Would you do this? Need your opinion please.

Honestly, with different color backgrounds, crops and all of the different options you are offering I think that you run the risk of making fulfillment more difficult than it needs to be.

I can't really talk with any authority about pricing as your market is different to mine but on first glance it appears low given the work that you have to put into it.

that's how the game here. i have to dance with them. I just copied those packages from competition and lower my price.

A little something you didn't notice: "Pick you background Color" should be "Pick your background color." Two changes there.

Sincerely,
Ms. Wordphreak

It also seems to me that offering so many combinations makes it confusing. Parents are busy. They want a simple set of choices.

yaw saw that and corrected already. thanks though.

OhLook wrote in post #15502363
A little something you didn't notice: "Pick you background Color" should be "Pick your background color." Two changes there.

Sincerely,
Ms. Wordphreak

It also seems to me that offering so many combinations makes it confusing. Parents are busy. They want a simple set of choices.

if you think that is a lot of choices then you should see the num,bers the big companies place on their stuff. There must be 20 different options one can select with the big companies.

I like the price structure. They are (compared to what my kids bring home) pretty reasonable prices. if my kids brought home something like that I may have ordered a few packages over the years.

thanks mike. that inspires me.

yes, some companies has mugs, t shirt, cup, etc.

I like your offering....seems reasonable. My concern though would be the logistics. Are you planning to shoot all 500 students in a single day or are you breaking it up into multiple days? Will you be the only one doing the shooting? The reason I ask is because 500 students is a lot to do in a single day (and you'll have to do everyone as individuals with they way you're offering the class photos). In an 8 hour school day (which is obviously 480 minutes) you'll have to average less than a minute with each child....and that wouldn't include lunch, bathroom breaks, etc.... You may already have this thought out.....but if not, it's something you may want to think about

BrandonSi wrote in post #15491559
Damn.. I had no idea school shooting was so shady and cut-throat.

Lifetouch just makes me feel dirty. I feel bad for those poor photographers.

One thing lifetouch will teach you is how to pose and set up lighting set up with repeatable results. I worked with one guy on a Help Portrait event. The guy really know how to pose people fast and well.

You better have a good workflow and software to put all these images together. Else you will be spending alot of hours.
Time = money.
How much profit per package to yourself (net profit sharing)? Better break them down.
Girl on Crop 3 has it's head cropped off. Bad impression. Actually Crop #2 also display a "non-graceful" cropping of the subject.

Lastly I did not read the entire thread, but are you going to have pre-orders or just shoot everyone and then hope for the best? Do know that for the latter, alot of parents will just sit on it for weeks or even lose the package order slip. It is ok if you are Lifetouch or the big school photography shops, but really sucks for small operators.

Just to let you know that there was an article with WSJ on school photography and the average industry order is 40-60%. This was attributed to parents are now more savvy with children photos with the introduction of digital cameras. You have to offer something much much better to get parents to buy these days. I think this depends on location and demographics.

Wow I had no idea that school photos were so cut throat and this get a cut from the photographer is an awesome idea! I can assure you that its not done in my school district and I know because I am on the school board.....were losing revenue!

Kronie wrote in post #15505688
Wow I had no idea that school photos were so cut throat and this get a cut from the photographer is an awesome idea! I can assure you that its not done in my school district and I know because I am on the school board.....were losing revenue!

It depends on where the contract lands. If it is on the school board the the school trusty might see it. It also means a mega bucks deal.
If it is per school contract... school board may not see it because sometimes they are listed as donations.

To the OP, despite the challenges and perceived "cronyism", I do think you should give it a whirl. You may not come out of this happy or profitable. If anything it will be a good learning experience. And perhaps make a dent to this school photography industry. Children and parents deserve better than today's cheesy products.

thanks Delhi i will.

delhi wrote in post #15505864
Children and parents deserve better than today's cheesy products.

I have been taking my kids "school pictures" for a while. My kids sit down with the school photographer, gets their picture taken, they come home with samples.... but I just cant stomach spending so much for prints and getting such bad looking pictures....