done much maternity and I'd like to use that as an opp to get more baby planners (that's my true goal I guess). To see my work, I'm at www.amandalynnphoto.com.

[HotHolly]

OK, this topic came up at one of the last workshop we taught. So its fresh on the brain.

Basically, if you want to start or expand your portfolio, giving away things for free on a regular basis will brand you with a branding most people dont want. If you want your portfolio to include maternity and you currently have no images to show, I would approach women who fit the 'look' I want. You can offer them an incentive too. It depends on how far along you are in your business.

If your session is $100 and an 8x10 is $35, then offering a free session and shooting for an hour lands you upside down. Most new shooters, or those who are shooting new subject matter, take more time. So consider that too.

Offering the session for free doesnt work well based on your price structure, inmho. Its going to COST you to offer these sessions to build your portfolio.

Based on your current prices I would approach someone that suits what you are looking for and offer them a free 8x10 with their session, and thats only if you feel the need to comp them. It cost you $1.99 rather than a $100 (session fee). If you do decide to offer someone a free session - it should be treated as a marketing expense b/c it is going to cost you money to do it.

Does that make more sense? There are lots of ways to get port pieces. I wouldnt make a habit of the free sessions unless you can gross what you need from the session on the post-session sales to turn a profit.

[Corrie]

I didn't know people said, "out of wedlock" anymore lol.

If you aren't offering free sessions anymore then I would just explain that. But if you are still portfolio building then I would go ahead and do it.

[toverman]

If you do this particular session, it will be charity work (and helping out a friend's cousin). But there is a lot of value in that, too.

[alwoodruff]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

OK, this topic came up at one of the last workshop we taught. So its fresh on the brain.

Basically, if you want to start or expand your portfolio, giving away things for free on a regular basis will brand you with a branding most people dont want. If you want your portfolio to include maternity and you currently have no images to show, I would approach women who fit the 'look' I want. You can offer them an incentive too. It depends on how far along you are in your business.

If your session is $100 and an 8x10 is $35, then offering a free session and shooting for an hour lands you upside down. Most new shooters, or those who are shooting new subject matter, take more time. So consider that too.

Offering the session for free doesnt work well based on your price structure, inmho. Its going to COST you to offer these sessions to build your portfolio.

Based on your current prices I would approach someone that suits what you are looking for and offer them a free 8x10 with their session, and thats only if you feel the need to comp them. It cost you $1.99 rather than a $100 (session fee). If you do decide to offer someone a free session - it should be treated as a marketing expense b/c it is going to cost you money to do it.

Does that make more sense? There are lots of ways to get port pieces. I wouldnt make a habit of the free sessions unless you can gross what you need from the session on the post-session sales to turn a profit.

Makes much sense. What you suggested has never crossed my mind. I do like having a wider variety of images, but I do sort of hate giving away the free session b/c I feel like I just attract "cheap-o's" as i think you called them. I want to attract potential loyal clients.

I do still would like to provide a "maternity special" in order to expand my maternity portfolio (as well as hopefully jump start my baby plan program). I'd appreciate any feedback on my new special idea (to clarify, they pay full price for a session):

"Those who participate will receive a complimentary 8x10 and 5x7, 20% off prints, & a FREE mini-album with their "Year in the Life" bebe collection (not sure about this last part's wording). The mini-album is a new product that I am very excited about. This beautiful new addition is a must have." And I'd like to include a couple images for them to see. A picture is worth a thousand words...