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3 Tips To Getting More Qualified, Better Paying High School Senior Portrait Sessions

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My daughter brought home her high school year book yesterday. As a photographer, the first thing I did is pick it up and start scanning the senior portraits. I know things are different now, but I’m always amazed – and a little shocked too – at how many truly “bad” photographs are within the pages of this keepsake.

Twenty years ago, you had to use pre-established photographers that had the measurements of the specified image, and would conform to the requirements. When you looked through a yearbook, the seniors’ images were all relatively the same. Which meant you focused on looking at the kids.

Now anything goes. Around one third of the kids use the image taken for their school ID. You can tell by the “infamous” blue background and the lackluster smiles. Then you have another one third with quality high school senior portraits – you can tell they went to a professional, and in some cases I can even tell who the professional is by the props and poses. Then there is the final one third.

  • I saw images with overexposed backgrounds and dark, washed out faces.
  • I saw images that were out of focus.
  • I saw snapshots from family vacations where the senior was so small it was hard to see.
  • I saw some of the craziest poses and angles – I couldn’t believe anyone thought they were good images.

Yep, many of them were truly bad.

In today’s society, people are forgetting what real photography is all about. Real photography is now associated with “new”. The last picture you snapped goes up on Facebook, and that becomes your newest image to share. Chances are it will be “good” – you wouldn’t put up a bad one. But it isn’t great. It isn’t beautiful and it won’t stand the test of time. Look at it a year from now and it will simply be a snapshot marking a moment in time.

Dig Deeper: Filling Your Portrait Studio With High School Seniors
A real photograph is more than that. It not only marks a moment in time, it captures the essence of who the person is. And that’s where a professional comes in.

 

by Sam Attal


Professionals learn a lot of things over the years. [Read more...]

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Filling Your Portrait Studio With High School Seniors

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I had a question come through yesterday on the high school senior market and how you build a list of qualified prospects. And since the high school senior market is coming up in full force here in the States, I thought it would be the perfect time to create a new post and look at how you can fill your portrait studio up with high school seniors.

Like other niches within the photography industry, the high school senior market has become a cutthroat business. Years ago, many high schools in our area had a pre-select group of photographers to choose from. You had to go with one of them to be included in the yearbook. So of course all high school seniors selected from those few photographers. Then things changed.

Now any photograph can be included in the yearbook. A child simply has to get it into the yearbook office before the deadline. There are very few restrictions, which means if you look at a yearbook, you’ll see the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Dig Deeper: 7 Tips To Take Better Senior Portraits

Because people are looking for extra money, the high school senior market seems to be the one area that is easy to jump in. With no requirements from the schools, its just a matter of offering a low enough price to gain some business, or so a lot of photographers seem to think. And in reality, it works. [Read more...]

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3 Reasons Boudoir Photography May Be Your Ticket To Profits

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Looking for something new for your photography business? I’ve mentioned before on this blog how much I love the concept of boudoir photography. It’s a niche that sells well, is customizable, and allows you to add all of your creativity to create a final product your clients will love.

Why should you consider boudoir?

Women Like To Feel Special

Want to know the real reason women love weddings? Its one day in our lives we can look forward to, dream about, and plan for years on end. It’s the one day we can wear a dress like no other, and really enjoy the feeling of being someone special. Boudoir can give that same feeling on a different scale. It allows a woman to look inside, and find out whom she really is. It can make her feel special, and share her sensuality with that someone special in her life.

Women Will Pay For Things That Create A New Experience

People may not be able to afford a new car, or the trip they’ve been planning for years. But they can save up and invest in a daylong experience that will help them escape reality for a time.

It’s a Niche That The Big Box Stores Won’t Offer

It’s getting more difficult to compete with the big box stores on the average photography. In fact, they are getting pretty good at creativity with what they have. But if you stretch beyond what they can do, you’ll have more luck within your community, and become more recognizable for what you do. Big box stores like the “repetition” model. Come in, wait in line, stand on the X, snap the picture, buy your prints, and leave. What they can’t do is offer exceptional service and creativity. Boudoir gives you that edge; that option of offering something they simply can’t get anywhere else.

