Display for Fundraiser: Need Ideas

[anathoth]

I have been asked to take photos of school children for a fundraiser and agreed since it will be a good way to "market" myself. The organizers want to have 75-100 8x10 photos printed and available for "auction". The idea being how can you pass up a pic of your sweet little Suzie-Q. I have not volunteered to absorb the cost of having them printed (not in my budget) but would like to give them some alternative ideas. I thought about suggesting a running slide show to order from, but I think they are looking for a larger visual impact.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to pull this off, and how to maximize my marketing without being obnoxious?

[acedrew]

Have them printed by a company that offers back-printing, put your URL and or phone # on the back of each shot. AND/OR print them on 8.5x11 with your info on a "matte" around the 8x10.
Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers

[Homebrew]

I'm not visualizing how a slide show has less of a visual impact than a bunch of stacked (or even displayed) pictures. If you have the equipment on a laptop you should be able to put a slide show on one of the school's big-screen TVs that'll just blow away any kind of display of pictures. I'd at least suggest it to them.

[acedrew]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

I'm not visualizing how a slide show has less of a visual impact than a bunch of stacked (or even displayed) pictures. If you have the equipment on a laptop you should be able to put a slide show on one of the school's big-screen TVs that'll just blow away any kind of display of pictures. I'd at least suggest it to them.

I think the impact they're talking about is the fact that they can sell the ACTUAL photo, IE; you won the auction here is your tangible asset. It makes sense to me, although I think a hybrid solution would work well, have some or all of the portraits printed out for a see & touch factor, and have a slideshow with them with your watermark as well, for marketing purposes.

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers

[anathoth]

acedrew is right. The thought is that if there is an actual print it will be more likely to be sold. As far as the display, the event is being held off site, so we will not have access to the school's AV equiptment. They would like to have a large the pics. My thought is a compromise of both. If I can work out an AV option (screen etc) and have actual prints surrounding it.

Great ideas on marketing myself. Thanks!

[acedrew]

Originally Posted by anathoth

acedrew is right. The thought is that if there is an actual print it will be more likely to be sold. As far as the display, the event is being held off site, so we will not have access to the school's AV equiptment. They would like to have a large the pics. My thought is a compromise of both. If I can work out an AV option (screen etc) and have actual prints surrounding it.

Great ideas on marketing myself. Thanks!

Where is the event being held? If it is a city/community resource, they are likely to have AV equipment there, you just need to let them know ahead of time to set it up.

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter

[anathoth]

I think we have come up with a solution. The event is being held at a nice, new facility at our zoo. It has a lodge look. I thought I would go ahead and have the photos printed in 8x10 and display them on columns of chicken wire using clips - the rustic look. We also might put up lights in the columns for effect. This way we have lots of surface area to display the pics on all sides and it will be relatively easy to set up on a table with bid sheets (silent auction) and move around.

What do you think?

[ressalg]

Do you have to provide the prints the same day as the pictures are taken? If so, how/what will you be using to print them? Only reason I ask is that the instructions with most photo printers state you give the prints at least 24 hours to "set" before handling them too much.

I get the impression from the other replies that you'll actually be taking the pictures on one occasion and then displaying the prints at a later date. Obviously, if that's the case, then the concern expressed above it moot.

PS: Good luck! It sounds like a terrific marketing opportunity.

[MattG]

I am at a bit of a loss here - 75-100 8 by 10s printed is a reasonable amount to spend upfront. As the 'bidder' will likely only bid on one photo each (I assume this is the case and essentially they will be paying as much as they want the photo, knowing no one else is likely to bid for it), you are providing the purchaser with the final product they are after. Where is the likelihood of extra business going to come from? Any money paid is seen as a donation to charity by the payee and with a volume like the numbers you speak about, any inherent value of the portrait is diluted due to mass exposure and replication. This may mean it is difficult to justify prices after the event.

Could you switch the offering to something with a higher value that entices more competitors at the auction and would net the same revenue for the fundraiser? For example one portrait package of 20 photos, valued at $500 for example (use some of the shots described to make a display portfolio)? Then at least you can contact the unsuccessful bidders and offer a special discount package if you would like. This makes more sense to me - limits your upfront costs, increases perceived value of your products and services and generates realistic leads.

Possibly not what you want to hear, so please feel free to ignore this as you wish. As they say, advice is worth what you pay for it!

[anathoth]

MattG, I appreciate ANY advice. That is why I posted!

As far as the fund raiser, I am basically donating my talent. My kids go to the school and I want to support them. The school will pay all my costs, so I am really out nothing but time. I will go by the school a month or so prior and take candid pictures of the kids, likely in groups and have them printed. When we display them there will be a bid sheet for each shot where parents can bid. We will likely start each at $5-10. The idea being that with more than one child in the picture more than one parent will bid, raising the price. In years past they have raised in the thousands with pictures that frankly were not that great, but I think parents/moms have a hard time leaving a picture of their child.

In addition to the in-kind donation of time/talent I might possibly donate a sitting fee, and I will likely have my logo/website printed on the back of the pictures and cards on the table. Since most of the parents know me as just another "mom", I think it will be a great way to get the word out. It is a big event with hundreds of parents and grandparents, band cocktails etc. so it is well attended. If the pictures show well, I am hoping they will want to hire me for a "real" session.