Professional Photo Printing + Free Shipping = Improves Bottom Line at professional photography studios. To deliver high quality photo prints quickly to today’s professional photography customers studio owners want to order finished prints from their photo lab as soon as possible. In the old days many pro photographers would consolidate several print orders and have them shipped in a single box. Today customers do not want to wait. With the free shipping option at Pixs4Pros there is no need to delay placing a photo print order. As soon as your photography customer indicates their pose and size choices you can place your print order. Quick high quality professional photo printing and Free Shipping at Pixs4pros saves you money everyday and improves your studios bottom line profit.
Posts Tagged ‘Professional Photographers’
Professional Photo Printing + Free Shipping = Improves Bottom Line
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012Find Professional Photography Display Locations
Thursday, January 19th, 2012How do you find professional photography display locations? Make a list of everywhere your customers go during their regular travels: hardware, grocery, bank, doctor, fitness center, pet store, pet grooming salon, your styling salon/ barber shop, clothing stores, etc. Keep in mind that these are ‘Family Businesses’. That is, a person who is a member of a family visits them. If they saw pictures of some ones family, they would get the idea that they could use a portrait for their family. The family portrait idea now goes home. You get a sitting.
How do you convince merchants to let you have a photography display? Start at the top of your list and keep going until you get your display. Go in with a sincere, generous attitude of wanting to help this particular business solve one of it’s problems – mainly, getting recognition, attention and customer traffic. Remember, the people in your portrait display have all paid for the privilege of being in the display. They will come to see these photo prints and bring all their family and friends. Explain to the merchant the pride and pleasure these people will receive from this display. Since it is in his/her store, the people in the display will remember very favorably the store that ‘hosted’ the display.
Remember, the person who has the authority to let you display your work is really interested in what this display will do for them and their business. Explain that everyone featured in the display receives five invitations to send to their friends. Let them know that you could include something from his store in the invitation. This would get the person to start considering a purchase while they are visiting the display. It can also be used to increase traffic to the display (his store) during their slower times. You could also offer to do a SPECIAL DISPLAY of THEIR Customers, maybe using a theme. This would mean doing additional sittings, making even more $’s for you. Focus on helping this person, not what you’re going to get. If you work to help others, eventually things come full cycle and you will be rewarded.
By the time you get to the end of your list someone will have said yes to displaying your portraits in their business location. Be certain this is well attended, by sending five invitations per portrait. Call people before they go see their pictures. Make sure they are excited. Have them thank the merchant. You want to be sure this merchant gets the idea that this is the best thing that has ever happened to him and his business. Now, go see the merchant, get him to talk about how great this was for him and have him mention attendance, increased sales, good will in community, newspaper publicity, etc. Get this in his words in a mini video clip if possible.
Now go back to the first guy on your list. Mention how you had been in before and how he was hesitant about a display. (See**) You understood his feelings, others were also hesitant. But, fortunately someone stuck their neck out, took a chance, had some faith in you and helped you out. Be humble. If he could give you a minute you would like him to hear how this one display helped someone just like himself-play the video. You should from now on be up to your ears in display locations. Keep getting video referrals, keep going down (go through list 3-4 times) and adding to your list. With several taped interviews you will be able to choose just the right one for each presentation. Try picking an interview that is a direct, major competitor of your current merchant. This merchant will have to go for the plan because he has to keep up with the other guys.
**As you go through your list of merchants, keep a call history card on each person on your list. You want to remember (write it on a card) every pertinent piece of information: complete name, nickname, address, phone, title, store hours, hours they are available, date of call, description of person, hobbies, children, marital status, and anything you can find out. If you promise to return their call, put this on the card and file in a tickler file according to the return call date. Mark this on your calendar also. You must work these cards and this list. You must keep records to be successful. It may be a pain at first but believe me, you get used to it and it will save you much embarrassment someday.
Don’t forget to think of media coverage of your displays, especially if they have a special theme. Send a press release, call someone, send the release under the merchants name if it carries more weight (ask first), have the merchant make a call to someone influential.
Your unique photography combined with professional photo printing is your winning combination. To save money on your portrait display prints utilize Pixs4Pros professional photo printing services that feature free shipping on professional photo prints.