Don’t like the word “boudoir”? (I have had people tell me that they don’t feel comfortable promoting that type of photography.) Then change the name.

  • Intimate Portraiture
  • Maternity Memories
  • Love Stories

Get creative, and find a way to niche the idea of boudoir even further.

And if you’re looking for a way to learn more about turning this into a lucrative niche for your photography business, check out Ed Verosky’s newest release, Boudoir Photography: The Quick Start Guide For Professional Photographers. I’ve followed Ed for a number of years now, and I can tell you without a doubt that his books are packed full of useful tips, great how-to ideas, and many step by step strategies that will have you up and running with boudoir photography in no time. It’s a great investment in your future if you’ve decided to add this to your services.

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Photographing Baby: A Quick Primer

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A guest post by Susan Black

Babies have the transformative power of kryptonite.  There is nothing funnier than watching a tough, leather-clad, motorcycle riding hulk, suddenly morph into a cooing, grinning, nonsense-spouting hulk, in the presence of a toddler.  Or how about the completely un-self conscious “face pulling” performed by strangers in line at the grocery store in an effort to entertain a child in a cart?  Seeing a baby smile makes everyone happy, and in everyday situations, as long as the little person is not too tired or uncomfortable in some other way, babies will smile repeatedly.  So why is it so difficult to get them to smile when you want to take their photograph?  Capturing that perfect still image with your offspring can be a truly frustrating experience, both for you and your baby.  Here are a few tips to help you and your child smile through the whole process.

1.  Natural Light is Your Friend

Bright lights, loud noise, and sudden movement, especially in the first few months of any child’s life, can be very disturbing.  The new world that they have emerged into is a lot to take.  Consequently, as a new parent photographing a baby, avoid using your flash bulb at all times.  Instead, find areas of natural light.  Areas where the light shifts over time are preferable.  That way, you can leave your little person in one place, while reaping the photographic rewards of an environment that is subtly shifting over time, as the sun changes position.

2.  Bigger is Better

Go in close with your photographs or try an entire session in macro mode.  Work with a long lens, so you do not have to impose the camera on your child’s space.  As the great architect Mies van der Rohe once said, “God is in the details”.  Whether you believe in God or not, there is no denying that the little parts that make up your little person are as wonderful as the whole.  While everyone wants that perfect smiling shot, remember to take photographs of other body parts as well.  They sometimes make for the most compositionally interesting shots, and they can also serve as a great chronicle of your child’s growth.  Shooting body parts close-up can also serve as practice for more portrait-style photographs. [Read more...]

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10 Myths About Becoming A Portrait Photographer

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One of the easiest businesses to set up is a portrait photography business. With a camera and a business card, you can start finding clients anywhere in your community. Right?

Actually, it’s not quite that simple. While many photographers get started that way, and can find a handful of clients just with the people they know, the tough part comes after those first few clients. How do you find more? How do you build a sustainable business?

If you’ve been struggling with building your own portrait studio, see if you are falling into one of the traps below.

Myth #1 One camera is all I need

When you first got into photography, chances are it was with one camera body, and maybe a lens or two. That works when you don’t have to rely on it. But what if it quits working in the middle of a paid shoot? Or what if you leave your camera and a lens on a tripod to move in and adjust your client … and the entire thing collapses, leaving pieces scattering everywhere? Backups are mandatory when you are a professional.

Myth #2 I’m a natural light photographer and don’t need flash

Have you ever seen people advertise they are a natural light photographer? What does that really mean? We personally built our business off of natural light photographs too – in fact I highly prefer the look. But there are many times when you simply don’t have the natural light you need for a professional shot. An on camera flash won’t cut it. You need to be able to separate the flash, use flash in a variety of ways, and use it to highlight and amplify the look of your work. And you have to know how to use it.

