Drives Me Crazy

[Scott Hays]

So with my seniors, I do everything I can to give each one a unique look, as many unique locations, rather a location that fits that unique personality etc...
The kids I have come through the door really like what they get, so that part it fine. Like a lot of us, I could always use more business.

One of the comments that i get from my kids are "I'm glad I came to you because so and so went to xx photographer, and there's look like everyone elses that went to them."

Unfortunately for me, as much energy as I put into my trying to be unique, xx photographer rakes them in and spits them out using the same poses. I think some of the kids are starting to catch on, but it's to late for them.

So I do my marketing. As a matter of fact, I found out at the end of the school year, I did the same basic marketing as he did at the schools. How or can you overcome changing peoples perceptions. I am still kind of the new kid on the block. Been doing seniors for about 4 years now, but just really started marketing seriously about 2 years ago.

Any suggestions or comments, or just suck it up? I think that has been my problem, I've just been sucking it up.

[Michael J. Plumeyer]

Scott,

I'd say, just suck it up for a while. Market the best you can, and win the seniors over one by one. So far this year, we've gotten more seniors from the local high school than we did all of last year! :t: Just work hard at it and keep it going. I'd also try some John Hartman marketing and you might want to go to his boot camp in January 2008. www.jhartman.com

Good Luck!

[Christina Mascarenas]

[QUOTE]

One of the comments that i get from my kids are "I'm glad I came to you because so and so went to xx photographer, and there's look like everyone elses that went to them."

Unfortunately for me, as much energy as I put into my trying to be unique, xx photographer rakes them in and spits them out using the same poses. I think some of the kids are starting to catch on, but it's to late for them.quote]

thats exactly how its done here. she does the same SAME EXACT 10 poses and she does abuot 350 kids a year. i try to be different and i do a handfull.

[Tom Usher]

McDonald's have served 99 billion Big Macs. People keep comming back for more.

[Christina Mascarenas]

thats true tom. they can go to a fancier or better tasting place but they still want their mcd's.

[Tom Usher]

I would hate to manage a McDonalds

[Llew Wenzel]

[quote=Christina Mascarenas;1063361]

thats exactly how its done here. she does the same SAME EXACT 10 poses and she does abuot 350 kids a year. i try to be different and i do a handfull.

Who's the better business person? I try to do different things with all the seniors...but bottom line is Im all about getting them in and out. Given these two choices the artist in me says do different stuff for all. The business person says do what this guy is doing

[Christina Mascarenas]

Who's the better business person? I try to do different things with all the seniors...but bottom line is Im all about getting them in and out. Given these two choices the artist in me says do different stuff for all. The business person says do what this guy is doing

ohh she is, im sure. she does the high school dances. i've tried to get into the schools but there pretty locked up.

i know she works with a dentist that gives the kids a gc to come to her. that is on my list of things to do.

she started her biz at 21 or so 15 yrs ago and she's been voted #1 photog in town by the paper, so i have to learn how to compete with her.

[Michael Black]

If the customers are happy, what is the problem?

You will find that you can only do "different" so many times before you repeat yourself in some way. I know that I can get great results from several poses every time. The secret is to make the senior feel special about the process and get enough money to make photography a worth while vocation.

Mike

[Guest]

Offer a Traditional Session and an Artistic Session.

[Teri Mason]

I like how Darty (I think??) said he does his poses - he has some stand-bys but each day (or week?) he tries to incorporate one new pose - keeps a print of it behind where anyone can see, and refers back to it. does it with each senior all day, so that it is "burned" into his brain. I also like how he and Colleen have different sets all ready, so the kid pulls out an outfit and they can "match" it by using pillows or throws, and not have to go through all the pain of building a full set. So each senior's images are "unique" to them, but still they are able to work in a LOT of kids and use similar poses.

[Llew Wenzel]

ohh she is, im sure. she does the high school dances. i've tried to get into the schools but there pretty locked up.

i know she works with a dentist that gives the kids a gc to come to her. that is on my list of things to do.

she started her biz at 21 or so 15 yrs ago and she's been voted #1 photog in town by the paper, so i have to learn how to compete with her.

Im sorry Christina....I didn't mean for that to come across personally. I was just commenting on the fact that this photographer was being put down because she was just doing the same thing with all the kids...but she was doing all the kids.

I just was making the point that she is running her business like a business and not just playing starving artist.

Again my apologies if you took this as being offensive or in anyway a personal attack.