TimS Loc: GA

I shot a family dance at my kid's elementary school recently. Spec work basically. Shot the photos posted them and let people view and ordered they wished. I am donating a portion of proceeds back to the school. So far I've only got a few orders.

Feel free to look over my gallery and be rurally honest. What could I have done differently / better?

tsphotog.com/heart

Thanks

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

Your work seems to be fine, except the Sideway Photos, which do not help the parents appearance. Old people need special poses to make them look better. Abnd i dont think the pose is appealing. Children almost always look good on any pose. But the parents? Not so much.

What is wrong? The weirdy photos of the flower and the mother/father. That doesn't t look good. You give flowers to dead people or sweethearts, which none of the parents are. So stop that, IMO that throws people back. If you want to include the parents, frontal would be better, and include both of them, that would be three in the picture.

I am no pro, but as a possible client of yours, I would find those photos un appealing.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well..considering the volume of work, I think you did a pretty solid job...it's not easy to get this many people through without making some serious mistakes...and I don't see any.

Sure, some poses could be better but oh well...


My gut impression of why people aren't buying is that it's the occasion...I don't know why anyone WOULD buy a picture taken at a dance unless there were some circumstance like, they won't see each other for a few years...or something...I know I wouldn't buy one.

Lovers might...boyfriend and girlfriend might...but that's it. (that's just a guess on my part.)

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Next time use a less busy background. That might be an issue for some. Also, not all faces are sharp - need a greater depth of field.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Maybe I'm built different then the others. If I had taken my little girl to a dance I would've wanted pictures. I would've bought some. Maybe the background is a little busy and some aren't tack sharp/ But remember if someone has a digital camera they are a 'photographer'. I think this is a good exersize in getting your work out there where people can see it. Photos like these will bring them to you. If something like this comes along again, just do it again and use some of the tips from here. :thumbup: :thumbup:

TimS Loc: GA

Thanks for the feedback.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

What marketing have you done? Were there flyers up at the school before the event-- and are there flyers up now? Is this type of advertising allowed? If the school is benefiting, how much? Did you involve the local PTA? What percentage of participants did you get? Did you hand out information to those who participated? An assistant is helpful for this purpose. Once you consider the multiple images, your potential number of buyers shrinks. Do you have other events to compare sales records with? It may be that your response rate is "the norm"