Free Christmas photo chrity-ish thing. Help?

Blake.Oney · Nov 17, 2010

I'm planning on doing a set number (I'm thinking around 15) small family shoots for free for Christmas. I know photography isn't going to feed families who need help, but I also think that a lot of families, especially in my area can't afford to get family photo's made often enough to get the season photo's in there. I just think they would appreciate getting some nice Christmas family portraits. Anyway, I'm having trouble thinking of a way to offer it. I don't know if I should do it by word of mouth, or fliers, or facebook. Another problem is that people are generally proud. I know a lot of people who don't need it that would jump on it just for free photo's, but the people who really can't afford extra stuff would never admit it. I'm trying to think of a way to put it out there that won't sound insulting I guess.

Also should I do a set number, or dedicate like a whole day on a set location, kind of like school photo's? And finally, should I do it at all? I'm kind of thinking that it may not matter to a lot of people, but I'm really just trying to give people something for the holidays.

phiya · Nov 17, 2010

That is a tough situation... you want to make sure you give your services to someone who actually needs them, but don't want to insult people by saying they can't afford your services.

I think often it's best to just offer the services in a manner that suggests you're trying to give it to someone who would normally not get a holiday session done, and then hope people are honest enough to not take something for free that they could have afforded themselves. Your heart to give is not tainted by people who dishonestly receive that gift. It's kind of like giving money to a bum, it's not your responsibility to know whether or not he's using it for booze. It's the fact that you gave that means anything, not how he'll use it.

I hope that made sense, and helps you figure out a way to do this.

PerfectlyFlawed · Nov 17, 2010

Post it on your facebook( and other social networks) if you have enough contacts on there... let them know your running a holiday promo/special and for a gift you have 'X amount' of openings available on such and such tims/dates... to get ahold of you to book a session immediately before they're gone. ( not sure if i answered that correctly...) :er:
Or are you trying to target a specific bunch?
EDIT:
If your trying to select a specific 'crowd'... send them invites over like facebook/email/myspace/twitter.. whatever your thing is, Make a session event and send it to specific people who may be less fortunate. that way you know exactly who is getting them, who turns them down and who wants them?

phiya · Nov 17, 2010

An idea just hit me... a lot of churches do things for the less fortunate during the holidays. Gift baskets, meals, etc. Maybe you could ask them to include a voucher for a free photo session in some of those baskets or whatever they are doing. That way you know it's going to someone who couldn't afford it to begin with.

PerfectlyFlawed · Nov 17, 2010

phiya said:
An idea just hit me... a lot of churches do things for the less fortunate during the holidays. Gift baskets, meals, etc. Maybe you could ask them to include a voucher for a free photo session in some of those baskets or whatever they are doing. That way you know it's going to someone who couldn't afford it to begin with.

AWESOME idea Phiya!

Edit: as well as churches--there are the local shelters, food banks, and things like Christmas Angel programs.... maybe something like those? But in voucher form?

Derrel · Nov 17, 2010

Your heart is really in the right place. If you can identify families in need, why not create a "promotion", in which you decide who the winners will be, and give them a coupon or voucher for the session that you feel like giving; you'll be in charge of the terms, duration,location, and type of images delivered (prints, image files, both, whatever). I'm sure you can come up with something that sounds plausible. Call it an introductory offer, or call it a random drawing for a free photo session for the Holiday season, whatever.

Blake.Oney · Nov 17, 2010

All good ideas. Thanks a lot for all of them. I was thinking I was just gonna have to have like an open day a book anyone who wanted to, but kind of aim it to certain people and then hope I got them haha. I think I will definitely do the church thing. The only thing I would be concerned with is how close to the actual holiday they hand that stuff out. I'd like to get the photo's done and edited before the holiday. So I'll have to ask them about that, but definitely thanks for the suggestions.

twoboysnmygirl · Nov 17, 2010

I've done something similar by offering a free or largely discounted session as a contest using FB. Then people feel like they have won something and not just given a handout. You could just do this on a larger scale and say you are having a contest for 10 or 15. You could just mention or slip in that you are doing it for people who might not normally have the extra money around the holidays for portraits (this also doesn't sound as much as a handout, just a "helpout" of sorts during the holidays when money is spent on gifts for children, etc.)