wes_d1

November 20, 2012

It sounds like you may be in TX. We do a lot of schools in North Texas and the numbers you described seem spot on. All public

schools here require a 40% commission minimum. Most private schools are the same but you will find some with lower requests. I've

never come across a public school bid that is less than 40% and they will usually want 30% spring and 10-15% class groups. High

schools will want seniors, sports, and dance commissions as well.

Average sale is usually $25. Lowest package will vary depending on the services the school wants. Of course they will always want

service strips and yearbook CDs but will sometimes want ID cards and other services so you may adjust your packages around that.

The area the school is in will determine the buy rate. I think 40-50% is about average but we have some schools much lower around

10% and much higher.

Turn around time and flexibility will be your biggest sellers to schools...of course commissions and services are also very important.

Make sure you have a good work flow system in place... and if you decide to do it now is the best time to start sales. Good luck!

April 30, 2012

Thanks all - I tested it on 2 50D's and got the same results... I just wanted to make sure it wasn't user error but it just felt like something was wrong.

I didn't shoot either on a tripod but I don't think it was camera shake. I tried another on a tripod just to make sure I wasn't loosing my mind and got the same results.

April 30, 2012

I just purchased a canon 70-200 2.8 non is lens. At 200mm it seems like everything is blurry. I tested on a couple cameras and I'm pretty certain it is the lens - but have never seen this before.

This first one:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77809160@N02/6983646602/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/77809160@N02/6983646602/</a>

f/2.8, 500, iso1250 150mm

This next one:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77809160@N02/7129729979/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/77809160@N02/7129729979/</a>

f/2.8, 250, iso 125, 200mm

At 70mm it seems to focus and work ok. It is focusing on the static objects but its just blurred in general.

February 14, 2011

This sort of thing can really vary from league to league or even depending on what location you are in.

Generally we offer something like 10-20% commission depending on what they usually receive as well as free team pictures for the league or coach. Some leagues prefer a sponsorship over a %.. and some leagues just prefer a flat amount contribution.

When you are dealing with schools - generally its 10-20% of the sales plus free pictures for coach and school (yearbook). Schools will be harder because a good school photographer will get those pictures bundled into their school picture contract.

Of course offer what you feel comfortable with. Once you are out there for a while you'll also get an idea what other competitors in your area are offering.

October 4, 2010

Hey Maria,

My suggestion - go with a Kodak 6800 or 6850 printer. You can get them new if you want... but if you want to save some cash you can purchase them used for around $199-$250. The cost per print is about .16 per 4x6. You can also offer 5x7 and 6x8 prints with the same printer so you may be able to sell upsized prints if you want.

Media is very easy to find... runs about $125 dollars for 750 prints.

October 1, 2010

The short answer is there probably isn't too much to be concerned with.

First, you have the right to take picture of people (and children) without consent in public places as long as they don't have a reasonable expectation of privacy (usually referring to people in bathrooms... lockerooms.. things like that). You also actually have the right to photograph people on private property without consent however you may be breaking trespassing laws and asked to leave.

Remember that some sports leagues and schools on rent out private parks and can ban photography - and ask you not to take pictures or leave.

Selling the photographs is a slightly different subject - if you were say selling it to a art gallery no consent would be necessary.

However, if you sell the images for commercial gain and an individuals face is recognizable a model release from the parent's guardian would be necessary to limit liability.

How much you make off the photos are irrelevant unless of course you are being sued - then it could come into play.

Of course I am no lawyer so if you are very concerned speak with one in your area.

August 20, 2010

Obviously your expenses will play an important part. Just remember to figure how much everything will cost. Cost of the prints - cost of the packaging - time it will take you to enter the information and order packages - time it will take you at the shoot.

For us - we usually bundle sports pictures for schools together with the entire school contract so a lot of times that includes a sports comission. And most of the time coaches receive free copies of their team pictures - as well as picture or digital copies for the yearbook.

And you'll want to make sure you include Sales Tax depending on where you are - this may or may not be applicable. We usually just build sales tax into the package price.

5x7s and 8x10s are the most common... 5x7s in this area run around 10.00 and 8x10s around 13-15. We allow you to purchase a team picture seperately if you want. We also include team pictures in all of the individual pacakge prices.

Good luck!

August 3, 2010

Hey Liz,

You can order flyers with envelopes at the following locations:

<a href="http://www.schoolphotoonline.com">www.schoolphotoonline.com</a>

<a href="https://www.mackaymitchellphotopak.com/">https://www.mackaymitchellphotopak.com/</a>

You'll find the prices pretty similar on both sites. You can purchase "preprinted" flyers which have a generic graphic design on one side and a blank back side for you to print your order form on. Or they will print your order form on it for you.

They have other options too like custom flyers - or blank flyers. And different size envelopes at the bottom of the flyers as well depending on what you need.

Hope this helps!

August 1, 2010

Like Charles said - you need to contact a tax professional in your state.

