Nobody bought the prints :(

[swapnali]

Recently I had been to a dance program to do the photography for my friend ofcourse free! but then I had some really good dance photos of others too. I was expecting that people will be happy to buy them.
I contacted them and gave really low prices.

But.......
Its 12th day and nobody contacted me:confused:
Its really bad.

I have a next such event coming up soon and seems same thing is going to happen again.

[Cybnew]

Keep your head up, and spirits high...doesn't always go as planned...but there is always next time :)

[bildeb0rg]

Does anyone else actually know you have pics of their kids?
You did your friend a favour by shooting his children, but that doesn't mean he's told anyone else how good your pics are.
Get in touch with the event organisers, and ask them to forward a link to the pics to the parents.
In short, ADVERTISE.:D

[neilwood32]

Does anyone else actually know you have pics of their kids?
You did your friend a favour by shooting his children, but that doesn't mean he's told anyone else how good your pics are.
Get in touch with the event organisers, and ask them to forward a link to the pics to the parents.
In short, ADVERTISE.:D

+1

If they dont know who or where you are or the quality of the shoot - your not gonna get any trade.

[Alexajlex]

Market this up.
Pass business cards (in a subtle not tacky way) at the events.

If the friend is the organizer put her/him to work!!!
Offer to share a percentage of the sales with her.
The more you make the more she makes.
Everyone needs money :)
This is similar to what some photogs do that shoot school portraits where they'll give 10-20% back to the school .

[Dermit]

My personal experience along this line is very disappointing. Here's my story...

My daughter dances with a high-end pre-professional ballet company. The company puts on major productions of Nutcracker, Cinderella, Peter Pan, etc. Keep in mind these are not high school recitals type production. This is large art-center stages, sets, costumes, ticket by Ticketmaster, etc. I shoot all the dress rehearsals for the company and offer the images to the company for advertising, web pages, etc. for no charge. This is a non-profit ballet company and they are always getting sponsors, etc. to be able to afford to put on the productions, so this is my contribution. However, as an added benefit I am allowed to sell prints to parents. Here, is what I hear when they see the proofs... "wow, these are great, I'll get at least 20", "You really captured the moments, I can't wait to get some prints", etc. So, keep in mind that since these people are people I've gotten to know over the past 5 years of my duaghter being in the company, and her friends, and their parents, that I also priced the prints very low and no one has mentioned that price is a factor for these offers. But actual orders are very disappointing. Nutcrakcer was end of Nov and start of Dec and so far only one order. Previous years have not been much better. So I've put word out that although I will be shooting these in the future I will NOT be offering them for print sales to the parents. Because to make the print offer I go through every image and crop, straighten, color balance, exposure tweek, etc. A typical rehearsal shoot is around 3500 images.

The only reason I have not stopped doing this from earlier disappointing sales is because each time it failed I figure maybe it was the way I offered the ordering, or the price. But now I have tried everything short of giving them away and still no success. I've put them on web page for orders with a service that takes credit cards. I've put a proof book the in dance studio lobby with order forms, I've made proof CDs with the images organized in folders by scene name for every family in the company with very small resolution files and a big watermark on every image so I know they aren't getting prints from those, I've dropped my prices this last time to just cover my actual cost and not any of my time. (I really just want the parents to have the pictures of their kids). I can't afford to print 3500 4x6s and give them away.

So my conclusion is this. People are busy these days, very busy. So they simply don't get around to getting to this. The more time that goes by the less they think they want anything. So they simply end up not ordering. I think that even if I told them they can order fifty 4x6s of their choice for free they still would not order because they just don't go through the 'trouble' of figuring out what they want. Sad. They will probably be kicking themselves 10 years from now knowing they don't have anything from that time period of their kids.

I think the only thing I have not tried that might get better results is to make the offer a VERY limited time. So if I had the images/proofs to the parents one week after the event and let them know they have one week to order, that might work. But I am done for now. This was not done for an income stream for me but as a favor to the company and the parents. I will still shoot for the comany as I don't need to process any images for them, the advertising person understands image proofing and only editing selected images. Parents typically don't.

So I hope you have better luck than I, but know that if you don't you are not alone.

[PhotosByCynthia]

I do a lot of equine events and at first I had the same problem. I don't anymore and actually sell a lot of prints from the shows. First, I have framed photos from past events that I took hung up at the event. I also bring my laptop with and use the screensaver as a slideshow for images that I've taken. Usually the horse shows I do are 2 or 3 day events so people get a screensaver with the past days events - and I have ALOT of people sitting in front of the computer watching the slideshow waiting for their images to pop up! I also make sure that the announcer announces my services and letting the people there know that they can grab me if they have any questions. I pass out my card to everyone who talks to me. I have a banner that I put up at events, which lists what types of photography I do and my website url, along with my phone number. The thing that gets me most of my print sales is that I have a list of all the exhibitors with their contact information. Within a week of the show I have the proofs ready to view online and I MAIL out a letter to each person letting them know that the proofs from the show are ready to view, how they can order them, and include an order form right in the mailing. That doubled and tripled my print sales at these events.