Theme Based Professional Photo Prints Exhibitions
Friday, January 6th, 2012Theme Based Professional Photo Prints Exhibitions are another great way to promote your photography studio and at the same time a deserving area program. The theme idea for your professional photo prints exhibition could be successful business executives or philanthropic leaders. There are many possibilities limited only by your imagination. The idea is to pick a group who are successful and have discretionary income. You may have to ask some of your friends and clients for suggestions for people to include in the display. Once you have your list of 20-25 names mail them all a letter describing the exhibition and the big honor this is for them. Talk about how much they mean to the community and how much they are appreciated. Explain that the exhibit will only feature 5 or 10 patrons. (you decide the numbers in advance) You will be doing this work at a big discount and to help defray the costs they can be included for a small fee. Maybe half your normal fee and print cost. They will get the print after the exhibition. Their motivation is for the recognition, the discount is only to feel good. Include a sign up sheet with three print size options along with the regular and discounted price. Have a place for them to include cc info and sign a display release. You should include a self addressed stamped envelope for their use. Indicate this is a limited timed offer with only so many spots available and it has only been sent to a very select group. You need to hear back in a few days since there is a schedule to keep for the display. Once you have the responses you can begin calling to set up appointments. You may also want to call each person on the list to be sure they received your letter with the exhibition information. Ask their opinion of the offer and which size print they would like to include in the exhibit.
Your unique photography combined with professional photo printing is your winning combination.
Photography Studios Make A Profit With Portrait Displays
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Everyone Loves A Portrait Display
Send a letter or a personal note to a select group of your past customers. Choose those who had nice images but did not purchase a wall print. Your letter states that negative #? is just perfect for the next portrait display you will be having. In the letter, express that the customer was so photogenic and how they just ‘Made’ the picture perfect. Remind them how much fun it is when their family goes to see the portrait print display. Many families have a picture made of themselves in front of the portrait display.
Remember, portrait display ideas only work because the customer is made to feel good, special, important and needed. Being selected to participate in the display appeals to their ego. The price of the portrait print (assuming you are offering these at a discount and you should) only helps keep the idea sold. You get them to go for the idea emotionally. They use the logic of this being a good value, a savings, to remain committed to the plan. This promotion works best when you only send it to some of your customers. When they start to check with their friends (this really works great with high school seniors) and find out they were ‘one of only a few selected,’ it makes them feel very special. Include a mail order form listing three display * sizes and their prices. Have them sign a model release and include their check or have a place for them to indicate their charge card information if you accept this type of payment. You should also include an addressed return envelope.
*Your three display sizes could be 16×20; 20×24; 20×30. You might call them Standard, Deluxe and Grande.
To save money on your portrait display prints utilize Pixs4Pros professional photo printing services that feature free shipping on professional photo prints.
Folded Holiday Greeting Cards and Custom Note Cards
Friday, December 17th, 2010Pixs4Pros introduces (Econo-Press) Folded Holiday Greeting Cards and Custom Note Cards at $. 75 each. You can choose from 12 different 5″x7″ designs (landscape and vertical) with 5 different greetings plus your client has the option to create their own personal greeting. Folded cards are available in ROES as Econo-Press Products using a CYMK printing process which is different from Kodak photographic papers. Colors are vibrant which is sure to please your retail clients. Please see our separate Econo-Press Products Price Catalog in ROES.
Here is the good news. There are no minimums or limits. Example: your client can order one card, six, twelve or dozens from the same file. Or, your client can use many different poses: example–6 cards from pose 1, 6 cards from pose 2, etc. in the same order. Greeting cards no longer need to be restricted to just one single file in an order. Be flexible! Your client will love it.
We have simplified the whole card ordering process: just drag and drop your image, crop it, then type in the family or business name (e.g. The Browns, Bobby’s First Christmas, etc.) in the text box on the front of the card**, select a greeting, and add the name of your studio on the back side.
** We have preselected a font and stroke, colorized it for you to match the card’s color scheme. It is that easy-no design work required. We have done all the work for you. OR, you can design you own card entirely using the front template as your canvas and the inside template to accommodate your client’s personal greeting.
Pricing: Econo-Press Cards: Each 5×7 Card (with envelope) is just $.75 each.
Clear see-through cover/gold box holds 12-18 cards and envelopes, $.70 each.
Many studios are now marketing this product as Custom Note Cards using some of their fine art scenic images. Six or twelve cards in a gift box make a nice gift.
Fun and Excitement Sells Portraits
Monday, October 18th, 2010Hollywood and amusement parks share a common marketing proverb — fun and excitement sells! Always has and Always will. Hollywood has made outstanding use of digital applications to cinematography, especially when applied to science fiction films generating $billions$ in revenue. With current movie goers it is rare for a vintage science fiction movie to stand up to today’s digital special effects. Even with digital cameras and an abundance of software, there are still far too many professional portrait studios preoccupied with business as usual while adhering to an old and outdated dogma. All professional studios need to be in a creative mode with an abundance of new digital photographic products that promotes renewed excitement for portraiture in the 21st century. Photographers entering the pro-market are busily re-inventing portraiture to gain a foothold with the wave of savvy and technologically empowered consumers, that is, brides and high school seniors. Software has opened the door to the creative mind; those with the talent and willingness to explore and innovate will excel. Mastery of Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter software just might make the difference for success or even survival in the portrait market. Hopefully, most studios will leave the ‘dull and boring’ world of being a clone of their competition to evolve into an exciting and fun retail enterprise –– where the consumer easily relates to the photographer’s creative initiative and energy.
Where to begin? May I suggest the following as a basic in-studio exercise to please the visual palette and explore the artistic possibilities. Using your Photoshop program, open an image, go to filters and experiment with each filter, using the adjustments and sliders provided for most filters find what looks best to you. Critique what you see, likes and dislikes.
Filters to try: Artistic – color pencil through watercolor; Brush Strokes – accented edge through sumi-e; Texture – craquelure through texturizer.
When combined with use of Photoshop’s tool box the possibilities become endless. This simple exercise will enable a photographer to create works of art that will hang on the wall as a large portrait versus that of a generic 8×10 tucked away in some album to be forgotten or worse yet a screen saver or cell phone picture.
I recommend keeping a notebook handy so that you can record your filter combinations. Most of all have fun with the process! Survey your customers on their likes and dislikes. At some point you may want to consider doing some fabulous digital print samples. Make portraiture fun again for both you and your customers. For those photographers who cannot spare the time to learn the ‘nuts and bolts’ of Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter, a professional photo lab can take your ideas from conception to a final product just for you.
Premiumization Helps Professional Photographers
Monday, June 7th, 2010Premiumization (market- driven- value- added) is a sales booster. By redesigning your most profitable photographic products you can increase long term profits. Madison Ave. marketers firmly believe there is no product that cannot benefit from bold, brilliant redesign efforts. For most studios digital technology has only created efficiencies (chip vs. negative), but a ‘portrait’ has remained for the majority of photographers the same traditional ‘portrait.’ Very little premiumization has occurred so far. Redesign is not the photographer doing his or her own retouching or corrective art work. This is only a redistribution of labor from the professional photo lab back to the portrait studio. The end result is that the professional photographer has even less time to innovate and create. The fact is, portrait photography is in a rut. Take this test — When was the last time a bride or high school senior said WOW when viewing their photo proof books at your studio?
The question now becomes, what to do about it. First, we all must recognize that the 20-something Gen-Y adult will set new standards for product definition as both consumer and professional photographer. That is a given. Madison Ave. also believes that product premiumization is not going away any time soon. For retailers it is a fact of life. The question is how will Gen-Y photographers redesign existing portrait products using software? As more of the Gen-X baby boomers become ‘portrait inactive’ because of age, the portrait industry as a whole must closely monitor and solicit new product ideas from the Gen-Y photographer just to maintain market share. Right now most portrait consumers are Gen-Y brides and high school seniors. Photographers over the age of 30 should take heed because software will lead the way to new Gen-Y photographic products. Think of ‘realism’ as a starting point when designing Gen-Y products that accentuates personal experiences.
The use of Painter software is not a fad, but a growing trend. As software continues to evolve requiring skill and knowledge, professional photographers and photo labs will be able to create exciting new products to excite consumers. Art is always in demand. Studios must begin now to transform their images into works of art for those more discerning upper middle class customers. Your customers must say, “Wow, I must have this!” And they can only get such portrait products from you. In the days of film photographers searched for the Holy Grail called the ‘million dollar pose’, soon photographers will be searching for the ‘million dollar art form.’ Best to get started now!
We would love to see and show some of your new art and premiumization ideas, send us a link or post a comment.
