Taking portraits for my neighbors

[psykopyro]

While reading a similar topic, it struck me: with all the equipment I have, why not put it to work for other-than-recreational purposes? I'm thinking of putting up flyers around my neighborhood and seeing if people are interested for holiday portraits. I'm only 16 but I have a decent amount of experience, more than enough for portraits.

Has anybody done this before or could anyone provide some suggestions?

Thanks very much

[RandyMN]

Understand your competition. People can also get portraits by going to the department store, so what's different about the product you are offereing them? Hopefully they are better and unique.

I've found that word of mouth gets lots of results once you get your competition edged out. If you can even get word out in the neighborhood along with some photo's for neighbors to see you'll probably start getting calls. Best advertisement is your final product and people of course are showing off pictures all the time.

Also, at 16 I hope you have transportation as if you limit yourself to just neighbors you will miss out on all those relatives and friends that have viewed the photo's and may want to hire you.

[psykopyro]

What i've been doing is to my little brothers' birthday parties and taking pictures for the duration of the event, the advantage being that the parents don't have to worry about taking pictures with their point-and-shoots and can: get involved in the event, and have better results.

Also, I'm highly adept with other aspects of media creation such as DVD's, which I could distribute after the event.

Which, by the way, gives me an idea... I also have a laptop with a DVD burner so while the parents are making smalltalk for about an hour (which is what usually happens,) I could quickly compile a slideshow DVD with the day's pictures and hand them out, so that the invitees would actually leave the event with a hard copy of the CD.

Just an idea...

[RandyMN]

My dad started his business by flyers so go for it! If your end results are professional the word will get out. After that it's all about business. It's not easy, but whether it works out for you or not it will give you a great experience.

[charlesu]

That's a difficult business unless you have a way to reach an exclusive niche. Remember, you are competing with Wal-Mart who can do the sitting and 56 prints for $9.95 (or whatever the current coupon is) because it is a loss-leader to get the family in the store to buy other stuff.

[RTMiller]

People can also get portraits by going to the department store, so what's different about the product you are offereing them?
You didn't mention what equipment you have but it would seem to me that the most significant difference in the product you can offer your neighbors may well be the fact that you are able and willing to bring your equipment to their house and shoot the pictures there.

[Harry Settle]

I have found that by simply leaving a couple of interesting shots laying out on the kitchen table is enough to drag in the neighbors. Every once in a while I'll mention that I did a shoot for so-and-so. Peaks a little interest. Two such acquired photo ops landed me jobs that ended up paying over a grand each, this fall. I had one last year that just kept bringing in orders. We figure it totaled out over 4 grand. All from word of mouth, no door to door stuff.

[the_man]

try and tell us how it works

[psykopyro]

I think I just might. Ill give it a shot and post my results.

[the_man]

have you had any luck yet?

[psykopyro]

Funny you ask, I'm going to my neighbor's son's 3rd birthday party at a place called "Pump it up"- basically a whole bunch of inflatable structures. Colored balls+bouncing toddlers=nice shots.

I'll post my results.

[the_man]

.