Professional Photo Lab and Photo Printing Blog

The school and sports photography segment of our industry may be simple, but it is far from easy at first.  But once the contracts are signed and the workflow systems are in place, IT IS VERY LUCRATIVE.  Many established studios report that it is THIS business that is keeping their doors open as many traditional areas continue to erode. We continue to hear positive feedback and endorsements from photographers who have built solid, profitable businesses based firmly on school, sports and event work.

H&H Color Lab is committed to providing world class photo products, project management tools, customer service support and training to benefit school, sports and event photographers.  And the best place to start learning about this market is at the H&H University Summer Boot Camps.

Time is running out and reservations are filling fast for both of our annual boot camps. Choose to attend our School Boot Camp on Wednesday, June 20 through Friday, June 22, 2012, or our Sports Boot Camp on Monday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 18, 2012.  You’re welcome to attend both,  if you’d like!   Please note … these opportunities are the ONLY such events to be held at our photo lab during 2012. They always fill up fast,  so don’t be left out this year!

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In the ever-changing world of professional photography, it is essential to keep up with new developments. As journalist Karel van Wolferen suggests, we have entered a “second digital revolution” in the field. First, the advent of digital technology made photography more accessible for consumers. Now, further advances increasingly improve photographers’ expressive abilities, as well as the quality of their work. The long held assumption among purists that a digital print will always be inferior to one that has been carefully rendered in a darkroom is being vehemently challenged. And as we have seen with the collapse of Kodak, it is absolutely vital to stay at the forefront as the industry shifts.

One of the best ways for professional photographers to keep abreast of changes in any industry is to attend photography trade shows. These events allow companies to demonstrate their products and services while networking and examining market trends. This Spring is shaping up to be quite an exciting and busy one for H&H Color Lab, with exhibitions this month and the months to come.

Though the relationship between photographers can be competitive, insiders know the importance of networking. Among colleagues, a sharing of market information and resources can be mutually beneficial. In February, The Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA) and the Sports Photographers Association of America (SPAA) annual conference, as well as the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) trade show were great places to network. March and the upcoming months will provide many more opportunities too!

Check out the Photography Events Calendar for a full listing of where H&H Color Lab will be and when. Be sure to come out, say hello, and see the latest products for professional photographers we offer and our advances in technology when we are in your area.

The landscape of professional photography is continually shifting; as technology and techniques change, so too does the field itself. Trade shows are just one of the many invaluable tools available to photographers to keep informed and ahead of the curve. Staying aware of trends and the latest developments can mean the difference between sinking or swimming in the industry.

Guest Post by Georgia McCabe – As an author, speaker, trainer and social media and photography evangelist, her perspectives on social media appear in print in her newest book entitled “SocialMorphosis – Transforming Your Business through Social Media”. Georgia is also a co-author of the book “The Relationship Age”, with social media guru Mari Smith. Georgia is a frequent guest blogger for our professional photography lab.

We want to help make the lives of school and sports photographers a little easier, so we’ve created two annual planning calendars specifically for school and sports photographers. These timelines help you be proactive – not reactive, in managing your school and sports business!

Check it out and download the PDF’s on our photographers resources page, under H&H Information/School Calendars and H&H Information/Sports Photography Timeline.   These are great resource tools for professional sports and school photographers to hang by their desk….refer to them often to stay ahead of the game!

Here is our list of things “to do” this month.

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Be sure to check out part 1 of this post from earlier this week, where we introduced school and sports photography online sales systems.

Online Prepay

If you are selling your school or sports photography using a prepay or proof plan flyer, consider selling your packages using online prepay.  When you add an option to your sales flyer to purchase using a credit card online, and prior to picture day, you will:

• Make it simple for mom to buy late at night – when she typically has time to thoroughly study your packages and add-on items
• Make it simple for mom to use a credit card – buyers who use a credit card typically purchase more
• Add security – most consumers do not want to write down their credit card information on a flyer and send it to school with their child.  Online secure transactions are what consumers are used to and are comfortable with.
• Reduce studio labor – no more trying to read handwriting, manually typing in credit card information, and managing declined credit cards.
• Provide a simple way for students to buy if they forget their flyer on picture day.  By leaving the online prepay form live for 24 hours after picture day, these customers can still buy and you can still get these orders in your initial package order. And it’s a great way to solve the issues of providing sales to grandparents and separated parents, as well.

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