the picture people?

Hey Rex,

A few pointers,
1. Salesmenship starts when the customer says no. A little coercing is OK, but don't get pushy.
2. Many folks say that they do not like the way they look in pictures, that is a negative, I used to agree with them. And then be self effacing, but getthem to understand that they are not going to get any better looking!!
3. Never be afraid to use the distant relative or family card. " Yes Mrs Jones I understand that you don't really like the way you look. But I think we captured you exactly as you are and distant generations will want to know how you looked during your life."
4. A portrait is a true representation of a small amount of time in your life.
5. Never be mean to the customer when mentioning flaws in their look. No matter how easy it is. You never know who is listening.
6. To up your sales plan the poses around wall placement and desk placement of each member of the family. Make sure that you turn negatives about their look to your advantage. For example wrinkles. When they say Don't shoot the wrinkles - be bold enough to ask - didn't you earn each one?
7. Learn to find beauty in each person that you shoot. Everyone no matter how ugly they really are deserves your best effort. Compliment what you can but only if you can be honest about it. You have nice eyes, hair or blouse will sound phoney if your don't beleive it yourself. Tell them that you going to do your best to make them look like a $$$$$$$ bux.
8 Each of those people will form an opinion of photographers in general by what happens when you are behind the camera - so make us look good.
9. Dress professionally above the dress code each shoot day - trust me it pays off.
10. Learn to whisper, and or talk in low tones - to everyone especially children. Give command reddily and without hesitation, but do so with quiet respect. People will strain to hear what you have to say.
11. Learn childs play like it was your second nature, each age group responds to different stimuli. Acting silly for a 4 year old will work, for a 10 year old he will think you have lost your marbles. But "dad has stinky feet still works for every age group"

When you stop having fun, get out.

REXTi wrote in post #5444419
and what is cold calling?

You are given a list of customers names and last time they were in and you have to call them and let the know about your current deal and try to set an appointment.

thanks baldwin will take that list and try and use as much of it as i can because that whole wrinkle thing could really work and all the other comments

Lunajen wrote in post #5446636
You are given a list of customers names and last time they were in and you have to call them and let the know about your current deal and try to set an appointment.

Or sort of like, Telemarketing.

I have worked at Picture People for 6 years and have done every thing from work in a store to travel to help other stores fix their sales. I know more than the average person that works at Picture People about how behind the scene type company decisions work.

Picture People is a failing company. It wants to be a photography studio but at the same time a retail store, because as all retail companies, they only care about money. All photo sessions only last 20 minutes, if a photographer goes over 20 minutes and have less than 15 poses they are failing to do their job. At the same time we are forced to take any walk-in, appointment that comes our way. Even if that means booking 4 camera rooms at a time when there are only 3 in the store. Over time customers wait and have a bad experience because of this poor photography. That is just a glimpse of what Picture People is.

At the same time employees are treated badly. Pay starts at $8.00 - $9.00 depending what state and never increases unless you are promoted. Even when promoted to asst manger or manger its only $1.00 or $2.00. The most I have even seen some one get for a raise for being there over 3 years is $0.20. Thats just an insult.

Picture People will fail as a company.

Glad I read this thread. I applied for a job there recently since we are broke and in the hole. I'm already scheduled to work for a company I like in the fall, but will need money before then. I'll likely just have to settle for the ole administrative stuff, which I hate. But it does pay the bills...

I'm a former employee at the picture people. It's great experience on how to deal with kids and their parents but it pretty much stops there. All the pictures look exactly alike. With each age group you have exactly the same pose, same prop, same lighting, same everything. You don't have much room to exercise your creativity. However if it appeals to you you should go for it, just remember to keep shooting your style on your own time or else your photographs will start looking just like The Picture People's.