One day that kids will most definitely not miss their school
day is on Portrait Day. As the year comes close to an end, all that students
wait for is the infamous school photograph.
Usually schools do not change their photographers for a few
years to avoid wasting time in briefing the photographer about their needs. An
old photographer probably knows what the school wants, their budget and the
kids too. But small private schools are more open in hiring new talent as it
opens the doors to much more new ideas and creativity.
Portrait Day is not a small event. It does not end with just
a photo for memory. There are various packages and offers available which range
from a portrait, yearbook, CD, pictures on mugs and t-shirts and many other
items.
This industry is yet in its nascent stage and a great
potential for photographers is seen in here. There are millions of schools in
the US alone where the business is booming, so you can imagine the exposure. School
Photography has definitely become a business to enter if you love taking
pictures and are good with kids.
Companies are exclusively catering to this niche. Along with
photographers, re-touching services also see a boost in their business. No one
wants to look fat or ugly in their yearbooks and so the services of image
retouchers are required. The pictures taken on this day make their way to many
family albums. They need to be perfect. In order to save time, school
photographers usually hire a retoucher who can add effects, remove unwanted
articles, make the model thin, adjust lighting etc. Retouching companies all
over the world are benefiting from this as outsourcing business to them is a
cheap.
So the business works in 3 parts:
1.
Photographer:
He is the one who will conduct the photoshoot
2.
Re-touching
Agency: Photographs will be passed on by the photographer to the agency who
will retouch and edit the pictures to make them perfect and send them back of
the photographer
3.
School Photography
Company: These are the people who give the clients the final portraits
however they want it. Printed, digital, on a cup, on a book, calendar,
yearbooks etc.
The company usually displays the pictures online where
clients can order personalized items. Parents can review the picture, ask for a
fee changes and order a print the way they want.
School photography is most definitely a growing business
with companies
, agencies and photographers focusing greatly on this niche.
Schools and parents are also working hard to give their children a memorable
gift as they leave school.