Also let people know that if they don't have access to the internet to view the proofs, that you could print off a sheet of proofs of their child/children for them to review. Make them small enough so they can't display them in their home, but large enough to give them an idea of what the image looks like and include an image number so they can list that when they order. You can print this on regular printer paper. Don't forget to include an order form and your business card along with this.

Plus, you have to realize that a lot of these parents have their kids in more than one 'sport' or afterschool activity and they can't always buy from every event they have. Especially if they have 2 or 3 kids that are in these things. It gets expensive! Remember that when pricing your prints. For youth activities you should have a separate price schedule that includes a lot of packages, lower than your regular print fees, to make it affordable for them to be able to buy them.

[PhotosByCynthia]

Also forgot to mention that when showing proofs online, it helps to keep things easy for them to find their child. Don't just lump all the pictures together and make them search thru 400 images to find the ones their children are in. I usually separate by day, if it's more than one day, and then subcategorize by person. You have to make this as easy as possible for them to order. You'll find the easier you make it for them, the more you'll get.

[Rubi Jane]

It will take time but there are a few things you can do to be more successful. Use an online gallery that forces a log-in of their email address in order to view the images. You'll get a few folks put in fake addresses but the majority will be good. Make sure the online gallery offers monthly reminders.

Last summer I shot highland dance competitions and hosted images online. Every month anyone who had logged in their email address received monthly reminders about the images being available. Like clockwork, I'd receive orders later that day after the reminder went out, and for several days afterwards.

Life gets busy and parents will quickly forgot. You have to find ways to get in their faces on a regular basis. initially though you have to advertise to the parents. If there is a program being printed get included stating photographs will be available via your online gallery. Have business cards on hand and if you're shooting the performance live (not dress rehearsal) then get a shirt with your logo so you look official too.

[LW Dail]

Dittos to marketing.

This is a complicated business. Not only do you have to be technically competent, you have to be able to run a business and market yourself.

Get a copy of Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson. READ IT! Then make a vow to implement two things that you're comfortable with. These are low cost, innovative ways to sell yourself.

Think of a business that rennovates a building, buys inventory, hires people, has a grand opening, then waits for people to come to the store. They just sit in there, day in- day out, waiting for customers to come in and shop. Then six months later, they're amazed when they have to close.

Same thing applies, you have to tell people you're in business and you have to ask them to do business with you.

Here's some ideas I'd suggest, just on limited informaiton you provided:

1. Wear a shirt or vest with your website or name/phone. And 'Professional Photographer' or something on it. Otherwise people will think you're a parent!

2. Hand out business cards with contact info and website. When someone says 'Cool lens,' say "Thanks, I'm shooting this for the organization.. Here's my card with my website so you can order photos. Is that your daughter? Why don't I get a shot of the two of you together.....":wink:

3. Get listed in the program: "Professional shots of this production available at www.buymyphotosdangit.com"

4. Put the info from 3. on your local craigslist

5. Create an 'album' of the production for cast/crew (yearbook-style) and display or sell at the wrap party.

Just think of marketing as one more skill to develop!

Good luck,
Lora

[LW Dail]

And stop worrying about price point! If you make people want the pictures, they'll buy them regardless, as long as the price is reasonable.

Objections about the price are rarely because of your price!

Although you might make a package, buy 5, get one free. People always love free! But don't cut a fair price thinking you'll encourage buying. You'll just be lowering your price for subsequent sales.

[crystalizedvisions]

And stop worrying about price point! If you make people want the pictures, they'll buy them regardless, as long as the price is reasonable.

Very true. So long as prices are reasonable most people will buy the photo if they really want it.

[Alexajlex]

I have to agree that marketing is one of the key areas to focus on.

Equally important is product presentation.

Stack the deck-The 3 Simple Steps To Make Your Pictures Get Noticed.

1.Take 10 of the best photos you have.
Work them in PS (local contrast, doge, burn curves, etc.)
2.Do a nice BW conversion (channel mixer or using the new BW tool in CS3).
Have the lab print some 20.3 x 25.4 (8x10s).
3.Make sure they print them on metallic coated paper.
That will give them an amazing pop.
Hand the pictures to potential clients and have them hold them.

You get a better response when you have a tangible product that the client can hold.

[totalphoto]

Great Info here! I have been down all those roads, and could not agree more with everyone here.

[jb_browneyes]

great info all.ty

[Halliday]

...A typical rehearsal shoot is around 3500 images....


I know that would never be able to wade through an online gallery with 3k images even if my kid was in it.

[SuzyView]

I think people don't want pictures after the fact. If you sell on site, much easier to get a picture paid for. That's why ordering after doesn't work as well. I print on site with 2 picturemates, but I don't charge for them as I do this mainly for charity. The people who do this well have a ton of gear at athletic events and no one else can shoot except the official photographers. Otherwise, people don't really want to spend the money. It's something we have to figure out in marketing.

