My First Large Portrait Session Learning Curve

Last week I finally shot a photo session for a gymnastics club. Turnout was not too good. Two weeks prior I made up posters that were hung up at the club and printed off envelopes with letters of the singles and package prices.
A portion of each photo goes to the club as this was a fund raiser. The person in charge of fund raising instructed the letters to be handed out by the coach's. Well I know the letters were not handed out as well as they should have been and during our 4 days of shooting we had lots of parents come up and say they had no idea about the event, needless to say the turnout was poor. Was two weeks notice enough time, I don't think so now!
Last year the club board took the pictures with a P&S and they really turned out bad, I heard comments from the parents that this turned people off also.
My mistake was booking the event at the start of the second session and not too long after school portraits were done.
We made some money but not much. What pictures I did take, the parents were more than happy and I went the extra mile because it was slow.
Needless to say it was fun and a good learning experience, I am hoping this gets me more exposure and when the parents get the portraits next week they will be extremely pleased with the results.
If anyone has any pointers I would be more that happy to hear them.

Dan

Congrats on your first big booking! Next time will be all the better for having learned from it, I'm sure.

I'd be interested in hearing what people with experience have to say, too. I have my fist semi-big shoot coming up, and I'm afraid it won't be very busy either. Your post has made me consider the idea of doing up posters myself and possibly posting them around town for the event that I'll be doing the sittings at. Thanks!

I've done exactly this for 3 years. We put the flyers in the girls mail box. We had the owner and booster club support and word got out quickly. Every girl was told to show up on photo day with her competition leo whether she had a time scheduled or not. Also, we posted the sign up form in a prominent place where there were no excuses that it could be missed.

Those that had appointments were photographed on time with onsite proofing by the parent to pick the photo or photos for the package. They paid there. We also had all girls posed by teams for team shots. The first year, our sales were good, but when the team photos came out, several without appointments got the message that things had changed and the quality was better. Second year, all appointments were filled and I had a wait list. This year, the same.

Also, take shots of the champions in you gym (state, region, national) and donate 8X10 or 11X14 to the gym to hang champion pictures in the gym. Parents will see those and want their little champions taken AND also see the quality of your work. Also, while ALL girls are in their leos, take a head shot for the yearbook if you have one or for a gym roster poster you can make and hang in the gym. I can make a very inexpensive 20X30 print of all girls in the gym and it is a good investment for advertising.

One other thought. Most of these girls leave the gym during certain times. For us it's 4-8. Have a booster volunteer stand at the door with your brochure/flyer and hand it to every girl as she leaves to hand to mom/dad. Don't rely on the coaches and you need to make it clear to the owner that if they want a bigger donation as a result of a bigger turnout, let you handle distribution.

Good luck. Don't let the first experience discourage you. YOU need to take control and tell them you know what works.

Thanks Amanda and Brice

Some great ideas for next time.

Dan

Geez, Brice, every time I read/see one of your posts I am re-vitalized ... and this isn't even an area in which I expect to get involved (although you never know.) Thanks yet again.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #4360207
Geez, Brice, every time I read/see one of your posts I am re-vitalized ... and this isn't even an area in which I expect to get involved (although you never know.) Thanks yet again.

Glad I could help Dwight. This is my retirement plan. Shoot my girl's gym until she leaves the gym after high school, have a few years experience under my belt and then start shooting other gyms, cheer clubs, and other neglected sports. I'll continue to donate to the boosters, I'll make a small income, and pay for my equipment. My target is 30,000-40,000 in income with some portion donated to the booster clubs. Many of these girls will need senior shots when the graduate so I'll have a foot in the door there... Long range plan, if you will.

I give nothing away. My photos are always priced competitively to what these folks are used to paying at meets, but I give a little more personal attention. When I tell a parent they can see the proof in 15 minutes and pick the pose for their package, they love it.

bwolford wrote in post #4360385
Glad I could help Dwight. This is my retirement plan. Shoot my girl's gym until she leaves the gym after high school, have a few years experience under my belt and then start shooting other gyms, cheer clubs, and other neglected sports. I'll continue to donate to the boosters, I'll make a small income, and pay for my equipment. My target is 30,000-40,000 in income with some portion donated to the booster clubs. Many of these girls will need senior shots when the graduate so I'll have a foot in the door there... Long range plan, if you will.

I give nothing away. My photos are always priced competitively to what these folks are used to paying at meets, but I give a little more personal attention. When I tell a parent they can see the proof in 15 minutes and pick the pose for their package, they love it.

Good advice Brice, because it was slow I spent lots of time with each girl.
One of the girls was really shy so I had the dad hold her and took a picture of the two of them and thew it in with the package. One of the mothers had 4 different poses of her daughter and her other daughter was watching and really wanted her picture taken also so I took one of her and threw it in for free. I am hoping that going the extra mile pays off.

mrclark321 wrote in post #4362168
Good advice Brice, because it was slow I spent lots of time with each girl.
One of the girls was really shy so I had the dad hold her and took a picture of the two of them and thew it in with the package. One of the mothers had 4 different poses of her daughter and her other daughter was watching and really wanted her picture taken also so I took one of her and threw it in for free. I am hoping that going the extra mile pays off.

Easy low cost touches like that will pay off. Word will get out that you are on the up and up and it will pay of in karma points down the road.

bwolford wrote in post #4362798
Easy low cost touches like that will pay off. Word will get out that you are on the up and up and it will pay of in karma points down the road.

Thanks Brice I really hope so. Here is one I trew in for the one mother. ( my photoshop skills are saving my butt untill my lighting skills improve )

How is this one?

Cute, I'm sure the parents will love it.

bwolford wrote in post #4399949
Cute, I'm sure the parents will love it.

Thanks Brice