Two hats don't fit...(two jobs contradict)

[MJPhotos24]

Just wondering if this type situation has happened to anyone and how others have handled it. Already past the handling part but of course you have to look back to see if it was handled right. First and formost, I'm a photographer and that makes up about 85% of my income , the other 15% is from coaching at the high school level. Well, at one school I coach the middle school level so at the varsity game did some photos and put them up for sale with a 25% discount. Even added the smaller sizes after a request (usually I hate selling 4x6's and 3x5's because the markup is little and nowadays they buy those and just start copying them as they please thinking it's ok).

Anyways, some parents wanted the "hook up" because I'm a coach there, some wanted the photos emailed to them so they could do it themselves (I don't sell digital images, I dont trust what they'll do to them print wise and there's a thread about that already). One parent mentioned she doesnt want to print the photos, yet I heard her over talking about how she prints the ones from websites but because of pixels it's hard, etc - she knows what shes doing with the photos in other words. Even heard the "so and so puts his online and his (insert print size) are x-amount" (i.e., cheaper). Well so and so is paid by the paper to go to the games, so he already has made out from the game, and our enlargements are the same price and my 5x7s are actually cheaper. So the big picture is different.

Strictly as a photographer it would be easy to just put the pics online and let the process go because there's no other connection, however in this case there is. So how would anyone else here handle the wearing of two hats (photog/coach, or whatever it may be)? Is the 25% discount enough? Do I "hook up" everyone and let it get around I did that so now every season I coach I'm asked for the "hook up". Just wondering what others would/have done in the past though this is already behind me...and just to say no I didn't cause any problems or create any issues with the parents...well, I dont think, ha. They're all good people :)

[amccomis]

Here's my opinion.

Coach your team, leave your camera at home. Let a "school photographer" do the games/practices, whatever, and make sure he charges people whatever he needs to be the "school photographer"

Then, for your real bread and butter, focus on that, make your money, and don't mix the two.

Otherwise, people will see you as a "coach with a camera" and always expect your stuff to be cheaper than other dedicated photogs, always expect a "hook up" and so on. You'll never get your fair market value when you're seen as "doing it on the side" even though the coaching portion, from an income perspective, is what's actually "on the side" if that makes sense.

[MJPhotos24]

Well, few issues.

One:
It's not my team. I just coach in the program, they have there own coach so technically I wasn't there coach and didn't have a team to coach. I did shoot my team once during a blow out, but it wasn't there parents who created any issues - they were happy actually.

Two:
The school photographer doesn't shoot individual shots let alone game shots. He shoots the team photos for the yearbook and that's it. Also, I'm not a fan of his shots - never have been. He lives an hour away as well as not being that good IMO. So why let someone that isn't that good do it when you can offer a better product?

Three:
I coach at three different schools, I've shot at two of them as one schools photog is really good and I let him do what he wants - though he also doesn't do action shots. Never once had an issue or a parent expect a "hook up", maybe because I always gave them one (25% is a big chunk).

Four:
They all know I do it for a living and coach on the side around it, I think of a "coach with a camera" I think of a coach grabbing a kit lens or something (dont know why), not what I use. Not an issue of equipment though, they know I do it for a living though and coach during my "down time".

EDIT: BTW, I may be playin a bit of devils advocate on my own part, just because the issue is handled already, to the best who knows...but will find out, mainly just looking for what others would do say if it was a job/job contradiction - if that makes sense.

[jcpoulin]

I say stick to your business plan!! Your coaching in the system/area has no bearing on this. Come up with what you feel is a reasonable price for the product you offer. Sounds like some are nit-picking to get a " good price ( like free) from you. If they don't like your prices, they can always take their point and shoot and fire away!!!

[pagnamenta]

I agree with jcpoulin. Take the photos and sell them at your own price. You're offering a service that the parents can either purchase or not, it's their choice. Set your own prices, if they don't like them, too bad. If they don't have a dslr, too bad again. Don't sell yourself for too little.

[S.Horton]

For the upcoming football season, we're thinking about not offering anything under 8x10 at all; I know your pain.

We never offer digital files, ever. Got burned by that soooooooo many times. I just tell people the files are huge, so they don't fit in my e-mail account.

[MJPhotos24]

Sorry for the lack of responding, been going through hell in Chicago with the roads - change or IPass only?? Come on, you make a wrong turn and you're screwed! And the lack of internet access has helped the lack, gotta love when you tell the front desk it dont work and they say "mine does" and hang up on you. :)

Well so far guess what the only photos ordered have been - all small ones. Going to have to agree with the last three posts and just do what I do and let it go. I didn't try to explain any business plan or any of that, just answered the emails honestly putting up the photos they requested and having the price set. 25% off is a good chunk. Not many have been ordered but thats normal in this district - they just dont buy around here. The other districts I work in do, sooo...just goes to show how different locations differ in the way they do things.

Anyways, sorry if this sounds out of whack as I'm writing fast as I can as I have no clue when this connection will go so hopefully making a little sense...:)