Good luck next time.

[photomomof4]

I don't know if this has been mentioned here or not, but my partner and I do several dance schools in Houston. What we do has really worked very well and has eliminated alot of the problems I hear on this thread. We have 3-4 people who do this depending on how large the performance is, 2 of us are shooting the recital, after each performance we take our CF cards to one of our girls who uploads and puts them in a folder under that name of the routine. They are quickly gone through and those that aren't good are deleted and all else are displayed on a screen. People come by throughout the night and look at the routines/dance that have their kids in them and orders are taken right there. Prints are shipped when they come in, now we have another person who is there building storyboards, collages for parents who are willing to sit down and look through their kids images and put something very simple together. We have been doing this for a couple of years now and do this about 3-4 times a y ear and by now parents look for us when they come in for the recital. We typically make between $7-10K per night. We don't discount these images from our regular prices, they are our normal prices and no one has ever complained (atleast to my knowledge) about our prices.

When you do selling like this, it is all impulse buying where parents come in and buy now, we never put images online anymore (did a couple of times and experienced what you are talking about) so not only is this an impulse buy but parents know that this is the only night they can purchase these images, so that helps also. We also have a contract with the dance school and ask that there is no flash photography during the recital and we give 10% of our sales back to the school so everyone is on board and is happy.

Hope this helps, Good luck in your journey!

[Mike R]

You have received a lot of good advice here. I would add that you let parents know when the images will no longer be on your web site, If they are given a deadline such as this they will be more quick to order. Then send out an email to the ones you know, reminding them that "in one week the images will no longer be available"

I shoot for 2 schools, I give a kick back to one of them and although there is a lot of activity on the web site, sales are poor and parents know that the school is using it as a fund raiser. I don't give anything back to the other school and sales are great! Some things you just can't explain.

I recently shot a Cheer/Dance competition at a University. There were about 100 teams, I got coverage in their program, A letter and business card was sent to each coach, my name was mentioned during the performance and the coaches received more info about me in their score packages. So all the right thing were done. The event was on a Saturday and on Sunday I had 50 emails looking for certain teams. Unfortunately it took me a week to get them all on line, although I responded to each email, the delay may have hurt. I have had 15 sales so far, the largest was $100 and the smallest was $10. they average one was for $50. This event was a University Cheer team fundraiser for Make A Wish. They will also be promoting me (I'm donating images for their web site and advertising) so long range, it will open new doors for me.

You never know how sales will go in this type of thing.

[SuzyView]

You have gotten good advice. I have seen some businesses do well with it, but it takes several workers and about 2 good large printers, and a couple of small ones, and computers to view, etc. There is specific software for this available. On site printing is the best way, so if you are serious about pursuing this, you need to have a market and business plan. Good luck. I haven't gone bigger than 4x6 printers just because it's usually just me and the students helping, but if I did go into it, I assume I will invest about $5k in gear.

[EnronRocks]

I went to two younger dance competitions and passed out maybe 50 to 100 cards. Once I uploaded those photos I had around 70 new orders on my Zenfolio for prints. So I thought I would do it for a high school event as well, and only sold prints to people I know. I made around $1,500 or so off the smaller kids with a average of $20 to $30 per order and less than $200 on the older kids. Parents of smaller children eat it up, and sometimes you get pictures of a child that is the only one. If you do that, boom.

[photoguy6405]

What I'm getting from this thread is... long story short, it's alot of work. Then again, to do well in any endeavor usually is.

[swapnali]

Great! Thanks a lot. So much information.
Just to answer your quieries.
Yes I have already asked the dance teacher to give my details to everybody, and as he said, he had given it.
I also had given a limited time offer. because I knew parents will just show off the photos from my website to others instead of ordering prints.
I had only around 50 keepers. because the event was only of 8 minutes.
But seems I need to do more of advertising.
Thanks again.

[LW Dail]

Anyone on here, if you're having issues with the 'business' end of this gig, please send me a note.

In my 'other' life, small business marketing is one of the things I do. My husband and I grew a small business selling anti-theft devices (rrrr). In Oklahoma. Small budget, big sales.

I can't tell you the tech specs of one lens over another, and I'm still struggling to figure out which camera to get when I upgrade the XTi, but I can market the heck out of a buisness! :)

And I'm willing to help if you need it!

[amccomis]

One thing that was pointed out earlier was the fast pace at which these routines move...

If you have an assistant and a copy of the program, do two things: 1) make sure your clock in the camera is set dead right, and 2) have the assistant cross off what is done on the program, and lean over and shoot the program so you'll see what's crossed off. That way you can see, as you go through your images, where you are in the performance. This allows you to segregate your shots into sections.

[DonMichUP]

Although this thread is over 3 years old, GREAT advice! :)