Getting into High Schools...?

[corbin54]

I'm looking to get into high school photography. Student photos, sports, etc.

I'm not sure where to start or what would be expected of me (esp. for they student photos).

Any thoughts and/or advise??

[chrizramiscal]

You first need to have a portfolio. Ask a few friends to pose for you so you can build a handful of shots that you can be proud of showing to strangers and specially parents. Then start building up your equipment: lighting, stands, props, backdrops, etc. You might also have to start discussing your plans with the school administrators if you're planning to market yourself during school hours. There are a lot of threads you can read on here and i suggest you do so, as they are very helpful and worth a great knowledge. Good luck!

[Gatorboy]

Most likely you'll have to bid against a company such as Lifetouch for the account. The bid usually includes providing sports/action photos for the yearbook for free, creating badges for the teachers/employees, but getting the portrait and team pictures for making your profit.

[TopHatMoments]

You'll need a proper business, insurance and in some cases a background check.

Know how to do what it is your going to do, before you do it and do it with out having to think about it.

Proper gear and backup.

[corbin54]

Thanks for the info so far. What could a deal with a school be worth?

[MJPhotos24]

Could be worth what you make it worth - most of these big companies are streamlining everything so prices are down and when an individual takes over it's difficult to see the worth. But you need to know student population, how many kids in the school and what you're providing. It's not as easy as just saying you land a high school and this is how much you'll get.

[corbin54]

Sure, I understand that. Let's say it's a more rural school of about 800 students. Are we talking something around $1000 or $20,000. I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth looking into getting into the school gig.

Thanks...

[PhotosGuy]

I feel like I might be selling myself short... (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=790229)

Wade into the business (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=755876)

Don't you just hate exclusive contracts for high schools (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=633841)

[jra]

Sure, I understand that. Let's say it's a more rural school of about 800 students. Are we talking something around $1000 or $20,000. I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth looking into getting into the school gig.

Thanks...

You will be the one to determine that. Figure out what kind of packages you'll need to provide and what each package will cost you. Then, figure out what you can charge. Figure that about 80%-85% of the students will buy a package and with a little math, you'll have your numbers. I'll just throw out a rough number and say that I would expect, at a minimum, to average a net profit of $10 per student. So with 800 students, I would expect a minumum $8000 dollar profit. YMMV depending on what the markets are like in your area.

[ssim]

You have to ask yourself, are you geared up with both manpower, processes and equipment to take on school photography. I do some schools each year but they are small rural ones and the big companies don't like to come out to them as the returns for them are not good enough. It is more than enough for me and a partner to handle. The largest school I've done to date is one with around 300 students. Pushing them through in a day is hard work and you have to make sure that you have standby cameras and lights in case something fails. In order to try and be competitive you should be prepared to do reshoots if the parents don't like the first ones.

As far as doing senior photos I have found that if you can find a contact in the senior class or take an ad in a student paper if they have one works best.

In both cases you have to spend money in order to get the chance at doing them. I have found the returns to be adequate on both, not in line with commercial work but certainly profitable.

[MJPhotos24]

Honestly - you're asking the wrong questions to start with, the end game of how much it brings in comes after all the other initial questions brought up by Sheldon and Jason. When I do my math it's VERY similar to exactly what Jason wrote, about $10 per kid in these bulk situations...some order more, some order less, but that's always my guess and it's come out pretty close every time. Sheldon is dead on, do you have the equipment and man power - that's always first. If I'm shooting alone and have an assistant or two for small schools I'm still bringing two sets of gear for everything in case something goes wrong with anything, you have to!

Always look at cost, then time, and then you do your pricing to make sure it's worthwhile. Pricing and profits just don't come in nicely wrapped bows, you have to research heavily and come up with them.

[GerryDavid]

Thanks for the info so far. What could a deal with a school be worth?

According to a photographers marketing book I have, a contract with a school board is worth a million or so, depending on how big of an area the board covers and how many students are in it. Because of this, these are very sought after and very cut throat to get in.

If you dont have a portfolio yet, then you are probably not ready for something like this. Having to photograph thousands of students in a short period of time, having to keep everything organized, time to process and print, collect money, etc. I dont think this is something someone should do just starting out.

Personally, I would hate it because of the lack of creativity and having to settle for just any smile, then the parents think you suck because the pictures are horrible and your businesses reputation suffers. Of course the $$$$ would make it more tolerable.

[ssim]

Personally, I would hate it because of the lack of creativity and having to settle for just any smile, then the parents think you suck because the pictures are horrible and your businesses reputation suffers. Of course the $$$$ would make it more tolerable.
That is why it is a good idea to market this sort of service under a unique business name separate from your premium photo service. This does require one to be serious about it with separate business insurance and the like under the new name but is worth it if you want to protect your original name. My experience is that there are some parents out there that ask for retakes simply to try and have two takes to pick from. I do reject the retake if I feel this is the case.

A million dollar account (which would have to be one huge school district) is not something that would be chased by a few photographers that get together. Someone like Lifetouch is more likely to be the provider in a case such as this.

[GerryDavid]

That is why it is a good idea to market this sort of service under a unique business name separate from your premium photo service. This does require one to be serious about it with separate business insurance and the like under the new name but is worth it if you want to protect your original name. My experience is that there are some parents out there that ask for retakes simply to try and have two takes to pick from. I do reject the retake if I feel this is the case.

A million dollar account (which would have to be one huge school district) is not something that would be chased by a few photographers that get together. Someone like Lifetouch is more likely to be the provider in a case such as this.

I think lifetouch has an advantage, they can give the school more money because they probably hire min wage photographers and assistants. They do not need to make as much per school as a stand alone photographer. So if you are able to hire someone for min wage to do the work for you, this also helps your image since they wont know your behind the company. :)

[Paigek]

I am currently working on getting the contract from my former high school. Which by the way former schools are a great place to start since you are already familiar with the area and the people in it. I was actually approached by the yearbook teacher to put together a proposal because the school and community want more local vendors, and they have been with the same photographer for years and photos are getting kind of stale. Also the company caters more to the larger school districts and is offering less and less to my school because they aren't seeing them as worthwhile.
I don't know what size of school you are trying to attract. My school is a tiny rural place roughly 200 kids preK-12, which is a great place to start since A) its will be more manageable than a district of 1000 kids, therefore i can decide after one year if i want to dabble in the shool photo biz and B) they are so small that they get overlooked by large comanies such as Lifetouch.
My plan going in is to market myself as catering to them exclusively, being sure to let them know that they are the ONLY school I will be handling for that calendar year so I will be available to cover a certian number of both athletic and non-athletic events, as well as offer special products such as custom team posters, schedules, and other promotional items. Which by the way are all things their current photographer offers to their larger school clients but not to the little guys.
I may not be able to cheapen up the price from the bigger guy, but by making the district feel like they are getting more of a one-on-one treatment and better customer care as well as great quality I will hopefully have a leg up on the competition since this is what the school keeps telling me they want.
Just be sure to outline what you intend on offering clearly in the business proposal and then if you get the bid, even clearer in the contract.
Also this school gets a percent of the print sales to support their yearbook/library programs. Whatever district you try for, you might see if whoever they are currently with is offering them a similar comission. That will def be a deal breaker if they are used to getting kickbacks and you offer them none.
Aside from the standard 'make sure you have proper gear, personel, time, business legalities, etc.' try to offer something that Lifetouch or whoever the big name guys in your area dont offer. If you dont know, find out. If a district is really wanting to change, they will let you know all their woes with their current contract photog and what they would want from a different one.