Myth #3 Everyone will see the difference between me and my competition

When you look at your work, you view it through your own eyes, and see it with all the love and passion it took to create it. Yet most of your potential customers get lost when they view your work and try to compare it to the next guy. If you build a website just like everyone else; if you put a handful of images into a gallery portfolio just like everyone else; if you use the same words in your advertising just like everyone else; your prospects won’t be able to separate you from your competition. [Read more...]

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An easy portrait profit center

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A Guest Article By Andrew Funderburg

High-end portrait sales are a great source of income for studios. But sometimes the big ticket items create sticker shock for the client.

Using Finao 3ditions (three albums exactly the same in a matching box) is a great way to bring profits into you studio. Watch this video with Fundy explaining a simple payment plan concept with three albums.

**(Prices in this video are for illustration purposes only. Make sure you price for your profitability.)

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5 Posing Tips For The Perfect Beach Portrait

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A while back I posted 7 Tips For Taking The Perfect Beach Portrait.

And while choosing the perfect location and the best time of day are important, there is one thing that matters even more.

Posing.

Even with a great location, if your subjects are just standing there with no connection, you’ll never give your clients the “experience” that makes them want to invest in everything you capture.

1. Frame the image first, then drop your subjects in

The more you photograph, the more you can look at an area and pick out the perfect background. Set you camera up on a tripod and visualize what you want the scene to convey. Then drop your subjects into the perfect location. When you “see” it first, its easy to direct them in a pose. Have them kick the water with their toes. Or hold hands walking down the beach. This makes the portrait session quick, and keeps your clients motivated and happy.

2. Let your subjects connect on their own

Your subjects love each other, and will automatically connect with just a little direction. If they are an engaged couple, with just a little encouragement they will hug and kiss even without your nudge. And a family with young kids will automatically start having fun in the water and the sand. Just let them do what comes naturally. Not only will it look better to the camera, it will look equally pleasing in the final photograph – they will see it as a natural extension of who they are.

3. Repeat the posing

When your subjects are doing something right, tell them. “I love the way you are holding her hand.” or “Leaning in like that really makes this a WOW image.” will cause your subject to focus in on what they are doing, and they’ll remember how it feels. When you ask for a similar pose 10 minutes later, they will automatically repeat that feeling.

4. Add angles

If you’ve ever looked at a portrait where everyone in it is stiff as a board, you know how uncomfortable it can make you feel. People have lines and curves – accentuate it. Bend the arms and legs. Separate people just a bit and have them lean in. You’ll be amazed at the difference you see.

5. Get the best image you can the first time

One of the biggest problems with digital is the “spray and pray” method. You place a subject in an area, shoot dozens of images from all different angles, then head back into the studio to play with Photoshop to make it look good. That method takes away the creativity of creating the perfect photograph the first time around. See your image through the lens first, and use Photoshop later to enhance. You’ll see a big difference in your final photograph.

[None of these environmental beach images are enhanced through Photoshop - these are the original film image files directly from the shoot. ]

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How To Attract Portrait Clients In The 21st Century

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One in every 8 marriages today is between people that met online.

Yep, dating sites are hot. In fact if you look at the statistics, you quickly realize that this is a very good industry to be in.

Online dating is a $1.049 billion per year industry, with the average online dating user spending $239 per year.

eHarmony has over 20 million members; Match has over 15 million users.

While eHarmony and Match are the big sites in the field, hundreds of other sites exist for more specialized services.

Whether you have used dating sites or not, its easy to realize that you need two things to be successful in the online dating world:

1. A great write-up for your profile

2. A great photograph

And unfortunately, most people have trouble with two things:

1. Writing up a great profile

2. Taking a great photograph

Which is where opportunity lies for the photographer.

