(part one of a three part series)

A controversial and bold statement with the word “finally” included in the title but let me explain by telling you my story and insight.

Green Screen Junior Graduation

We’ve been waiting since 2004 for the green screen application to work within our regular school photography fall programs.  And when I say work, I mean to work perfectly!  We have great expectations that our print quality doesn’t suffer when it meets the high volume and the high-speed demands that traditional school photography encounters and experiences. So let me say it flat out, “We are very excited about what green screen will do for everyone who loves his or her school pictures and expects the best, just like I love my kid’s school pictures.” 

Let me back up in time to explain our story of how, why and when Picture This got started in green screen photography.  When did all this first start?  Well back in 2004 we interview a group of graduating students at Lancaster Drive P.S. and shared the idea of casual green screen “Hot Shots” in addition to their regular graduation portraits. They loved the idea, encouraging us to develop the idea and it is a trend that continues today with our grade 8 graduation portraits.  The why part is an easy story to tell – quite simply green screen Rocks! The ability to swap out backgrounds in school pictures is very cool and gives the students and parents an opportunity to match a background to their passions, personality and style.  How it worked back in 2004 gets a little more complicated, but in the beginning we invested in a event imaging program develop by Kodak called PCPRO and used other knock out applications over the years as technology progressed. But who cares about then and the challenges green screen had, let us look forward.

Green screen is not new to photography but has only seen limited success with school photographers.  While we did participate with green screen photography and its vision, it is true that I was not an advocate of green screen for the high volume school pictures in the past.  I honestly felt it wasn’t good enough and saw poor results in our neighboring schools.  However knowing that technology never rests we kept an open mind and a watchful eye on our industry leaders waiting for green screen applications to reach their tipping point with advancing developments and of course proven results.  It has finally hit the top and will gain lots of speed as it becomes accepted in our profession.

Why are we so excited about using green screen in our studio and in our schools?  In a word it’s “personal”. Meaning that everyone can finally personalize their image to match their style, passions, individuality, trends and traditions or simply to match their home décor.

Again it is all about Choice – your choice not ours!

Mike Krampitz

Hello my friends,

It must be nearing graduation time cause lately it seems that a lot of photography students are asking me for advice about pursuing a photography career, and for the reasons of our success.  While we are very good at what we do our success is built around being great people with integrity and professionalism. I very recently came across this blog article by Grover Sanschagrin of PhotoShelter and he has hit the reasons for success in life right on.  This article is perfect and I highly recommend everyone to be positive in their passion and life, if you are a photographer sign up for PhotoShelter’s newsletter at www.photoshelter.com – this will help feed your brain and help move you forward.  Check it out – hats off to Grover and PhotoShelter.

Mike Krampitz

POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS – WHICH ARE YOU?

By GROVER SANSCHAGRIN | Published: March 1, 2011

Have you ever been in a room with a whole bunch of positive people, and as a result, you walked away feeling optimistic and positive too? That was the scene at WPPI in Las Vegas last week, a trade show for wedding and portrait photographers. People were so positive, upbeat, and happy, that I needed to find out why.

This year, Allen and I decided to attend WPPI – but not by setting up a booth on the trade show floor. We just wanted to talk to people in a more pleasant atmosphere than a crowded and noisy show floor. We wanted to talk to people about their photography, their businesses, their outlook on the industry, and strategies for success – and felt that if we stepped out of sales-mode (which you really cannot escape if you’re standing inside of a booth) we’d be able to learn a lot more simply because we’d have the time to listen.

This trade show was booming with an estimated 16,500 attendees. I’ve been to my share of shows, and I must say it was impressive to see so many photographers in attendance, talking about photography, camera gear, and sales and marketing strategies. But the most obvious thing that nobody was talking about was the overall positive vibe and optimistic buzz that I immediately picked up on.

