Wondering How to Build My Senior Picture Business

Well when I was in High school I had a Photographer aproach me with being an advertiser for them. What they did was get me when I was a Jr. and had me pose for my pics then gave me a great deal on my pics. They gave me a bunch of business cards and flyers with special pricing on them to pass around to my friends. Then my friends saw the pics and how well the photos looked and even took them to show there parents. They did that for 1 girl and 1 guy that year and I know he got a ton of business. This worked well because the kids love to show off their pics to each other. The students ae happy because they get really cool pics for cheap and the photogragher is happy because of the business that they receive.

I, too, am trying to build my home based business. I understand that it can be very frustrating and hard. I sell Avon and Candles and do pretty well, I only wish I could do a little better! Have you tried making fliers and hanging them everywhere that will allow you? You could also try to network with other businesses that target clients that you would also want to target.

Hi S.,

I didn't read through all of the responses, so this might have been suggested already. But when I was in high school we had a photographer that would do pictures for 4 seniors at each area school for free right at the end of summer, before their senior year. 2 girls, 2 boys. Then gave them their proofs for free as well. The deal was that these 4 students would then go back to their school and show everyone their pictures. He tried to make sure each one was from a different "group" of kids so it would reach more of the school. And one last job of these 4 students was that each student was to pick a junior to promote for him for their senior pictures, and so on. What better way to get your name out there than by the students that have their pictures taken? Everyone wanted to get "picked" to have their pictures taken by this guy. I know when I was in school he was the most popular choice for students to get their senior pictures from. And his studio was even in a different town :) Hope this helps!

I use to work in a photography studio in Indiana, before I moved down here, so I can give you some pointers and/ or ideas. First and foremost, (which I'm sure you know because of being a wedding photographer) word of mouth. Tell anyone you know that you are getting into the family/ senior photography market. Second, you have a website, use it to advertise this. Also, use the clients you've had in the past with weddings, they are going to start families eventually, there's you family sessions. They have dealt with you in the past, and will more than likely be comfortable working with you again.

Advertise anywhere where there are kids. Talk to the owners of local businesses and see if you can place your photos on the walls as art (doctors offices, dentist, dermotogloy, local prom dress stores). You can also leave you information there when people ask about the photography.

You can always advertise in malls, but that can be very expensive. One alternative would be to advertise in the high school's newspaper and/ or year book. You could run "specials" for seniors in the newspapers. They are generally fairly cheap.

One heads up in the "senior" world. They want their senior pictures to be different, so if you can come with something different than you competition, then that will be huge for you. Also, you'll have to be digital. And you'll have to be able to use different digital looks (the grunge look, saturation, composites, etc.)

With baby sessions. Here's one thing the studio would do, and always had a great turn out; they would have special sessions throughout the year. Examples: during the summer we would have a fishing special, we'd have real water with plants and a dock, etc. For the spring (easter) we'd bring in real bunnies, a lamb, chicks, something diferent each year. For christmas, a big table, there the kids would literally make cookies, we'd have flour, cookie dough, cookie cutters, the whole thing, another year we had a live christmas tree with other misc. items in the photo.

I hope some of this helps. If you'd like to chat or had some other questions, feel free to contact me.

Hi S.,
I'm a photographer too, and new to the area. It's always good to form a network, for referrals both ways, and for talking to someone who understands the specific frustrations of our business (and the highlights!)
We have friends who just moved to Ft. Wayne (Leo?) and I can pass your name along to them as well.

This site has been great to me too...!

Take care, T.

just a suggestion but why not make up some business cards and see if some local stores will distribute them for you....or even advertise at a school....if you want to do senior pics, schools may be a great place to find business. or make up flyers and either mail them out or spend some time taking them to peoples homes..or go to the mall and put them on car windshields. a friend of mine does some photography ...and she actually has a myspace site where she advertises. i dont know how that works out for her as hers is more of just a hobby than a business. another thing that may work would be the old fashioned way of simply getting a phone book and calling people and offering your services....just be careful bc its really like telemarketing and people may not be so nice but if you get one person a day its better than none. i hope i have been of some help to you....i wish you the best of luck with your business and your family.

When I was in highschool we used to do a fashion show every Spring. Stores in the mall would offer up an outfit for free to be used in the fashion show. We used to get all different things for both the girls and guys ranging from swimwear, to evening wear...prom season. We would also go to local salons and they would do our hair for free to get their name out there.

I am thinking you could do the same thing. Offer up a free session to a few Seniors in your area in exchange for spreading your name around. You can give them business cards or like someone suggested earlier a postcard with examples and your info. You could even offer discount rates in exchange for booked referrals. Or something of the like. Before you know it your name will be everywhere! I think the trick however is to start with the Sophomore and Junior classes. I had my Senior pictures taken the Summer between Junior and Senior year.

