Hi guys, being a enthusiastic user of Showit Web i highly appreciate it as a marketing tool. But i have my doubts about the commercial opportunities of the Showit DVD. I guess i would have to try it out for myself, but can anyone give his thought on:

why would slideshow DVD's actually sell? Once the surprise has already been experienced while watching the online show, why would any customer be willing to pay for it, only to be able to watch it on his television? (of couse, apart from the MOB and GMOB (grand mother of the bride)

Is this a crazy thought or can any of you guys already share personal success stories on this?

I don't know how well it would sell if I offer such option to my clients. Some of them won't buy it for sure. For that reason I include it in my package. I look at it as an additional value to my packages and additional promotion of my services by client itself. It is a great presentation of their images if they take it to their friend's house or anywhere they go and show it. It is short, people won't get bored watching it and it has totaly different impact on people.

true, i agree on the impact that a slideshow in itself.
But the thing is; the slideshow is already offered online, so the 'impact moment' (so to say) has been achieved by then.

When you (as a wedding couple) visit a friend and want to show the slideshow.
Since internet is getting more and more omnipresent and people have their computers switched on during daytime, i mean, i am wondering: isn't showing a slideshow online far more easy and attractive than buying a DVD (which will save them the bucks as well)

For me the slideshows on DVD are valuable because the parents and grandparents of the children know how to work their DVD player, but may be intimidated by the internet slideshows. It also offers a bit of security and control. Not everyone can see the slidesows of a child unless they have access to the DVD. This way no one has to mess with passswords and at a family get together the proud parents can pull it out and play it on their tv so everyone can see it at once instead of 5 people watchignit in shifts around a monitor.

A couple of my close friends have relatives out of state, and in one case out of country. the DVD makes a nice gift to send around the holidays of their grandchild.

If the online slideshow has an expiration, then they will want to buy it.

I have had only a few of my clients NOT ask to buy the slideshow Even though it is available online.

I don't show and online slideshow unless they've paid for it. I just have a static gallery. I will let them see examples of other peoples' slideshows though.

I agree, because unless you plan to host that slideshow forever, they will not always be able to just click on that bookmark. What happens at their 15th anniversary (or even 1st) when they want to see it again?

As far as the impact goes, put yourself in the clients shoes...To us as photographers and designers the effect wears off because we make so many slideshows, but to the client it is not so much the impact of the slideshow (because the 'impact moment' as you call can only happen once) as how the slideshow affects them. Meaning, the slideshow to them is a precious memory, just like an album, or videography/cinematography of their day. And they will want to throw it in their DVD player on anniversaries, or bore their grandkids with it in 50 years.

Try offering it and see what the response is. Then you will have a definitive answer.

I do children's portraits, but still have clients asking to buy the slideshow. I don't sell them for a specific price (primarily b/c I am not in love with the end result, which is dissimilar to the slideshow preview they see online) but I make it complimentary with a $1200 print order and people who want it reach that amount.

Out of my clients, it's the Dads (I only photograph kids) who love the DVD option.

In my experience, there have been a couple of reasons why people ask for DVD's of the slideshow. Now, when I do an online slideshow, it's usually much shorter than what I would put on the DVD. So there's some incentive there (in addition to the expiration of the hosting on the internet slideshow and other things people have mentioned above). But, I also have clients who want albums for their parents, but don't have the space or the desire to have a bound album for themselves...they tend to want a DVD slideshow in place of an album.

it's great to read so many people with positive stories on their dvd sales! Just curious, did a lot of you already start selling before the new feature was implemented in Showit??

For those who are already selling dvd's: what is in your opinion an acceptable selling price to the customers?
And also important: is there a copy control thing on the DVD to prevend people from just buying one piece and make copies themselves?

I never really thought I'd sell one & have never clicked the option (never say never, right?) then I got this e-mail from a bride just today!

Laura, this slideshow presentation....I need this to be ours forever. It is a masterpiece! Do we download it, do we purchase a CD...what do we do?


...I hope it's not too hard to go back and do the dvd option but I resized before the show, so I know it's bound to be a PITA!

DVDs of slide shows sell. I sell them. I have been custom designing slide shows in another software. I will still do that, because I can add video, etc more special effects.

Having the ability to sell the SHowit stuff on dvd is a plus. People want them. I am not sure if I can sell them for the price that was defaulted...but we will see.

I think a DVD is a great added value to any wedding package. I've not personally done one for a wedding, but when I shoot company events, reunions, ballgamesor parties, DVD slideshow is what they want afterward.

I have even done DVD for showings at funeral/wakes, that chroinicals the passed love ones life and have been told afterwards that they have show the DVD's over and over espcially when the family gets together for the hoidays or such. The biggest problem with doing these type of DVD is you have to sacn the pictures and you usually only have one or two days, so this is type of services is very tough.

But, if you have the pics already in a digtial format, it is eaiser and so much faster.

I think offering DVD's as part of your package is a good thing.