Any independent school photographers...

[edleg]

...hanging out here?

I am interesested in discussing the biz of school photography with INDEPENDENT school photographers doing business inthe USA and/or Canada, either here or offline.

[NetJohn]

I'm also watching this thread.

The local pre-school has had no luck with their past 3 studios, and want something more "personal."

John

[edleg]

John,

Sounds like the local pre-school is willing to give you a chance. Talk to the pre-school director and some of the parents to find out what the "something new" might be. Don't be afraid to try something different... If the parents have done pre-pays, then do proofs... Try to come up with a backdrop/props that fit the atomosphere of a pre-school.

We once did (in summer time) a 4th of july theme with all the kids dressed in denim coveralls and sitting on a galvanized tub waving a small usa flag in front of a white picket fence outdoors. Was very cute.

Look in Denny's backdrop/props catalog or Backdrop Outlet catalog (both available online) for ideas from how they showcase their backdrops for pre=school ideas.

BTW, I have been hanging out at a school photography-only-forum based in the UK (schoolphotopro). They have a lot of good ideas, but about 95% of the forum members are in the UK and their business is different than the USA. Your profile doesn't indicate where you are from.

-Ed-

[NetJohn]

Sorry, I updated my profile to include my location (NW Chicago 'burbs). I have had some talks with the director of the preschool, since both of my children went through recently. I, myself, have preschool portraits of my children from three different studios (including a reaLTop selling one). One was slow to deliver, pricing a bit high, and quality so-so (I could see JPEG artifacts in the 8x10). Another was very high quality, and sent proofs, but the per-sheet cost was very high, and everything was a-la-carte. The last was good quality, slower delivery, so-so pricing, but they didn't offer a class photo. My wife wanted one, the teachers wanted one, so I went in one morning and shot one.

I think what the school wants is good quality, non-slow delivery, at price-points that parents can afford. Could I do that? Sure. Could I make a living doing that? No, but that's not my bread-and-butter anyway.

John

[Kosherpaparazzi]

I watched someone do preschool photography recently. One of the hardest things is getting the grumpy kids to smile. The other is getting everyone looking towards the camera at the same time.