Senior Shoot Out~ Atlanta 2013

We are teaming up with Seniorologie and Courtney DeLaura of Altar'd State to host two shoot outs in Atlanta.  One is an indoor shoot out in a studio and the other is an outdoor urban photo shoot.  As with all of Seniorologie's Shoot Outs, attendees will be put into small groups and given the opportunity to photograph real seniors that will be dressed in Altar'd State clothing and styled with professional hair and makeup.  You may even find some past speakers from The Seniorologie Tour there to lend a hand!

The first shoot will take place on Saturday, January 19 and will be an outdoor photo shoot.  The shoot out will start in the afternoon and more details regarding location will be provided to those that register.  You can register for this shoot out by clicking here.

The second shoot out will be on Sunday, January 20 in a studio location downtown Atlanta.  We will have a backdrop set up, lighting and models to photograph.  This will give attendees the opportunity to see how you can photograph seniors in a studio situation.  The models will again be styled by our clothing sponsor Altar'd State.  To sign up for this shoot out click here.

Attendees can opt to sign up for both shoot outs for a discounted rate.  This will be a great way to increase the number of photos you can add to your portfolio.  Click here to register for both.

There are limited spots available for both of these shoots so be sure to sign up soon!  We can't wait to see you in Atlanta in January!!

Sales Appointment Training for Photographers

I can't say enough great things about the Sales Appointment Training for Photographers! I had the chance to review the product and I think it's a must for all of us! 
Courtney DeLaura from Get Schooled takes you through each step of her in-person ordering session.

I think your sales will soar and watching (and listening) to her will give you the confidence you need to start doing in-person sales. She also describes in detail how to price yourself to make the profit you need in order to run a successful business. I highly recommend this training tool! Order appointments do not have to be complicated, expensive or overwhelming. Courtney will give you multiple options for simple in-person sales!

For the next 48 hours you may purchase the In-person sales training tools for the intro price of $39!


"Make your bank account squeal with delight. In-person order appointments tripled my sales averages and brought back that lovin' feeling to my business." Courtney DeLaura


Watch a 30 second video about our sales appointment training





Visit the facebook page of Get Schooled and share the video and you will be entered into a huge drawing. They are giving away one spot to the upcoming second round of Senior Blueprint Online Course. 

Seniorologie Week- Day Three

Courtney DeLaura, is the type of girl you want to hang out with, the businessperson you want to get to know and the photographer you want to learn from.  She is just one of those girls that you must know!!

I was lucky enough to meet Courtney in person at a workshop she created called Folio Love. This workshop was a unique opportunity to photograph several different styled photo shoots in one place and build your portfolio with gorgeous images.  I had so much fun at this workshop and my favorite part was hanging out with Courtney.
In addition to Folio Love, Courtney also founded Get Schooled, which is a school portrait marketing guide.  She details how she started out in upscaled school portraits and gives you all the tips she learned along the way.
Even thought Courtney has her hands in several successful businesses, her first love and main focus in her photography business is Seniors!  Courtney owns Peachtree Studio in Knoxville, TN and it is one of the leading senior portrait studios in the area.I had the opportunity to interview Courtney on her senior portrait studio and her love of photographing high school seniors.  Below is what she had to say!  Thanks Courtney!

Tell me about yourself...I'm a wife and mother of two, Nick who's 13 and Marly who's nine.  My family and I live in Knoxville, TN but I am originally from Northern California.


How did you get into photography?   My uncle was a high fashion commercial photographer in the 80's so I was always around him and at his studio.  I also modeled as a child, and my uncle always needed young models for ads for Macy's and many others.  My dad was an artist and sculptor.  When I was 15, he built a darkroom in our house and I would spend lots of time in there with him developing film.  I stepped away from photography for a while and then picked it up when I had kids.


Any formal training?  I think being around it all my life, I picked up things that I didn't even realize.  Things came second nature to me when I decided to pursue photography because I had been around my uncle and dad and in different studios all my life.  I also think lots and lots of practice helped too.

How long have you been in business?  5 years


How long have you been photographing seniors?  4 out of the 5


Do you have a specific senior season?  If so, when?  I am usually booked between April and November then have a break between November and March

How would you describe your photography style? Classic, clean and simple.  I look to Gap, J Crew and Banana Republic for inspiration.  They seem to withstand trends...the same chinos still are made today that were made 10 years ago.  I want my seniors to look back on their photos and it look classic.

What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors?  I love the ability to give them images of themselves that are beautiful during a time when they may be unsure of themselves.  I love to see the reaction in them and their moms when they look at the images for the first time!