However, you will most likely owe sales tax on any service or product that you have sold in your state over the last 36 mos. You should be glad they are only making you go back 36 mos. You'll also owe late filer fees and interest on whatever amount of tax you owe the state. Like you said it will be 7.5% of your sales.

Your sitting fees would be considered services and you would owe sales tax on them. I'm not sure why you mention online sales - unless you offer those. If you do you generally don't owe any sales tax if someone purchases and has the item shipped to them out of state.

Again this is just so you have an idea of what to expect but you would definately need to talk to an accountant to get all the info you need.

July 26, 2010

The Sony UPDR 200 actually prints 2 - 2x6 photo strips like the old style ones. You may want to look at that. Sony, Kodak and Mitsubishi all offer good 4x6 dye-sub print options which is what you'll need to print the strips. I'd recommend dye sub over inkjet but I know that some booth runners do use inkjet.

You'll need a point and shoot or dslr camera, and the software as well. Plus you'll need to build yourself a booth.

July 26, 2010

The only other program besides Breeze Systems is a program called Photoboof. They are both pretty similar but have a few differences. Other than that there really are no other options for automated photo booth software unless you have something custom made.

The Breeze Systems software is probably the best choice since it runs around 150 dollars - offeres support for point and shoot or DSLR depending on what you want. Allows you to shoot to green screen and modify the photo strip templates as well.

The photoboof software has a few more bells and whistles but it may not be anything you need and it runs for $600 so it is quite a bit more expensive.

July 24, 2010

Tim

To be honest most any pro-lab will offer diecut wallets - most for no charge. The lab we use offers it and its just an option you select when ordering.

July 19, 2010

If you are real serious about doing Green Screen and don't want to do all the manual labor in photoshop. Try PhotoKey3 at fxhome.com - it's actually very very good. I think it runs 250 or $299 I can't remember.

Here is a good site for digital backgrounds - <a href="http://www.photomorphix.com/Backgrounds.htm">http://www.photomorphix.com/Backgrounds.htm</a> They've got over 1000 here for $99.00 but of course you can find others on the net if you google them.

June 30, 2010

You are allowed to send your CDs with images via media mail.

<a href="http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/mediamail.htm">http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/mediamail.htm</a>

<tbody>

<tr>

<td width="400" align="left" valign="top">Media Mail</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

<td width="530" align="left" valign="top">Send your printed or recorded material using this service.</td>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<tbody>

<tr>

<td width="325" valign="top">Media Mail® service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs.

<tbody>

<tr>

<td width="98%" valign="top">There are presorted rates available for bulk quantities of Media Mail (minimum quantity is 300 pieces).</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td width="98%" valign="top">A barcode discount is available for Media Mail.</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td width="98%" valign="top">Rates are based on weight and size.</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

June 24, 2010

Hey J,

For our senior portraits we just do a basic ala carte pricing. However, a big national company that does Church Directories uses the point system you are speaking of. We started doing these pictorial church directories last year and we were hesitant to use the point system. I will say it outsells pricing units themselves by about 40%.

Basically, you assign points to each sheet you want to sell. The secret is you can assign 2 points to things like 2-5x7s or 8 wallets. The most efficient way to do it is have all of your sheet combinations and assign the point value to each. People will pick out what they want then add up their points and say each point is worth 20 dollars they get their total at the end.

Obviously its a tricky way to do sales because people just start adding sheets up and it doesn't seem like as much money because you are just adding points up.

We've never tried it with senior pictures as we don't really sit with each person as they place their senior order so i think it would be more confusing. But if you plan on doing studio sales you will definately notice an increase in sales. Or - like we do if you are doing any type of at the scene ordering.

The way the national company tricks people is by assigning two points to 2-5x7s, 4-4x5s and 8 wallets. They also have price breaks the more points you have - however, I think that is too confusing. 1-5 points is $30, 6-10 is $27.50, 11-20 is $22.00, 21-25 is $21.50...etc...

June 16, 2010

Heather,

It looks like you already have a pretty good grasp on it. The tax rate applies to the county that you are have your business located in. So if that county/state tax rate is 8.25% you will charge 8.25% on all sales and services.

If someone chooses your $3000.00 package they will also include sales tax of $247.50. Most counties do charge tax on sales and services - but again you would need to contact your tax rep.

Also, you don't have to charge a seperate sales tax rate you can actually figure tax into your prices as long as you tell people thats what you are doing. So if you wanted to charge $3000.00 total you could still bill 3000 and then back out the sales tax due to the state..

June 16, 2010

Hey Dino,

We do about 125,000 kids a year. The proposal we give to schools usually just lays out every single thing we are going to do for them throughout the year and what that process is. It doesn't have to be overly complex.

The contract we use is just a single page form that lists both parties and what we are giving back to each school and when.

Some important things to remember about school pictures - and this is based on school pictures here in Texas but I know its pretty similar nationwide (not know what part of the world you are from).

Commission is the most important thing to a school - it didn't used to be that way necessarily but it has become imcreasingly important. The standard return to a school is 40-50% of your revenue (not your profit). In addition to commission most elementary schools require a 4-up strip of each student with name, grade and homeroom. Other services are usually made available for free if a school needs it - like yearbook CDs and ID cards. But that is another topic..

