This is my 1st Senior Ambassador for the class of 2008. We have only completed her studio session so far. I hope to be able to get in her downtown location session before school starts back in August so that she will have her complete album to show to all of her friends.CC is always welcome because there is always room to improve.
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very cute! tell me if you will more about your program?

julie b

Thanks Julie,

I did a lot of searching around the internet to see what other people are offering their "ambassadors,reps, models" whatever you want to call them.....Offer it to a few Seniors from each high school in your area.....I have 7 or 8 high schools in a 30 mile radius of where I am.....about half of them are smaller with only about 50 seniors per year while the other half have from 350-650 students graduating each year. Offer them something (discounts, free pictures, mini-albums, whatever) to pass out cards and show their samples to all of their friends and classmates. I have had limited success so far, but I am expanding into more schools this year to see if that helps. I don't want to be the school photographer, but I would like to have several from each of the local schools, and increase the number each year. If you have more questions feel free to ask.

I can also say that the limited success I have had is due in part to the time and effort that real job takes. I am very low volume right now. I will have my house paid off in September and should be totally debt free in about three years. I am hoping to leave the day job at the prison at that point and go full time with the studio (which will be paid for at that time as well). I don't really want to work two full time jobs at this point....if I did I wouldn't have any family time at all.

With some good marketing- I don't see why you aren't doing this full time already!!! You do a wonderful job!

I am the bread winner for our little family of 5 and paying for my husband to go through Bible college. It is only by the hand of God that my business has developed to be what it is in only a matter of months. A leap of faith has already taken us on amazing journey. I am running my business just on word of mouth right now (it can be done when God is your business manager! lol)

I definitely agree about God doing my marketing. He just laughs when I tell Him what my plan is and then He says.....You just aren't paying attention are you? THIS is My plan for your life. He has definitely taught me patience. He has truly blessed us, and is currently teaching us to bless others with what He has blessed us with. He has also protected me for the past 12 years working at the prison, so I know He does have a plan for me. Like I said my house is almost paid off, we own 10 acres of land and have just built a small studio here on the property. I am currently starting to landscape the outdoor areas to use for park like location areas here around the property.

Thanks for the comments about my work. I have gotten better over the last three years that I have been in business, but I know I am a long way from where I want to be. I want to know how to do it all. Lighting, posing, natural light, reflectors, off camera flash....some of the stuff that people are doing on here with the one light set ups and over on the strobist board......I want to learn that next......I love some of those looks.

We have friends that moved from close to us in the FL panhandle to Montana. I think they are in Kalispel. Anyway thanks for looking and commenting.

How did you go about getting your rep/ambassador? How do you break in with a school?

Julie...you can answer as well.

Something you might all consider is marketing to your nearby homeschool groups. A lot of times the high schools (like in my area) have ongoing relationships with a studio and make you go to them for photos for the yearbooks because they want all the picts alike. Because of that some parents do not want to go to another photographer for their senior picts... whereas in the homeschool realm they have more flexibility.

So far I have just used kids that I know. Fortunately between the ones that go to our church and the children of people I work with I have ended up with some very photogenic young ladies!! I recently put an update on the News page of my website saying that I was looking for ambassadors in the other schools in my area. My wife is a teacher/librarian/media specialist in a local middle school and knows a lot of other teachers in the county. I will ask the teachers to recommend someone that they think might do well. My goal is to eventually shoot maybe 10% of the local seniors. Like I said I have 8 high school in a 30-35 mile radius of the studio.....with class size ranging from 50 to 650.

As far as locating other seniors to use as ambassadors I think that is where the community involvement comes in either at the school or other places or events where you will be seen. Even just going to the games or other events at school wearing your studio shirt with logo/website.....buying an ad in the sports program...etc Be sure you know the school systems rules.....some times you will need to get on the vender list or register as a volunteer. Basically you need to find a way to get you and/or your images in the school.

Just to let you know I worked in a Federal Prison for 10 years and resigned this past March. I opened a studio and haven't looked back. I wish you all the luck! Your pictures are good too.

Great to hear that there is life after "parole"

I will actually have 15 years in when I leave the system. I will only be 42 years old so I won't be able to draw any retirement for about 13 years, but I think we will make it fine on the photography income replacing the low wages that the state pays.

Thanks for the comments on the work too. I always feel like I am not quite there!! There is always soooo much more to learn.