School contracts?

RichardBublitz · #1 02-21-2002, 09:36 PM

This is just an opinion...

In my area, the "school" photos are done by the same type of studios that do sports teams and the like. I believe that they contract due to the nature of the photography - one shot, choose a package.

But when it comes to "Senior" (graduation) portraits, this is a big deal, and those studios who want to treat these the same as the underclass photos really are not appreciated. Contracts limiting a senior to choose their photographer is considered a violation of free trade in our state.

By the tone of your inquiry, it would seem to me that you would be creating a lot more work for yourself - but than again, I really don't know what the school business climate is like in Atlanta.

Like I said, just an opinion.

Richard

TMitchell · #2 02-21-2002, 11:33 PM

Thanks for the input Richard. I'll point out one specific school, which may help with understanding what I am facing.

School X is small enough not to be noticed or pursued by the big national chain -- only about 400 students in all grades, K thru 12. However, as they are a private school with an annual tuition of about $18,000 per student, there are funds to support professional photography.

The contract would call on me to be the official school photographer, handling all the work that would eventually be published in the annual, as well as shooting the events. Senior pictures would not be a part of the contract, although, as is typical, many might choose to use the school photographer. I would be required to provide a pre-determined number of candid shots, sports shots, etc. Student would have the option to purchase portrait packs, Seniors shots, and Prom photos.

So what kind of questions would I have with such an arrangment BEFORE meeting with the school representative? Primarily, why type of pitfalls to look out for in the contracts. For example, kickbacks are inevitable. But what type of kickback terms are reasonable? Do schools commonly expect any part of the work from them to be unpaid, with the expectation that the photographer make his salary from package sales? Should the photographer stipulate a purchase minimum guarantee?

Has anyone here effort done work for schools and been screwed pretty badly? Would a better contract have prevent problems? Did you change your contracts after certain experiences?

TMitchell

TMitchell · #3 02-22-2002, 01:06 AM

Not certain if this is the correct forum. I'm sure someone will indicate otherwise if not.

I'm a pro photographer with 20 years experience shooting weddings, portraits, and events. My studio is independent, and I intend to keep it that way, because I enjoy the freedom to work when I want and decline work that doesn't "fit".

However, over the past few years, I believe I've taken alot of this work as far as I can go without significantly increasing the work load. I spend about 60-70 hours on each wedding, and don't relish the thought of adding a dozen weddings to my schedule in order to turn a higher profit. So, for the past couple of years, I've quietly considered adding school portraiture to my workload, and accepting weddings only during summer months. Immediately, I learned that it's a tough market to get into because of the national chains and ludicrous kickbacks. (A cash cow for the schools, to be sure, but a practice amounting to little more than parentally-funded subsidies, which I don't agree with.)

At any rate, recent events have conspired to suddenly bring my business to the attention to a good number of smaller, yet potentially lucrative, schools (K-12) that might open the door to photo contracts with them. Some of them would be interested in contracting me for all of the photo work for the school, which others might be just for school portraits and events. Kickbacks will certainly be an expectation at some of these schools.

I am interested in knowing some of the pitfalls and insights in negotiating such contracts. What type of pricing model is expected. Profit margins. Etc. If there are more formal sources available, that might be helpful, as well, although I'd be interested in talking (perhaps even personally) with someone who has experience in this area. I use contracts for every job I do, so I'm not unaccustomed to contracts, just this type of work.

Thank you

Michael Thomas Mitchell

Thomas_Ciszek · #4 02-22-2002, 05:14 AM

Sir....
I am a staff photographer for largest HS YB Photo Comapny in NJ....We shoot Seniors and Underclass for about 250 HS and Colleges....I shoot Sports and Candids ...We have seperate staff for Seniors and Underclass....We have a Candid staff of 7...We are shooting in Schools every day.. All free of charge to the schools for having Portrait Business....With what you want to do by yourself you might be able to handle correctly about 5 schools no matter the size of the enrollment...You have to cover the same events for the schools with 1200 kids as well as the schools with 2500 kids....Plus you will need some one to handle customer service....The parents who pay the $18,000 tuition are also the one's who make the most complaint calls if they don't like the product...Good luck...Take small steps....

Ron · #5 02-22-2002, 08:42 AM

[ June 06, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

Ron · #6 02-22-2002, 09:01 AM

[ June 06, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

DougMac1 · #7 05-07-2002, 02:25 PM

I'm no longer a professional, but I used to do school photography. I too think kickbacks are wrong. Almost every school that hires the big companies requires they offer a minimum package. We advertised locally and encouraged Seniors to order the minimum, we'd refund the cost with their order. We then made it a quality/freedom of choice issue. We got tons of "maverick" work because we took time, offered outdoor sittings and just plain better work.

We also had a private school. The contract had no kickbacks, but we supplied them with a 35mm camera. We also did all the activity shots. I'm pretty slow. I had gone to shoot the girl's softball team for the annual. I had come from a commercial job and had my medium format gear and plenty of film. I shot "memory mate" packages and brought them back the next week. I sold them all! From that point on, almost every time I went to the school to do free work for the yearbook, I did some sort of package. It was very lucrative. I got the Senior Prom business and a lot of side business from parents. I also made some friends of the Seniors and ended up doing several of their weddings. This was a working class private school. Generally, they love photos and are better customers than the "rooty tooty" schools the doctors and lawyers sent their kids to.

Doug