ADVERTISING
IDEAS
One way to get into this interesting
business is to prepare an impressive portfolio of color and B&W
advertising material. Do some phone screening of local advertising
agencies and find out their specialties. Once you know which ones use
the kinds of photography you do, you can present your portfolio to them. Leave your business card, a wall sample, or a composite when you finish
the interview.
Before long, if your work warrants it, you should be
getting calls. One thing to remember, be sure that you always prepare
for a job, this type of photography can involve a lot of expenses to
your clients that you could be liable for if you fail.
GALLERIES - One
inexpensive way to promote your photography work is through a gallery
exhibit. Not only is it a way to sell your work, but if the show is
reviewed by art critics, you will be receiving free publicity.
POSTCARD APPROACH - Use postcards that show your abilities and send them to local users of photographs. Do your best to make your work standout by making it look novel, or combining it with something useful, like a calendar of events. Eye catching and useful stay around a business longer and generate more calls.
SCHOOL CAREER DAYS - A little research at the library and you will be able to provide a very interesting talk to students. During your talk provide reference handouts that the students will want for reference, and to keep your name in front of them. This is an interesting way to have inexpensive direct advertising.
CHILD
ID CARDS AT CHILDREN'S EVENTS
Work with suppliers and radio stations to provide ID
photographs for children. Your local police department should have some printed cards and possibly a fingerprint kit. Once you have the cards all you will need is a basic digital camera setup and a laminator. The cost should be very
minimal to you and can provide you some good advertising exposure. Add
some coupons with the ID and you will increase the advertising benefit.
Many people holding childrens events should welcome you as an addition to their event.
AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
People are fascinated by aerial photographs of their
home, business, or city views. Pick a season when the greenery is good
and rent a plane, or cut a deal with the pilot by offering to share in
the profits. Fly around your town and countryside taking photographs of
your town's scenic views and nice neighborhoods. If you are not afraid
to make a little investment, have 11x14s made and show these images to
people in the neighborhood and the businesses that are in the
photographs. This will be your best approach. If you are not willing to invest in the prints and time try sending proofs to the homes shown in your
photographs.
Don't forget the value of arts and crafts fairs for a sales
location. Properly marketed, this work often pays well enough to hire a
plane and pilot for an hour at a time. When arranging for the plane be
sure that the plane has provisions for opening a window in flight, or
removing the door. Additional reading on aerial photography is suggested.
For a quick overview see the aerial photography section in the ideas
book. As a rule of thumb, whenever you send proofs to people that have
not given an adequate deposit you should mark the front of the proofs
proofs with a special pen which can only be cleaned off with a special
solution. This will help make sure that customers do not keep or copy
your proof. Your local supplier should be able to help you with the pen
and cleaner.
AIRPLANES
Many private pilots are quite proud of their hobby and would
eagerly purchase a photograph of their plane in flight. One way to do
this is to go to the airport and photograph airplanes as they are
landing or taking off. Another way is to work with a local flight school
to photograph their students on first solo flights.
When doing this you
should:
- Be careful to stay in unrestricted areas and get clearance from security.
- Take the
photographs when the wings are straight and they their landing looks
perfect.
- Do not freeze the prop with a high shutter speed. Once you
have the skill level to be able to know you have the photographs, you
can wait to develop the film until you have a buyer. To obtain the
pilots address, log the registration number and look at the US Civil
Aircraft Registry. The registry can be obtained from the library, or by
writing the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington DC. Another option is to get the information on the pilot
from the airport. Contact the pilot by sending the pilot a letter and
contact offering an enlargement, or business or Christmas cards. Be sure
to state the location and time when the photograph was
taken.
ANIMAL
SHOWS
Attend dog, cat, and animal competitions at your local fair.
Take many close-up pictures of the animals, record the names and
addresses of the owners, and offer enlargements of their prize winning
pets. You can do this by sending the owners proofs or contacts of your
work with a price sheet. This takes planning, if you can cut a deal with
the organization by giving them free photos in exchange for their
helping and promotion your services during the day you will see your
profits increase. The earlier you can contact the organization the
better because it gives them a chance to communicate your services to
the participants as part of their regular communication.
ANNIVERSARIES
- CONTACTING THE KIDS
Watch the newspaper for announcements of
these events. The listing will often list the children of the couple.
Contact the children and offer to give them a $25.00 gift certificate as
a gift to their parents for a full studio or in home session. The number
of reprints often ordered by these groups will more than compensate for
the investment. $ ANNIVERSARIES - COUPLES - Watch the newspaper for
announcements of these events. Contact the couple and offer to do a free
in-home photo session of them and/or their children. Be sure to arrange
your times when all children can all be there for the photographs and,
if possible, to look at the proofs. For an excellent supplier for
portable backgrounds see Westcott in the vendor section.
