Dance group - similar to soccer?

Snowgirl

I didn't want to hijack the soccer team thread but I was just asked to consider shooting individuals and groups in a children's dance recital situation. Apparently they weren't happy with last year's photographer (I'm working on finding out why).

Since this is out of the norm for me, I'm also looking for advice on packaging and pricing. I'm happy with my a la carte pricing on my Smuggy site, but I'd like to keep the packages simple and straight forward. There's no buy-in from the dance organization - all sales are to parents (drat) so it's a more risky endeavour. But - may be worth it and could lead to other, more profitable work in family portraits, grad / senior portraits, weddings etc.

Any thoughts / suggestions? I'm thinking of offering 3 packages to keep it easy for all concerned. I'm not sure about numbers of kids but it shouldn't be anywhere near as hectic as the multiple soccer team situation (I'm working on finding out numbers - this just came up yesterday).

:dunno Should I try it?

ColoradoSkier

Snowgirl wrote:

I didn't want to hijack the soccer team thread but I was just asked to consider shooting individuals and groups in a children's dance recital situation. Apparently they weren't happy with last year's photographer (I'm working on finding out why).

Since this is out of the norm for me, I'm also looking for advice on packaging and pricing. I'm happy with my a la carte pricing on my Smuggy site, but I'd like to keep the packages simple and straight forward. There's no buy-in from the dance organization - all sales are to parents (drat) so it's a more risky endeavour. But - may be worth it and could lead to other, more profitable work in family portraits, grad / senior portraits, weddings etc.

Any thoughts / suggestions? I'm thinking of offering 3 packages to keep it easy for all concerned. I'm not sure about numbers of kids but it shouldn't be anywhere near as hectic as the multiple soccer team situation (I'm working on finding out numbers - this just came up yesterday).

Should I try it?

PM me your email address and I'll send you the packaging info I put together for baseball teams. I would think you could do something similar.

JohnBiggs

A single printed page with 3 or 4 packages for the parent to circle the one they want and pay you. Don't refer them to smuggy site as it leads to fewer sales.

Could save money by delivering the entire lot to the studio for them to distribute as parents return.

ColoradoSkier

Black River Imaging has this down to a science and makes it crazy easy.

Snowgirl

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Working on it as we speak.

fredjclaus

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm looking to do dance studio pictures too. Where do you get your order envelopes from? Do you use those ad slick sheets with the tear off envelope on the bottom, or do you just have a sheet of paper and a plain business size envelope?

Snowgirl

fredjclaus wrote:

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm looking to do dance studio pictures too. Where do you get your order envelopes from? Do you use those ad slick sheets with the tear off envelope on the bottom, or do you just have a sheet of paper and a plain business size envelope?

This is new to me but I'm taking a good look at Black River Imaging. They seem to have a good set up and I don't think anyone in this area is using them so it'd be something unique for me.

arrgh406

Snowgirl wrote:

This is new to me but I'm taking a good look at Black River Imaging. They seem to have a good set up and I don't think anyone in this area is using them so it'd be something unique for me.

Let us know how it goes, if you decide to go with them.

ColoradoSkier

arrgh406 wrote:

Let us know how it goes, if you decide to go with them.

I am doing my baseball pictures through them and so far the process has been pretty painless. The order envelopes look great. Ordering samples this week to have on display at the event - sample items are 50% off if using your own photos.