Do you have a senior rep program?  Yes

Can you share with us how it works?  I have spokesmodels that are nominated every year.  I usually contact the kids from my current year and ask them to nominate their friends for the following year.  I then contact the nominated girls and boys and tell them that they were nominated as a spokesmodel for Peachtree Studio.  I do a parent/spokesmodel meeting and explain everything.  I like to try and get 9-10 spokesmodels from schools in my area.  The spokesmodels have to have one referral before they get their senior session free.  Every referral after that, they receive $50 print credit.  I wait until the end of the senior season to have spokesmodel ordering sessions.  That way they have had a chance to build up credit for what they want to purchase.

How do you feel this rep program benefits your business?  I think it gets kids talking about my studio.  They post their pics on Facebook and share them with their friends.  High school kids know the name Peachtree Studio and that helps my business.

What are your most popular senior products?  The area that I live is not super trendy when it comes to products.  They basically want gift prints, digital images and large wall prints.  They also love the double -sided wallets.


What is in your camera bag?  Old Canon 5D that I absolutely love!  24mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.4 lenses.


What is your favorite lens? 50mm 1.4 lens!



What is one tip you can share with photographers who want to break into the senior market?  I am a very strong marketer and I feel this really helps in the senior market.  I think it is super important to practice and shoot and build up your portfolio before you start to market yourself.
Becoming really comfortable in your shooting skin is also extremely helpful in the senior photography market.  If you are unsure of yourself, they will pick up on it.  Continue to talk to them while shooting and give them praise and instructions.  They will feel more confident if you do that.

(Interview by Leslie Kerrigan from Seniorologie.)

{presents}

Go check out all the fun things she is giving away!

Get Schooled Blog

and the winner is...

I will be back later today...

I'm having computer issues again {notice the tiny image above}

and I have not one, but two sick kids home today...it's gonna be a good day!

I have an interview to post~ so many things to tell about...

but I must go be a mommy right now.

Congrats to the two winners!

And for those who didn't win, Courtney from Get Schooled is offering Savvy readers

an awesome discount for the next 48 hours!

Here's the info...

48 hours Sale for The Savvy Photographer readers

1st twenty five customers to the Get Schooled Photo Store will receive a 45% discount! To receive your 45% discount use the code **savvy25**

If the code **savvy25** does not work then 25 Savvy Photographers have already used the codes, don't fear every single Savvy Reader will receive 25% off any items in the store.
But Hurry the offer ends Wednesday March 10th at 9am pst -

to receive 20% off use the code **imsavvy**

it's a fabulous giveaway!!!

The Get Schooled School Portraiture Guide for Photographers

has just launched and

Courtney DeLaura of Get Schooled Photo

is excited to gift two lucky readers the entire

LUNCHBOX of Get Schooled Photo products.

Not only does the Get Schooled Photo products guide you through the entire process of high end school portraiture, it also includes a private membership to her You are Schooled Blog where

Courtney posts daily with inspiration, success stories, marketing ideas, guest bloggers, shooting tips and inspiration. All with the goal to help you succeed in high end School Portraiture.

Be sure to check out Get Schooled Photo Blog http://www.getschooledblog.com for more information about the guide, marketing forms, childrens book

and private members only blog!

***
Here's how to win...

follow us on twitter and tweet this...

{another fabulous giveaway at the Savvy Photographer... http://www.thesavvyphotographer.com/}

become a fan on facebook and tell your friends... {come be a fan of The Savvy Photographer...you'll be inspired!}

Post on your blog or spread the word about us on your favorite forum...just paste this link to us... http://www.thesavvyphotographer.com/

and then come back here and leave a comment telling

us what you've done. Leave a comment for each thing~

BONUS entry:
sign up for the Get Schooled Photo Newsletter here http://www.getschooledblog.com

confirm your subscription to the newsletter and post back here!

Contest ends at 9pm eastern Sunday, March 7th.
We will draw two lucky winners and

announce them on Monday, March 8th.

Good luck class!!!

***

Just a quick note: The coupon code for 10% off at clickinmoms is good through March 31st, 2010. Use the code friend for your discount. And remember...If you sign up for clickinmoms for a six or twelve month membership using this link Clickin' Moms
~ you will get the free Savvy Size Guide! Just email me and let me know your user name that you signed up under and I will email you the download link. It takes about 24 hours to get the email for the link...sometimes sooner :)

So many of you have emailed me that have signed up to say how much you are enjoying the Clickinmoms forum...yay!

Have a great weekend!