Another important thing to remember is workflow. You'll need to be able to match up each kid with their frame. You may do that tethered at the shoot but you'll need the appropriate programs to make that match happen. Or you can do it after the fact which is also feasible but you'll need a program that does that. <a href="http://www.photolynx.com">www.photolynx.com</a> is one program you can use and will run about 3500 a year. If this is the only school you plan on doing you can probably make do without a program to do it. You can use pre printed camera cards to identify each kid as they come up to the camera and you can mark their package ordered then (if you are doing prepay).

Make sure you have a lab that can handle school pictures as well - you'll want to envelope and label each package and probably include reorder forms and refund/retake information.

I'm surprised they do pictures over 2-3 days... but if that's how they do it you'll want to find out exactly what the schedule is. Most schools want you to be finished prior to lunches beginning. But of course every school is different. If you had to do 1000 kids in 1 day that would typically be a 3 camera shoot but if it is spread out that would be different. You'll need a table helper and groomer which are sometimes volunteered by school PTA.

Yearbooks... you'll want to find out what their yearbook specs are. If you are doing the entire yearbook for them you'll provide them with a PSPA yearbook CD and we use Walters Publishing to produce yearbooks they do great and have a 30 day turn around. The software to layout the book is pretty straight forward and easy to use.

Good luck - I hope you get the contract! If you have any other questions let me know... I think I've rambled on too long..

May 11, 2010

You should be able to sell your images without issue - especially if you had permission to be there and photograph. Also, it doesn't matter if a famous speaker was there - if they were in public and photographed by you - you have the right to sell the picture of them without their release. Think of all those celeb pics out there...

May 7, 2010

Larry-

If it helps our Pro Lab that we use actually provides us with software that will identify each student and allow us to enter packages... crop... do just about everything you need to do before you send it to a pro lab or your own mini lab.

The easiest way in our opinion is to not tether but shoot directly to CF cards and use pre printed camera cards to identify them as you photograph. You can purchase 8-up camera cards and most pro school portrait programs will print to these and sort them as needed.

There are two programs that offer every thing you need from printing student IDs to services to green screen. Photolynx is one of them and DRUMS software is another.

Digital Express Assembly software is ok - but not all that powerful and the above software engineers will work with you to do just about anything you need if the program doesn't offer it.

Green screen is becoming a new trend in school pictures - allowing you to offer background selection (like the national guys).

By the way we've got 7 camerz 46mm sitting in storage and they aren't worth 20 bucks... Sad isn't it?

April 26, 2010

The other bad news about shooting school pictures... most if not all schools at least in this area of the US have a 40-50% commission. Keep that in mind when you are thinking about doing this. It's very competitive. We do about 100 schools a year and all they are really concerned with is commission and free services.

Also - if you are planning to do a lot of pictures... a 2 or 3 light setup will work just fine. Meter your main light 1 stop brighter than your fill light. A background light isn't usually necessary but depends on how dark your bg is.

A hair light works nice but is certainly optional..

April 26, 2010

If it helps any - we do school pictures for about 100 schools.. quite a few high schools. They will give out the list of seniors each year if you put in a Public Information Request. The list will usually contain name, grade and address. Some districts give out phone numbers with that request and others don't.

Some districts charge a small fee to process the request and you'll find that some districts will charge you for labels with addresses instead of sending you a digital file.

Public Information lists won't have every single name on it if a parent has opted out of having their information published.

Senior photographers who compete with us send information home to students with no problems at all.

April 23, 2010

You might want to add a hair light - we do about 120 schools a year and personally I think it looks better.

Also - if you are using a dark background a background light sometimes at a nice hot spot when doing head and shoulders type of school pictures.

March 21, 2010

Hey Kayla,

We do about 50 schools a year and when we do proofing we always send home a proof attached to an order form. As surprising as it may sound the online proofing never works or has very low sales.

We've done proofs a couple different ways and honestly I'm not sure parents care how they are printed. Mostly we do them on photographic paper and have 1-ups printed with a proof overlay. Those cost about 8 cents each. We attach those to picture flyers with a deadline.

We've also done printed proofs with different styles or backgrounds printed from a laserjet onto the flyer and those work just as well.

We generally proof about 600-800 kids in an average school and we do a 4-6 pose deal so cost wise having them printed as 1 ups on photographic paper is the cheapest route.

Hope this helps.

February 22, 2010

Hey you are looking for Express Digital Darkroom. You can find different versions of it at <a href="http://www.expressdigital.com">www.expressdigital.com</a>. Lets you connect the camera to a laptop. You snap the picture and it automaticaly imports into the program where you can add a digital border of any kind. You can set up packages to print or print a-la-carte.

Hope that helps..

January 25, 2010

If it makes you feel better the standard school commission in texas is 40%. So 20 isn't that bad at all!

Sign In

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Events

Downloads

Gallery

Store

Posts posted by wes_d1