ARCHITECTURAL
- ARTISTIC
With the proper equipment, like a view
camera, you can turn out very elegant photographs of structures that
other photographers cannot achieve. Potential customers will be
architects, Realtors, owners, and perhaps, depending on the structure,
craft show people. Again marketing is the key.
ARCHITECTURAL
- DOCUMENTARY
Another way to get photo jobs is to stay
alert to construction projects in your community. Owners of the building
would be interested in photographs, and so would various contractors,
the architect and the construction company. You can learn of possible
contacts by the signs posted in front of the construction. For best
results, a large format camera is recommended, but a 35mm camera with a
perspective control lens will do the job nicely. Some photographers have
also had success by photographing construction in process and then
offering the book and slides to the company near the time of the grand
opening.
ARTIST
Photos allow artist to show interested parties examples of their
work without having to take the work back and forth from their studio
without risking damage. As a photographer, you can help to make this
task a simple one for the artist by helping them create an art
portfolio. This portfolio is similar to a model's portfolio, the only
difference is that the subject is art rather than a model. Arrange a
time to go to the artist's studio to do the shoot. Take several pictures
of each piece of work that the artist wants and vary the lighting and
exposure. Don't forget to photograph the artist at work. Sell a
portfolio, extra prints, or arrange for a composite that the artist can
use for mailings. Another option is to work as a contractor by shooting
the artworks and handing the film over to the artist for processing.
This is a relatively easy way to make $100 to $200 for a few of hours
work. Note: As a contractor you give up all rights to the photos. You
may offer these artists just what they need in order to get their big
break. If color is important you should start each roll or unique color
combination with a MACBETH color checker or equivalent comparison
chart.
BEAUTY
CONTESTS
Beauty contests and pageants are excellent places to make
the contacts for getting into model photography. Watch the newspaper to
find out about these events and try to contact the promoter to talk
about giving them access to low cost photographs in return for being
able to market to the contestants. Once at the event, shoot as many
contestants as you can. If you get good shots, and can get them in front
of the right people, you may get them published in the local paper or
one of the pageant programs. Once you have developed a reputation you
may find ready markets for your photographs. For example, models,
pageant promoters, as well as representatives from modeling schools are
in need publicity photos. These contacts will lead you to models who are
always in the need of portfolio updates. Properly marketed and shot
pageants could net you a reasonable profit throughout the year.
BEFORE
& AFTER PICTURES - Construction Documentary
Before and after pictures are a great way to make
money. It's a simple concept that can be applied to almost anything you
can think of. Here are a few examples of who you can take before and
after pictures for: people in diet centers, pet groomers, people having
their homes renovated, landscapers, and aluminum siding installers. Let
your imagination work for you and you can come up with more ideas than
you ever thought possible. To begin a before and after photo session,
follow these simple steps: Take pictures using one roll of film (24 or
36 exposure) of the person, place, or idea before any changes are made.
Once the project is complete, or the objective met, take another set of
pictures. Offer a "Before & After" album to any business
who offers such a service. This is a great way for the customer to keep
a documentation or a memory book of the accomplishment. or the business
to show the difference that they can make to potential customers.
BIRTHDAYS
- ADULTS
A formal birthday package works well for adults.
Celebrating the birthday of a grandparent or any senior member of a family often serves as a family gathering for 4 or 5 generations. Shoot
the whole group, individuals, families, and special groups like the grand kids. Sell at least one print of the large group to each family
present in advance. Don't forget to consider such things as shipping or
delivery cost when pricing. Those 4 or 5 generation shots are very
popular and are good candidates for selling in advance. Offer a standard
package of 1 group shot, a portrait of the birthday person and 1 candid.
An album package priced at $150 with a family tree could also work
well.
BIRTHDAYS
- KIDS
Develop a standard package for kids' birthday parties.
