Baby Clubs Help!

[srambo]

I am looking to start a baby club in my current area.
1. How much do you charge for taking someone's baby photos every month up to one year and 2.what to include in a package like that?

3. Time & Effort opinions.

Thanks!

[MindyRaeL]

I'm sorry, I don't really understand the question. Can you describe what you mean by 'baby club'?

As for pricing and packages, well, there are endless ways to go about it. There are as many ways to package products as there are photographers. If you can give a little more detail on what you're asking, then you'll get better answers. Aside from that, there are a ton of threads here on the forum that have talked about pricing. Trying running a search and reading through some of those.

[Jim Bryant]

I believe it's like on of those mommy clubs, where you join, provides services and only those photographers in the club are hired to take pictures, of course at a discount. I ran into this about three years in Port Orchard, where a woman hired me to take baby pictures, but was told only the club photographer was to get the work. Needless to say, after she received the photos, she refused to pay, quite the club, and I ended up doing a reshoot and she was very happy.

It's one of those circle of friends, members or whatever the hell you want to call them.

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

I believe it's like on of those mommy clubs, where you join, provides services and only those photographers in the club are hired to take pictures, of course at a discount. I ran into this about three years in Port Orchard, where a woman hired me to take baby pictures, but was told only the club photographer was to get the work. Needless to say, after she received the photos, she refused to pay, quite the club, and I ended up doing a reshoot and she was very happy.

It's one of those circle of friends, members or whatever the hell you want to call them.

Good god, how stupid is that!!! And pretentious. Freaking baby clubs where you can't hire anyone else to take photos of your baby??? I seriously don't know why on earth mothers would do that.

Or I guess people will do anything just to feel that they are part of a 'elite' group.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Good god, how stupid is that!!! And pretentious. Freaking baby clubs where you can't hire anyone else to take photos of your baby??? I seriously don't know why on earth mothers would do that.

Or I guess people will do anything just to feel that they are part of a 'elite' group.

Pretty damn stupid Mate if you ask me. Here's a mom with a kit camera, no lights, or any studio equipment at all, pretending to be a pro. Not that all kit cameras users are bad, I've seem some very fine photography taken by DPS' very own Susan Harrington. who uses ean EOS rebel, however she has mastered lighting and her equipment and that's what really counts!

[graciousness]

I can see why photographers would want to start the club - business is business. But for mothers to join a club to restrict who is going to take your baby's photos? I don't care what else the club has to offer but to have conditions that restrict photographer use is simple ludicrous.

Hopefully not all babyclubs are like that.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by graciousness

I can see why photographers would want to start the club - business is business. But for mothers to join a club to restrict who is going to take your baby's photos? I don't care what else the club has to offer but to have conditions that restrict photographer use is simple ludicrous.

Hopefully not all babyclubs are like that.

Don't know..seems like it's mothers helping mothers. Which, I don't mind, but iI think it's been taken too far. Kind of like trying to put a monopoly on outside businesses, only helping those in the club.

[srambo]

The baby club I am referring to is where you are hired to take photos of a child at different stages of their life up to one year. At the end of that year the parents receive a framed collage of their favorite photos from each session to show the change in life and it is displayed in the home. I think baby club may be the wrong term for it. I am not sure what the correct term is, but overall it is just a package deal for parents.

http://www.facebook.com/CapturedMomentsLifestylePhoto

[srambo]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Pretty damn stupid Mate if you ask me. Here's a mom with a kit camera, no lights, or any studio equipment at all, pretending to be a pro. Not that all kit cameras users are bad, I've seem some very fine photography taken by DPS' very own Susan Harrington. who uses ean EOS rebel, however she has mastered lighting and her equipment and that's what really counts!

Mr. Bryant, I am open for critique and improvement and by no means consider myself a professional of any sorts. Please feel free to provide feedback.

Thanks
srambo
Captured Moments Lifestyle Photography | Facebook

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by srambo

The baby club I am referring to is where you are hired to take photos of a child at different stages of their life up to one year. At the end of that year the parents receive a framed collage of their favorite photos from each session to show the change in life and it is displayed in the home. I think baby club may be the wrong term for it. I am not sure what the correct term is, but overall it is just a package deal for parents.

Captured Moments Lifestyle Photography | Facebook

Make sure it's worth your while and charge accordingly. You could end up loosing money if the parents want photos of every event in their kids life. You know birthday, christmas, thanksgiving, new years, halloween and whatever ever. It seems to be a lot of work.
Whatever you decide, make sure you at least charge a sitting fee to cover, travel time, gas,mileage, setting up and taking down time, downloading and editing images, post-processing, making prints or burning to CD or DvD's. All those facts you have to take in account and charge, so that you actually make money.

Everything you do and your customer decides, get into a contract signed by both parties. And always ask for a 50% deposit up front. Hope that help ya.