HS Senior Representative - how do you do it?

I am getting ready to start a new Senior Rep campaign for the class of 2011 and maybe even 2012 to find a couple reps for each high school in the area, and I was just wondering what you all promise your reps.

Free portraits, free prints, free rep cards *a bunch to give out to everyone at the school*, possibly cash for each referral?

It seems a little late for a 2011 program, but you're right on schedule for 2012. Most of the kids graduating this year have already finished with their photos (at least that's the way it works up here in MI.).

This is the first year for my senior rep program so we'll see how this goes...

They have to fill out an application first and then I'm going to have a meeting with each one I pick and their parents. Then I'll pick something like 3 guys and 3 girls.

I do their sessions for free but mom and dad have to agree to a minimum product/print order. I give them the rep cards and for every card they hand out, the referred senior gets a certain percentage off of their session and the senior rep earns a discount off of their order. I also have a few bonuses for those that bring in the most referrals, such as a cash bonus or a nice sized Visa Gift Card. If it works, maybe I'll even throw something like an iPad in for the most referrals brought in, like I said, we'll see. For the reps, I also give their family a free session to be used before they head off to college.

Mike30D wrote in post #11616410
It seems a little late for a 2011 program, but
you're right on schedule for 2012. Most of the kids graduating this
year have already finished with their photos (at least that's the way
it works up here in MI.).

This is the first year for my senior rep program so we'll see how this goes...

They have to fill out an application first and then I'm going to have
a meeting with each one I pick and their parents. Then I'll pick
something like 3 guys and 3 girls.

I do their sessions for free but mom and dad have to agree to a
minimum product/print order. I give them the rep cards and for every
card they hand out, the referred senior gets a certain percentage off
of their session and the senior rep earns a discount off of their
order. I also have a few bonuses for those that bring in the most
referrals, such as a cash bonus or a nice sized Visa Gift Card. If it
works, maybe I'll even throw something like an iPad in for the most
referrals brought in, like I said, we'll see. For the reps, I also
give their family a free session to be used before they head off to
college.

I did a senior portrait event last September, but I made the mistake
of just advertising for portraits, and not getting reps. This time im
going for the reps! Its probably to late to get that many 2011
pics, but theres a few to be had im sure.

My biggest problem is some of the schools around here wont let
outsider photographers put their pics in the yearbook, it has to be
the school photog. But most dont like the quality of the school
photog or the price.

You pick 3 guys/3 girls for each school or all together? Around me
there is about 9 or 10 that I can think off off of the top of my head.
Their not huge schools though.

So you do the sitting for free, but the parents have to buy a package,
whats the minimum they have to spend?

And you get them to hand out your business card? I figured I would
just make some rep cards from a card printer *not rep cards from whcc,
get about 10 times the cards from ONP for 2.5 times the price* and have my info on the back.

If you do not mind me asking, what packages do you offer for senior portraits?

gfp wrote in post #11615439
I am getting ready to start a new Senior Rep campaign for the class of 2011 and maybe even 2012 to find a couple reps for each high school in the area, and I was just wondering what you all promise your reps.

Free portraits, free prints, free rep cards *a bunch to give out to everyone at the school*, possibly cash for each referral?

Here's an excellent post by Sevillafox.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=836046

gfp wrote in post #11618213
My biggest problem is some of the schools around here wont let
outsider photographers put their pics in the yearbook, it has to be
the school photog. But most dont like the quality of the school
photog or the price.

Yeah, I leave room in the app they sign in case they have to have their yearbook shot done by a contract school photographer.

gfp wrote in post #11618213
You pick 3 guys/3 girls for each school or all together? Around me
there is about 9 or 10 that I can think off off of the top of my head.
Their not huge schools though.

I'd like to get 3 guys and 3 girls from each of the two high schools here in the district. If I can expand to other areas, I'll do it.

gfp wrote in post #11618213
So you do the sitting for free, but the parents have to buy a package,
whats the minimum they have to spend?

It's not even a package, they just have a minimum product/print order of $500

gfp wrote in post #11618213
And you get them to hand out your business card? I figured I would
just make some rep cards from a card printer *not rep cards from whcc,
get about 10 times the cards from ONP for 2.5 times the price* and have my info on the back.

I use rep cards from WHCC, it has their photo on it and maybe some other info. I will start the reps out with 50 and I hope they end up needing more.

gfp wrote in post #11618213
If you do not mind me asking, what packages do you offer for senior portraits?

I don't really offer packages, it's one session with a certain amount of included things for a set price and then they can add on what they want as long as they meet the minimum order.

And I just found out today that the studio that's been in the area for the past 28 years is moving out of the area and the owner is shrinking his business down to his home studio.

Helpful info, thank you. I've been considering doing promos for seniors, but still working on the profitability factor. My sales technique needs work.

Not to hijack this thread …

How do you find reps?
Is there a list, or do you just hang around outside the school?
I making a move into more consumer oriented photography from the corporate sector.
thanks.
mdr

If you hang around the school to find the prettier ones, you may get a rep of your own.

If you know kids in high school, you could ask who the more popular kids are and get their contact info.

Facebook seems to be an easy way to find kids in school using the class search tool, which hasnt worked for me in a while.

Fast food places seem to have lots of teenagers, strike up a conversation with them.

I think I finished up my event content, its a bit lengthy but those that are interested, it should answer all their questions. I even have a list of the total rewards they can receive, and with 20 referrals, and getting the reward for most referrals in the school if I have 3 or 4 reps, they will earn over $1000 worth of stuff.

I didn't really bother with the whole rep thing. I just found a hot one, photographed her, put some of her pics on facebook, and tagged her in them all. She actually wasn't even a Senior...she was barely 16. I don't really like the idea of bribing people to recommend me. Kind of takes the steam out of it, IMHO.

Here's how I find reps. I look in the newspaper for school districts to announce their deans list or whatever, I make that list a word document, and search for the girls on facebook. If they are good looking and are involved in a lot of activities I'll friend her and message her the offer to be a rep. That's all. Just be sure to give her rep cards to hand out, tag all of her pics, and give them a good deal. then they'll produce for you.

http://www.shop.anatom​yofcool.com …Program-Model-Program.htm

I don't think you need to spend 329 bucks to learn how to get senior reps.

No, no you don't. However, the program does come highly recommended. Lol!

I will say that I did purchase this item after having a program last year.....I just finished listening to the videos that he had (over 3 hours) and there are some great AHA! moments in there. Plus, all templates he uses are included as well as print samples and tons of other video including model testimonials, posing videos, session videos. He also includes all of his wording...applications​, letters, etc.

This sounds like a shady marketing technique from what most people have stated here. Finding the pretty,popular girl, hanging outside of schools, striking conversation at fast food chains with high school kids, checking out kids' facebooks, watching newspapers for popular kids. Just sounds wrong in a lot of ways, especially since you use them for your own financial gain. I'm not here to judge on anyone in particular, just sounds like shady practices from the photography community as a whole.

The pretty, popular girls (and boys) set the trends in school. You shoot them and their friends & admirers will likely want you to shoot them too.

As harsh as it is, nobody cares what the hermits do.

Having said that, I'd never creep around the school or fast food joints.