I do know that my highschool had a deal with a local photographer. We had the choice to go to someone else but our yearbook picture had to be done through him. He also gave us special rates...sort of like a group discount.

Hope this helps and I wish you all the best in your career!

I would seriously try MySpace & see if there is a mall around you that would let you put up a display for a reasonable price. (our mall does displays like this).
Maybe, too, if there is a teenager that you know getting ready to graduate, maybe give them a discount and have them spread your name around?
Make sure you have a good ad in the phonebook - that's where I looked first to find a photographer for my daughter...
Good luck!

Going to High Schools is a good idea but trying to do flyers there is a bad approach. Instead of trying to advertise to the kids and parents you need to make a deal with the school itself to do the photos. When I went to North Central you HAD to get your pic taken at this one place if you wanted your senior pic in the year book. The school had a contract with the photography studio. Kids could go to other places to have pics for their families but they had to at least get their school pic taken at that certain place. Start at smaller schools who might not have something like that going on. Find out who does their photos then try and offer them a better deal than what they are already getting.

Have you tried posting an ad on the craigslist.org? It's free & everyday more & more people are on there to buy, sell, advertise, etc..

Hi S. I cant really help you but I am getting married in June 2008 and I am wondering what you charge? Please feel free to email me at ____@____.com

Mandie~

What about going to one of those signs now and having a postcard made with some examples of pictures on them and then take them around to highschools and ask teachers to hand them out to the kids. Also maybe ask some local boutiques (one's that are popular among the high school crowd) if they could put them with the receipts and give them to the shoppers.

Side note: I'm just now getting into photography basically trying to teach myself and would love to get any advice, tips etc you might have...

The photography thing is a great interest of mine because I love taking pictures of my children and other people's children!

J.

Hi S. K. Senior pictures are usually done at the beginning of their senior year. So I would get some really nice brochures made up with maybe even a discount if they book and keep the date within the first couple of months. Have them ready and take them to local high schools as soon as school opens in August/September. Send some out to past clients. They already know your work and would be happy to refer you to a relative or friend with a senior. I have learned that past clients don't mind you calling 3-4 times a year. Sometimes they need other work or want to refer you, but have lost your number. Schools now take pictures 2x's a year, plus class pictures, sports/club pictures. Research that area. Send the schools a price quote. Hope all goes well. T. R.

Hey S.!!

Send me your info and I would be glad to pass your name around. You have any samples that I can see? Hang in there...you can make it happen!!!

C.

hello
maybe you should do some kind of flyer or borchue and pass it out to schools or take them around and put in mail boxes. anything like that would really help you out. if you pass out to school maybe do at the end of the year and then again at the begin that way the parents over the summer have some kind of idea what they are looking at in price range and maybe do some kind of package special or discounts

good luck

have you ever thought of starting a myspace page? you can sell yourself that way. put do you have any friends or friends of friends that you can do a few shots for free to get your portfolio built up and then they can show off your work to others and get the word out for you.

Hi S.,
I wish I had some advice for you. I ran a mobile DJ service and did many many weddings as well, but quit when we moved from NY to Indiana. I only did word of mouth as well and had a hearty business just from referrals. Have you tried flyers in prime locations? (like just outside bridal shops) Good luck!

Hello!
I'm gonna toss you some ideas, I'm not sure how many are even feasible in this area as I've only been here a short while.

1. Website - nowadays, a polished-looking website is vital for getting your name out there. I know when I looked for a wedding photographer, the website was very important because I could not only look at a portfolio of their work, but could view package pricing as well. The more info the better, and it also helps kids show the info to their parents if they're doing research themselves.

2. Local high schools (and possibly churches)- I'm not sure which local high schools have a school newspaper, but it might actually be worth it to take out a half page ad there. Or ask about posting flyers that give at least some minimal information along with contact numbers and a web address. Many churches have a bulletin board on which you can post business cards or flyers...this might target the parents/grandparents, but they're the ones with the money!

3. Phone book - I know the large ads in the phone book often catch the eye of someone who knows they need a photographer but who isn't sure where to go.

4. MySpace - Not sure exactly how this could be used, but it's free webspace visible to most high schoolers nowadays.

5. Don't be afraid to ask for references. Think back to some of the weddings you did 20 years ago...those people might possibly have kids approaching high school. If not, calling past clients and asking for three references of people they might know is still a respectable way of drumming up some sales.

Like you said, business brings more business. I'm sure the word will spread once you start building.
Good luck with everything!!!

A soon-to-be stay-at-home mom

Have you tried approaching high school principals and asking them about handing out flyers? Just a thought.

Hi S., This is S. S from Kokomo. One of our local photographers has a contract with our high school to take the yearbook portrait free of charge. All seniors must go to that photographer. (so the yearbook photos are all the same background and head size) Many of the students go ahead and buy photos from him instead of making another appointment for a different photographer.