Decisions, decisions..

ConfusedChicca

ConfusedChicca

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Laura
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:thinking:Since May I've been covering a local Battle of the Bands thing once a week. So far, despite taking some good photos and giving business cards to every member of every band, I've had no interest from anyone as regards buying the photos.

When I agreed to cover the competition (and do a shoot of the winning band as part of their prize), I was told I could sell prints/photos for an amount chosen by me.

Anyway, it's the first semi final tonight and I'm finding it so hard to want to go, there's a lot of standing around and it feels like it's all for nothing.

So, the question is.. do I go and risk being bored stupid and not earning anything, or go in case one of the bands decides they do want to buy some pics?
 
go, could be beneficial, but only if the music is any good??
 
To me it's about raising your profile. It might be boring but you never know one contact could lead to something big.
 
I'm surprised that no one has shown any interest in buying some prints from you. I would have thought the bands would be in the market for some promo shots :shrug: Are you sure you're selling yourself agressively enough?
 
Go, see if you can get some business cards flowing round. Never know it could end up in someone elses hands and prove fruitful?
 
People will not buy stuff they cannot see. As you found out, CC! So, in your place I would hand out business cards with a handwritten URL on the blank side (point it out to the people you give your cards to!), where web versions of your photos of the gig(s) will be on display, and the prints can be ordered. And after the gig rush home to get them photos edited and up on that website within 24 hours.

Try http://www.weebly.com/ for FREE website hosting.

Have fun!
 
I'm trying to sell myself, and I've taken in prints from the previous weeks competition to show, but they're all so male and moody.
I thought they'd want promo shots too, I've even offered them cut price photoshoots but they don't want to spend money.
 
hmmm sounds to me like you might be flogging a dead horse then tbh :( Shame though 'cause it sounds to me like an ideal market to sell some prints. It's a strange world :shrug:
 
ConfusedChicca said:
I'm trying to sell myself, and I've taken in prints from the previous weeks competition to show
Click to expand...

Sure, but people are hardly going to be interested in photos of other gigs. If anything, they may be interested in photos of the gig that they themselves attend(ed). Especially if they themselves are in those photos.
 
I was showing them pictures so they can see the print quality, and to show an example of how photos from that event come out. If their band doesn't go through to the next round, I may never see them again.
 
If you're not planning on changing your M.O., why do you ask, CC?
 
I never said I wasn't going to change it! But I have the semis this week and next, and then the final. I was just wondering what people would do in my position.
 
ConfusedChicca said:
I never said I wasn't going to change it!
Click to expand...

You sure give that impression by protesting all suggestions.

But I have the semis this week and next, and then the final. I was just wondering what people would do in my position.
Click to expand...

What I would do is either change my M.O., or accept I'm not going to make money out of it. In which case I could still go, to acquire some more experience, unless I have more interesting alternatives to go to.
 
I haven't protested, simply replied. It's hard to judge my tone online though.
 
since youve covered the whole lot may as well see it through. take a few printed shots of each band/band member so they can see themselves.
 
Have you tried to get any of the pics in the local papers ? Is the comp covered by any journos at all?

Might not make £££ but might make useful contacts/open doors?

Who is the sponsor? any possibilities?
 
Use the net get the gallery link out to all the bands! Once they see photos of themselves they'll be more interested I'm sure!
 
No sponsors, and nothing in local papers. I think I'll try send pics in after the final, they're more likely to put that in I think.
A few of the bands have seen the photos on Facebook, with my copyright stamp on, and from the lack of contact afterwards I assume they've stolen them and put them on MySpace. And as I don't have their MySpace addresses I can't do much grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Although I could get their phone numbers from the organiser hehehehe.
 
Personally i would go for the experience, if they are up and coming bands then chances are they are not going to have a lot of money and spending what they have on photos probably wont happen.

Ive not done bands but did do a boxing event once and instead of targeting the boxers i went for their familys and the event promoters as they need photos for advertising the next one. it turnt out really well and i made a good amount of sales.
 
If its the semis tonight, I would try and get those in the local rags, generate some interest and a chance of some print sales on th eback of it from the final, as well as more shots inthe paper.

As has already been said, make sure the pictures are accessible and remember, every business card you hand out is a possible contact. Every person you talk to, ditto.

I imagine it does feel like this >> :bang: but hang in there, its almost done now anyway and you never know where it might lead!
 
You've tried it, they're not interested and I bet you've already lot loads of good photos for your own use. Flog, horse, dead.

I wouldn't bother going again (certainly if you don't enjoy it): spend you time working on something else........
 
well my view is if you want to turn your photography into a business then you need to build a portfolio.
my wife and i have spent 1000`s on camera gear and £100`s on different ways to showcase the work we do .
the camera gear is double what it would be if it were just a hobby because of the need to double up on camera body`s etc.
we have traditional albums , digital albums photo`s in mounts , in glass on canvas etc.
a photo on it`s own might not look that impressive , so put a few in mounts .

just to have been asked should give you a buzz :thumbs:
 
Did you go? I hope you did. Here's why....
1 Experience
2 Portfolio
3 Professional - You agreed to cover the whole event so see it through :)
4 One of the bands may make it in the future and you'll have pictures before they did that may be worth something
5 Networking - You just never know who will end up with one of your cards

Good luck :)
 
I think you should keep going. I think you will be more likely to get some interest when the finals are on as the bands that reach that stage are more likely to push into the mainstream and want promo shots or just to prove they made the finals, also the venue may want to use them for future advertising.
 
I'd keep going. Practice never hurt anyone, and as already said, what counts is contacts, contacts, contacts. Regardless of wether you sell now or not. You won't be selling much in the future if nobody knows who you are.

Go, make friends with bands, get on their MySpace / Facebook / website. Give them free pictures for promo use with the condition they credit you along with a link to your website. Make friends with event organisers, ask them to mail shots to papers and mags on your behalf as chances are they work pretty closely with some of them.

Like Sakura says, local bands rarely pay as their music is in a similar position to your photography (making assumptions here) ie. they haven't been going long so they don't have the money to invest. Its all about getting a start, and if you can help each other do that, then it can only get better for all involved.
 
Simply sending a bunch of photos to the papers and mags will not be enough. They need copy (text) as well. An article, plus captions for the photos. Unless they have their own journalists or stringers covering the events they won't have any copy/text. So if you want to send in your photos, make sure there is also an accompanying article. How about making it a joint effort with the battle's organisers? They write a press release and send it in complete with (your) photos.

The point is: most papers'/mags' editors are lazy. If they have to (re)write an article they'll quickly turn to other ready-made news/articles/press releases, for which they don't need to do much.
So if you want the stuff printed, you need to make it as ready-for-print as possible.

Have fun!
 
Dont quit, keep going. Remember portfolio and experience is essential :) I bet you would have kept going if you had a contact/customer.

Its a massive market, with the rise of digital SLRs becoming availiable its becoming more competitive. Keep it up, you'll get there eventually.

:wave: hi by the way :) lizzie
 
Well the people who get through to the next round will figure they're better off buying pictures of themselves later, while the people who got knocked out don't want mementos. Go to the finals and you'll probably sell something if they can see the pics before they buy.
 
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