While other photographers are trying to ignore the online world, and keep a client from posting images on places like Facebook, eHarmony and Match, why not specialize it and make that your business?

Become A Profile Photographer

Becoming a profile photographer can give you just enough of an edge to separate you from the portrait photographers. While others are trying to sell large prints, frames and albums, you concentrate on creating the best images possible for the online world.

You can start with simple sessions – one clothing choice, a few portrait poses on a standard backdrop – and can quickly move up from there to include multiple clothing changes, hair and makeup, even multiple poses on a variety of backgrounds.

The difference between a profile photographer and a meet up or social photographer is the eye for detail. Your job extends beyond taking a few quick portraits. You also offer a service to create the best profile possible for use on dating sites, without using too much creativity or Photoshopping techniques to make the person appear differently then what they are. Put the focus on enhancing their natural beauty. Put the emphasis on letting their true personality shine through.

Join A Program

Not quite sure what to do or how to do it? Join a network of photographers.

Look Better Online is an online site dedicated to helping people look their best online. It’s gaining quite a bit of traction in the dating community, and it helps sell the idea of moving beyond the quick point-and-shoot profile images, and spending a little extra to put your best face forward.

With the marketing done for you, you can add your name to the growing list of participating photographers, and share in the traffic and profits this site makes.

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How To Develop A Great Senior Portrait Package

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Each year over 2 million high school juniors make their way into their senior year, and start the long trek to finishing up high school and starting out life as an adult. Because it’s the last step to enter adulthood, it’s always been a right of passage to commemorate it with a special portrait session – the high school senior portrait.

Competition is fierce within this marketplace these days. Even just a few years ago, many high schools had a closed door policy, and they would interview and select a few photographers to recommend, and require each of their seniors to go to a pre-approved photographer. Schools have opened up now, and allow anyone to go anywhere. Yearbook inclusions are more lax, and you’ll see a variety of sizes, styles and displays within the senior graduating class section.

Just because anything goes doesn’t make that the right approach to senior photography. If you make it an experience, it can still bring you in a substantial amount of income during the few months of shooting time. But you have to know how to package accordingly. Here’s some advice.

Start out with a plan

Many senior photographers grab a client, head out to the park, and spend 30 minutes shooting a few images. They put them on a disk, hand it over to the client, and pocket $50 or so. And that’s the end of the revenue stream. You will never get a reorder if you hand over the files for this price. The client will take them and run, and do whatever they choose with the images. So that should never be an option.

Your first strategy is to set up more than one package, and gently lead a client to the higher package. [Read more...]

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Building A Successful Preschool Photography Program

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This post is Day 21 of 30 Ways In 30 Days To Redesign Your Life With Photography. This series seeks to provide you with practical steps to get you from wherever you are today, to exactly where you want to be – this year! If your goal has always been to take your photography to a whole new level, hang on and start enjoying a new lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of.

If you have photographed a number of years, I’m sure you can look back and recall your favorites.

For us, we have favorite wedding clients, favorite engagement shoots, and favorite family sittings. We also branched out for a couple of years into the art of preschool photography, and I have one location that became my favorite.

We worked with a private preschool that taught 3 to 6 year olds, from preschool through private kindergarten. It was in an upscale neighborhood, and they weren’t looking for the same old school portraits for their children; they wanted something different.

This preschool was in a beautiful building that had an educational atrium filled with plants and mini-waterfalls. Trust me on this – it was a photographers dream location. So we came up with a special deal.

We offered a complete 20 to 30 minute portrait sitting, and we took the child out of “class” and photographed them around the atrium, taking 24 to 48 images. Instead of putting together a typical package deal, we custom designed a photo book of each child, and presented the parents with a variety of images, all in a smaller size image – 2×3 in size. Of course they could order enlargements, and we offered those at reasonable rates. We also offered a bonus in which we would take the family out for a separate portrait at a location of their choice for an extra fee. [Read more...]

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