July's Meeting is an educational Seminar: Our speaker is Anthony Rumley and the Topic is High School Seniors:

Anthony e. Rumley 

Master Photographic Craftsman, Certified Professional Photographer, Fellow of Photography

2008 President of the Virginia Professional Photographers Association

 Anthony is a Master Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and a Fellow of Photography who has dedicated his life to the art of photography.  He specializes in capturing and interpreting the inner and outward beauty of women and the relationships that exists in families through color and fine art black and white portraiture.  Creating these images comes naturally, whether it is the wedding day of a beautiful bride, capturing the spirit of a graduating senior, or creating a special family heirloom portrait.

His ability to put his subjects at ease shines through in many examples of his work.  This ability has been rewarded with merit prints for the many years through the Virginia Professional Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of America.

Kodak and Fuji Corporations have recognized Anthony’s professional excellence with both Kodak Gallery and Fuji Masterpiece awards. His work has been recognized and published in both local and international publications.  Anthony was also recently recognized for his community involvement with a profile in the Business Section of the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Points to cover:

Very brief introduction and background:  Master Photographer and navy background.

Why I decided to photograph seniors:   Similair to a fashion shoot.  Seniors are very open to cool ideas, very pliable.

Decide what market you want to go after.  High end or mass market.  Referals or mailings.

What is your style going to be.  Generic or specialty.  Indoors vs. outdoors.  Trendy vs. traditional.

What are your goals?  Defined and written.  How many seniors do you want to photograph?

What products are you going to offer?    What is the pricing for your product?

What levels of retouching, finishing, and paper types do you wish to offer?

How will you present and sell your items to your senior?

How do you get the first ones in the door?

How to handle that first Senior Ambassador, have a plan for what you will trade or pay.

Now you have the ambassador photographed, what do you do with the images?

Mailing list or not?  

Put your ambassador to work handing out your information and bringing their friends into the studio.  Offer to do a friends session and a family portrait session.  It will be good to have samples of a senior through your entire process.

Are you going to have a second photographer?

Are you doing the sales yourself, or someone else?  What rapport can your sales person build with your senior and their parents?

Senior gift pack when they arrive at the studio.

Confirm all appointments; offering and incentive to be early, not just on time.