Want to shoot school portraits?
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| My daughter's kindergarten photo |
Things you'll need to think about:
1. What the school will want images wise (yearbook, ID cards, lunch cards, staff, class, composites, etc)
2. Background and posing, lighting equipment needs
3. Class photos options
4. Kickback to the school details
5. What kinds of package and a la carte options you'll have, and pricing.
6. Shooting day details (you'll want a runner to get classes, a schedule of about 15 minutes per class for individuals, and 10 for class photos), someone to take and organize order forms, and someone with you to keep the kids quiet and clean. Break for lunch built in, staff photo scheduling (best before school starts and on their lunch break - need an order form submitted so you can track your shots) separate day class photos, etc.
7. Your day of kit - You'll also want things like wipes, combs, hand sanitizer, extra order forms, pens, calculator, a spindle for the order forms (you'll want to keep them in the order shot).
8. Parent volunteer needs, and what discount they get for volunteering.5. What kinds of package and a la carte options you'll have, and pricing.
9. How you'll tally up the orders, and prep for lab
10. Getting the names for class photos (and design requirements)11. Proofing printed orders (and lee-way time just in case)
11. Packaging and delivery
12. Missing orders, late orders, reorders, absent kids processes.
Most (not all) schools need the images prepped for yearbook, class photos, staff photos, and then the individual print packages. Including the yearbook DVD, ID Cards, staff photos (in a small package, 5x7 and 4 wallets) and 4 class photos of each class to the office for school use for free is a good move.
Then the print packages, I like both packages and a la carte. They'll need to be MUCH cheaper than your normal print pricing, as you're planning on bulk. You can even work with a different price list for daycares than public schools than private schools and a whole other price list entirely if they want a "kickback"/fundraiser built in.
When you go in to do the presentation to the school board or PTA, you'll want to know how many people you're presenting to, and have a nice color portfolio proposal for them, and include:
- School style headshots and what background options you provide, etc.
- Walk through the process in writing, delivery terms, what you'll provide, etc.
- Have a copy of the contract you'd require at the back.
- Show examples of composites you can do, etc.
- Show example schedules and timelines
The class portraits and packaging are time consuming, so just make sure you're aware. You'll need to send a class photo sample proof to the school with spaces for names for the teachers to fill in and return to you by a certain date (early enough that you can get your deadlines met), and then you'll need to data entry them on a composite that includes the info the school would like on there.
You'll also need to decide your ordering process - online proofing, paper proofing, or pre-paid, and discuss terms for handling the kickback (who, where, and when they'll expect the money), reorders, late order, etc. Make sure you have a policy in place, and guidelines. This is harder to track, since you won't have them organized by name in your system, and just usually by school.
Places that offer school envelopes/packaging:
