What about doing it more like a prom where you take order and payment onsite then mail the prints
What I did for a recent shoot was very similar to what Larry just mentioned. The only difference was that I did not mail the prints to the clients. I was able to take the finished product back to the venue I shot at (in this case a hotel), then I phoned each client and told them they could pick up their prints there.
__________________ Curtis Cunningham
Photography and Graphic Design www.photistry.com
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
All good advice...... here it comes......BUT and its a big BUT!!!!
Don't do it unless you are well prepared, have your work flow sorted and enough equipment to do the job properly, if you don't you will not only tarnish your own professional image but also lower the expectations of those attending who may have been considering hiring an event photographer for future events. I don't do weddings, it wouldn't matter how much I was offered I wouldn't do one myself, I leave that to the wedding photographers, events should be left to eventers.
I know the majority of the industry see us eventers as 'bottom feeders' but those of us who do the job properly put time, effort and a good deal of resources in to what we do.
Why not advertise on here for a local event team that you could perhaps team up with for the event and come to some kind of profit share arrangement? You will probably make more from the event if its run correctly even sharing and you wont run the risk of ruining your reputation.
Important information they will need, where and when, how many attening.
I agree with Ian, if you are not already sit up to do such an event don't do it. These large events will and do take a large amount of advanced prep work. Not to think about the back-up equipment that you will need. And as the event grows towards the end, thats when I get the most showing up at the last minute. "All" wanting thier pix "NOW"! This is how I have set up and shot such events.
1. Had one area where I shot the portrait, and at the same time the picture went to a viewing station while I shot the next person. I had two lines, once the picture was taken in one line that person moved over to the next line and viewed thier pix, if they liked the pix a 4x6 proof was printed and a discounted order form was given to them and a time frame to order the pix. The quicker the order more the discount.
2. Before the pix where taken a small fee was charged as a sitting fee. (refunded if a order was placed) (this also gave the person/couple a soviner print of the event)
3. You WILL need several people to assist in the collecting of money, and the printing and orders taken.
4. You can not go at this alone. The simpler the better.
__________________ billy garrett
billy garrett photography
port haywood, virginia 23138
You will sell a lot more by printing onsite than you will by taking web orders.
Not necessarily by printing on site... You have to at least show them a picture onsite, either digital or paper proof. I find out that my sales increase 10-15% by NOT printing onsite. I think it is because there is no more waiting, plus I can focus on my customers instead of dealing with printing. It is so much easier to fullfill orders at home.
Trick: If you don't want to bother with mailing address stuff, have your customer fill out the envelope onsite
I have to agree with Claude on his post. Sometimes printing on-site for all orders is actually causing you to lose orders from impatient people and certainly, the extra cost of staff may offset any increase in sales. Added to that, the extra cost of dyesub over what a C print should cost. I would offer to print proof size on-site and keep it simple. In one event, we simply offered free shipping and a promise that all orders would be shipped within 5 days.
We just did one event and the line-up for sales became a huge issue. Sales took too long. People started to wander off after the portrait was taken because they saw the line and they'd come back an hour later. That meant we suddenly had the extra problem of finding them in our system since it was an unexpected issue and we weren't sorting by name. After a short while, we had 3 lines, one for portrait, one for sales and one for printing since the printing could not keep up. Ouch.
One last thing. If your business is set-up on location, you may have problems with people canceling orders after they have paid for them with CC. This issue was raised on another forum when a photographer was meeting clients in their home to book weddings. Many states have a 7-10 day rescind law that says if you conduct business away from your normal address, clients can cancel orders. Some states actually have a law that seems to allow for an unlimited cancellation time. If they receive the finished goods on site, that would seem to negate the rescind law. I'm no lawyer, but there was direct quotes from some state laws on DWF last week. In Ontario, the law used to be 48 hours, but that may have changed. Interesting, you do NOT want to have orders canceled or CC reversed after the sale.
Doug
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Interesting comments, although I stand by my views.
However, a point that must be made is that because this is a worldwide forum, not all legalities are the same. An order made in the UK and paid for by CC whether onsite, over the internet or telephone cannot be cancelled because a photograph is classed as a bespoke product, therefore UK Distance Selling Regulations do not apply.
There is one universal form of payment for services or goods rendered....................... cash. I do cash only, but I let everyone know ahead of time about it. For those that complain I explain I have included a 10% discount for insisting on cash.
IMHO printing proofs onsite is counterproductive for the photographer. Ya gotta pay for that ink any way ya cut it, same for mailing costs. Make the charges attractive and you will realize more net profit methinks. I do family reunions. Several times someone has purchased a picture taken during the event and showed it to grandma, grandpa, etc. Then they just had to have the image too.
Success is most assured with aggresive marketing. A finished product in hand is easier to sell than a minaturized proof. The right assistants will more than pay for themselves. Women make the best assistants, {unless you are at an all female event}. Women assistants also do much better with children.
Of course all the above is just my experience.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
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