STICKY:  How to photograph a high school Senior - Part 2

KCMO Reefer wrote in post #16311513
Our senior sales are up quite a bit. Our model program is performing very well. We do have mailing lists for some of the schools in our area. Some are easier to get than others.

I believe the key is setting yourself apart form the others in your area. What do you provide that others don't. Will people gush about how great of an experience they had with you after? Is your quality of work worthy of your pricing? Personally, I don't want the clients who only want to spend a few hundred dollars, therefore, I don't try to compete for those customers.

I'm seriously thinking about doing some television commercials that are targeted to my desired audience.

Would love to know what's working for you. What is your sitting fee? Are you selling all the images on disk? if so how much? I would like to visit your website but it's not listed. Care to share?

Just a preview..

jb_browneyes wrote in post #16313137
Would love to know what's working for you. What is your sitting fee? Are you selling all the images on disk? if so how much? I would like to visit your website but it's not listed. Care to share?

Our session fees are $69 studio, $99 on location and $129 for both. We offer professional airbrush makeup for $75 and almost every client uses it. We don't make a penny on that but we sell an experience and having a pro MUA really adds to that. The key is to get a PRO MUA, someone that really knows what they are doing. We are fortunate to have one that is absolutely amazing.

We take our studio strobes on location and create some pretty awesome images. We also do some creative editing that gives our clients something they typically can't get elsewhere.

We use in person viewing sessions and they like the custom DVD slideshows we create. Most mom's are grabbing tissues before they are half over and dads get teary eyed too.

We do custom design and create our own custom albums and other print products.

Our model program covers a large metro area and we have contests for most monthly referrals, etc.... Gift cards to clothing stores serve as the motivator.

My SEO work has us in the top 5 results on Google. This is HUGE. It took me a while to get us there but as you can imagine, when someone searches for servives, you want to be on the first page.

We do have digital collections available but they aren't cheap. 10 images is $595 and 15 is $795. We offer 25 images and an 8x8 album for $1295, that's out top digital offering. Funny thing is, we've only sold one of the $595 collections since we began offering them. Our clients don't seem to desire the digitals, they buy prints, albums and wall portraits primarily. Many do some accordion albums as gifts for grandparents.

Set yourself a part from your competition. DO NOT compete on price. If you want to be a player in the higher end senior market, establish yourself in those ranks by setting your prices accordingly and create images worthy of what you ask for them. I can shoot natural light just like all the MWAC's but they can't shoot with studio strobes and edit like we can. If someone wants cheap, there are plenty of fauxtographers out there to give them that. I'm not going to be one of them. Hope this helps some.

KCMO Reefer wrote in post #16317408
Our session fees are $69 studio, $99 on location and $129 for both. We offer professional airbrush makeup for $75 and almost every client uses it. We don't make a penny on that but we sell an experience and having a pro MUA really adds to that. The key is to get a PRO MUA, someone that really knows what they are doing. We are fortunate to have one that is absolutely amazing.

We take our studio strobes on location and create some pretty awesome images. We also do some creative editing that gives our clients something they typically can't get elsewhere.

We use in person viewing sessions and they like the custom DVD slideshows we create. Most mom's are grabbing tissues before they are half over and dads get teary eyed too.

We do custom design and create our own custom albums and other print products.

Our model program covers a large metro area and we have contests for most monthly referrals, etc.... Gift cards to clothing stores serve as the motivator.

My SEO work has us in the top 5 results on Google. This is HUGE. It took me a while to get us there but as you can imagine, when someone searches for servives, you want to be on the first page.

We do have digital collections available but they aren't cheap. 10 images is $595 and 15 is $795. We offer 25 images and an 8x8 album for $1295, that's out top digital offering. Funny thing is, we've only sold one of the $595 collections since we began offering them. Our clients don't seem to desire the digitals, they buy prints, albums and wall portraits primarily. Many do some accordion albums as gifts for grandparents.

