Family Portraiture Photography

On location meaning a beach opr park of choice, or even a mobile studio set up in there house. I do not actually have a studio office, but I do have a mobile studio with stands, lighting, a few props, an back drops. How should I find these customers who would like family portraits done at a place of there choice?

This is becoming the most common way to get your family portrait done now. It is def popular where I live. I see roadside sign ads and ads in small local magazines.

I have also seen photographers take their photos and make them into postcards with contact info and set them out at businesses. Use them as your business card so that people can see your work.

Also, word of mouth is the best way to get any business going!

Good luck!

2007-10-13 11:32:15 by Josh Y

Life as a portrait photographer... some clients are more lovely than others.

I have been doing photography for over half of my life but until recently I only done landscape, nature, etc. I am wanting to start doing family, portraiture and glamour photography. I have a few contacts but nobody seems to be booking. Everyone wants everything done for free. Hello...I have bills to pay too. Can anyone give me ideas that are minimul to no cost for me to boost advertising, clientel, etc.?
I do have a website and business cards and a small portfolio...everyone seems to like my work but they want me to do it for free.

Free work is easy to sell! If you are good, people will pay. It's really all about talent, and I will assume you have it, so the next step is to get it out in front of people so they will hire you. Of course the other big element at work here is the rest of us...the competition. And there are the non pros out there who will work for free. You have to be better than them. How do you this:

-- You are in a business and business is about customer service and adding value. This means when people hire you for a portrait sitting, you are there at the appointed time, ready to go, and you make it quick and painless. Most people don't really care to spend time in front of the camera, so making it easy and pleasent goes a long way.

-- Price your work to reflect the fact that you have worked long and hard to build a talent that few people had. Uncle Joe can do that senior portrait...but you can do it 100 times better and your post processing skills and knowledge of light, exposure and composition will blow uncle joe out of the water.

-- Network as much as you can. This means you have professional business cards, a well done web site where people can learn about you and even order prints if that is part of your model and then focus on treating every paying client like they are the most important client in the world. Word will get around...

-- And speaking of business model... you have a business plan and a Tax ID and way to keep your books and all of that stuff, correct? Running it like a business will make it seem like a business, and people won't think for a moment of asking for something for free.

As for getting your name out there (beyond the above) - look for ways to 'make the scene'. Local fashion show? Be there. Holiday season or other prime portrait time - hit some local shops and leave some flyers and cards (I get referals from a frame shop nearby where we have a mutually exclusive customer offering - I sell photos - she sells frames). You can also encourage existing clients to spread the word, but don't be pushy. It's much better in my opinion to be exclusive (meaning expensive).

This is a tough business and you really have to believe in your talent and be good at selling yourself. If you can pull that off, however, it is very rewarding. Good luck!

2007-03-21 09:34:48 by uwanna_play_withme

Price: $39.95

I am looking into taking a photography course and hope to eventually open my own studio mainly dealing with babies,maternity, family and children. If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I WELCOME IT!!!
Thank you!

Portraits and photojournalism would require two totally different cameras for perfection. A hasselblaad 500 CM or a Mamiya RB would be great for portraits. A leica M series is great for photojournalism. If you really feel you need a camera for both, check out the Mamiya 645 AF. It is small but will give you large enough negatives to print some good shots with.

2007-07-07 20:15:32 by blahblah

Price: $34.95

A man e-mailed me in response to my Craigslist ad about my photography business. His dad's 70th birthday party is coming up on the 19th of July and he wants candid shots, a family portraiture, and one individual shot. I was thinking of charging him $950. Is that too much?
I consider myself Professional. I mean, I have a degree in professional photography.
How did I come up with $950? I still use 35mm film. I do do some digital. The party starts at 11AM and will probably end around sometime in the afternoon. It's going to cost me an arm and a leg to get the photos printed seeing as most of the places in my area like CVS and Walgreens stopped doing 35mm. There is a specialty shop that does 35mm that is the only one close to me and they charge $45 a roll plus $3.50 per photo printed.
There are no other photography businesses in my area, and if there are they are not advertising! There is one photo business 10 minutes down the road from me, but they only do senior photos and they charge $600 for one lousy wallet-sized photo. I'm just asking if $950 is okay? 35mm film costs me $100 and lasts me about a month. Driving to the venue of where the party is will cost me about $75. Batteries for my flash will be about $10. Getting film printed is $45 a roll plus $3.50 for each photo so that's about $190 - $200.

You charge what you can get - if they are happy with the price then that is fine.

What I will say though is that you are being ripped off big time with the processing costs.,
There is no way on earth that you should be paying $45 for 35mm processing.
And what is this "35mm film costs me $100 and lasts me about a month"?? How many films is that for?

Do a search for mail order processing, unless you are in the middle of one of the great lakes or something then there are plenty of places in the US (worldwide in fact) where you can get a pro-service for a hell of a lot less than you are quoting above.

Seems to me that although you may have a degree in professional photography (never heard of one of them!) but you really need to work on your business skills.

2009-06-29 11:52:29 by Heather

Hi i would like to set up my own small portraiture photography business, photographing families and children and would like to learn how to develop my own web-site to advertise it? also if there is anyone out there who has done a similair thing could you please tell me what equipment you use and how much you charge

hi,

I do not know specifically about setting up a portrait business, however when I was setting up my business a friend gave me a few important things to consider that I found very helpful.
1) Understand why you are setting up the business. It is extremely time consuming and you will need to be dedicated and focused, you will need to be able to structure and manage your own time.
2) Decide your business structure - will you trade as a sole trader, limited company or partnership. Fully research your obligations and responsibilities.
3) Identify your skills and weaknesses - BE HONEST!
4) How will you fund the business?
5) Competition - who is already out there?
6) Make sure there is a market for your service, the location of your business shouldn't be too close to other photographers.
7) Do a Business Plan - never underestimate the importance of this stage.
8) Consider staff you need or may need to take on in the future.
9) Seek professional advice - the best thing I ever did was join the http://www.fpb.org. They provide great information and guidance.

My main tip would be to be HONEST WITH YOURSELF during the planning. If you do have a skill, it is ok, think of solutions. If you aren't honest in the long run the only person you'll hurt is you and your business.

2007-08-12 06:34:11 by Germs