OSP is always so hard to tell if this *exact* question has been asked or not, so I hate feeling redundant. I have seen similar questions, but not this one exactly, so I apologize in advance if you feel like you're watching a re-run!!

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I'm excited to begin working on details for my own studio space. I will begin doing in-studio showings for proofs and ordering. While I know that everyone has different styles and some do online proofing only (that is currently what I do) and others do proof books, I am trying to get away from both methods and would like to hear ideas from those of you doing in-studio or in-home showings.

For those of you showing on a projector or t.v. - how do you do it? Do you show your slideshow first, and then afterward, to show the remaining pics go into a one-by-one pic system where they look at all their proofs? What is your process?

We just did our first in-studio showing this weekend and it went really well. I put together a slideshow so they could see all of their photos first, then afterwards we went through them all in Lightroom so they could get a better look, see side-by-side comparisons, rate the ones that they liked the best, etc.

This was for fashion, so it's a little different than portraits since they were picking out photos for an agency and had to be pretty picky, but I was really happy with how streamlined it is.

I also put the photos in a gallery online after they left the appointment so they can order more later if they want to.

Thank you so much Sara. So you go to LR with them on your computer, or are you projecting that onto a t.v.?

What about weddings? I couldn't imagine putting all of the photos in a slideshow, so do you just show your favs and then move to LR?

Again, thanks!!

I use my computer right now, some day maybe a TV, but I just rock it full screen on my 17" MacBook Pro and they look pretty awesome. I kind of like it on the computer, too, because I don't have to worry about the colors shifting and calibration.



Oh no no no. I avoid weddings like the plague.

Tana for weddings what if you just showed the Album predesign in studio for the slideshow?

We have a big screen for our slideshow. Currently we just do a sample of the favorites. I am looking forward to my big display to show more thru lightroom though.

I have a large flat panel TV and I put the pictures on a USB drive and plug it into my XBox 360. The Xbox displays the pics in great quality and is cheaper than an HD DVD player (at least when I was looking at them, don't know if that's still true)...And I don't have a way to make HD DVDs anyway. You can pause, discuss, etc...

And then when they leave you can play Guitar Hero and get way behind on their prints

~rc

LMAO!!!! I love it!!!!

I don't do in-studio ordering sessions because I don't have a studio. But I've research the topic pretty well, so I'll pass on what I've learned.

For weddings, I would only do in-studio ordering sessions if you are showing them the album pre-design and finalizing the album design then.

For portraits, I would do the following:

1. make sure that the client realizes at the time of booking that this is THE time to order (unless you plan to do it differently, but everyone says that it will lower your sales if you allow them to 'do it later'.) If you do offer online ordering as well, maybe provide a discount or special for the ordering session to encourage them to not wait.

2. release a slideshow of the images a few days before the ordering session. This gets them excited about the images, allows them time to prepare for the ordering session, ask the grandparents which images are their favorites, and puts less pressure on them at the session.

3. have recommendations ready at the session - storyboards, birth announcements, wall displays, greeting card designs - all completed with THEIR images in them. This creates an emotional attachment to the products and makes it easier to visualize what can be done with the images. Clients rarely have an imagination or a vision for their photos - you have to show them. But I would recommend not overwhelming them with too many choices - keep it simple and concentrate on the 2-4 items that you would like to emphasize.

4. have samples of all of your products. Once again, the easier you make it for them to see the possibilities, the better. Most clients have no idea what a gallery wrap or linen cards or coffee table books look like.

5. make it fun and easy. Have toys for the kids, drinks and snacks for everybody. Maybe even hire a babysitter to help entertain the kids while the parents make a decision. Or even recommend a grandparent come with them to help out. Ordering sessions can take awhile and kids get restless QUICK when grownups are talking.

As far as equipment, I think this is less important than how you structure the ordering session. Whether you project or have a big tv or do it on the computer, from what I hear there is a lot of variety with equal success on all ends. I've heard the Lightroom works well. ProSelect was made for this application. I'm sure there are lots of ways to go about it. The one big advantage to projecting - they can see how big the print is. An 8x10 looks really small on the wall and can convince clients that they need to go bigger:)

I hope that helps some - like I said before I have yet to do one myself. I'm just passing on info to you

>>>I'm excited to begin working on details for my own studio space. I will begin doing in-studio showings for proofs and ordering.