Set yourself a part from your competition. DO NOT compete on price. If you want to be a player in the higher end senior market, establish yourself in those ranks by setting your prices accordingly and create images worthy of what you ask for them. I can shoot natural light just like all the MWAC's but they can't shoot with studio strobes and edit like we can. If someone wants cheap, there are plenty of fauxtographers out there to give them that. I'm not going to be one of them. Hope this helps some.

I have to admit. Your answer was not at all what I was expecting. You actually charge more for you digital files than I do (and I charge more than ANYONE in my area) , and yes I do outdoor strobes and rocking edits yet I still loose seniors on price point, while family's don't bat an eye at it. Now you've got me super curious... What is your website? I'm dying to see your stuff!

A couple Senior shoots this week so I should be posting some as early as tonight to get this thread going again. Maybe KCMO will post some of his work. Sounds like he striving.

KCMO Reefer wrote in post #16317408
Our session fees are $69 studio, $99 on location and $129 for both. We offer professional airbrush makeup for $75 and almost every client uses it. We don't make a penny on that but we sell an experience and having a pro MUA really adds to that. The key is to get a PRO MUA, someone that really knows what they are doing. We are fortunate to have one that is absolutely amazing.

We take our studio strobes on location and create some pretty awesome images. We also do some creative editing that gives our clients something they typically can't get elsewhere.

We use in person viewing sessions and they like the custom DVD slideshows we create. Most mom's are grabbing tissues before they are half over and dads get teary eyed too.

We do custom design and create our own custom albums and other print products.

Our model program covers a large metro area and we have contests for most monthly referrals, etc.... Gift cards to clothing stores serve as the motivator.

My SEO work has us in the top 5 results on Google. This is HUGE. It took me a while to get us there but as you can imagine, when someone searches for servives, you want to be on the first page.

We do have digital collections available but they aren't cheap. 10 images is $595 and 15 is $795. We offer 25 images and an 8x8 album for $1295, that's out top digital offering. Funny thing is, we've only sold one of the $595 collections since we began offering them. Our clients don't seem to desire the digitals, they buy prints, albums and wall portraits primarily. Many do some accordion albums as gifts for grandparents.

Set yourself a part from your competition. DO NOT compete on price. If you want to be a player in the higher end senior market, establish yourself in those ranks by setting your prices accordingly and create images worthy of what you ask for them. I can shoot natural light just like all the MWAC's but they can't shoot with studio strobes and edit like we can. If someone wants cheap, there are plenty of fauxtographers out there to give them that. I'm not going to be one of them. Hope this helps some.

Great advice and spot on

Alright, here are three I finished from a session last week. Enjoy or bash...you pick.

1.

dwarrenr wrote in post #16321005
Alright, here are three I finished from a session last week. Enjoy or bash...you pick.

1.

2.

3.

These loook great! ( but the stray hairs in the last one get me lilttle little)

Last Weekend.

Ray those are awesome. Love your processing

Here are two edits I worked on from last nights shoot. I don't like them but think they are close. Give me your critique.
1

IMAGE LINK: http://s108.photobucke​t.com …-1-2_zps982e1e95.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s108.photobucke​t.com …j2-1_zps0f33ef33.jpg.html

Need some fill under those eyes, add a touch of lightness to the iris.

We are about to finish up the new studio. Ordering the furniture and some new equipment and electronics. But we are hung up on backdrops. Please post your favorite most used backdrops. We would appreciate it.

Craig, we are looking forward to seeing pictures of your finished studio. Unfortunately I do not have a studio so my favorite backdrop is Lake Michigan. Feel free to use it if needed

cbknight wrote in post #16323870
We are about to finish up the new studio. Ordering the furniture and some new equipment and electronics. But we are hung up on backdrops. Please post your favorite most used backdrops. We would appreciate it.

my favorite is solid black and solid white. my next two favs are silver diamond tuft and Voclain

I just built a foldable wall at my studio that opens up to brickwork and a 2nd one with white. these can be leaned against.