To be honest, I am used to the doom-and-gloom variety of photo trade shows. You know the kind – where the most popular topics of discussion are: shrinking day rates; people stealing images; the invasion of amateurs into the marketplace; the damage that Microstock is doing to the stock photography market; photographers stealing each others ideas; and other such fun topics. It’s easy to go negative in the photo business today.

I heard none of that kind of talk at WPPI.

After we talked to 17 different photographers (all highly respected, successful, and making money), I saw a pattern, and thus the reason for their optimism.

The 5 Positive Traits of Successful Photographers

They truly love photography.

This is the one thing everyone had in common. They feel lucky to be able to make a good living by doing something they love. This feeling is infectious. They didn’t decide to get into the business to make money. Instead, they did what they loved to do and found a way to turn it into a successful business. There is no better boost to a photographer’s self esteem than doing what they love, and being paid well to do it.

They are selling their services to people who are willing (and excited) to pay for it.

These photographers aren’t working for free, or even for cheap. In fact, most of them charged a great deal more than “market rate” for their services. But I noticed that they did a better job of selecting the type of photography they would do, and the customers they would accept. In other words, they found ways to screen potential clients and only work with the ones who were truly excited to be working with them.

Imagine how your mood would be improved if you didn’t have to work with cheapskates, difficult personalities, or people who didn’t understand (or care about) your individual style. Having to deal with bad clients means you’re spending time away from working with great clients. These photographers were not afraid to say no – because it is more important to their career to be a happy, positive, motivated photographer who loves his/her job. Too many negative customers could end up pulling them into a negative space as well.

This is much easier for wedding and portrait photographers, who are working directly with the real people, than it is for editorial or advertising photographers, who are working for a big faceless corporation. But the same holds true in all aspects of business – you should strive to spend most of your time working with people who see your value and respect your individual talents.

They share their knowledge with others, happily.

I didn’t see any people protecting their proprietary photo secrets. Instead, it was quite the opposite – photographers helping photographers. There seemed to be this “we’re all in this together” attitude, and people were giving each other advice for the good of the industry as a whole. This created a really open and healthy learning environment that extended beyond the show floor, into the bars, restaurants and hotels surrounding WPPI. Nobody seemed to be afraid to ask a question, and nobody seemed to be afraid to give an honest answer.

They embrace the marketing/sales process.

These photographers understand and accept that shooting pictures is only part of the business of being a photographer. The other part is marketing and selling themselves. But what makes the marketing/sales process easy was the fact that they are selling something very unique and original that they truly believe in — themselves.

Thanks to Facebook, getting the word out and creating buzz has been made much easier. Photographers can now work this into their regular routine and kick off successful word-of-mouth campaigns to all of their client’s friends and family just by posting images and tagging the people in the photos. This tactic is a cost-effective way to get personal referrals — and more high quality clients.

Their websites aren’t just a portfolio of their images, but an extension of their personality, and is meant to showcase what makes them different. They understand that, to a potential client, it’s not just about the photos they produce – it’s about the entire experience of working with them. Their website, their blog, and their social media presence is crafted so that the client can see what their experience will be like, in addition to how great the images will be.

They realize that *they* are the most important part of the process, not their pictures.

The reason people were so freely offering advice was because they know that nobody can do what they do. They are unique, have their own style, appeal to a certain audience, and live in different regions of the country. Realizing you are unique, from your creative vision to your people skills, means you can concentrate on what you do best.

People should hire you for you – not just because you own a camera, or happen to be cheaper than the other guy. To avoid being lumped in as “just another photographer” you have to differentiate yourself, and make it known. When you make yourself a necessary part of the equation, you cannot be replaced and people will pay for the privilege of working with you.

If you’re willing to take any client that comes your way, and compromise who you are, then “the experience” will suffer, and you’ll likely have to take what they offer. The “going rate” only applies to people who don’t make their uniqueness known.

These traits don’t have to live with just wedding and portrait photographers. If you feel like you’re powerless, or a victim of a industry that’s in decline – realize and remember that as long as you love photography, you have the power to change that. You don’t have to go negative.

