stephanie_martino

<p>I've been photographing preschools for a few years, and I have like 4-5 schools that are regulars right now. And that was all I was able to handle for a while with my studio sessions on top of it. My 2 kiddos took up most of my time. I now have a lot more free time and I'd like the schools to be my focus. I started making calls to schools to try to book and I'm having trouble getting anyone to sign on. Do you have any tips for me on how to get more signed contracts? Did you guys cold call or just show up at the schools? I haven't tried just showing up just yet. I want to make up some sort of flier to leave them. Just curious what my best approach would be! Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Sorry, I should have been more specific. I have permission from the parents, but I was wondering about posting because it's Star Wars. The props and effects are licensed Star Wars items...</p>

<p>I recently did a Star Wars themed newborn session. Just curious if it's legal for me to post those photos on my FB business page. </p>

<p>Hello all! I have owned and operated a portrait studio from my home for about 5 years now. I specialize in babies and kids. I get the occasional family, maternity and senior portraits. My clients are very loyal and I am constantly gaining new ones. But in a way I'm feeling like I kind of reached a plateau, creatively and income wise. I have very limited space in my studio. I'm feeling like I need to charge way more. In your experience, what was it like going from a home studio to a downtown, store front studio? I have so many ideas but can't possibly do them from home because space is an issue. I know I will need to get a loan because I don't have the money for startup costs. What are the differences between working from home and owning a store front as far as licensing, insurance etc? Any advice would be great! Thanks!</p>

<p>Hello all! I'm here because I need a little help. I've been using the same camera for maybe 7-8 years or so. It's a Canon Rebel xti. It's time for something new! I have a home based studio, and I photograph mainly infants and children, with the occasional senior or family. During the summer months I do a lot of outdoor portraiture. This has turned into full time work for me and my camera is taking a beating! It's been forever since I have really looked at what's on the market. I see a variety of different Canon cameras and I'd like to know what you guys think would suit me best for what I do. My budget is in the ballpark of $2,000. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks a bunch!</p>

<p>Thanks so much everyone, you really helped a lot. I won't change the name. The breakup of my partner and I wasn't a bad one, we're still friends. What bothered me was that I know what the 2nd S stands for and it almost feels like I'm giving someone else credit for my work. I'll get over it, thanks guys. I guess it would be like starting from scratch if I changed the name. Thanks again</p>

<p>When I first started out I knew I needed to get my name out there somehow. What I did was created an event for a whole weekend at a local park. (Beautiful scenery for portraits) I offered a 30 min session and a CD with images for FREE, yes free, no strings attached. That weekend I had 26 people sign up. Let me tell you, it snowballed from there. I'm still shooting most of those clients today, and all of those people told their friends and family etc...and my business has grown all from word of mouth. I wouldn't compete with the chains either, you can't. If people love your work, they will pay. I have clients now that used to go to the chain studios. They would rather pay more for quality images. Some people would rather pay the $10 and accept the so-so images, but honestly, you don't really want those clients anyway. You want people to appreciate your work, not your price tag. ;-)</p>

<p>I guess I already knew that, I just needed to hear it from other professionals. I don't know why it bothers me so bad.</p>

<p>I went into business as a partnership with a friend of mine a little over a year ago. She decided to drop out of the business last April, so I went solo. The business name is Photography By S&S (each S represents both of our first names). The business has grown tremendously and people are familiar with the name, but it drives me crazy every time I have to say "S&S" ! I've been trying to come up with different words for the S&S to stand for but I can't come up with anything. I've considered changing the name, but I'm afraid that will hurt the business. I do a lot of business from my Facebook page, and for some reason if you have 100 or more LIKES you aren't able to change the name of the page, you have to delete it and start from scratch. Any advice on this would be great. (What else can S&S stand for?.....)</p>

<p>I will be shooting a group of about 250 people on bleachers in a gymnasium. What is the best lens to shoot with? I was thinking wide angle but I'm afraid of distortion.</p>

<p>I may possibly have a new contract with a school of about 3500 students, and the principal was asking if I did online viewing in place of order forms. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with strictly online viewing. I just feel like I would lose sales from people who aren't comfortable using a debit card online. Maybe give order forms with an online option? Just curious on what some of you do, and if you do have online viewing, what website do you use? I was looking at smugmug but I can't tell if it's good enough. I would need somewhere where I could have a separate password for each student, right? Any ideas would help, thanks.</p>

<p>The school does not use ID cards, so I don't have to worry about that. And I just found out from them that they don't expect a commission either. They have asked me to provide a sample contract by tomorrow so they can bring it up at the next board meeting. I guess I'll have to tweak the preschool contract I currently use.</p>

<p>Oh, and can someone point me in the direction of a sample contract? I have one that I use for the preschools, but I don't think that will work for this.</p>

<p>I have been shooting preschools and daycares for a few years, and have just been given the opportunity to be the photographer for an entire school district of 3400 kids. My main question is what is an acceptable commission for a school that size? I always gave the preschools 10% of my revenue. But I've been seeing that photographers are giving as much as 50% to these bigger schools, and that seems like a lot to me. <br>

Another question I have is, what program is best to use for matching up the kids' names with their pictures? I was looking at Express Digital Darkroom Assembly edition, but it's a little pricey. Any other recommendations?<br>

Thanks for the input, and if you have any other words of advice for me that would be great. Thanks!</p>

<p>I have been giving clients DVDs for quite some time, and I'm considering switching to the flash drive. I know it's not as cost effective, but other than that I'd like some opinions on the pros and cons of using the flash drive. Thanks!</p>

<p>For all of you school sports photographers...<br>

I'm just starting out in this area of photography and wanted to know, where do you purchase your add-on merch? You know, the memory mates, trading cards, etc. I've been looking online and found a few good deals, but I just wanted to know from someone who has actually had experience with a certain lab. Thanks!</p>

I just filed online for my DBA. I searched my business name through the PA open for business website and it came back with no results so I filed that name. Later, I was searching my business name just for fun online to see how many other people use that name in the country. Well my search results showed one in PA! So I went back to the PA website, searched again and it came up. I'm assuming there can't be 2 of the same names in the same state (both photography businesses), so will I have to pay the $70 again to go with a new name? This just happened literally 2 hours ago, and I already put an email in to them about it. I don't mind changing the name around but I'll be sick if I have to pay again!

<p>Thanks for the info everyone, very helpful</p>

<p>Well it's a partnership and we aren't using our names, I guess I should have mentioned that!</p>

For anyone who knows anything about starting a business in PA...I'm in the process of getting all the info I need to open a photography business. I know I need an EIN, file for a fictitious name, I'm reading up on the IRS website about all of the tax info, but now what I need to know is if I need a license to operate a photo business. I have not seen anything about it. I called the Luzerne county courthouse and they gave me a number to call, which was the number to obtain a fictitious name. I don't sell merchandise, I will mainly be an on-location photographer (weddings, schools, sports etc). I have a small studio in my home which I will use from time to time. Any info would be great, thanks!

I'm getting very excited about the idea of starting a wedding photography

business. I have a photography degree, I've been a children's portrait

photographer for about 5 years now, and I'm ready to explore another realm of

this profession. I definitly have the customer service skills, and the

patience to deal with the "bridezillas". I just love the thought of working

for myself! I'm still looking into the proper equipment, and everything else

that goes along with it...but my mind keeps repeating the same question over

and over...for someone just starting out with weddings, how do you get your

first client with no wedding portfolio?! I don't have any friends or family

planning on getting married that I can shoot. This thought kills me because I

know I'd want to see someone's work before hiring them to shoot my wedding.

Any advice or words of wisdom? Thanks, Steph