Advertise through classified ads and word of mouth. Prepare a party
portfolio of 8 - 10 of your best prints (shoot a couple of parties for
free to get started) to show prospective customers. Your standard
"on location" package might include one 8 X 10 of the birthday
child and one 8 x 10 of the whole party priced at $50. While you are
there, shoot other candids of all the children, the candle blowing, the
cake cutting. Tips: Pack a few balloons, hats and other props that
children love. You will be a big hit with the kids which will make the
event a total success. [Back]
BOUDOIR
PORTRAITS
This is a hot selling item for women who want very
personal photos to be seen only by their husbands or boyfriends. To be
successful at this invest in clothing and costumes and find someone who
can do complete makeovers. You'll need costumes and props in a variety
of sizes and styles for the themes you wish to develop. Most customers
will bring her own wardrobe. You need to have a book of samples prepared
where the person can choose a "look" that she feels comfortable with. To improve sales, be sure to shoot "before and after" photos. This is a very personal type of photography. It must be conducted in a very professional setting. When possible, it is best to have a female assistant to create a comfort level with a prospective
customer. In fact, many successful boudoir studios are ran by husband
& wife teams. If you a serious about entering this type of business
you should purchase books and videos dedicated to the subject.
BRIDAL
FAIRS
If you have the resources to arrange a bridal fair you can
find that people in related businesses will buy floor space, help pay
for advertising, and provide you with income from both the fair and in
additional photo-contacts. This is no small undertaking and you should
prepare yourself by studying bridal fairs conducted in other
cities.
PHOTO CALENDARS
Calendars are something that everyone needs and uses. They are
used more often than any other single item for advertising purposes. You
can make money in calendars several ways. For example, a small business,
such as a garden shop, would be the perfect promotion for such a
business especially if the right photo is used and seasonal planting
information is included. Since a small business may need only a hundred
or so, going to a four color printer is too expensive. Instead, go to
your local color laser-copier shop and work out a deal for a short run
of calendars. Everybody wins. The garden shop gets their advertising
calendars at an affordable price. You get your name in front of his
customers -- free advertising for you. Another way is to approach
calendar printers to use your photos. Charge a one time user fee of $25
to $50 for each photo used. Another approach to calendars is to use them
as fund raisers. For example, one photographer shot photographs of the
local firemen, sold advertising, and then sold them as a charity fund
raiser for the retirement fund.
CALENDARS
- ADVERTISING
Make a run of calendars that promote your own
photography business. Include photography that highlights your
specialty, feature photos of subjects who will become your buyers such
as Little League Teams, dance groups, or any well known group. Local
landmark shots do well on calendars but do not always have the appeal by
themselves to sell the calendars. Another approach is to use calendars
as fund raisers or to sell advertising to other businesses. If you have
the image files to make an interesting calendar you may find that
calendars can be a nice side income. Spend some time talking to printers
who can provide you with a lot of information on creating
calendars.
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CATALOG
PHOTOGRAPHY
Manufacturers always have some type of catalog. The
catalog may only be a single sheet with a picture of the product, along
with a description, or it may be a major publication. While the
equipment needed will vary with the job a 4x5 view camera is usually
preferred, but 2 1/4 format cameras are also used. Work closely with the
client and their printer to determine the type of film and look required
for the job. You can get the edge on this specialty by offering your
clients more than just fine photography -- offer to handle the printing
as well by working with a printer. If you are planning to approach a
company you should acquire, when feasible, examples of their product
line that you can shoot and use in the presentation. This will enable
them to see your work and compare it to what they have received in the
past. In addition, it will give you additional experience with their
type of product.
CHARITY
FUND RAISERS
There are certain times of the year when charity
groups hold fund raisers. As part of an event you can have a background and booth which will give the photos more of a professional look and draw more of a crowd.
In today's technology world you can even offer to post the images on a website where people can download and print them themselves. This can be a slightly reduced donation which equals your print cost.
When planning to work at any event with onsite printing you will need to plan adequately for supplies and bring backup equipment or have a backup plan. Assuming you are using an inkjet printer it is always good to have two printers. This will double your print speed and give you a backup. At a minimum, have a new one in a box just in case.
These type of events are not always that profitable but they are great exposure and an excellent chance to hand out coupons and cards.
CHILDREN'S
ID PHOTOS AT THE MALL
Children are special people in our lives, and it is
extremely important to protect them. As a photographer you can help.
Many parents are interested in having photo ID cards made for their
children. These are similar to driver's licenses and are a great way for
you to make money while helping to ensure the safety of children. One
way to get into this area of expertise is to work up with local law
enforcement, Department of Motor Vehicles, or a business to sponsor an
event which will provide a visual ID for kids. Call the event "Kid
IDs", or something obvious. Try to get publicity for the event
through the local newspapers, television stations, and radio stations.