A great thing happened to our studio while I was away at the national photography convention in San Antonio this January.  Conventions like this only happen once a year and it is a great learning opportunity for everyone, not only to attend but also for those who don’t.  Let me explain.

Our Studio – Picture This Photography is a full time photography studio that manages family sessions, business portraits, graduation, sport leagues plus over 60 school clients.  We have lots of great people that surround us and in essence we wear many hats and juggle many responsibilities. So it’s a big deal when the two key people take a week off from the office – how will the clients be handled? and who will look after all the little details? and everything else that usually comes our way?  Well I learned a long time ago that you are only as good as the people that surround you and taking off for the week is a great opportunity to see who shines.

Well this is a shout out to Tara and all the other photographers who have stood beside me along the way.  Before I talk about Tara let me name the others, in no particular order – Tanya Monnier, Pam Kelly, Kathleen Wilkinson, Pat Blake and Erin Moore have all left a positive impact on the success of our studio and in my life, I love and miss them all. Each one of them has made us better, if you know them you will understand – now back to Tara.  So we are away attending workshops and having fun with some of the world’s best photographers at the Professional Photographers of America convention in Texas and Tara is left behind to shoot and manage the studio sessions all by herself.  Well the most difficult session of the week is one with two young girls and six puppies, ouch!  I tried to reschedule them so both of us could do it together but no luck it had to happen on that day – the girls are being pulled from school and the puppies are getting bigger each day.  No worries I said to myself,  Tara is great at what she does,she loves her profession, has a passion for it and is always up for a challenge.

So let me introduce the puppies and CHEERS to Tara and for all of the talents she brings everyday to us at Picture This.  We love her! mk

If you ever have the opportunity to visit 66 schools in 40 days and photograph 30,000 kids like we do, you will see a lot of great things happening in our school communities.  One of the best stories I can share with you is the effort and results of The Food Sharing Project. Here is what their website says or visit them at www.foodsharingproject.org to learn more.

“The Food Sharing Project is an attempt on the part of interested groups and individuals to ensure that children do not go through their school day hungry.

The Food Sharing Project is an example of an ideal model, as a partnership among the School Boards, the Food Bank and many community groups, businesses, service clubs, and individuals working together to feed children in schools.

Approximately 3,800 students are fed daily in about 80 sites in the Limestone District School Board and the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board.”

We love what this program does and each year over the past six years we have provided a contribution to help their efforts instead of giving our clients a traditional holiday gift. We thank them for their support, with this contribution in their name.

Have a wonderful holiday season no matter how you celebrate!

Be Good – Treasure Life!mk

A lot of people think I hate (wait I can’t use hate just like I tell my kids not nice) so I’ll start again – A lot of people think I don’t appreciate my competition, well the truth is I do like them and appreciate the push they continually give me to be better person and a great school photographer.  Without the competition our studio would be nothing special, just image the blackberry without the iphone.  Well just last week I’ve spent some time visiting our school clients, and it is always interesting to hear that my competitors have been visiting them on cold calls looking for an opportunity even before we have taken the first set of school portraits. It makes me wonder why they are so interested in my clients when they have their own business to look after, so I thought that I would drop into some of their schools and after a three visits I realized the my time would be better spent looking after my current clients then looking for new business. So I crossed sales calls for new business off my agenda list and started visiting our current clients making sure we were taking care of their needs.  While doing these visits, and asking questions like how we can improve, what can I do for you the response is always the same.

- We love what you are doing

- We love supporting a local business

- The pictures look great,

- What a nice group of photographers we had again very professional, fun and really good with the kids

- Really well organized again this year, didn’t even know your group was here

- Just called the studio they answered our questions and took care of the special situation

- How come you don’t look after “xyz” school?  I’ll put a good word in for you

- You must be really happy my colleagues are saying good things about Picture This

- Your competitors came in looking for business but don’t worry we staying with you

- So and so was sick on photo day so I told them to contact the studio for a retake

Interesting how taking care of your clients to the best of your abilities can open new doors, we want to welcome Kingston Minor Hockey Association as a new client to our family.  I can’t wait to find out where the lead came from and why they called us.  We really appreciate the opportunity and will consider this job as a great sales call that I never made.

If you like what we are doing in your schools please tell a friend.  If we don’t look after your school and wish we did – please don’t wait for me to visit you with a cold call, you better to call us instead.mk

Success can be defined in many ways; the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as:

suc·cess (sək ses′)

noun

1. the accomplishment of an aim or purpose

Success is happening in the Picture This Family of Schools

Last year the Picture This team was challenged to re-think and re-evaluate our entire school photography program.  The results have created a synergy of performance that has brought Picture This Photography to a new level of professional school portraits, in fact it has changed the expectations of how great the school portrait experience can and should be.  We want to thank the principals, school administrators, teachers, parent councils and even students who participated in our interviews and provided feedback on what they wanted their school portraits to be.  The conversations were interesting and the information that we got back has created the most successful school portraits fall season ever, their time has greatly influenced the success of many children’s school portraits.

Our enhanced school portrait program has brought many success stories to all of our schools including.  I wanted to share a few with you:

1. The school portrait experience inside the school was our biggest most recognizable success.  The added value of the newly created position of photography coordinators created many positive comments from school administers.  Never before has picture day been so successful.
2. School retakes were down by an overall. While it is to early to confirm the numbers taking the time and adding a personal poser/stylist to accompany each photographer has ensured a better portrait the first time at the schools
3. Package buy rates are up - a strong sign that parents and students were pleased with their portraits.
4. Adding more background choices but keeping it simple and clean was well received.
5. Pose choices were very popular – student and parents liked the opportunity to choose their own portrait style.
6. The six proof selections gave parents a variety of different styles that were a perfect compliment to the traditional school portrait.
7. Black and white finishing was a popular choice for many families. We received many compliments to this option.
8. Sibling portraits were a huge hit.   Finally a great sibling portrait!
9. Our larger private studio provided a very comfortable atmosphere for special retake situations.
10. Our enhanced picture day notice provided better communication including grooming tips to ensure success.

While the previous ten items are all the enhancements that can be directly experienced by

our clients we also would like to comment on the many improvements happening behind the scenes back at the studio including:

1. A group of very talented people that take ownership in making your portraits and experience the best.  It’s no secret that to be successful takes a professional team of good people.
2. We are a local business that branches out using local service providers and contributing to our local economy when ever possible.
3. We concentrate on our school clients not sales calls.  Monday through Friday you will see us photographing kids not knocking on doors  – we know our responsiblities.
4. Community involvement – giving back to our community is a natural part of business life for us.
5. Enhanced proofing workflow giving us a very environmentally friendly proof envelope.
6. A complimentary visitor pass program that keeps our children safer inside our schools.
7. A service package that is un-matched by anyone.
8. Each portrait is enhanced with custom cropping and positioning, no automated software batching.
9. Glass glares and shiny skin hotspots are removed before proofing.
10. In house editing, processing and packaging, again taking responsibility for everything.

A successful school portrait experience takes the expertise of many different people.  I am very proud of our team of professionals and what we accomplished this past season.  We experienced many success stories and received many compliments.  Some of our most recent schools joining our family of schools are Kingston C.V.I., LaSalle S.S., Sydenham H.S. and John Graves Simcoe I would encourage you to contact these schools for insight on our performance. These schools saw a real need to change to a small local photography company based on their positive feedback from their friends and colleagues.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our services.

Be Good and Treasure Life!

From Mike and your friends at Picture This!

