Event Photography/Display of Images

[P-1]

Hi all,
Just looking for a few of your thoughts regarding event photography and the display of images.

Im starting up my own photography business to sell my images (which are predominantly from sporting events), and as im currently in the middle of my business plan, with a website on my to-do list, I am trying to decide on the best way of displaying the images from each event on the website.

As I see it, my best options are:

Option 1
Display a selection of 'best' images from each event in a gallery, and have the client contact me to obtain proofs of themselves. These would be reasonably small, probably no bigger than 400 width, and be lightly watermarked.

Option 2
Display all images from each event categorised by entrant, and let the client browse through all their images freely. These would be the same size as option 1, only heavily watermarked to prevent reproductions, or at the very least should they be displayed elsewhere such as on social networking sites, it links back to me.


I can see pros and cons in both, however at the moment am leaning toward option 2 because of the potential benefits the increased exposure from use in social networking sites may have.

What are your opinions of these options? Do you have any other options you believe to be more suitable?
I'd be very interested to hear your opinion...

[Mike R]

Use a site such as Exposure Manager, Zenfolio or one of the others that specialize in this type of site. You can decide what to offer and how much to charge. I use Exposure Manager and after an event, I do minimal post processing and upload the best shots form the event. I only edit and crop images as they are ordered. This saves a lot of time. Why work on shots that may not sell?
On each page of my site, it explains that images are edited and cropped when ordered.
Take a look at my site to see what I'm talking about. Remember that you don't want their name anywhere on your site

[totalphoto]

check out my website, and then read below. I take it you are in the US?

[EnronRocks]

I would do a Zenfolio and just upload them all with the automatic watermark in the Premium package. At the event I would hand out business cards and talk to the coordinator of the event to have posters and banners hung saying where to purchase photos. Also have it announced if they have a PA system of sorts like at sports events and such. Also get t-shirts and hats made to wear, good advertising with your website on the back of your shirt. Make it say "EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER" in huge bold print and your web address underneath. They would more than likely notice the website or ask you for a card.

I saw a few photographers at the St Jude's Memphis Marathon that had photographer vests with their logo and web address all over them. Pretty sweet.

[P-1]

Use a site such as Exposure Manager, Zenfolio or one of the others that specialize in this type of site. You can decide what to offer and how much to charge. I use Exposure Manager and after an event, I do minimal post processing and upload the best shots form the event. I only edit and crop images as they are ordered. This saves a lot of time. Why work on shots that may not sell?
On each page of my site, it explains that images are edited and cropped when ordered.
Take a look at my site to see what I'm talking about. Remember that you don't want their name anywhere on your site

Yeah I've already decided to use PhotoCart to manage that aspect of things. I was tossing up between that and SmugMug and, apart from PhotoCart being far better suited to my needs, I don't really like the idea of being charged yearly for SmugMug. Totally agree with you about not editing the photos too - I've tried editing photos from an event where I took thousands of photos - havent done it since lol!

check out my website, and then read below. I take it you are in the US?

Sorry will have to update my profile - I'm from the land down under!

I would do a Zenfolio and just upload them all with the automatic watermark in the Premium package. At the event I would hand out business cards and talk to the coordinator of the event to have posters and banners hung saying where to purchase photos. Also have it announced if they have a PA system of sorts like at sports events and such. Also get t-shirts and hats made to wear, good advertising with your website on the back of your shirt. Make it say "EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER" in huge bold print and your web address underneath. They would more than likely notice the website or ask you for a card.

I saw a few photographers at the St Jude's Memphis Marathon that had photographer vests with their logo and web address all over them. Pretty sweet.

Thanks for that, I think this method is what I will end up doing - just batch uploading all photos straight from the camera, and applying the automatic watermark in PhotoCart. Thanks for the marketing tips too - thats one area I really want to 'ace' from the get-go, because it can make such a huge difference.



Thanks for the tips everyone:)

[poloman]

Mike....you may want to edit the statement on your photo pages "to provided".
Yeah, I'd tell you if you had a booger showing too. :)

[bradm77]

Feel free to check out my website and drop me an email at photos@ohiovalleyphoto.com - my website, photo gallery, and shopping cart fullfillment costs me a TOTAL of $24.95/month with zero annual fees.

The website is http://www.ohiovalleyphoto.com

Brad