Q&A is up on the Members only blog!

sorry for the delay – I scheduled it for yesterday but it didn’t post!

Head on over to the members only blog.  If you recently purchased The LUNCHBOX you should have received an email from us after your download email that included all log-in information.  If for some reason it dumped into the good old spam folder or you accidentally deleted it. Please use the contact form and request an new password email!

Happy Day to YOU!!!!

Q&A today!

Hello and Good Morning!

It’s Q&A Tuesday.  I like the way that sounds.  Welcome to all the  new Get Schoolers.  This private blog is a place for me to add updates, answer questions and generally encourage you in your school portraiture business.

Today’s questions are good ones!  I must preface this portion with a quick disclaimer of sorts.  There are a MILLION ways to skin a cat [ gross phrase, whoever thought that was a good on ] with that being said, these are suggestions, ideas and ways that I have done things in the past.  Short of investing a ton of money in fancy programs/cameras/equipment and becoming Lifetouch, this is how I handle the order process. If you have found a more effective way, please share.

How long do you keep the gallery open? 2 weeks

How does payment work? This is all dependent on the cart/proofing service you use.

I know you have them pre purchase a collection, when they do this, how do they select that pre-purchased selection in their online gallery order?
Let me again preface this by saying I have shot schools both ways, prepay and proof orders.  Both ways are a bit of a pain. School Portraiture isn’t the EASIEST job in the world, however it isn’t the hardest.  How I have done it in the past – I loaded each child into the system individually under one school name.  The parents found their child and selected the image they wanted, if they prepaid they had a ‘credit/coupon code’ to use and it will deduct that amount from their balance.  This way they could add more to the cart and then pay only the remaining balance!

How do you keep track of all of this without going crazy? I do got crazy, a little bit.  However with each passing year they create different programs, printers offer different options and therefor I update my process/tweak it a little bit each year.  I encourage each of you to check out millers lab school area & proofing cart!  I am looking into this option for the upcoming year.  They did not have this system/options in place when I started school portraiture nor when I wrote the guide!   They have step by step ways to fulfill your school orders.  I say check it out, I know I am & I just might make the big switch.  While I ADORE, LOVE, CAN’T live without ProDPI for my other areas of printing needs.  My school portraiture needs have to be met with ease and quickness.  They even have a great video tutorial about the digital undergrad software.

I am just now diving into this option and I am researching how it will work for me and my studio.  Keep in mind for me school portraiture was to get my name out there in the community. It wasn’t my goal to be a school portrait photographer forever but it is fun to do a few schools each year and so the whole barcode system and what not seemed a bit over kill.  However if you plan on doing more then 2 schools, I suggest you visit the Millers site and dive into their tutorial and their system.  When the guy suggest a bar code reader I kind of got intimidated however I when digging around the internet and found some really inexpensive bar code readers.

How to parents know how to access a gallery?  In the past I would send a simple half page letter to them, saying “your order is ready for viewing”

Is this included in your new marketing kit? I do include a ‘letterhead’ for general communications.

Hope that helps a bit.

Folio Love – make your photography portfolio sing!

we are excited to be a sponsor of the Folio Love event!  Folio Love is going to be amazing
block your calendars off for September 22/23 and join us in creating an amazing, fresh and fun photography portfolio!

At the Folio Love event you will learn to love your portfolio! Choose from over 10 professionally styled sets with gorgeous details and models that will make your portfolio one of a kind. Something for every photographer; weddings, children, high school seniors, commercial, etc! Also hear from awesome speakers, meet fellow photographers while being inspired.

visit the Folio Love website
or
join the facebook page!

Member directory – be listed!

We have requested the information a few times and we are so thankful for those of you that have already sent over your info.  Being included in the get schooled photographer directory will help your SEO and is a great way to be seen.

comment below with the following information:

photography company name
website url
phone number
city/state you serve

THANK YOU….