compite with this.....

[ccc_javier]

http://s121.com/studiopricing/dolphin.asp

i was window shopping at my local mall, and BOOM!

big sign

1 Collection
(1) 8x10 (2) 5x7 (8) Wallets
Choose 1 color pose
for
$49.95

[tfizzle]

high traffic, in and out sittings, meat-market, etc. You can't compete with it. But what happens is they'll upsell you on a different pose. You like 3 of them, the initial price is cheap but to do another 8x10 of a different pose is a lot higher.

I find that people like people and not corporations. Compete with personality and professionalism. Not with a corporate mindset.

[Nightstalker]

I've seen cheaper.

[jra]

Around here I think Wal-Mark advertises something like $5.99. Of course, the trick is the up-sell. I'm sure not many Mom's leave only spending a measly 6 bucks.

[ccc_javier]

well yes, kmart has photo studios too..... :(

[alabama1980]

I've always compared that to fast food....of course you can run to burger king and get a burger for $2....or you can buy meat prepare it to taste, fire off the grill and cook it yourself. In the end it may be more expensive, but there is no comparison in quality.

There is nothing custom about those photos or anything personal with the photographer.

[MJPhotos24]

Same as T&I, which is cheaper, it's the mass amount and not the most creative in the world.

[ryant35]

Around here I think Wal-Mark advertises something like $5.99. Of course, the trick is the up-sell. I'm sure not many Mom's leave only spending a measly 6 bucks.

My wife got sucked in to this deal years before I became a photographer, and ended up spending $60.

[lvidmar]

1 Collection
(1) 8x10 (2) 5x7 (8) Wallets
Choose 1 color pose
for
$49.95

With a coupon from their website, if you sechedule an April Monday, this can be had for $11. This barely covers the cost of the prints (!)
Also, 50% off Wednesdays and 20% off Saturdays.

[lvidmar]

Another ad on their website...

Seniors, come in today for 8 FREE wallets!
(with parent)

Upsell? What?

[ryant35]

That's probably for 1 pose, but they will shoot 5 poses and show you how great the other poses are. It works well with kids especially if they get a great smile out of them.

[CosmoKid]

took my kids in for the "no sitting fee, $9.99 for an 8x10 special. My wife couldnt say no to anything so $245 later....

i decided it was time to convert the garage and set up a studio. ~$1,000 is about 4 "studio" sessions. except I dont cut off hands and feet.

[ryant35]

except I dont cut off hands and feet.

bw! That's what my experience was like too!

[msfvirginia]

http://s121.com/studiopricing/dolphin.asp

i was window shopping at my local mall, and BOOM!

big sign

1 Collection
(1) 8x10 (2) 5x7 (8) Wallets
Choose 1 color pose
for
$49.95

In some communities that could lead to a nice days profit. :) 3 of those per day, put in 2 hours per session/processing, one person buys just the $50 special, another person buys it and maybe a few more prints of other poses *guesses $40*, and a 3rd does the same, $230 for the day before expenses. Once in a while a customer spends $$$ on other poses, some days no one buys anything extra, it could average out.

If your expenses are minimal such as no studio and on location, rebel camera and couple lenses, whcc lab, property, equipemnt and libility insurrance would be the biggest part.

If you can do 3 customers 5 days a week for 4 weeks a month, thats $4600 a month, or $55,200 a year.

I just tossed some numbers that came to mind for expenses, including replacing a camera every couple of years, computer every couple of years, put some money aside for new lenses, new photoshop every few years, insurrance, memberships, and the biggest factor, print prices, a lowball figure would be $9252 worth of expenses.

That leaves $45,948 income, take off 25% for income tax *not sure how realistic this figure is for this tax bracket* brings it down to $34,461, from working 48 weeks a year, leaving 4 weeks off through out the year.

I dont know how accurate my search results were, but the stats it was giving for the average household income for 2008 is between $38k and $70.5k depending on state. I dont know how many people per house the average uses, but using just 2 people, the above $34.4k works nicely for a single person. In this part of VA you can have a nice place, plenty of food, nice new car for $27k a year.

alabama1980
Re: compite with this.....
I've always compared that to fast food....of course you can run to burger king and get a burger for $2....or you can buy meat prepare it to taste, fire off the grill and cook it yourself. In the end it may be more expensive, but there is no comparison in quality.

There is nothing custom about those photos or anything personal with the photographer.


I think you can get something custom with the above package, given they spend an hour with the subjects talking and photographing, half an hour processing selected images, and half an hour ordering/delivering the final result.

I realize the above figures are not real world, but it gives you an idea how people can make that offer, keep busy, and make a good livable income.

Just my observation. And now im sure someone will reply and say my estimated expenses are to low and missing a bunch of things, making the profit margin much smaller. :) But you dont have to buy a Canon 1Ds MII every year, a new apple powerbook every 6 months, a high priced website designer, etc. :)