School Photographers, Marathon’s new XTractions HYBRID post-production services can save…
Earn Extra Money With Prom and Dance Books
by Chris Wunder, Cr.Photog.
Prom books are becoming more popular every year and in many parts of the country, they are a required part of dance photography programs. If prom books are not traditionally offered in your area, they can help set you apart from the competition and get you more business.
Prom & dance books are short-run “memory books” produced from images taken at school dance events: proms, homecoming dances, cotillions, Sadie-Hawkins Dances, etc. Typically, a prom book consists of posed couple photos, group photos and candids taken of the event. Dance books are easy to create and the layout is simple since the photos are not usually identified with names or captions.
You can find specialized software to help automate the layout process. This software can electronically flow the couple photos into a layout in minutes from your digital camera files. Candids and group photos can also be easily placed using pre-templated page layouts. You can also use InDesign, QuarkXpress, Microsoft Publisher or even Photoshop to layout your pages
Dance book marketing ideas:
- Include prom books in larger, selected packages to help drive sales to higher levels.
- Dance photography is very profitable, but you have to get the business first. To book new business, offer one book complimentary to each couple attending the prom. Since both the girl and guy will want a book to remember the dance, you’ll end up selling an extra book. Price the extra books high enough to cover the cost of printing all of your books plus make a little profit.
- Offer dance books as an add-on sale after closing on the prom portrait package. Many photographers price them at $10-$12 for one book, $18-$20 for two books.
Next Post: For Your Inspiration: True Love
Previous Post: For Your Inspiration: Babies
I guess I don’t understand where you are getting these books printed where you can charge so little. Are you creating one book for the whole event and selling copies (similar to the yearbook)?
As Julia mentioned, I am wondering that also. are they hard cover, how many pages etc and vendor?
Steve
Steve:
We use Marathon’s automated BOOKS program to do the layout, and utilize the template for 16 Couple’s portraits per page. The number of couples then determines the minimum number of pages required. We usually add 3-4 additional pages of candids we’ve taken of the event. Most books are 12-16 pages and they are always SOFT cover.
Julia:
These are NOT one-off books. They are typically called “Event Books” and are printed at Marathon using their software.
At their current prices, you can produce 200 copies of a 12 page Dance book for less than $5.25 each.
Their minimum order is 50 books and I’ve found that I easily satisfy that minimum as long as I have at least 75-100 couples at the Event.
Here is a link to request a book kit which includes the software and some samples.
http://www.marathonpress.com/directories-event-books/
You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I feel I would never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely wide for me. I’m taking a look ahead for your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the cling of it!
Hello, for all time i used to check webpage posts here early in the daylight, for the reason that i like to find out more and more.
Hey very interesting blog!
Thank you for some other fantastic article. Where else may just anyone get that kind of info in such an ideal method of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.
Hello, yes this post is in fact pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging. thanks.
Great article! That is the type of information that are meant to be shared around the web. Disgrace on the seek engines for now not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and visit my site . Thanks =)
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t join it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
This is a great tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article!
Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it ; ) I’m going to revisit yet again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.
Hey there! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!
I visited several web pages however the audio feature for audio songs existing at this site is truly fabulous.