Hi all! So excited to be a part of this online community! So my wife and I own and operate a performing arts studio, here in Missoula, Montana. That's how I ended up getting involved in dance photography; the studio needed a photographer for recital week, three years ago. It (obviously) was a good fit, as I've been working with performers ever since.
I'm to the point now, in which I'd like to expand into other dance studios and companies, but really have no ideas as to how to do that. Can I ask what you guys charge, how you schedule, how you reach out and sell to other studios, etc?
Any experience in this arena, friends? I know these things will be covered at the Conference, in January, but an online conversation can always be handy, too!
Thanks,
-Alex
Has anyone tried marketing on social media?
Add me to the copy list! I'm REALLY looking forward to the conference!
I would love a copy as well. I am excited about the conference!
Hey Alex! Wayne Murphy from Kalispell Montana. Looking forward to meeting and connecting with you in AZ!
I'd love a copy too! I will email you
I work with about 12 studios currently. It is honestly one of my favorite times of the year!
I'd love to get a copy too. Looking forward to meeting all of you at the conference!
I would like to get a copy as well. I 'm attending the conference.. I look forward to it and taking it to the next level.
I think one or both of you emailed me. You both registered for the Pas de Deux newsletter, so I'm responding to those emails. Let me know if you don't get them.
Hey Ron, can I get a copy of that too?! Also, I'm attending the conference. Can't wait!
Hi Alex, our community is pretty new, so it's going to be some time before we are more active and have more engaged members. In the meantime, I hope to respond to everyone and at least you'll have that. A lot of your questions will be covered in our Pas de Deux Dance Photography Conference in Phoenix on Jan. 31-Feb 2.
Expanding to new dance studios/schools/companies can be easy, and can also be frustrating. Some schools use a dancer's parent, and have to feel loyal to them or they might lose the dancer. But the pictures may be terrible. A lot also use Lifetouch, which use $10/hr photographers who have no experience with dance.
I'm working with around 20 dance schools/companies, and typically add about 5-7 a year without really reaching out much. Most dancers/companies think of me as the premier dance photographer at least i the Chicago suburbs, so they contact me. But when I want a company, I usually email them and provide a link to specific blogs on my website that I'd like them to see. I ask them if I can come to their studio and talk about their photography. That approach has been working pretty well for me. I think I've bagged every company I've talked to except one, and they already had a photographer and was relatively happy with them, even though he wasn't as good as me (according to them).
When I get recital portraits, my goal is to average a minimum of $40 per dancer. Jonathan Givens at EPS Photo has about 50 studios and he averages around $70 per dancer. You also have to consider whether the studio wants a kickback or not. Those vary in amount, but usually is about 10% in my profit.
I can provide you sample so what I charge and the products I offer. Just shoot me an email at ron@ronmckinneyphotography.com. I hope this helps!
Ron