Help with Flyer please

I'm going to ba making a new flyer to distribute around town.
I was hoping you could all suggest the 'must have' info on the flyer, other than name, contact info.

Would you advertise sitting fee, some packages? How about a promotion, any ideas? I'm just into portrait work right now (home studio). I've done some family portraits and a bunch of grad portraits/formals as well.

Thanks for any advice. Also please post an example if you use flyers as well.
I'm still fairly new in the business end of photography so I'm still using flyers, haven't stepped up to purchase an add in the city paper yet.
Thanks

How about including an example of your work?

I will do that!

Are there certain colors, phrases that will catch peoples attention? and how about some pricing info, add it or make them call for it?

Give them a range but no specifics. Make them call for that. I also like to use the color blue in a flyer. People subconciously like it for some reason. If you have a website, list that as well.

Please make sure everything is spelled correctly. Unrealistically most people think that the print house will catch the mistakes. (i.e. add vs ad). Do not abbreviate if possible. Do not go crazy with fonts. This is what I look for anyway. Visual literacy is the key.

based on what you said so far, what I would do is make a 8x10 or 8.5 x 11 flyer, have a small picture of you in the corner, you contact info, especially a email and website, some pictures you've done, some wording about what you specialize in, and most importantly, a reason for them to contact you immediatly. You could do something like giving away a 8x10 print if they order a package or sit for you etc. That way they have a reason to respond now to the flyer and not just throw it out.

Also find your target market, and display them there. Post at schools, libraries, child care providers etc

is the primary purpose to make money now or increase your portfolio?

If you can find a way for them to be handed out, rather than just annonimously placed on car windows, you will get a better response. Realistically, it takes someone 8 times of seeing an ad (on average) before they will make a decision to use, or purchase, a product from print. Don't get discouraged if you don't have a big response at first. Persistance does pay off with flyers.

THanks for all of your responses, I'm mainly looking to spread the word that I am hear, and get a client base. Not looking to make big bucks at this point, but I need to make enough to cover the expense of taking their picture, I'm not to worried about paying for my time yet, as I do have a part time day job.

This is an example of what I'm working on so far, any critique/advice welcomed!

Thanks

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sorry, I printed it out and then scanned it so the qaulity, especially of the photos are horrible, but you get the idea right?

Does that look ok? or no?

The flyer looks fine.

It's spelled "à la carte"

I'd add "more samples of our work on the site" but that's just me.

As for the site, there is no link to your part of the site from the top domain level. There are some people who will try to get to your page from the top. If a link isn't possible, you might consider a domain of your own for the long run.

I personally don't like those "enter" links when you are on a web site. Unless there is a technical reason for it, why not just put your opening page there instead of making people click again to get to your main page?

there is no need to put the words email and website on the flyer unless you do not think someone would not know that. The underline under the email looks like something that your word processor did for you and you did not know how to correct. Your first three types of photos are maternity, infants and children and yet you are not using an example? This is what I look for anyway. Visual literacy is the key. Just my opinion.....

I would suggest you get your own domain and use the domain as your email...hotmail seems just a bit unprofessional imo...This is most likely something you will do in the future, but for now if you are serious about web presence you need to lock in a domain name even if you are not ready to put up a site.

I think the above suggestions a very valid..