Public Service announcements of this type usually don't cost anything,
and the stations may even want to help sponsor the event. Stores may
also be willing to help you get the word out by hanging fliers in their
store windows and they may offer to help defray the cost if given credit
for their assistance. When trying to pick a location you should plan to
have the shoot done in a busy mall location to insure the best traffic
and to provide and incentive for stores to provide assistance. Your
sitting fee should allow the parents to have two photographs. One for
the child and one for the parents. Volunteers can get the information
from the parents and type it on the ID card. This should include the
child's name, address, phone number, birthday, hair and eye color,
height and weight, school, and any other important information about the
child. Take the pictures with a digital camera and printer rig or perhaps with equipment
provided by the police department. Then cut the picture to fit on the ID
card and run it through a laminating machine.
As a side item you could
offer a 5 to 10 minute video of the child. The purpose behind this is
for further identification purposes should the child get lost. Parents
usually have other things on their mind when their child is missing, so
the more they can give the police the better it will be. When doing the
video be sure to get a full length shot of the child and ask them
questions about their name, address, phone number, scars or birthmarks,
school, names of their parents and siblings, and anything else that will
help to capture their personality and mannerism on tape. Hopefully these
will never be used, but it is always nice to have them in case something
should ever happen.
CHURCH
DIRECTORY
Many churches have directories that include photos of
each member, the group photos of choir, other activities, as well as the
church officers. Other photos that highlight the year's special events
such as Easter services, Christmas programs or a special summer camp are
usually included. If you have thought about entering this area of
photography you should contact Crown Publishing at 1-800-457-7769.
CHURCH
- GROUPS
Most of us think of a church as the single body of people
who make up a congregation. Actually, it is comprised of many subgroups,
making it an ideal environment for a group photographer. There are
choirs, classes, and many activities and celebrations which provide an
excellent opportunity for church photographer. Candids of these groups
will sell, but are more speculative than arranged photography. It's a
good sideline business and a great way to network and get referrals. To
start out, polish up your skills in your own church, then branch out to
others. Develop a portfolio of quality photos reasonably priced that you
can use to attract new business. You might offer to donate 10% of each
sale to the church.
CHURCHES
Photographing churches offers a broad range of money making
opportunities. You can shoot an official portrait of the church which
can then be marketed to members. Be sure and shoot these with a large
enough format to support large prints. Another option is to make plates
with the photos on them of the original church building or a planned
expansion as a fund raiser. This could become a partnership for you and
the church to make money. A book of community churches could be a good
selling item in local gift shops and drug stores along with postcards
which feature the most interesting architectural structures. A book of
churches could also be popular with the Chamber of Commerce or Board of
Tourism. In general you should use medium to large format equipment when
shooting architectural structures. The larger formats will improve your
quality and help you command higher prices.
CITY
GUIDES
Photograph various interesting sites around town and then
prepare a photo booklet that shows the site along with legends or
stories that make the site unique. Combine advertising space with these
photographs from local merchants and you will have a brochure that can
be sold or given away at hotels, travel agencies, or local craft fairs.
COLLEGE
CAMPUS
College days are said by many to be a highpoint in their
life. Parties, mixers, dances, alumni weekends, parents weekend and many
other activities are all activities where a photographer can make a
profit. While many people carry their own cameras you, as an outsider, can capture images they will miss.
For the photographer willing to
risk the wrath of these partygoers, there is a lot of profit to be made.
Campus organizations such as sororities and fraternities will often hire
a photographer to take pictures at these events, or will work with a
photographer who is willing to shoot groups and candids on speculation. To get started
contact the social director and make arrangements such as time and place
and how proofs and orders will be handled. The chairman often takes on
the responsibility of picking up proofs, dropping off orders, and
picking up pictures when the orders are ready to be delivered.
Another
option is to handle the transactions using one of the many internet based companies that will handle the transaction for you. A location
charge is common for these events. Charge a location fee for each event
and collect the money in advance. An hour and a half to two hours should
be enough time to cover the event. Make your way around the room, taking
candid pictures of everyone and pre-arranged groups. Offering the organization some incentives may help them work with as announcers and organizers.
CONTESTS
Watch newspapers and photo magazines for contest announcements. Read
the rules carefully, study past winners for the judges' trends. Plan
your entries as carefully as you would any high-paying assignment.
Planning your shot will give you an edge over the photographers who just
visit their files and look for something close.
CONTRACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
One way to make money without all the administration
costs associated with maintaining a studio or home office is to become a
contract photographer. Customarily photographers are either paid on a
per roll basis or on an hourly basis. Before accepting this type of
assignment be sure that all the details and expectations have been
worked out and are in writing. Another approach is a per project fee
plus actual expenses. The project fee is your profit. It can be based on
hours worked, the complexity of the photography or even a commission or
royalty fee. Commissions and royalties can often amount to big money
over the long haul. When doing this kind of work keep in mind that you
are work for hire and you are giving up all rights to the negatives so
price accordingly.
