Portrait Studio Photographer (Sears, Walmart) VS. Custom Photographer

[SJGordon]

Also, google newborn hospital photographer. Several positions will come up clearly proving this, showing sales experience a MUST, photography experience not needed.... wow really? amazing!

No kidding, we just had a new daughter come into the World last month and one of the sheets in the "booby prize" bag we got was an offer for "First Baby Photo" packages right in the hospital. I asked the nurse who the photographer was, and she said one of the nurses with a point and shoot usually. PASS.

 

[imagemaker46]

The difference........the average person doesn't care, they aren't interested in searching out a photographer to do a "real" shoot. They are happy showing up with their kids and dealing with who ever is working that day, paying the fee and usually using a store discount coupon, for the free 8x10 and walking away happy. It's been like this for years, and it isn't likely going to change until the stores aren't making enough money from it.

So are professional portrait studios suffering from this.........as the word usually goes, who cares. These people wouldn't be heading there in the first place. If someone working at these places had a skill set and a brain they could easily generate alot of work for themselves outside the wallmart studio.

I have entertained the idea of applying for one of these jobs part time, just to use it to promote my own business on the side, word of mouth carries a lot of weight.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You people are missing the point. The OP is looking for a list of reasons to use her over Sears, so she can either put on her website and brochures, or rattle off at potential customers.

TPF needs a TIP($) button, rather than a Like button.

 

[Vinny]

Unless to OP has a really good reason why, there aren't any reasons! Parents just want a photo of their "cute" kid period. Non photographers don't care if the photographer uses a 8x10 or a P&S as long as the photograph comes out how they like it. The OP can stress that she comes to their homes, will guarantee that the parents will LOVE the photo of their child (this could be a PITA guarantee) and that she will price match any local competitor's price (may be losing money). Walmark, Home Depot and the like have killed the Mom and Pop stores in wherever they land ... they have also destroyed supplier companies as well.

You people are missing the point. The OP is looking for a list of reasons to use her over Sears, so she can either put on her website and brochures, or rattle off at potential customers.

TPF needs a TIP($) button, rather than a Like button.

 

[ababysean]

The difference........the average person doesn't care, they aren't interested in searching out a photographer to do a "real" shoot. They are happy showing up with their kids and dealing with who ever is working that day, paying the fee and usually using a store discount coupon, for the free 8x10 and walking away happy. It's been like this for years, and it isn't likely going to change until the stores aren't making enough money from it.

So are professional portrait studios suffering from this.........as the word usually goes, who cares. These people wouldn't be heading there in the first place. If someone working at these places had a skill set and a brain they could easily generate alot of work for themselves outside the wallmart studio.

I have entertained the idea of applying for one of these jobs part time, just to use it to promote my own business on the side, word of mouth carries a lot of weight.

You can not do that, when you are hired, you sign a non compete form.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Unless to OP has a really good reason why, there aren't any reasons! Parents just want a photo of their "cute" kid period. Non photographers don't care if the photographer uses a 8x10 or a P&S as long as the photograph comes out how they like it. The OP can stress that she comes to their homes, will guarantee that the parents will LOVE the photo of their child (this could be a PITA guarantee) and that she will price match any local competitor's price (may be losing money). Walmark, Home Depot and the like have killed the Mom and Pop stores in wherever they land ... they have also destroyed supplier companies as well.

Just like the MWC is killing the longtime independant pro studios? Doh!

OMG! I can't believe I went there.

 

[Vinny]

What's a MWC?