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06/02/2006 10:17:24 AM · #1
I often see people ask for ideas about marketing their photography, and I thought I'd share a bit of an experiment I did recently that seems to have worked for me.

My 7-year-old daughter plays on a softball team. A few weeks ago, I shot several hundred photos at one of their games, making sure to get plenty of each of the girls on her team in action. I edited the shots down to around 250-ish, and burned them onto CDs for each of the kids (15 total)... at a cost of around $10, I guess.

I made a professional-looking label for the CDs, and included my web address on the label. Also added a copyright release (both on the label, and as a Word file on the CD), providing permission for everyone to make whatever prints they wanted to so they wouldn't have trouble if they wanted to make prints at Wal-Mart, or wherever.

My main reason for doing this was to do something nice for the kids. They're a fun group of girls, and I thought this would be a nice project to do for them. Every season there's a photographer who takes individual and team photos, but parents rarely have an opportunity to get decent shots of their kids in action on the field.

The parents were thrilled to get the CDs -- I got many thank-yous from them at the next game. And, sure enough, a few folks checked out my web site since the address was on the CD.

And, better yet, I got a message this week from someone interested in hiring me to do architectural photography for them. They have projects all along the East Coast, and are interested in sending me to various work sites to photograph their work! This could be the beginning of a great relationship with this company -- and it came directly as a result of one of the parents who referred me to their marketing department.

Just thought I'd pass along this experience in case anyone wanted to give it a whirl in their own sports leagues, or whatever. It seemed to be a win-win situation, considering the parents were very grateful for the CD, and it helped get my name out there a bit more along with examples of my work.
06/02/2006 10:34:25 AM · #2
Smart Business mind you have
06/02/2006 10:35:02 AM · #3
On top of the ballpark photo too! Things are looking good in your world congrats!
06/02/2006 10:45:40 AM · #4
It has indeed been a good week! :)

I actually got ANOTHER call about the same photo of PNC Park from a group who wants to license the photo. They want to use the image as the basis of the back of a commemorative coin as a promotional item at the All-Star game!

The nice thing is that the people that are using the shot for the USA Today and Sports Illustrated ad don't mind it being used for other things (so long as it's not another competing car ad, for example)... so that's cool!

AND... I got word from the ad agency that they're offering a couple hundred dollars more for the PNC Park shot because they're going to use it for a mailing in addition to the other ads!

I hope this doesn't mean that my summer is going to be crappy since several good things are happening all at once -- things usually tend to go in big swings one way or the other for me :)

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

On top of the ballpark photo too! Things are looking good in your world congrats!


Message edited by author 2006-06-02 10:47:51.
06/02/2006 10:59:47 AM · #5
Congrats on your success, Alan! There is a fellow near me who makes a fine living showing up at little league games, shooting great action shots of all the kidies, then returning a week later to sell 4X6s to the proud mommies for $10 each! :)
06/02/2006 11:03:17 AM · #6
I've been doing something similar for my son's baseball team. He plays in a rec league for older kids, and for some reason or other no one takes shots of the kids in that age group. I took alot of action shots, posted them and made them available to the parents to view and purchase if they wanted to. As a direct result, I've been asked by additional coaches to come and shoot their teams as the parents have expressed an interest. In addition to the action shots, I'm also offering individual and group shots. It seems to be working so far, and hopefully I'll be able to expand into some other sports areas such as football, lacrosse, etc. as the year goes on.
06/02/2006 11:06:38 AM · #7
Originally posted by alanfreed:

I actually got ANOTHER call about the same photo of PNC Park from a group who wants to license the photo. They want to use the image as the basis of the back of a commemorative coin as a promotional item at the All-Star game!



sweet! you should make them throw in tickets to the game too, then you can see all the people loving thier new coin with your photo on it. too bad your pirates aren't gonna have many people on the team.
06/02/2006 11:09:46 AM · #8
What goes around comes around... you did a nice thing for the parents without specifically looking for money-making opportunities - it's only right that it should bring good things your way.

And congrats on the other stuff for the PNC Park pic too.
06/02/2006 11:15:46 AM · #9
Congratulations on your success!
06/02/2006 11:46:31 AM · #10
Reminds me of what my neighbor used to do. He's 85, so this was 60 or 70 years ago (i.e. pre-digital). He'd wait for a nice spring/summer day and take pictures of well-kept houses. He'd make a print, then go back and give the print to the home owner - saying something like "I was walking down the street the other day and took a picture of your beautiful house. It came out nice, so I thought you might like to have a copy." He'd get more orders for reprints and christmas cards than he could handle!
06/02/2006 11:49:38 AM · #11
Congrats! That is very cool! Doing nice things like this gives you great exposure out there, and people remember things like that if they need a photographer. Another good way I've found is donating a sitting to a charity silent auction, and having some nice framed samples and plenty of business cards.
06/02/2006 11:59:54 AM · #12
My motto: What goes around comes around. If I had a dime for all of the favors I've done, I'd be rich now, but really, what IS rich? It ain't always money, for sure....
I have had more pleasure in giving someone a photo that they absolutely love than getting money for something I've been commissioned to do...
Congratulations on your ''reward'', you will continue to be blessed!
Do good things and good things will be done to you!
06/02/2006 12:04:27 PM · #13
Originally posted by alanfreed:


I hope this doesn't mean that my summer is going to be crappy since several good things are happening all at once -- things usually tend to go in big swings one way or the other for me :)

You're doomed! :O)

What a, well, NICE thing to do for your daughter's team, and once it became apparent about it being useful for your business you passed it along here. Good things happening for a thoughtful fellow, I'd say. Oh, and thanks for the great tip!
06/02/2006 12:15:48 PM · #14
Originally posted by Bosborne:

I have had more pleasure in giving someone a photo that they absolutely love than getting money for something I've been commissioned to do...


I couldn't agree with you more on that one.
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