Digital Photography Money Making Tip #2
Here is one way to get started in your digital photography business.
Visit a children's toy store, book store or clothing store, or the children's department in a department store. Negotiate a deal with the manger to be on hand taking photographs at specific times, possibly Friday evenings or Saturdays.
The store promotes your digital photography service when they advertise their regular specials. They benefit because you help them attract more customers. You benefit because you start taking orders. The parents and kids benefit because they get some good photographs for their albums. It's win-win-win.
You will need a few items.
First, you need a "set" to use as a background. You can set up something easily using sheets or draped fabric hung over a rack or form that you build yourself. Solid colors work best, in a black or neutral shade that compliments any color clothing the child might be wearing. You don't want a "busy" background that detracts from your subjects.
You might need special lights. Be sure to test the lighting ahead of time so you don't get unpleasant surprises on the first day. If the store doesn't provide adequate lighting, you can purchase photography lights at various photo stores.
You will also need an eye catching poster promoting your service and your prices. You can create this yourself using your computer and a desktop publishing program such as MS Publisher. Since most home printers won't handle a poster of this size, take it to a service and have them print it out for you. If you don't know of a local service that does this, run a Google search for "poster printing services." You will get plenty of hits.
You will also need a receipt or coupon book for taking orders. On one side of this coupon, print your business name, contact information and the type of photography you are offering. On the other side, have lines for the customer's name, contact information and notes about the photographs. You will need two copies of these coupons - one for the customer, and one for your own records. You also need a record book to keep track of the photographs so you don't confuse the Smith family photos with the Jones family photos.
Collect either a down payment or payment in full at the time you take the photographs. If taking a down payment, be sure it is sufficient to cover your printing expenses if the customer doesn't follow through.
When negotiating with customers, remember to discuss delivery methods. One suggestion is to leave the prints in the store where the customer can pick them up. Remind the store manager that this brings the customer back into the store one additional time, upping the possibility of future sales. Another option is to upload the photographs to a web site and allow your customers to download and print them.
This saves you the cost and work of printing and delivering photographs. You will need considerable web storage space, however, since you will upload several high resolution photographs.
When delivering the photos, include a coupon for a discount on their next order, or perhaps a coupon they can pass along to their friends. You might also offer a free photo session to any customer who refers three new customers to you.
This is just one money making suggestion. Check the article list for more ways to make money with digital photography.
Thank You!
June Campbell
P.S. New to digital photography? Find out how you can take spectacular photographs with your digital camera in thirty minutes or less. Visit StartMyDigitalPhotography.com
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