Professional Photographers – Serve Your Customers Better
Friday, May 14th, 2010A huge influx of “new talent” has recently deluged the professional photography market. While some photographers have taken a different marketing path using new ideas and strategies, others have opted to follow in the footsteps of their traditional competitors. Significant is that digital software is paving the way to seriously modify established and sacred, traditional photographic philosophies for both the portrait studio and professional photo lab.
In the past, photographers had only to ‘repackage’ the wants, needs and desires of consumers from one generation to the next. Until recently, one had to only look back in time over the past 40 years to observe that very little has changed in regards to wedding photo albums, wall frames and even most poses. The new photographer, by communicating effectively with the modern consumer, has encouraged serious questioning of traditional values maintained by studios locked into the past. Most young consumers, whether high school seniors or brides, want change: they want the benefits of modern, digital technology. Success in the future will depend on how well photographers address elements of change in consumer wants, needs and desires in their market place.
Professional Photography Print Displays, Finding Locations
Monday, March 1st, 2010s for you. Focus on helping this owner/manager, not on what you will get.
First make a list of places your portrait customers go during their regular travels: hardware, grocery, bank, doctor, fitness center, pet store, pet grooming salon, your styling salon or barber shop, clothing stores, etc. Keep in mind that these are ‘Family Businesses’. That is, a person who is a member of a family visits them.
Next start at the top of your list of potential display locations and make personal presentations until you get your display. Go in with a sincere, generous attitude of wanting to help this particular business solve one of their problems-mainly, getting recognition, attention and customer traffic. Remember, the people in your display have all paid for the privilege of being in this display. Your customers will come to see these prints and bring all their family and friends. Explain to the merchant the pride and pleasure these people will receive from this display. Since the print display is in their store, the people in the display will remember very favorably the store that ‘hosted’ the display. Remember, the person who has the authority to let you display your photography work is really interested in what this display will do for them and their business. Explain that everyone featured in the display receives five invitations to send to their friends. Let the merchant know that you could include something from their store in the invitation. This will get the store owner/manager to start considering the potential purchases from each family visiting the display. The stores coupon can also be used to increase traffic to the display (his store) during slower times. You could also offer to do a “Special” display of the stores customers, maybe using a theme. This would mean doing additional sittings, making even more $’s for you. Focus on helping this owner/manager, not on what you will get.
By the time you get to the end of your list someone will have said yes to a display of your portraits in their business location. Be certain this event is well attended by sending five invitations per portrait displayed. Call your customers to remind them of the display and thank them for participating. Make sure they are excited. Have them thank the hosting merchant. You want to be sure this merchant gets the idea that this is the best thing that has ever happened to him and his business. Now, go see the merchant, get him to talk about how great the print display was for him and have him mention attendance, increased sales, good will in the community, newspaper publicity, etc. Get this in his words on a video if possible. His store can be famous on YouTube, your blog and the internet.
Now go back to the first merchant on your list who did not participate in your print display program. Mention how you had been in before and how he was hesitant about a display. You understood his feelings, other merchants were also hesitant. But, fortunately someone stuck their neck out, took a chance, had some faith in you and helped you out. Be humble. If he could give you a minute you would like him to see how this one display helped someone just like himself-play the video. You should from now on be up to your ears in display locations. Keep getting video referrals, keep going through your list and adding to the list. With several recorded interviews you will be able to choose just the right one for each presentation. Try picking an interview that is a direct, major competitor of your current merchant. This merchant will have to go for the plan because he has to keep up with the big guys.
As you go through your list of merchants, keep a call history card on each person on your list. You want to remember (write it on a card) every pertinent piece of information: complete name, nickname, address, phone, title, store hours, hours they are available, date of call, description of person, hobbies, children, marital status, and anything you can find out. If you promise to return their call, put this on the card and file in a tickler file according to the return call date. Mark this on your calendar also. You must work these cards and this list. You must keep records to be successful. It may be a pain at first but believe me, you get used to it and it will save you much embarrassment someday.
Since you now have displays all over town, people will start to ask you, “How do I get my picture in one of your displays?” You of course will talk about your display-sessions packages. Display opportunities are coming to you now! These people need this satisfaction, the ego boost of being in a display and they will pay you for the privilege. Your business could evolve into a publicity (display) picture business. Wouldn’t that be an interesting twist of events?
Don’t forget to think of media coverage of your displays, especially if they have a special theme. Send a press release, call someone, send the release under the merchants name if it carries more weight (ask first), have the merchant make a call to someone influential they might know at the tv or radio station or newspaper.