Senior Photo shooters - How'd ya do it?

RMThompson · May 12, 2009

Hey guys. I am considering branching out into offering Senior Photographs for local highschools. Anyone have any suggestions on how you did it? What packages did you offer? (I prefer giving the customer the rights to the photos to print.)

How much do you charge?

Big Mike · May 12, 2009

Check this out...scroll down for the senior kit
adams baby plan for photography studio profit

Imaginis · May 12, 2009

RMThompson said:
Hey guys. I am considering branching out into offering Senior Photographs for local highschools. Anyone have any suggestions on how you did it? What packages did you offer? (I prefer giving the customer the rights to the photos to print.)

How much do you charge?

Offer Wallet Prints as part of a package deal, seniors love those and will still buy other prints.

RMThompson · May 13, 2009

Big Mike said:
Check this out...scroll down for the senior kit
adams baby plan for photography studio profit

Hmm.

So this guy who makes an average of $1000 dollars per Senior, is now selling his ideas for $300 dollars?

He doesn't seem to be offering anything that amazing either. It seems to be just a price guide, a bunch of senior photos, and some photoshop templates. I doubt any of those things would be hard to find on the internet... am I missing something?

Big Mike · May 13, 2009

RMThompson said:
Hmm.

So this guy who makes an average of $1000 dollars per Senior, is now selling his ideas for $300 dollars?

He doesn't seem to be offering anything that amazing either. It seems to be just a price guide, a bunch of senior photos, and some photoshop templates. I doubt any of those things would be hard to find on the internet... am I missing something?

I don't know exactly what it includes...but the point of it, is that it's a plan...and anyone is more likely to succeed at something if they have a good plan.

bdavis · May 13, 2009

Big Mike said:
Check this out...scroll down for the senior kit
adams baby plan for photography studio profit

This sounds like one of those stupid "Get Rich Quick" schemes. This guy is probably not even a professional, plus his website is terrible and not credible if you ask me.

If you want to learn how to shoot seniors, just learn the basics of photography, off camera lighting, etc. Then brush up on the business aspect of it, maybe call around to some studios and see what they charge for seniors. Or, better yet, see if you can shadow one of them, I"m sure they'd love to have an assistant.

Big Mike · May 13, 2009

This sounds like one of those stupid "Get Rich Quick" schemes. This guy is probably not even a professional, plus his website is terrible and not credible if you ask me.

I know the guy from another forum, he's been a rather success pro photographer for a long time. Yes, I know the site I linked to looks terrible but whether the 'product' is any good or not, I do believe he is genuinely trying to help other photographers succeed.

RMThompson · May 13, 2009

Big Mike said:
I know the guy from another forum, he's been a rather success pro photographer for a long time. Yes, I know the site I linked to looks terrible but whether the 'product' is any good or not, I do believe he is genuinely trying to help other photographers succeed.

Big Mike, you KNOW I respect most of what you post, so I will assume that this guy is legit.

That being said I am not spending several HUNDRED dollars to see someone elses contracts and poses.

Thanks for the info though, I'm sure I'll find what I am looking for.

Ryan

bdavis · May 13, 2009

My bad, but if that is indeed the case, he should put a little more effort into his presentation, because it doesn't look very credible and when someone's asking for hundreds of dollars for money on a site that looks like it was slapped together in 5 minutes, something doesn't look right.

Big Mike · May 13, 2009

I'm not spending the money either...but if it does work as advertised, you could make your money back in one or two sittings.

It's just an example of something that could be used as a plan of attack for getting into (and succeeding at) a particular photography market. I'm not endorsing it or anything like that...but I do believe the guy is legit.

Mike30D · May 13, 2009

RMThompson said:
Hey guys. I am considering branching out into offering Senior Photographs for local highschools. Anyone have any suggestions on how you did it? What packages did you offer? (I prefer giving the customer the rights to the photos to print.)

How much do you charge?

My session fees at the moment are $75 my packages start at $160

I also offer custom designed open house invites (separately and in the bigger packages and they're a big hit) and I've just recently started offering the "storyboards" on canvas.

I can't see letting them print their own, that's like giving money away.... to each his own....

Jim Gratiot · May 14, 2009

Keep in mind when you're marketing Senior Photos that it is usually the parents who actually pay for the session. You definitely need to appeal to the students ('cause they probably have veto power over said parents), but it is the parents who will ultimately be writing the check.

bdavis · May 15, 2009

Jim Gratiot said:
Keep in mind when you're marketing Senior Photos that it is usually the parents who actually pay for the session. You definitely need to appeal to the students ('cause they probably have veto power over said parents), but it is the parents who will ultimately be writing the check.

An excellent point. Also keep that in mind when shooting, the parents are likely to want something traditional where the teen is probably interested in something a bit more flashy or dramatic.

RMThompson · May 15, 2009

Mike30D said:
My session fees at the moment are $75 my packages start at $160

I also offer custom designed open house invites (separately and in the bigger packages and they're a big hit) and I've just recently started offering the "storyboards" on canvas.

I can't see letting them print their own, that's like giving money away.... to each his own....

Since I don't have my own printer, what option do I have? I cannot see getting the pictures done locally and then charging 20 cents for a print that cost me 12. I don't know, maybe I'm just being stupid.

Do you order yours off the internet? Ive heard some good things about really great printers, but don't know who to trust.

Mike30D · May 15, 2009

RMThompson said:
Since I don't have my own printer, what option do I have? I cannot see getting the pictures done locally and then charging 20 cents for a print that cost me 12. I don't know, maybe I'm just being stupid.

Do you order yours off the internet? Ive heard some good things about really great printers, but don't know who to trust.