jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

here's a few of the shots from my annual free santa shoot. i give a free 4x6. Had about 100 kids this year....and it was really good because there were 6 Santa shoots in this small area last Saturday.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

Free Santa shoot... Giving me ideas.
Only one screamer in 16 shots? Not bad. :)

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

actually 1 screamer in about 100 shots. 2 kids wouldn't even get near santa.

I make a ton of money doing this shoot. everyone orders packages. got to have them for grandmas, grandpas, inlaws, etc....

out of 100 kids, I sold 89 packages. only 11 took the free picture. 3 of the 11 paid $25 for the digital file.

last year I sold 53 packages out of 81 photos. I did much better this year.

I can see a couple of new lenses that will be in my near future!!!

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

this was my first attempt using 2 shoot-thru white umbrellas. thought i would give it a try. definitely will go back to my soft boxes.

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

Sounds like a great idea. Perhaps I might try something like this next year. What types of packages were you offering that so many decided to take them instead of the free 4x6?

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i wrote out about 16 different packages....from small to large....like 2-5x7, or 2-5x7 and 1 8x10, I just made a bunch of small combinations with 4x6, wallet, 5x7 and 8x10. the largest package I sold was 4-5x7 and 4-8x10.
it varied. the most popular package was 2-5x7, 8 wallets, and 2-8x10.
Second most popular was 4-5x7.

I also booked 4 family sessions.

plus i always get a few appointments setup for high school seniors for spring.

I do the same thing in the summer with pet photos., great money maker.

We are in a small area with small population....I drive the other local photographers nuts. But wages are low up here and I capitalize on that. The other photographers up here charge big-city prices so 60% of high school senior photos are taken by their parents. they don't have that kind of bucks. now they are coming to me. so i am not really taking their business..i am helping stopping the parents from taking their kids senior pictures.

I do lots of promotions and i make out pretty good. i don't give out my digital files to anyone.

the santa shoot is my favorite because i love to see the kids eyes light up!!!!............and my friend, rocky, is a great santa.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

What lenses are you thinking about?

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

maybe some 1.4 primes, like the nikkor 85mm1.4 and the 24mm 1.4.

I haven't made up my mind yet. I will take a D800 body and go spend a day at the camera shop and figure out. and i will check out the 50mm 1.2 L for my 7ds. not sure.......do you have some recommendations?

MaryRose Loc: East Texas

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

Jusoljoe Loc: Texas

the santa shoot is my favorite because i love to see the kids eyes light up!!!!............and my friend, rocky, is a great santa.

Is this in your studio and/or do you create the background and furnish the Santa suit and pay the Santa?
Joe :-D

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

No recommendations but would love to see results from any of those. I shoot Canon so particularly interested in seeing results from a 50mm f1.2 L but any of those primes are going to give spectacular images.