Portfolio Building?

[bullychk04]

I'm looking to build my portfolio so I wanted to do something like this:

"I am currently looking for the following to build and establish a portfolio. The first two inquiry/booking for each of these subjects will receive a free session. In addition to waiving my session fee, I will be offering free, watermarked web-size files for sharing online via email or social networking sites.

Prints can be ordered by the clients that book these sessions with me at 50% off normal prices.

Only the first two booked client for each of the following categories will receive these prices and must be willing to sign a model release allowing me to share the images online via my blog, Facebook and website.

* Couple
* Maternity
* Child

Please contact me at Kelly@silverliningphotographics.com for booking and further details"

What do you guys think? Is there anything more you would include, or not include? If I posted this in the wrong forum, I apologize. Please let me know where to move it too. Thank you!

[NicoleScraps]

I did something similar except I charge them my cost for prints instead of a 50% discount. I did not take responses first come, first serve, but instead hand picked from my responses. Slap me and call me mean, but I wanted pretty, photogenic people in my portfolio. It ended up working out quite nice for me and I got a ton of great images for my portfolio.
Now I am doing something with seniors that is similar. I don't charge them for the photoshoot, and they earn free prints by getting me referrals. I give them $10 in credit for prints for every referral that comes back to me. I made them up special little cards to give out to all of their friends.
All of the family/baby/maternity shoots that I did, I also made them up little cards with one of their pics to hand out to friends at playdates and so forth.
I personally feel like it was a win/win situation. They got some nice images for not a lot of money, I got porfolio stuff, and people who are happy with me and willing to spread the word. They knew up front that their sessions were special and not my normal rates and so forth. So they don't tell people that I am cheap, they tell people that they loved their photos.

[bullychk04]

Thanks so much Nicole! You make a good point about picking and choosing. That's a great idea, I think I will borrow it if you don't mind I really like the print credits too. Thanks again!

[Jim Bryant]

Remember...show only your very best work. You'll be remembered by the last photo you took.....make it good!

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by bullychk04

Thanks so much Nicole! You make a good point about picking and choosing. That's a great idea, I think I will borrow it if you don't mind I really like the print credits too. Thanks again!

PLEASE borrow that idea. I learned this lesson the hard way. I put out a first come first serve call for a session that I wanted to add to my portfolio. A lady responded, I said yes, everything was cool until I met her in person for the first time. She was the exact opposite of photogenic and I could not use one single photo from the session for my portfolio. Now, I require a link to their blog, facebook, or something if I do not know them in person so that I can see what they look like in photos before I agree to work with someone for portfolio purposes. But if someone is paying me, it doesn't really matter what they look like. The photos are going to hang on their wall, not mine. I'll still do my best because that is what they hired me to do, but that doesn't mean any of them will go on my website if I don't feel that the photos are flattering to both the subject and most importantly ME!!!

[bullychk04]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

PLEASE borrow that idea. I learned this lesson the hard way. I put out a first come first serve call for a session that I wanted to add to my portfolio. A lady responded, I said yes, everything was cool until I met her in person for the first time. She was the exact opposite of photogenic and I could not use one single photo from the session for my portfolio. Now, I require a link to their blog, facebook, or something if I do not know them in person so that I can see what they look like in photos before I agree to work with someone for portfolio purposes. But if someone is paying me, it doesn't really matter what they look like. The photos are going to hang on their wall, not mine. I'll still do my best because that is what they hired me to do, but that doesn't mean any of them will go on my website if I don't feel that the photos are flattering to both the subject and most importantly ME!!!

I don't blame you one bit! It's funny, a friend of mine just actually messaged me, she wants some to do some pictures of her son for a Father's Day gift, so I'm going to follow step by step your suggestion. Thanks so much! Perfect timing

[NicoleScraps]

Actually, I have a couple of print off sheets that I gave to people when I did portfolio building sessions. If you PM me your email address, I can shoot them your way and you can take a look, use what interests you, or not. Just let me know.

[bullychk04]

Thank you so much! I just sent you a PM

[MindyRaeL]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Now, I require a link to their blog, facebook, or something if I do not know them in person so that I can see what they look like in photos before I agree to work with someone for portfolio purposes.

I'm looking to add a little more variety to my portfolio, and I love your idea of asking for a FB page link.
My question is though, how did you go about asking for the link? You can't very well say "Send me a picture so I can make sure you're pretty enough." Well, I guess you could... but I don't think that would give a good impression.

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by MindyRaeL

I'm looking to add a little more variety to my portfolio, and I love your idea of asking for a FB page link.
My question is though, how did you go about asking for the link? You can't very well say "Send me a picture so I can make sure you're pretty enough." Well, I guess you could... but I don't think that would give a good impression.

I word in the call that their response is more like an application.
For example, (and this is a rough draft of what I would write)
Photographer looking for models for a couples photoshoot.
You will receive a free photoshoot and prints at cost (or discount).
Must be willing to sign a model release.
If interested, please inquire by sending your name, location, blah blah blah blah link to facebook or blog, blah blah blah.

Does that make sense?