Help with first gig

[sk8rdi16]

I am trying to figure out the best way to go about photographing a musical recital.
My mom is a music teacher, she is having a recital with approximately 40-60 kids. I would like to provide the parents with individual photos as well as a group shot. I will be ordering my new XTi tomorrow when B&H opens again. The recital is May 20th so I have some time.
The recital is outside starting at 1:00pm in an area with no trees in sight (removed via Katrina removal services).
My plan was to either setup a tent or canopy of some sort before hand to decide if I would need any external flashes etc. Is there a company online to rent from?
I will take individual shots and have them paid for that day in a picture package. Maybe 8 wallets, 2- 5x7s and an 8x10? I will either have them printed at MPIX or ezprints then mail them to each person individually.

Does this sound like a decent plan? I will have some photos printed to put on display I guess like a portfolio. I won't be charging a 'sitting fee' just for the cost of the packages.
I did find a post where people charge $10 for an 8x10, so how much for a package like above?
Oh I'm going to get some business cards together to put on the table as well.

Thanks for any advice!

[tim]

My advice is you're in over your head. You don't even own a camera or lighting, you probably have no experience, and you're already trying to make money off it. Why would you think people will pay you to do this? Everyone has a digital camera, so unless you can do much, much better than them and can demonstrate this you'll probably lose money.

[sk8rdi16]

Thanks for the advice. I'll take that with a grain of salt. I have a camera. I am upgrading. I have experience, just not with selling, hence the question in the Business section. I am fully capable.
Oh and thanks again.

[PhotosGuy]

My plan was to either setup a tent or canopy of some sort before hand to decide if I would need any external flashes etc. Do you mean a translucent canopy for the individual shots? What about the group? Where/how will you handle that?

[Hollywood703]

I hate to bring people down, However, I will have to agree with tim on this one, by your own admission you are upgrading to an XTi which shows that you are still thinking amatuer, If you were truly serious about doing this you would realistically need something a minimum of more like a 20D, 30D and a few Lenses, probably 2 lighting setups for the individual shots and without any more information its hard to gauge the group Photo. Anyone can take a picture, but a picture worth paying for is something different. Have seen you in another post stating this is your first DSLR and this is not a simple setup, you need the individual poses then arrange for the group. figuring 40 people at around 2 Minutes (very low side) a person to get a few shots of different poses (?) most people arent going to want to wait around an hour to hour and a half to get a photo taken, then another 15 minutes for the group shot to get setup and taken (once again low side). You could rent a Fully enclosed tent, and then set up your background and props in it and funnel them through quickly, but the $$ you have invested will be Big, and returned very little without charging bigger $$'s for the photos. Do you have backgrounds? Stands? Props? What Lenses do you own? Tripods? You will need all of them to do a decent shoot of this type, since you have no trees etc to use as a background.

[GenNove]

Sorry but it sounds like a rookie is trying to make money with no experience-taking advantage of the situation given.

For some reason it sounds like the pictures you will be taking will be no diffrent then the ones the parents will be taking with their point and shoot.

You did not mention, background,stands what lenses you have or will need. It was focused more on HOW MUCH WILL I CHARGE/IF I CHARGE THIS MUCH IS IT GOOD.

Theres a thin line between love and greed.

[sk8rdi16]

I don't really want to drag this out any further, seems like I shouldn't even try to do this. But, how does one get into small-time photography business? The XTi with some good lens isn't good enough? I shouldn't do 'events' even though it's a favor until I am an uber photographer with tons of experience? I'll get some more books, do some more reading and see where it goes.
It also seems like some of you are bitter that someone with only experience with advanced P&S cameras could possibly be cashing in on the photography business?
Thanks for the lifting words.

[PhotosGuy]

I think that what Tim said in the beginning, "My advice is you're in over your head." really said it all? The only thing you seem to have going for you is that the event isn't for a month yet.
I'm not saying that you might not learn enough in that time to get some great shots & make everyone happy, but at this point, you don't know enough to understand what it is that you don't know?

Surprise us! Go ahead & shoot it. See what happens. ;)

[bigjon0107]

But, how does one get into small-time photography business?

Practice, practice, practice. If you are just now getting a DSLR, this is even more important. One of the most important things you can do is know your camera back and front. Also a portfolio wouldn’t hurt either. And in this case, i am not sure about your school district, but in the local ones around here, you have to propose some contracts to the school if you do things that plan on making money at events.

The XTi with some good lens isn't good enough?

The XTi can be a fine camera, if you know how to use it and its all you need for the situation (EX: it can do sports, but if that is going to be your main thing, i would look into a 1D series body).

I shouldn't do 'events' even though it's a favor until I am an uber photographer with tons of experience?

I don’t know about that, but if you do not produce quality pictures it can hang over your head. Customers will look at you as being a "bad" photographer, even if it is just the learning curve of starting out. They will more then likely remember it. Where as if you come in and are able to produce good images, word of mouth is a huge advertizing tool.


It also seems like some of you are bitter that someone with only experience with advanced P&S cameras could possibly be cashing in on the photography business?


I am almost positive this is not the case. They just have seen what effects it has on a photographer if you try and rush things. In all honesty they are trying to help, the posters don’t want you to make others mistakes.

But if you KNOW you are good enough to take on a job, go for it. But if you have to be asking questions on big details, i would step back and look at what you are getting yourself into. It would be a GREAT idea if you could be an assistant to an established photographer in your area. You will be amazed in the knowledge you will gain.

-Jon

[Big WIll]

Either go for it and face the consequences but you should practice, practice, practice with your setup first.
For example before my first event I setup my equipment several times so i knew what would go where, how my models would stand, where everything went including boxes of paper/mounts etc. I practiced with family members to ensure lighting was correct, i went to the area i was doing the event, checked things like power connections, available lighting, space etc....

Of course i had also had my camera for a bit longer than a month as well more like 1 year, by this time i knew the my camera inside out , i had L series lenses to produce quality images, i had a background, lighting, props and everything ready... I still only sold my images for £5 each... I didn't want to charge customers more than what i thought was correct at the time, i would now of course charge more but that's only after a lot of experience....

However

Like Jon said - It would be a GREAT idea if you could be an assistant to an established photographer in your area. You will be amazed in the knowledge you will gain.

You may have it in you and i will applaud you if you fully pull it off and people go home happy with their final product, but trust me nothing is as smooth as that. You need to be able to take photographs, let them look through them going back and forth saying oooh my chin looks big in that one, ooo my eyes look big in that one, then let them ponder some more, then take money for photos, produce receipts, take details to send photos too, be happy and then take the next set of photos, that could take 5-10minutes per person/group!

You need an assistant IMO for that type of job, from experience its the only way. Think of all the things that could go wrong and plan for them as they will go wrong at some point! Also check legal issues for public safety etc! Business is business and people sue !