Selling pictures on-site at an airshow

[NicolasRubio]

I'll be attending an airshow between March 19-21 where I'd like to sell pictures on-site. The first problem I have is that I can't print on site, so the only way to sell pictures will be on CDs.

I am planning on taking the pictures on the first day (Friday) and sell them on both Saturday and Sunday (and taking some more pics those two days, too).

I still don't know whether to offer just one CD with all the photos in there (1024px, PS' quality 10, logo on a corner) or to offer CDs with only the ammount of photos the client requests (charging according to the number of images, and same restrictions of size, etc. apply).

What'd you do if you were me?

Now, if I sell the CDs with all the 1024px JPEGs, is it there any way to prevent groups of people buying just one CD and copying it at home? Like making it some kind of slideshow or something?

Thanks everyone!

PS: everything would be sold at a tempt I'd be setting up.

[43 North]

Hmmmmm this seems very complicated and I am not sure how that would work with all of the photos on one CD. How much are you going to sell them for? Are you going to burn them as people are ordering them or burn a bunch up front? Please post back how it goes at the event.

[NicolasRubio]

Hmmmmm this seems very complicated and I am not sure how that would work with all of the photos on one CD. How much are you going to sell them for? Are you going to burn them as people are ordering them or burn a bunch up front? Please post back how it goes at the event.

If I decide to sell all the images on a single CD, I'll make sure I have stock although I'd also be capable of making more CDs on the spot.

I don't know how much I'm going to sell them for. The entrance to the show is like $30 (not U$D, just Argentinean Pesos but it is like if they charged U$D 20-30 up there). Probably for the same money, I don't know yet! The main problem is that down here people don't value work!

[alsoscott]

Just a thought, but what about selling some sort of voucher (or something of the sort) instead of an actual CD on site - part of the order or voucher having a spot for an address and after the Air Show mailing them the CD - or some other form of delayed delivery set up. Or even just handing out business cards suggesting them to buy digital or physical prints from your website?

[Aaagogo]

do you have permission to sell images at the airshow? otherwise i think it's consider soliciting...

[dovaka]

there really is no way to prevent people from copying the disc once they get home. or even in the parking lot on a laptop in the car for that matter, but there are some ways of making it slightly more difficult

[NicolasRubio]

Just a thought, but what about selling some sort of voucher (or something of the sort) instead of an actual CD on site - part of the order or voucher having a spot for an address and after the Air Show mailing them the CD - or some other form of delayed delivery set up. Or even just handing out business cards suggesting them to buy digital or physical prints from your website?

I live in a place where people don't trust each other when it comes to things like this. Remember John Bridger in "The Italian Job"? Well, he said: "I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust."

That's how things work down here unfortunately!

do you have permission to sell images at the airshow? otherwise i think it's consider soliciting...

Yes, I do!

there really is no way to prevent people from copying the disc once they get home. or even in the parking lot on a laptop in the car for that matter, but there are some ways of making it slightly more difficult

Well, that's better than nothing, right? May I hear some of those tips, please?

[alsoscott]

I live in a place where people don't trust each other when it comes to things like this. Remember John Bridger in "The Italian Job"? Well, he said: "I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust."

That's how things work down here unfortunately!


That is unfortunate, I have shot a few multi-day air shows and don't think I could capture enough on the first day to sell much of anything, usually its a few days after when all my edits are done and I'm able to put them online... Good luck and I hope you find something that works - I'm interested in hearing what you get worked out.

[dovaka]

Well, that's better than nothing, right? May I hear some of those tips, please?

the easiest thing would probably be to make it into some kind of flash slide show. this wont stop people from copying the disk, pretty much nothing can do that but it will prevent them from easily pulling pictures out of it.

[JWright]

I don't know how much I'm going to sell them for. The entrance to the show is like $30 (not U$D, just Argentinean Pesos but it is like if they charged U$D 20-30 up there). Probably for the same money, I don't know yet! The main problem is that down here people don't value work!

Are you saying it's the equivalent of $30 US dollars just to get into the show? Holy cow! If an airshow in the US charged that kind of money, it would likely impact attendance. (Unless it's Air Venture...) There's just too many free military and regional air shows around.

[NicolasRubio]

That is unfortunate, I have shot a few multi-day air shows and don't think I could capture enough on the first day to sell much of anything, usually its a few days after when all my edits are done and I'm able to put them online... Good luck and I hope you find something that works - I'm interested in hearing what you get worked out.

Well, I'm very used to this. Airshows here are 95% the same everyday and as I am mainly an aviation photographer, I've got it pretty much all sorted out. I can have all the pictures ready overnight. Easily. (Of course air shows are not thaaat big here).

I'll keep you guys posted, I hope this turns out OK!

the easiest thing would probably be to make it into some kind of flash slide show. this wont stop people from copying the disk, pretty much nothing can do that but it will prevent them from easily pulling pictures out of it.

That's a good one... I'll have to analyze it.

Are you saying it's the equivalent of $30 US dollars just to get into the show? Holy cow! If an airshow in the US charged that kind of money, it would likely impact attendance. (Unless it's Air Venture...) There's just too many free military and regional air shows around.

There's only 2 major air shows here annually. One free (Air Force) and this one.

I'd rather pay that amount to enter this show than going to the free one and watching useless and uneducated people sticking chewed bubble gum on the upholstery of a preserved B737-200, which is very important to this country's aviation history.