Monthly Programs

My son who is in kindergarten can look at the word photography and tell you that it starts with the letter P and that his Daddy takes pictures for a living. When I first started out on my own, I foolishly thought that being able to take good pictures would make me a successful photographer. Needless to say, I was poorly mistaken. I soon came to realize that there was a lot more than one P needed to run a successful photography studio.

Product: The quality of your product (portraits) is one of the key ingredients. For example, if you were hungry and had a taste for a hamburger, you would have a few options. If quality was not important to you, you can go to a local fast food chain and get one for 99 cents. The taste would probably be less than average; however you can bet that it would be ready before you can finish paying for it. Now if you appreciate the taste of a good hamburger, you would more than likely find another place to eat. Perhaps a family owned restaurant that would ask you how you are you doing. Another question would be how you would like your hamburger cooked. Granted the cost of this hamburger would be more than the 99 cent one, but the quality of the product and service would be well worth the extra money. It is also important to show your clients the quality and diversity of your product. Your studio samples should represent what you want your clients to purchase. If you want to sell 30 inch portraits, you need to have 30 and 40 inch art displayed on your studio walls.

Presentation: The way you present your product to your clients will have a major impact in your sales room. The emotion your clients get when they see images of their loved ones projected in a beautiful video presentation will far exceed what they would get if you showed them a handful of 4x6’s.

Packaging: The next time you are in a grocery or convenient store, take a look at the bottled water. You should notice a difference in some of the packaging along with the pricing. Keep in mind this is bottled water, not that fancy flavored stuff, regular bottled spring water. So let’s take the hamburger we had earlier, the 99 cent burger came wrapped in a piece of paper while the home made one was served on a nice plate with some fresh lettuce, onion and tomato on the side. So why do we pay more for a bottle of Evian that your average bottle of water when there isn’t a difference in taste? The main reason is we are paying for the name; it’s the brand name, the more stylish looking packaging and the higher-end clientele that Evian chose as a target market. If our clients are purchasing our quality products that we unveiled to them in a beautiful presentation, how are we delivering these portraits? In a nice box or bag branded with our logo or in a manila paper envelope.

Price: I put price last on the list because I think we should sell our price after we sell ourselves. If we have a high quality product that we present in such a way that brings tears of joy to our clients when they see it, and deliver it in a beautiful package, then we shouldn’t have a difficult time selling our price.

Print Challenge for 2009 - "Loose Ends "

1. The Challenge will have a new theme every year. The theme is also the title for all entries. A large part of the judge’s score should include how well the entry fits the theme.
2. The entry must be based on and include an original photograph created by the maker. The size is not limited except by rule 3, and using more than the usual two dimensions is encouraged.
3. The entry must be self-contained and able to be brought before the judges by the print committee. Nothing external to the entry (except the judging lights) should be required for viewing and judging.
4. The entry must be repeatable, meaning that the entry should be able to be brought back before the judges later for judging of Best Challenge and be exactly as it was initially.
5. The entry may contain other photographic images and non-photographic images, may contain moving parts, sound effects, or be battery operated. The Print Chairman (along with any consultants of his choice) will decide any question of eligibility.

Supporting Professional Photographers for more than 50 years as a PPA Affiliate

Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc.