Portrait Photography Questionnaire
abphotography
Been to business link who want to me produce a business plan and do
research. Never done this before and am really struggling.
Any help with putting one together would be very welcome! Sample
business plans would be useful.
I put together a Questionnaire. Not sure how good it is and really
need to see how good it is before standing in the street asking these
questions. Is it alright? What would you ask?
To help me see the type of answers I'm likely to get, could you please
answer the questions? This way it can help me improve the
Questionnaire and help others in the same boat as me.
Portrait Photography Questionnaire
What do you look for in a photographer?
Does the gender of the photographer matter to you?
If so, why?
Would you hire a photographer that doesn't use studio lights?
If you answered no, please can you say why?
If you have ever used a natural light photographer, what did you
think of the quality of their work?
Does it matter to you if a photographer uses film or digital?
Can you please explain why?
Which of the following type of prints do you prefer (please select all
that apply);
Colour
Black & White
Hand Colouring
Sepia
Would you be willing to hire a photographer who specialises in any
of the above?
The next question is aimed at people who use high street
photographers.
What do you think of their prices?
Are you happy with what you get for that price?
Are you happy with the poses?
How do you think their service could be improved?
Would you use a local photographer over a high street photographer?
Would you please say why?
If you have more than one local photographer in the area, how would
you choose between them?
How much would you be willing to pay for portraits, and what sizes of
prints do you prefer?
Would you be willing to pay £35 or more for a sitting fee?
If not, could you please say why you'd not pay this amount, and how
much would you pay?
Would you be prepared to pay a little extra for online proofing?
If you would, how much extra would you be prepared to pay?
What extra services would you like to see photographers offering?
The next question is aimed at people have already used photographers.
What did you get and how much did it cost you?
Did you think you got value for money?
If not, what was wrong with it?
Name:
Address:
E-mail:
Randall Ainsworth
The quality of their work
> Does the gender of the photographer matter to you?
No
> Would you hire a photographer that doesn't use studio lights?
Probably not
> If you answered no, please can you say why?
It rains too much around here. If you don't know how to use lights
then you're in the wrong business.
> If you have ever used a natural light photographer, what did you
> think of the quality of their work?
Don't know of any.
> Does it matter to you if a photographer uses film or digital?
Nope
> Can you please explain why?
If they're using good enough equipment and have good technique, you
can't tell the difference. It's the end result that counts.
> Which of the following type of prints do you prefer (please select all
> that apply);
XX Colour
> Black & White
> Hand Colouring
> Sepia
>
> Would you be willing to hire a photographer who specialises in any
> of the above?
Maybe
> The next question is aimed at people who use high street
> photographers.
Must be a limey term. Don't know what "high street" means.
> What do you think of their prices?
>
> Are you happy with what you get for that price?
>
> Are you happy with the poses?
>
> How do you think their service could be improved?
>
> Would you use a local photographer over a high street photographer?
>
> Would you please say why?
>
> If you have more than one local photographer in the area, how would
> you choose between them?
Quality of their work...ask people who have used them
> How much would you be willing to pay for portraits, and what sizes of
> prints do you prefer?
>
> Would you be willing to pay £35 or more for a sitting fee?
Not a limey...don't know the conversion...but prices are dependent on
costs
> If not, could you please say why you'd not pay this amount, and how
> much would you pay?
>
> Would you be prepared to pay a little extra for online proofing?
No
JustaPawn
All they want is a quality photo that makes them look better than they do at
the price they think is right.
Michael Scarpitti
abphotog...@yahoo.co.uk (abphotography) wrote in message news:<fa98c607.03082...@posting.google.com>...
stan
business plan. Who are YOU? Do you like natural light? Do you like
digital? Do you prefer kids, dogs elderly, weddings? YOU need to answer
these questions . nobody else. Otherwise it is our business plan not
YOURS. What do YOU want to provide? A niche? A different packaging? The
emphasis is on YOU. If not , then no plan will make YOU successful. List
your creative strong points, loves .weaknesses . Lay out what you would
like to do from that. Then you have a plan. This questionnaire is a bit
long. I don't care who photographs me or with what. As long as I look
good. (Which is a daunting task given my looks)
Stan
Visual Arts Photography
Michael Scarpitti
> Been to business link who want to me produce a business plan and do
> research. Never done this before and am really struggling.
>
> Any help with putting one together would be very welcome! Sample
> business plans would be useful.
>
> I put together a Questionnaire. Not sure how good it is and really
> need to see how good it is before standing in the street asking these
> questions. Is it alright? What would you ask?
>
> To help me see the type of answers I'm likely to get, could you please
> answer the questions? This way it can help me improve the
> Questionnaire and help others in the same boat as me.
>
> Portrait Photography Questionnaire
>
>
> What do you look for in a photographer?
Skills, reputaion, examples of good work, personality.
>
> Does the gender of the photographer matter to you?
The sex of the photographer doesn't matter if that's what you mean.
>
> If so, why?
>
> Would you hire a photographer that doesn't use studio lights?
Depends on whether he's shooting football games or portraits.
>
> If you answered no, please can you say why?
>
> If you have ever used a natural light photographer, what did you
> think of the quality of their work?
>
> Does it matter to you if a photographer uses film or digital?
No.
>
> Can you please explain why?
No.
>
> Which of the following type of prints do you prefer (please select all
> that apply);
> Colour
> Black & White
> Hand Colouring
> Sepia
All are nice. How much?
>
> Would you be willing to hire a photographer who specialises in any
> of the above?
Why would he have to? can't he do it all?
>
> The next question is aimed at people who use high street
> photographers.
I refuse to continue...
zeitgeist
> Just about to set myself up in business as a portrait photographer.
> Been to business link who want to me produce a business plan and do
> research. Never done this before and am really struggling.
>
> Any help with putting one together would be very welcome! Sample
> business plans would be useful.
>
> I put together a Questionnaire. Not sure how good it is and really
> need to see how good it is before standing in the street asking these
> questions. Is it alright? What would you ask?
>
> To help me see the type of answers I'm likely to get, could you please
> answer the questions? This way it can help me improve the
> Questionnaire and help others in the same boat as me.
A business plan is a projection of potential earnings and expenses.
The questions you need to ask, or at least convince a loan officer is:
How many portraits do you need to shoot, how much do you have to sell each
client to earn enough in sales to cover the cost of producing the products,
your overhead, your salary.
basically you either have to figure out whether you need a couple dozen
people a day paying a few bucks or couple dozen folks per year paying a few
grand.
Asking other photogs whether we would do this or that probably won't get you
the answers you need. Nor will asking the average consumer, and frankly
even if you identified your perfect client and found a logical and cost
effective method to get their attention, I don't think they would have given
you answers you could have used. I mean nobody wakes up and decides that,
gee, today I think I'll find a photographer to spend $1,000 or so on some
photographs of the family.
There is a branch of the PPA that specializes in marketing studies, it costs
extra over the regular membership IIRC. I've listened to parts of some of
their studies and marketing concepts.
The dismal thing is that the average consumer thinks the value of a portrait
is just a mark up of the photo finishing price of the paper, a mere few
bucks. Those that are interested, will and capable of investing in home
decor usually take about 3 years to incubate the desire from first being
exposed to the idea from seeing a display to making the appointment.
>
> Portrait Photography Questionnaire
>
>
> What do you look for in a photographer?
I think the average consumer expects to be hustled, a hard sales pitch, a
lot of photogs note that quality of the decor, the whole atmosphere effect
the clients expectations and their acceptance of higher prices.
>
> Does the gender of the photographer matter to you?
as long as I don't have to see it, I don't care.
>
> Would you hire a photographer that doesn't use studio lights?
most of the best portrait photogs don't use studio lights, on the other hand
I've found that the clients seem to have some expectations of what a
professional photog does or uses, put a big bellows lens shade on and its
like a lawyer putting on a robe and all of a sudden everybody says 'your
honor'
>
> The next question is aimed at people who use high street
> photographers.
>
> What do you think of their prices?
>
> Are you happy with what you get for that price?
>
> Are you happy with the poses?
>
> How do you think their service could be improved?
>
> Would you use a local photographer over a high street photographer?
>
> Would you please say why?
>
> If you have more than one local photographer in the area, how would
> you choose between them?
>
> How much would you be willing to pay for portraits, and what sizes of
> prints do you prefer?
>
> Would you be willing to pay £35 or more for a sitting fee?
>
> If not, could you please say why you'd not pay this amount, and how
> much would you pay?
>
> Would you be prepared to pay a little extra for online proofing?
why do photogs run away from the one place where they have the most
influence, for generations photogs just handed the clients a stack of small
prints and hoped they returned some day with some kind of order. Now it
posted to the internet. los res images that promote close ups and kill
sales of full lengths and more scenic type images (and I'm assuming that
since you are doing natural light work you are doing photos in parks and
backyards)
>
> If you would, how much extra would you be prepared to pay?
If you are concerned about nickel and dimes over a choice of image selection
then you are not talking about high street or carriage trade.
>
> What extra services would you like to see photographers offering?
>
> The next question is aimed at people have already used photographers.
>
what you should be asking is:
what was the reason they had the protrait made?
how did they look for the photog?
what made them choose that particular one?
what made them skip others?
> What did you get and how much did it cost you?
>
> Did you think you got value for money?
>
> If not, what was wrong with it?
>
this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups where
there is some discussion about sales and marketing, well there should be
more, maybe this will start some up.
stan
I somehow think that this individual is looking for a "mission statement". The
how, why were when of running a business and being a business. Some people call
it a business plan and some roll the business plan into the mission statement.
The thing I find weird is that the OP hasn't added one cent to something he
seems to think is so important.
Stan
Visual Arts Photography
PS I agree that a business plan should include the question "what will it take
for me to pay the mortgage".
otzi
photography. All they want if anything, is some thing for nothing or at
least as cheap as chips. The general publics priorities don't normally run
to portraiture. The competition is fierce out there and the options
available to Joe public is mind blowing. There will always be an operator,
often one of the shoot and run mob that will undercut anything you will ever
be able to orchestrate.
Don't forget the do it yourself options available to just about anyone. The
only way to make headway is to be dammed good and charge appropriate prices
and be in the most advantageous location. You may be better shooting for
someone to build up a wealth of experience and/or work it as a non paying
proposition to build up sufficient experience to then know instinctively the
business plan viability.
Sorry to sound a downer but the small studio concept is fading as quickly as
the corner grocer.
"stan" <vis...@mc.net> wrote in message news:3F522DC3...@mc.net...
stan
statement "and/or work it as a non paying proposition to build up sufficient
experience...". This is what undermines the business. I don't understand why
amateur photographers feel the need to work for free just to "get experience".
If your photography is good enough for an individual to want then they should
pay for it. And dearly if possible. If you are so bad you need to give it away,
then photograph your friends until they actually want a copy. But giving work
away is ridiculous. Every individual that starts a new career gets paid. As they
should. Cops, firemen, mayors and presidents. Photographers and other creatives
should be no different. This only reinforces the foolish public opinion that we
should work for free, or that "anyone with a camera can do it". Neither of which
are true.
Stan
Visual Arts Photography
Randall Ainsworth
> the
> statement "and/or work it as a non paying proposition to build up sufficient
> experience...". This is what undermines the business. I don't understand why
> amateur photographers feel the need to work for free just to "get experience".
> If your photography is good enough for an individual to want then they should
> pay for it. And dearly if possible. If you are so bad you need to give it
> away,
> then photograph your friends until they actually want a copy. But giving work
> away is ridiculous. Every individual that starts a new career gets paid. As
> they
> should. Cops, firemen, mayors and presidents. Photographers and other
> creatives
> should be no different. This only reinforces the foolish public opinion that
> we
> should work for free, or that "anyone with a camera can do it". Neither of
> which
> are true.
Don't get me started. This has been a sore point with me for years and
even though I'm not in the business at the moment I've been considering
jumping back in. No way I'm going to give anything away and neither
should anybody else. If you ain't got the chops, then do something
else. But dont give the goddam work away.
stan
Randall Ainsworth wrote:
Sorry Randall!! I am very glad to see others who realize that "A workman is with his
wages". I know someone who shot a catalog for $75. He gave the person the film and
the negatives. Everything for $75. He didn't last in business. Next time this woman
wants a job done she's going to be wondering why it's costing hundreds and she can't
get the negatives either. Your last sentence sums it up well.
Stan
Visual Arts Photography
Randall Ainsworth
> with his
> wages". I know someone who shot a catalog for $75. He gave the person the
> film and
> the negatives. Everything for $75. He didn't last in business. Next time this
> woman
> wants a job done she's going to be wondering why it's costing hundreds and
> she can't
> get the negatives either. Your last sentence sums it up well.
It always pissed me off to see amateurs out there doing mediocre work
and charging nothing or almost nothing for it. The business sense of
giving away something you can sell is staggering.
otzi
sufficient experience to then know instinctively the business plan
viability.
This is what undermines the business. I don't understand why amateur
photographers feel the need to work for free just to "get experience".If
should pay for it.
++++++++
Of course! I agree whole heartedly with your sentiments. Either I put it
badly or you may have miss read it. I was intending that experience be built
up by work (with mistakes included) that an operator could work at with out
overheads and other statutory charges that running a studio business
entails.
My earlier comment that it's the freebees that stuff up the industry holds
true but never the less business experience needs to be gained. I am
assuming that the original poster was a green horn.
stan
the "freebie" mentality that I bark at the wind.
Stan
Visual Arts Photography