It opens a whole new world for you, in a number of ways, but projection is one of the best to increase your sales.
You need to carefully plan your space. Our projection room is 12x17. One end is set up with a couch, end tables, and lamps with 25 watt bulbs. Low wattage bulbs allow us to leave the lights on, and it still isn't too much light for the projection.
Over the couch is a 40x40 projection area which is painted onto the wall. It's not white, but has just a touch of gray in it to tone down the contrast. We have very small trim molding for a frame (painted white)
In the center of the room is a wine rack which holds the projector. (We're actually planning on hanging the projector from the ceiling).
On the other end of the room we have a round, glass top, table and four chairs. In the corner near the table is a sort of shelving unit which holds a dvd player, surround sound controls, lighting controls (we have track lighting to spotlight the images displayed on either side wall). It is also where we store demo albums, and have a few nic nacs, antique cameras (on top shelf) and awards displayed. One shelf is used for the laptop during projections.
We can close the door to keep from being disturbed, AND we have music playing so that it blocks out any noise from the store - (my daughter has a bridal accessory store in there as well).

We use Prism Projector software for the projection. It allows us to change the size of the image projected with the click of the mouse.

There are various ways of doing things, but here is how we do it.
For engagements and bridals, we bring them back in for the projection a few days after the session. Bring mom, dad, whoever. Lets make it a party!
We have edited the images down to a maximum of 15 images. MAX! We keep cutting until we get to 15, even though we are throwing out good images in the end. If you show too many, it really drops the sale (in our experience).
We explain that we have gone through and cut out any with eyes closed or that make them look dorky, and we have the best of the best, and "we're excited! WE HAVE 15 IMAGES FOR YOU!!!"
We do a slide show of the 15 showing them at 40" on the long side. Then we tell them we are going to go through again and start cutting them out until we get to their one or two favorites. It ususally takes four or five trips through them to get to their favorites. (We've arranged them so that they see what we believe to be the best first, then second favorite, then least favorite, then random from that point.)
The whole time we are showing them at 40" so they "can see them best" but moreso that they get used to the larger size.
Once we have found their favorite, we start to look for an appropriate size for them. It's interesting how quickly they get used to the size, and will start calling a 16x24 "the smaller one."
That's the whole point of projection - sell larger images.
Only three times in 2006 did a bride or her mom not purchase at least a 16x image of an engagement, and/or a 20x of her bridal.
One mother left with TWO 20x24 and one 16x20 of the engagement, and we just ordered a 24x30 of the bridal for her (it came in yesterday!)
Another couple purchased a 24x30 of their engagement, and I can't wait to see what they get from their wedding!!

After the wedding, we like to bring them back in and do the predesign at 40" but we don't always get to. (They have already seen it on-line while they are on their honeymoon, but they still get excited about it. If we can, we'll go over changes to be made at that point.
We also like to pull out a dozen of our favorites from the wedding day, and these are NOT your standard stuff you would expect to be used as wall portraits, and can pick up a few more add on sales from these.

Projection works when done well. It quickly makes you realize that you can really add to the bottom line. Many months, projection alone can pay the rent on our 1750 sq ft space.

Mark

Thank you! Thank you! These were exactly the responses I was hoping for. I'm blown away and very inspired.

Karen, I completely agree about having an incentive to order on the spot, and was thinking along those lines. But you took the ideas to another level with all the other details. I can't wait to see your studio when you get one - you are so ready!

Mark, I can just say wow! For the weddings that don't come back in to view, how do you handle them? (Have you posted your studio on OSP before? If not, can we request it? )

There are some who marry and move off immediately, and of course out of town weddings. We do online viewing for most clients, so they can order, but never go the sizes we are talking.

I've never posted it, but if I can remember to shoot it, I will.

You can call if you need to talk about specifice. (I think you are west coast, so there's a two hour difference).

Mark