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

umphotography wrote in post #16299459
Took our twins out tonight for their Outdoor pics

Love your style Mike

jb_browneyes wrote in post #16302591
Nice set. Where were your lights on this one so as to avoid a shadow from the net on the face?

Thank you. My main light was camera right, on this side of the net. I used a 64" Buff PLM with the white front diffusion fabric. This makes the light soft enough to avoid shadows from the net. The rim light was camera left, behind her.

Scott

scobols wrote in post #16303226
Thank you. My main light was camera right, on this side of the net. I used a 64" Buff PLM with the white front diffusion fabric. This makes the light soft enough to avoid shadows from the net. The rim light was camera left, behind her.

Scott

Well done

This is Jamie. C/C always welcome.

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/62486170@N03/9​827675964/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/62486170@N03/9​827770313/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/62486170@N03/9​827707616/

scobols wrote in post #16303226
Thank you. My main light was camera right, on this side of the net. I used a 64" Buff PLM with the white front diffusion fabric. This makes the light soft enough to avoid shadows from the net. The rim light was camera left, behind her.

Scott

I was about to ask the same thing, great job!

Random question for everyone

How was your senior year in comparison to last year and the year before?

Especially for those that abandoned the senior representative/ambassa​dor/model program.

For me my senior numbers are way down but its mostly my fault, I got focused on other areas and forgot to focus on seniors at the right time. I did decide to change the rep program, dropped the contract and made it less exclusive. I basically made every senior I photographed an unofficial rep and gave them a good referral program, or at least I thought it was good.

@ GerryDavid,

mine is down, probably due to market saturation

Mine is down by 50%. I attribute some to market saturation and some to my decrease in marketing this year.

Scott

phamster wrote in post #16311127
@ GerryDavid,

mine is down, probably due to market saturation

Same here..same idea as to why. Ive got kids running around with a 5D and a 50MM lens taking their friends pics for $100.00. Kids are now into sending selfies to the yearbook staff for the senior picture. The rep programs do not work. what your doing is what im doing Gerry. we are way down this season, as is everyone else that does it. Some senior exclusive business in our state are closing the doors and some of the photographers want to teach on the PPA tours......Imagine that...more people telling you that they have a $1500.00 sales average from PPA.

are any of you doing direct mail marketing with a school list?

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.

GerryDavid wrote in post #16311343
are any of you doing direct mail marketing with a school list?

I did direct mailing from a school list but I only did one mailing and to one school. Last year I did three mailings to one school and I had double the seniors. Next year I plan to do three mailings to the same school again.

Scott

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.

While I don't do just seniors and, admittedly, I am just starting out...this is in my business plan. Do you mind sharing what you think adds to your customer's experience?

I'm also down a little from last year. Ive lost a few jobs to High School kids doing them for free to their friends. It just seems like a lot of parents are struggling financially right now and just trying to save where they can.