What does it take to create a great professional business portrait? First, hire a professional photographer with some who understands marketing.  Second, you must identify who your target audience is or in other words who is your client or who do you want your client to be.  Communicate your goals for the session before you show up to the studio.  You need to look professional, in style, trustworthy and most importantly approachable. I also believe that we have many different clients so you should consider having two or three different styles to help sell your personality. I am a firm believer that everyone should dress for success and dress for your client.    Third, no matter what you need to be yourself, you cannot pretend to be someone you are not.  If your selling cottage real estate then dress it, if you are into high end condos then dress to mirror your client. Or (are you listening now) do both, Mike Haslem of Kingston Dodge knows this secret.  He shows up with sports coat and tie for one photo then a company logo’d shirt for the next in the session appealing to two different clients and guess what – he sells a lot of cars.  Again dress for success and dress for what you want.  I am amazed at how many of my friends wear t-shirts and jeans with flip flops to work then complain they get no respect – come on you need to look better then your clients or at least as good. Some great examples of people doing this right is my gym club (Omega Fitness Club), Cunningham and Swan and or any of the trendy restaurants and salons James Brett is another great example or how about the funky style of The Silly Yak.  Fourth, have a back up plan, bring a change of clothes and step out of your comfort zone, not only is it good value it also creates another opportunity to brand your self differently or to sell your service/business to a different client. Fifth, think about your media choices that you will use for your marketing, newspaper don’t show the shadows and highlights like a website does so think about this and please please please if you are going to do green screen and swap background choose your photographer carefully, those of you with a bad “cookie cutter” experience where they cut the background out and paste onto another understand this.  And finally make sure your clothes fit properly it does you no good wearing a shirt and jacket that is to tight or sloppy loose and remember your shoes count too!

It was time for our studio to practice what we preach and recently had our entire staff participate in their own business style portrait session.  I can tell you that it is very different being on the other end of the camera.  When I thought about what I wanted my image to look like and who my client was I was surprise how difficult it was.  My clients vary from moms to families, trendy fashion teenagers to business executives, mother of the bride and their untraditionally daughters wanting to have the coolest weddings photos ever. Really in the end I needed to look professional, approachable and trustworthy which if you know me is my true values.  So are my images taken by our lead photographer Tara,  It came down to five different images that we use with different  purposes.

To wrap this up – remember that most of your investment really comes in the time to have a business portrait done (ya it costs about $100.00 but it’s a business expense and this image will help you make money). I think that spending the time is harder for us business people – it will pull you out of the office for at least an hour maybe two.  Remember a successful business portrait is for branding, marketing, building and re enforcing your relationships.  Doing it right is good value, another tip is to keep it simple and clean like Martin did in his session check it out, clean and easy but very professional – who wouldn’t want to do business with him.mk

Martin Spilchen - Royal LePage

]]> http://insidepicturethiskingston.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/the-business-portrait/feed/ 0 insidepicturethiskingston Martin http://insidepicturethiskingston.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/hello-world/ http://insidepicturethiskingston.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/hello-world/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:25:07 +0000 insidepicturethiskingston http://insidepicturethiskingston.wordpress.com/?p=1 ]]> Hello world!

Welcome to the inside world of Picture This      Photography.  We have a lot of success stories    inside our studio about who we are and how we  do it, and that’s what this blog is all about, a  chance to show off our talents, offer some tips,  answer questions and to share the insights of  our sessions.  We will stay away from the geek  speak (unless you ask).  Being part of a  successful photography studio takes many talents and I quickly learned to surrounded myself with some great people, people with talent, integrity and willing to work together as a team to help us succeed.  Together as a group we provide photographic images to more people in the Kingston area and anyone else. We are the small business that supports our local economy and write our own ticket.  Not only do we photography weddings, family, newborns etc we also provide school pictures to over 65 schools and clubs – thats over 40,000 kids WOW!  So how do you eat an elephant??  onebitatatime  and with good people and a lot of hard work.  Check out the menu tabs to see what’s going on inside our studio, if you have any questions about us and what we do please ask and I’ll get back to you soon. I’m glad you drop in for a visit – treasure life!

Mike

oh ya “hi mom”!