Testing the Market

I have an idea which I am considering which might become my USP. I have been considering this idea for a while now and thinking about the best audience to approach who might be most interested in this product.

At a recent Business Show I had the chance to speak to companies with the profile I'm looking for and discussed my idea. They were very interested and said as soon as I am ready to go to market with the idea to contact them.

Brilliant - now I need to work out a pricing structure for this - the basics and the extras; have a discussion about it with my mentor and then plan a way to present it and then get out there and get me some customers.

Feel like a real business woman.

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Client T - Cash Sales

Met someone who is as obsessed about blue glass as I am. I printed off a pack of blue bottle notelets for her plus two greetings cards (one A6 and the other bookmark sized). She bought all 3 items.

Sometimes it is nice to make cash sales. But now I have the problem of working out how to get it into my business bank account!

It was a retorical question - I have it all under control I am not actually asking for advice here!

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Client S - family portrait

This was a challenge. I could have said no but realised I could achieve some of what she wanted so decided to see if I could make this work.

Process and result will follow.

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Client R - photo restorations

Another chance to practice my skills at photo restoration. Five images to sort out, scan and restore and then print and present back to client.

Thoroughly enjoyed doing this - happy client.



Before

After



 

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Business Development

Time-Lapse Photography:

I have got seriously interested in creating time-lapse photography. I have purchased a Remote Timer for my camera and been experimenting. I will post links to the films on Vimeo when I get chance to do it - although looks like I can post them here. I wont show all my steps and progression. Suffice to say it has been fun and a HUGE learning curve.

I have taken advice from Lance and Rich and also made contact with an animator and she has really given my ideas wings. This has also resulted in her asking me to quote for a film she is working on and me providing the set up for a time-lapse section in the film. Quote given but think I may have over done it as I have no idea what she needs. Will discuss and see how to pitch my offer in the future for work that I can do with her.

I am producing a time-lapse 'film' for NHS for their Excellence Awards evening and Burton Albion are interested in making use of it to promote their conference facilities. This has made me realise that there is an offer here that I can make to local hotels and conference venues. My Friday morning network is focusing on getting leads in the hospitality market and this will include hotels so I will be getting on top of my skills and ideas for this technique and seeing if I can have some 'films' in the bag to show to potential clients what I can do.

In the meantime I am working hard on increasing my skills and getting as much information and advice from Lance, Richard and Tilley.

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Client Q - Workplace Portrait Shots

Brief:

A referral from someone I network with has put me in touch with the owner of a Consulting company who needed to update the images on her website. The initial contact was made in early September but she is only now ready to update her website. The hold-up was caused by her rethinking the name of the company and rebranding and she was waiting until she had more money in her account. But today (3rd Feb) she was ready for action.

Over the last 6 months we have had email conversations about what is required, what I would like to do, how much I would charge and when she would like to do it.

Set-up:

I knew I would need lighting - particularly in February. I was lucky with the sunny day but glad I had flash (off camera) and cold light. I was able to light one shot as if it were the summer. Very nice. We had both got ideas for different shots and we worked together setting up parts of her house so it looked like an office, a training venue, a presentation area, a conference suite and even went off outside for some whacky shots under her tree with the flip board. Amazing. What a great woman and so much fun. 

The Shoot:

Tried a variety of situation and set-ups and she put on a variety of different outfits so that it looked like we were shooting on different days. We did some outside and some inside.

Invoice and Delivery:

Images will be processed over the weekend and images sent to her on CD along with invoice.

Images:

Client P - Stud Manager

BACKGROUND:

A networking colleague is trying to get me an opening into the local Stud where he keeps his mares and foals. He had been invited to a Stud Open day which was held on 29th Jan and he invited me to go along with him. It was a bitterly cold morning but a warm cup of tea and the sight of those beautiful stallions and we were all warmed up.

SITUATION:

The Stallions are often paraded to potential clients with mares ready to go into season. The Stud shows off the stallions and allows clients to get up close and personal with the stallion as well as seeing it moving and getting the chance to photograph it. The stud provides cards on each stallion which also contains a price for each covering.

PROCESS:

This was not a job but a chance to be seen once again by the Stud Manager and his family and for them to get used to me and get to know me. And also to see that I was OK around horses and around their clients.

I did not have chance to set up any equipment - nor ask for any specific things to be done with the horses. I had to go with what was offered by the Stud Manager whilst he was handling and showing off the stallions.

With a tiny bit more time and a little bit of kit I could get some images that would be stunning and they would WANT on their brochures and cards.

RESULTS:

I processed the images I was happy with and had a bit of fun cropping, cloning and removing the handler on some of the shots so that it looked like the stallion was on its own. Well - it amused me.

The processed images have been burned to disc and I have shown them to my network colleague. I have written him a covering letter which I have said I am more than happy for him to pass on to the stud manager.

We are both hopeful that this will help me get a foot in the door with this family and then potentially their clients in the future and result in much work flowing my way.


INVOICE AND DELIVERY:
No invoice for this.

Images on CD delivered to my network colleague on Friday 3rd February for him to pass onto Stud on Saturday 4th Feb. Ever hopeful!


IMAGES:

Lesson learned:
Whilst I was there I found a photographers buisienss card which said "Equestrian Photography" and this got me thinking - my thoughts can be found in this blog entry.

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Client O - Photo Restoration

BACKGROUND:

Another networking client has asked for help in restoring an old photograph of Enderby Band.

SITUATION:

The photograph had previously been restored and it was in a very delicate and fragile state. It was taken around 1895 so I felt privileged to have this item in my possession for a week or so. I was given one photograph to scan and restore and then print, mount and frame and another that needs mounting and framing.
PROCESS:

I spent a very pleasant hour or so scanning and restoring the image.

INVOICE AND DELIVERY:

Bubble wrapped the frames, prepared an invoice, burned the restored image to CD so he can use them again and added my new business card/tag. Very satisfying.
IMAGES:

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