| Playgroups and Dance Groups | | | | they can choose one or more to be enlarged as part |
| Photographing dance groups and playgroups can be | | | | of a package deal of reprints. |
| extremely lucrative. The vast majority of participants | | | | I have found from experience that this method i.e. |
| are children. You will find that their parents cannot | | | | giving the parents some degree of choice, results in a |
| resist buying photographs of their children. | | | | larger number of reprint orders, than taking only one |
| On investigation locally you will find a number of | | | | shot. |
| various styles of dance schools and many playgroups. | | | | Do Not Hard Sell! |
| Most dance classes take place at night or on a | | | | In this first publicity leaflet you must make it |
| Saturday morning. There are also associated | | | | absolutely clear that parents will be under no |
| competitions and exhibitions, which provide photo | | | | obligation to buy, if you do not you are in danger of |
| opportunities, with the potential for extremely large | | | | losing custom before you have started. You do not |
| reprint orders. Playgroups generally meet during the | | | | have to hard sell; once parents have seen the shots |
| week, although I have come across a few who | | | | of their children they find it difficult not to buy. Your |
| meet at the weekend. | | | | most effective selling material will be the finished |
| Don't Try To Do It Alone! | | | | prints of their children! |
| Do not attempt initially to advertise to individual | | | | Keep Paperwork Simple. |
| parents. Approach the dance school or playgroup | | | | You must design a form for recording the names and |
| organiser with the proposition that you can both | | | | addresses of the children against relevant image |
| benefit from photographing the children. Call them, | | | | numbers as they are photographed. This should be as |
| arrange to meet, remember the personal touch will | | | | simple as possible, it may have to be filled in quickly, I |
| be your key to success. | | | | once photographed forty-eight playgroup children |
| This offer could include helping with publicity | | | | within a one and a half hour period! |
| photographs, framed pictures for decoration of the | | | | You should also design reprint order forms, which will |
| premises or as is often requested a one of payment | | | | allow ease of ordering both special packages and |
| or donation to allow you to set up stall. It would be | | | | reprints at normal prices. It is a good idea to print |
| helpful, although not essential, to show some samples | | | | both sets of prices on the same form, this has two |
| of your work. | | | | purposes. It will highlight to the customer how much |
| Publicity Material | | | | they are saving on your normal reprint prices, it will |
| Do not assume that children will inform their parents! | | | | also serve as a reminder that the package deal prices |
| You must publicise your service. After you have | | | | are not what you would normally charge for other |
| arranged a mutually convenient date for the | | | | types of work. You do not want to be associated |
| playgroup or dance group shoot you should set about | | | | with doing a 'cheap job'. |
| ensuring that all parents are made aware that you will | | | | Even if your orders will be placed and delivered by |
| be there on that date. | | | | hand ask for the full name and address and |
| Provide the organiser with a publicity leaflet, which he | | | | telephone number to be written on the order form, |
| or she can send home with the children or their | | | | this will provide you with accurate information and |
| parents who arrive to collect them. | | | | give you potential contacts for any future |
| This leaflet should initially inform parents that you will | | | | promotions. Remember this is about building long-term |
| be present on a particular day and that you would | | | | relationships. |
| like to photograph their children. Say that you will be | | | | I hope you have found this Ezine Article useful. |
| providing a minimum of two proof shots from which | | | | |