School District Contract Info.

Dave - do you mean price wise for charging the district?

If it's like Sam mentioned, the price for prints and everything that's easy to find. I went around collecting from about 8-10 different companies a few years ago before deciding to do the local youth league. However, for schools never did ask what they paid for the services in general. I know the local ones were paying a fee for the photographers to come out and then prints were on top of it though. It doesn't hurt to ask, try to get the info so you can improve on it or even match it. Local youth league I had to match it at first, then have been slightly changing it as time has gone on (prices, products, etc).

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11842613
Dave - do you mean price wise for charging the district?

If it's like Sam mentioned, the price for prints and everything that's easy to find. I went around collecting from about 8-10 different companies a few years ago before deciding to do the local youth league. However, for schools never did ask what they paid for the services in general. I know the local ones were paying a fee for the photographers to come out and then prints were on top of it though. It doesn't hurt to ask, try to get the info so you can improve on it or even match it. Local youth league I had to match it at first, then have been slightly changing it as time has gone on (prices, products, etc).

I am more worried about the time wise price versus the print prices. My print prices are right round the region average if not just a dollar or so more.

canonnoob wrote in post #11843010
I am more worried about the time wise price versus the print prices. My print prices are right round the region average if not just a dollar or so more.

Ah, that's one thing I wish I looked into more but did not...the amount that each school pays for the photographer to come out and do events, and if they all do it or just some. Good thing is in this area still have yet to hear of a kickback, which is good.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11843525
Ah, that's one thing I wish I looked into more but did not...the amount that each school pays for the photographer to come out and do events, and if they all do it or just some. Good thing is in this area still have yet to hear of a kickback, which is good.

I mean the good thing is I can provide everything for a decent price, but Id like to know what they have been paying prior in order to give them a good deal. Personally, If I am paying for something, Id like to have all my money going to one place instead of multiple places.

Ex. School district pays for T&I from one company, and then action photos from another.

canonnoob wrote in post #11843553
I mean the good thing is I can provide everything for a decent price, but Id like to know what they have been paying prior in order to give them a good deal. Personally, If I am paying for something, Id like to have all my money going to one place instead of multiple places.

Ex. School district pays for T&I from one company, and then action photos from another.

The locals are all over, usually using different within the school let alone across the district.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11843983
The locals are all over, usually using different within the school let alone across the district.

Yup, totally understand. It all differs base on area.

Well, the good news is that last week when I contacted the AD about a meeting, he agreed that he would like to discuss moving forward with a new system next semester.

canonnoob wrote in post #11844024
Yup, totally understand. It all differs base on area.

Well, the good news is that last week when I contacted the AD about a meeting, he agreed that he would like to discuss moving forward with a new system next semester.

Get at it...wish I had time to do more T&I but the back end work is what kills it here, all the leagues are during my busiest time of year (April - August), so hard to keep up with one league alone at this time. Someday.

See the back end is something else that I have been trying to decide on.. We have a fairly large lab here in town that I could use for all of the printing to make stuff quick and dirty ("they do really quality work), or do I just go with my normal selling route and keep everything close to normal.. lol

Right now I do everything through Richmond Pro Lab, you really can't beat the prices (or at least nowhere that I've found even comes close) - especially around here, the closest lab is 45 minutes away and prices are 5-6x more on average. Problem of course is preparation, and there's some companies out there that do it for you - including packaging - but it seems you have to use their pricing, their packages, and their products without being able to adjust for your customers. So of course the smart thing to do is have an editor on hand, instead of sending out...or do it yourself. Just need that capital to get started with that and land enough gigs to pay for the full time editor

Ill probably go with black river imaging. They are a great lab located just outside of springfield. They are primarily a portait lab but are beginning to up their sporting stuff.

Dave,
The lab is the easy part of the backend.
The sales/ordering/account​ing/delivery is the time consuming part of T&I.
It's why I haven't got involved.

Yup, lab is definitely the easy part - the worst part is simple the organization and editing. Editing is usually not much, but a few hundred kids later drives you a bit nuts. I'm in the process of possibly hiring an editor, I'd do all the sorting and they'd edit and then back to me for packaging. Just to get that break and free up more time.