Need some advice (Page 3): :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: All good advice. Inkjet is too slow. Dyesub is the way to go. Stale photos don't sell. Web sites are useful...

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Apr 20, 2016 13:29:09 #

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

bkyser wrote:

If you haven't done an event before, the biggest holdup to you making anything is time. Anything you can do to speed up the process will mean more money. Here are things we tried, when we first started offering the service..

1. First event. Did the portrait booth, gave cards with link to webpage to order prints. We were still taking photos when the place was shutting down. We were VERY excited about all the money we would make. In the end, not one person actually bought from the website. I tracked traffic, and after doing over 100 portraits, 4 people actually looked up their photos. Lesson learned. You MUST print there, while the emotion and excitement is still there.

2. Tried shooting the photos, helping people pick which pose they liked, taking the money, and printing them myself (and putting them in the folders) TOOK FOREVER. Charged $10 per 5x7, but since everything took so long, people got out of line and left. Got their photo taken, but didn't want to wait to see them, etc. Total made for that evening, probably $50, and a LONG evening wasted.

3. OK, not a one person job. Did about the same thing, except my wife started viewing, printing, stuffing folders, and accepting payment. Better, but still not making much for all evening. Started getting maybe $150-$200.

4. Got smart. Only one photo per group/person. They don't get to pick which is better. If eyes are shut, or they just don't like it, they can get a free retake. Better than 90% just take what we show them. Got a dye sub printer (DNP DS-80) which is blazingly fast compared to the old Epson printer. It's also nice, because the photo is dry, and you could use it as a coaster and it won't run. (because of the clear laminate that is on each print)

Now, I can make more money off the portrait booth, than I did off the actual wedding. Remember, the more alcohol there is the more money you will make.

I pay the 7% sales tax (Indiana) to keep making change easy, so I'm actually charging $9.35 each.

You will lose a LOT of business if you don't take credit cards. I use Square, but I do know you can do it through Amazon, and Paypal as well as others. REALLY easy to set up.

Whatever you charge, bring a lot of change.

If you haven't done an event before, the biggest h... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

All good advice. Inkjet is too slow. Dyesub is the way to go.

Stale photos don't sell. Web sites are useful only for marginal sales, averaging perhaps 1% of total sales via other methods.

On-site printing COMBINED with pre-paid package sales can net you some additional revenue... i.e.; You sell one print, and offer additional print units and other aftermarket items via a flyer/order form. (You need to put a link to the image of some sort on the flyer...) These items are produced in a lab and shipped later.

Offering "social media posting size" digital image downloads with the sale of any print product can also net you both initial sales, or add some additional revenue, if it is priced right.

Apr 20, 2016 15:22:15 #

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

burkphoto wrote:

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Offering "social media posting size" digital image downloads with the sale of any print product can also net you both initial sales, or add some additional revenue, if it is priced right.

How does one go about offering the social media posting size? Email it on the spot? Not a bad idea, but I'm not sure how the logistics would work with that.

Apr 20, 2016 15:46:53 #

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

bkyser wrote:

How does one go about offering the social media posting size? Email it on the spot? Not a bad idea, but I'm not sure how the logistics would work with that.

Email or text. WiFi it to tablet or smartphone and send from there. Or, use a database app that can send messages with attachments (FileMaker Pro, etc).

Apr 20, 2016 15:49:24 #

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

burkphoto wrote:

Email or text. WiFi it to tablet or smartphone and send from there. Or, use a database app that can send messages with attachments (FileMaker Pro, etc).

Most halls have Wifi now, that is a good idea. Of course, I would only offer it as an add on with purchase.

Apr 20, 2016 17:45:28 #

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

bkyser wrote:

Most halls have Wifi now, that is a good idea. Of course, I would only offer it as an add on with purchase.

That's one way to do it. Or, you could decide what your minimum purchase is, and say, "$X.00 minimum purchase INCLUDES a digital download, suitable for social media posts. Low resolution digital download is $Y.00 by itself. A high resolution version with copyright release is $Z.00."

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