CONVENTIONS
- GROUPS
Many conventions have groups that come from
quite a distance and that rarely see each other. Check with your local
Chamber of Commerce, or similar organization, to find out what
conventions are upcoming and then contact the organizational contact.
Offer, at no charge, to come to the convention and photograph the
displays or large groups. Offer to supply newsletter prints at no charge
in return for having your presence announced and listed in the program.
As you photograph the large groups you should take orders for the prints
at that time while the emotion of the moment is high. One excellent way
to do that is to use small envelopes with your business card attached.
They take your card, put the money on the inside, and provide their name
and address on the outside.
BOOTH PHOTOGRAPHS - Go to conventions and
shoot pictures of each booth. If you can, work out a deal with a 1-hour
lab, have them proof everything to a 5x7 or bring your equipment along and print onsite.
COPIES
- ARTWORK
Artist often require a copy of their work for copyright
purposes, catalogs, or for selling prints of the paintings. Try
advertising in local art magazines and attend craft shows handing out
your price list. An equipment tip for this one is to use polarized
lighting. This will help you eliminate reflections while giving an image
with punch. Your local dealer can set you up with the light and camera
equipment combination. Once you have the polarized lighting setup you
should experiment with different mediums to learn the details of making
copies. These "experiments" will then provide you with a
portfolio.
PHOTOGRAPHS - Offering a photo copy service to the elderly,
or local genealogy groups, can be very lucrative. Try advertising in
magazines like AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), or in
local senior citizen magazines. Once people know that you perform the
service and you will find a good market. As a benefit try offering a
pickup and delivery service for orders over a certain number. You will
find that people will add photographs to their order just to qualify for
the convenience. For more information on copying photographs see the
HOW-To section.
CRAFT
SHOWS - JIGSAW PUZZLES
Take a photograph with special appeal mount
it on thin wood or thick cardboard, using dry mounting tissue. Then cut
the mounted picture into interlocking shapes with a band saw. Check the
vendor list for two companies that offer this service.
CRAFT
SHOWS
There are a lot of ideas that can go to craft shows. Watch
the photo magazines and look for ideas that you can use to set your
photographs off. If you create photographs that are artistic you may be
able to have a printer with a color copier create sellable images that
you can sell very inexpensively. One suggestion, consider volume
selling. You will sell more photographs when people can make their
purchase with pocket change. One idea might be using creative distortion
to add originality and beauty to your work. Since you compete with
thousands of other able craftsmen in the freelance market, you often
need something truly different to be successful. Distortion can be
obtained by shooting through various materials such as old window panes,
bottles, plastic sheets, glass coated with petroleum jelly, etc. The
possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Now and then, you
should come up with a real gem as a reward for your efforts.
DAY
CARE - PROMOTIONAL
Day Care Centers are a great way for you to help someone else while making money for yourself. Often these day care centers advertise their services in the local newspaper or in community magazine. Photographs add impact to those ads by showing their
facilities and the children having fun. Pictures often get the attention
of the reader, thus more business as a result of effective advertising. By teaming up with day care centers to take pictures for promotional ads
you can make money by charging for the service and selling photographs to parents. Be sure and get releases and keep the negatives in your
files, for later orders when the daycare needs images for web sites or teaching tools for the classes. By taking the day care's
advertising photos you can develop your own profits from a small job. If you do a good job for them, you will gain their respect and most likely
their continued business. From that point you can solicit other day care centers and earn even more money.
CAMPS
Pictures of kids swimming, horseback riding, sitting around the
campfire, etc., are popular in a wide variety of photo markets. Arrange
with the head counselor to take a shots of the whole group together and
the kids enjoying themselves at camp. Print up plenty of 8x10 images of
the groups and see how fast they sell to the kids and parents. If at all
possible, get the parents to sign releases of their children in return for a discount on their photograph order. This will give you a great
opportunity to build your stock files while working at the camp. If the
camp has the facilities, you can even put in a darkroom and let the kids
help print the photos or the darkroom can be a chargeable
activity.
Coffee Table Books
Coffee Table books are an excellent way to grow your business. These books are inexpensive and a new enough product that anyone can afford them. One approach is to charge a creation fee and then discount the books. One well known supplier of these books is Picaboo. With books starting at $9.99 there is excellent room for additional markup.
Their  software is free and even has some editing capability. Giving them a try is a pretty inexpensive way to get products such as these available to show and sell.
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