Professional Photo Lab and Photo Printing Blog

There has been a lot of discussion over the last three years about the changes in the studio photography business.  Overall there are three types of photography businesses that are thriving.  Two-generation businesses, new and hot boutique studios, and businesses who are diversified across portrait, wedding, commercial, sports, wedding and event photography.

The third category of thriving photography businesses – those who sell photography across a wide range of categories – I believe is the largest growth opportunity for established studios.  Many H&H customers are already doing portrait-wedding work.  Adding sports and school photography leverages the strengths of an established studio business.  Redundant equipment, staffing, relationships with other photographers who can act as backup staff, existing business relationships, professional reputation and credibility, computer infrastructure, workflow understanding, and excellent photography skills are just a start to the assets an existing studio business has to compete against the “big boys” effectively and to grow.

To that end, H&H has aggressively invested in school and sports photography training over the last 8 years.  While we’ve had school and sports business for years, the need and the opportunity to participate in this part of the photography business has grown recently.  There is nothing the “big boys” can do in school and sports photography that you cannot provide to your customers when you work with H&H.  Many photographers think they have to learn complicated systems in order to get into this business.  While there is training, work and practice involved, H&H can help you get there.  You already have the most important element needed to enter this part of the business – relationships in your home town.

This summer, H&H will have two boot camps that are intended to train and empower you, our professional photography customers, to grow and diversify your business using school and sports photography.

Beginning School Boot Camp      June 14-15

Day 1  eZevent Workflow- in depth training on how to set up, photograph, import, data match, and order a school shoot

Day 2 Prospecting and Presenting to Schools- Learn how to prepare to sell school accounts successfully

Click here for more details.

Advanced School Boot Camp      June 16-17

Day 1     discussions on the following topics:  On-line sales, flyers, proof plans and package configuration, advanced workflow techniques

Day 2     discussions on green screen and on hiring and compensation

Click here for more details.

Sports Boot Camp           July 19-21

This boot camp is a very hands-on intensive way for photographers to sharpen their skills in the sports business.

Click here for all of the details.

I can tell you that school and sports photography is a growing market at H&H.   We believe this is a combination of the fact that photographers are recognizing there is very good business available in this field and the fact that H&H has invested heavily in this part of the business to empower photographers to realize this potential.

I hope you will, if you have not already, look at your business and seriously consider adding at least some sports and school photography to your offering.  We think you are uniquely positioned to add sports and school photography and you have the right partner in H&H to do so.

Sign up today for our three day school boot camp in June and sports boot camp in July.

If you’re a school photographer, you’ve delivered your school day picture packages.  You’ve probably placed orders for several service items and the necessary administrative CDs.  Things seem to be wrapping up, except for one thing: The composite.

Jeff will be teaching a web class this Wednesday at 10:30 am CST.  He will go over preparing your images and data in eZEvent, how to send the initial setup order in, and how best to communicate changes after the proof has been received.

To sign up for our photo lab’s FREE web class, click here.  If you photograph even one school, no matter the size, this class will be beneficial to you.  We hope to see you there!

Learn more about school printing at our professional photo lab today!

Learn more about our Photo lab‘s professional photography classes today!

While our photo lab’s new greeting photo card templates have been very well received, there are many who want to use them, but need some additional help.  One of the most common questions involves getting an image into one of the image nodes in Photoshop.

Bentley has added a Quick Tip video to our photo lab’s YouTube channel.

There is also a web class about using these templates.  Bentley recorded the class and it is now available to our customers.  This is just another free training opportunity for our clients!  You must be logged in to our website to view the recorded classes.  After logging in, click here to view them all.

Sign up for a future class with our professional photography lab today!

H&H’s Professional Photo Lab is pleased to announce TWO great opportunities to attend our Jump Start-2010 Sports class!

On Tuesday, November 10, we will be in St. Louis at the Hilton Garden Inn-St. Louis Airport.  On November 12, we return to Kansas City for the same class, hosted here at H&H University.  At both classes, we will spend the entire day with you, getting ready for next years sport seasons.

Here is a brief rundown of who will speak, and what topic they’ll be presenting:

Jim Seers – Package Configuration and Add On Products

Jeff Gump – Fund Raising versus Commissions, and Picture Day A-Z

John Pittman – League Presentation, the Business Side of Sports, and Satellite Operations

Frank Harrison – Profitable Action Photography on the Field and on the Web, and School Sports

If you pre-register, the cost is $99 ($119 at the door.)  This includes lunch and awesome door prizes from our sponsors.    For even greater savings, mention the coupon code HHCUST when pre-regestering and receive $20 off this price!

Click Here to pre-register, and don’t forget to check out our sponsors, listed below.  They help make it possible to keep this class affordable!