Hi Guys,
Do you think my idea is a feasible one ? I am considering equipping a van with computer and printer. The idea then is to park at a sports event, rig up some display boards, take photos, print the good photos, display them there, and sell them. I am a bit concerned, because I don't see anybody doing it.
If it is a good idea, what do you recommend in terms of equipment and software. Actually any directives and links will be appreciated. My start off budget will not allow equipment in the price range of the Canon D30. I will have to work my way up to that level.
Thank you very much.
Willie van Zyl
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Willy,
What you are looking at in UofSA is fairly common in USofA. It sounds so simple, but is much more complicated than that.
Very briefly, you will have a hard time with a D30 and anything less, except maybe one of the Olympus cameras, is near useless. In the next couple of weeks we are shooting ice hockey, cheerleading competition, basketball, college Ultimate Frisbee, college lacrosse, and an event where 90 teams of 25 kids will be performaning at roughly 8 minute intervals over 12-13 hours. I can't figure out how I'm going to get the images in front of the customers: will have 12,000 to 18,000 images the first day.
This is an involved event, but even something as simple as a football (soccer) tournament can get quite involved; schedule of games, youngeer or older teams, boys or girls, where are you set up, where is the parking for parents, kick-backs, etc.
-David Schneider
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I,m in totally diff. field but had similiar challenge during corporate event.
If you want to print 8x10, you will need a 3.3 MP camera problem is most non-pro, are too slow to shoot action or Auto Focus accuratly.
Better get a lease on a D-30 or a D-1 (or look for used D-1)
Hor display, My suggestion would be to make PhotoShop contact sheet (20-30 per page) with frame number. or even better, a PS web gallery (printed and later available on a web site)
There is also the new printroom pro service that is coming soon (I'm not related to them but they sponsor this site) I thik it will allow people to buy print from a web site at a price fixed by you and the web site will pay you minus print cost or something similar
They is already companies ( like www.brightroom.com )that offer the service of digital shooting and posting on their own web site for print order
Thanks to David and Pierre for their valued advice. It took me a couple of seconds to figure out David's 'UofSA' trick. I went into a loop which included 'UFO'.
I am curious: how do you do it ? I mean, how do you display that number of photos to customers, if you don't use a service like 'Brightroom'. It should be very powerful if it is on display, say, thirty minutes after the event.
Some of the Sony MVC's have impressive specifications, like 3.1 MP and 1/1000s shutters. Before I received your remarks, the Sonys were on my shortlist.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Some timing based on experience
Making a Photoshop contact sheet or web gallery (with Pentium 550) is about 1 minutes per page (20-30 per page).
(For contact you don't need to correct the file.)
For printing or putting on a web site, optimizing the D-1 file is about 1-2 minutes per file (you can do automatic action in PS)
I think the D-30 or Fuji S 1 need less work.
USB printing with Olympus P 400 dye sub is 2 minutes.
You are not the first to think of selling photos at events. I have a franchise called The Sports Section and I have taken almost 50,000 youth sports photos (for money) over the past 5 years. We have now gotten into digital, which allows us to shoot youth hockey, skating, BMX, etc. event, print the pics out on the spot to sell. E-mail me if you want and I can tell you more.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Linear Mode
