bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

OK, as a special request during an event we were shooting, they asked us to bring our portable studio. We don't have a dye-sub printer, It is just less expensive to send it out for prints.

Anyway, our process was to give the people at the event the numbers on the back of our business cards, so they could e-mail us, then we meet with them to sell prints. Sounded good, we always meet face to face to sell prints.... Well, that gets hard to do when we ended up shooting over 200 "formal" family shots with people in their best clothes.

The question, shy of going to a "print at the event" type model, does anyone have a service where they can post proofs, and we can direct people to go there and purchase what they want? Most of these people are only buying a few 8x10s or 11x14s, so it is taking a lot of time to make a little money. We'd rather spend our time selling to the Bride and Groom, or the person that hired us for the event.

Or..... any other suggestions on how to proceed? It was an overwhelming success, but we don't want to hire someone to touch up and print on the spot. We already have 3 photographers working at most events. (2 of us, and one apprentice) Thanks
Bob

Philipschmitten Loc: Texas

I use MPO Photographers Websites to post and sell my proofs. They maintain the site 24/7 and the cost is really low for a Commercial site.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Thanks! I'll look into it today.
Bob

Philipschmitten Loc: Texas

We do the same thing with our portable studio and I found it cost effective to print a 4 x 6 with my studio name on it of the best shots and give it to the people. It will have the number on the back of the image so it works good for us as far as reprints, and it is good advertising. Just an opinion.

Libby Q.

Could you put them all on a photo-sharing web service such as Picasa or SmugMug? People could view them and leave their name under "comments" or something.

darkmanCANADA Loc: Calgary, AB Canada

SmugMug Pro

Xantoz Loc: Delaware

I do exactly the same thing. On the spot. With he file number on the back of the print. They email me or call to order. It's perfect!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Philip, do you shoot a second card of jpegs, or convert on the spot. Does the 4x6 have any retouch at all, or straight out of the camera?
What printer/ computer do you haul to the event?
Philip, thanks in advance. SS

Philipschmitten Loc: Texas

I have them printed at a lab that does great work at a low price, meridian color labs

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

That's the issue, maybe I'm old school, but man, do I hate letting people see non processed images. I want them to think every photo I take is perfect. If I printed the 3x5's I'd either have to have someone touching up as they get shot, or I'd rather put them online. The other issue is, I don't like to release any photos from a wedding or event, until the person hiring us has met with us and ordered their prints. I figure that's the only "fair" way to do business. They pay the "sitting fees".

Philip, I would be interested in finding out what your "order rate" is if you give away the 4x6.

Just wondering if I could make your system work for us, without losing any orders.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I wonder if this might work. If you all used Eye-Fi cards and had 10 inch tablets to view and show the images you could choose a few of the images you want printed and have the apprentice print them on a portable printer. You'd want to have your watermark all over the front of the image with your website and phone number in plain view. Hand them out free to those interested.

Just a thought. I don't know if I'd use the iPads though since they don't have removable media. If you purchase android tabs then you can insert the size media cards you like and remove them to print. I'm also guessing that you'd have to be printing those freebies straight out of the camera except for your watermark which would have to be an easy to use action or something similar.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Xantoz, can I ask you the same question I asked Philip? It's the post right after yours. Could you take the time to look at it please.
I have been asked similar requests, and have wondered if it results in more sales.
I know younger folks are all over the Internet, but especially some older folks may just not bother, and being more analog, a print in their hands is worth a 1000 words($?). Even if they are just thumbnails Thanks, SS

Xantoz Loc: Delaware

I just couple my canon Pixma to my Camera 5dm3 and shoot and print. If I see it looks bad in the camera I reshoot. It's all portable. I don't bother with a computer. They leave with a 4x6 with a file number and my lable on the back in an envelope with an order form with prices should they want to purchase. I shoot jpeg only on these events as they happen fast and furious. No editing lots of pre shots to determine lighting and positions.

I have done thousands of photos this way and I get lots of orders for larger prints. I did a firehouse event that brought in a ton. They leave me their email and phone numbers next to the file number. I email them a small jpeg of the group shots and always get print sales from that.

I do most of this gratis. I would say my cost is 150.00 for about 3 hours of photos in ink and paper. What's really cool is they get a print for free. Usually order several prints for me directly. And book photo shoots afterward. The firehouse I donated half of my profit in prints back to the firehouse and still made several thousand. Yes thousand! Free promotes good will and sales.

I take a small backdrop. Cool looking chair a few small studio lights and do lots of pre shots so when it's event time it's all good!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Xantoz, thanks for the great info. Glad to see you do well with it. Congrats.
SS

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I guess that's my issue. I hate to just shoot and print. I don't take a lot of time with each file, but I mess with each one that is worth keeping, and have gotten good at trashing anything that looks like it will take more than a few minutes, but I hate to have anyone get anything that I miss. (like eyes closed)

Funny story, did an event in December. I deleted several shots of this woman, because her eyes were closed, or she was winking in every shot. Half way through, I realized that she only had one eye. Thankfully, I don't delete in camera, only on the computer, so I recovered the photos from the trash can. she actually bought a 16x20 from that shoot. HA!