Picture Day!! 2023

Picture day can be an exciting time for children and parents.  Picking out what to wear and practicing expressions are frequently part of getting ready for picture day.  This can be fun for both the children and the parents.   I’ll have some thoughts about picking out what to wear at the end.   The main goal of this post is to prepare both the child and the parents about what to expect from the photo session.

Every photographer is different. Continue reading “Picture Day!! 2023”

Prepay, Online or Spec?

Which is Best for You?  For This School?

If you have followed me much, you’re probably aware that I do Speculation Packages a lot.  It’s most of what I do because for many childcare centers and preschools it is the best option.  It is easier.  I have lower costs.  I have happier customers, both schools and parents.  I make more money. I’ve been doing speculation a long time and I’m very good at it.

But there are other ways to sell your work Continue reading “Prepay, Online or Spec?”

Imaging and SPAC

SPAC has just wrapped up for another year.  Immediately before that was the  PPA’s Imaging USA.  I think I am through with conferences for another year.

At both conferences I met a lot of old friends and was introduced to many new people who have an interest in what I do, Preschools and Child Care Centers.  If the rest of my life does not intrude too much, I will be putting a renewed effort into what many have been waiting for, a way to convey to others what I have learned over the past fifty years.

If I have your email expect details and videos shortly.  If I do not have your contact information get it to me.  I don’t chase people.  You have to express an interest.

 

Cap & Gown Pictures

Cap & Gown pictures for preschool or kindergarten graduation are an ideal way to introduce speculation packages to a parent, school or market.  It can introduce you to a new school or get you closer to an existing account.

If you already have more business than you can cram into your schedule this may not be for you.  The numbers are lower because you are primarily photographing the graduates, but the sales average Continue reading “Cap & Gown Pictures”

SPAC-USA 2022 Presentation

Thank you to everyone who attended my presentation at SPAC-USA 2022 today.  This is the link to download the Power Point slide show from today.

https://www.childrensportraiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Speculation-Packages.pptx

It includes every slide from my presentation (with a few edits I just did) and even slide 21 which mysteriously disappeared during my presentation.  If you were there you probably noticed my consternation.  Slide 21 depicts our 2-pose package.  It is kind of important because it our most popular package.  I do it every time I can talk the school into it.

I did try to cram in too much and went through some of the material too fast.  For those who are interested, I will go over some of the points in detail when I get back from this trip late next week.  For now this will be delivered on this blog.

Thank you for coming to SPAC and I hope I can show you how to avoid the pitfalls that made me walk away from this market segment in 1978.  You can still make the same mistakes today.  But you don’t have to.

Everything You Need to Know in 15 minutes

An obstacle to learning is the time required from student and the teacher.  It’s expensive.  Most people who want to learn what I know don’t want to give up the time and they couldn’t afford to pay me.  Sooo–

You can learn everything you need to know in fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes a week.  Fifteen minutes a week to become a better preschool and child care photographer.

Over the last fifty years I have trained hundreds of photographers, sold millions of packages of pictures and   personally photographed hundreds of thousands of children.  I have learned a lot.  One thing I have learned is that it no longer pays to invest tens of thousands of dollars training someone to shoot for me.  And, you probably don’t want to pay me fifty or a hundred thousand dollars to learn the basics.

Here’s the plan.  For a modest monthly fee you get a weekly podcast that will help you advance your skills in every aspect of the business.  You will immediately have access to a large library of information that will help you get started and will serve as a reference.

Interested?  Email or phone me to get started.

It is still in the development stage.  I am looking for a few early adopters to help me design what will work for others.

You have a chance to get in on the ground floor.

 

Practicing Smiles for Picture Day

Getting ready for picture day can be fun for both the parent and the child.  This may include “practicing smiles”.  As a parent you want good pictures of your child.  Your child wants to make you happy.  This may result in your child staring into the lens with a big cheesy grin on their face.  That may be what you want and expect.

We can do better. Continue reading “Practicing Smiles for Picture Day”