Need money in a hurry? Get your camera out and do what my friend Julie is doing!!!

38 replies
I literally just got off the phone to a photographer I know called Julie who attends the same networking events as I do and was blown away by the simplicity of her way of making quick, easy money.

She literally just walks into small businesses on the high street armed with her camera and offers to take professional profile pics for their Facebook, Twitter and blog accounts.

She charges £25 a shot and it takes her minutes to do. (I know as I have seen how she manages to get every new member of the networking event to allow her to take their pics for their network page profile. She takes them into the venue foyer, or grounds takes their pics and charges £25 a shot EVERY Time.)

She gets around 5 jobs per morning/afternoon just taking profile pics not to mention enquiries about other photography work along the way.

Now here is the bit that floored me:

I asked what she did if they didn't have a Twitter account or blog etc?

She said she just thanked them for their time and went to the next shop.



What a wasted opportunity.

From the way that she was talking, it sounded as if the majority of people she speaks to don't have a Twitter account etc.

That is a great opportunity and such an easy way to get the foot in the door with businesses.

It is not intrusive and is a perfect way to introduce our services to local businesses.

If they don't have a Twitter account or a Facebook page for their business then the opportunity is now open to say that you can do that for them.

The phone call was only minutes ago so I haven't had a chance to think much about how to use this opportunity but I wanted to share it with. Hopefully it will inspire you and see how you could run with an idea like this.

Needless to say I have invited her in to see me next week

Gary
#camera #friend #hurry #julie #money
  • Profile picture of the author Tony Tikos
    Sounds like a good idea, but...there is some wasted opportunity there, she could be making more money by creating facebook and twitter accounts for them
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Miranda
    I am a pro photographer. This is a great idea and Iv'e never thought about doing something like this. You are right about her missing out on more money! Mainstream photography in a lot of markets is not like it used to be and using the internet and social media I think is where the industry is going.

    Steven
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Wow. Awesome story. There's more than one way to skin a cat!
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  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    I really like the idea.... She could either walk out with $25... or $325....

    Hmm.....

    That would make a really nice new camera a business expense...
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    • Profile picture of the author Jay Rhome
      Originally Posted by Amir Luis View Post

      I really like the idea.... She could either walk out with $25... or $325....

      Hmm.....

      That would make a really nice new camera a business expense...
      Or she could continue what she's doing, but refer these folks to Gary for a cut. It helps everyone, and she continues to do what she does best, yet make the most of it.
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      • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
        Originally Posted by Jay Rhome View Post

        Or she could continue what she's doing, but refer these folks to Gary for a cut. It helps everyone, and she continues to do what she does best, yet make the most of it.
        Agreed.... I was just getting selfish and thinking of how I can justify to my girlfriend spending $700 on a camera...
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    • Profile picture of the author meevamarie
      Originally Posted by Amir Luis View Post

      I really like the idea.... She could either walk out with $25... or $325....

      Hmm.....

      That would make a really nice new camera a business expense...
      Yep! Sure would - What a great icebreaker too. There was another guy (last year on WSO) who went to the restaurant in his city and asked if he could take videos - Pictures of their restaurant, made them into a video - then ranked the video on google. He was contacted by other restaurants - they wanted to be there too. Who wouldn't.
      I completely forgot about that. My stuff is ranking. BNI meetings, Chambers, meetup.com, all of those local places and groups. Two good things are in our favor: businesses aren't too busy, and businesses want to be busy with new customers.
      Oh geeze.. need business cards!
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      • Profile picture of the author theory expert
        Banned
        Originally Posted by meevamarie View Post

        Yep! Sure would - What a great icebreaker too. There was another guy (last year on WSO) who went to the restaurant in his city and asked if he could take videos - Pictures of their restaurant, made them into a video - then ranked the video on google. He was contacted by other restaurants - they wanted to be there too. Who wouldn't.
        I completely forgot about that. My stuff is ranking. BNI meetings, Chambers, meetup.com, all of those local places and groups. Two good things are in our favor: businesses aren't too busy, and businesses want to be busy with new customers.
        Oh geeze.. need business cards!
        I think WF member midasman wrote a post on similar tactic a while back.
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  • Profile picture of the author moneycometh
    Originally Posted by garyfromdurham View Post

    I literally just got off the phone to a photographer I know called Julie who attends the same networking events as I do and was blown away by the simplicity of her way of making quick, easy money.

    She literally just walks into small businesses on the high street armed with her camera and offers to take professional profile pics for their Facebook, Twitter and blog accounts.

    She charges £25 a shot and it takes her minutes to do. (I know as I have seen how she manages to get every new member of the networking event to allow her to take their pics for their network page profile. She takes them into the venue foyer, or grounds takes their pics and charges £25 a shot EVERY Time.)

    She gets around 5 jobs per morning/afternoon just taking profile pics not to mention enquiries about other photography work along the way.

    Now here is the bit that floored me:

    I asked what she did if they didn't have a Twitter account or blog etc?

    She said she just thanked them for their time and went to the next shop.



    What a wasted opportunity.

    From the way that she was talking, it sounded as if the majority of people she speaks to don't have a Twitter account etc.

    That is a great opportunity and such an easy way to get the foot in the door with businesses.

    It is not intrusive and is a perfect way to introduce our services to local businesses.

    If they don't have a Twitter account or a Facebook page for their business then the opportunity is now open to say that you can do that for them.

    The phone call was only minutes ago so I haven't had a chance to think much about how to use this opportunity but I wanted to share it with. Hopefully it will inspire you and see how you could run with an idea like this.

    Needless to say I have invited her in to see me next week

    Gary
    Gary,
    What an awesome opportunity. I can use this at my next Chamber of Commerce meeting. I was able to secure a meeting with a Dr. of Audiology by simply networking with the chamber members, then I landed the account! Now business is being thrown my way. Imagine that. What a great feeling!

    Now that I can ad this item to my bag of is simply awesome.
    I'm beginning to have some success with barbershops, too. Twitter and Facebook is a one-two punch for them and they like having someone who can do it for them.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnA
      This is impressive! I am psyched for you ..I love hearing success stories

      is there a 'recipe' or model that you used...?

      I can gain reasonable access to docs of almost ANY specialty (dentist, podiatrist, MD's. OT, DC, etc ) because I am a retired doc...if I can assist ...somehow..?? in helping you gain access to docs... I would be willing to try...

      JohnA
      former Dr John
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      • Profile picture of the author LisaSchwartz
        There are partner opportunities everywhere. I was talking to a bank consultant, yes, they work for a bank. And when we chatted about what we do, they said, yes, we provide one of those of services too. I was floored. A bank, doing website SEO, what has this country come to . Anyway, it turns out that they had to do their own site design (it's a private bank here) and their IT guy did such a good job a customer asked about it and they did it for the customer for like $25,000. So they thought that would be a good biz model to enter LOL. hilarious, anyway I said that we should do a seminar for customers and prospects at their bank. We are working toward that. You just have to chat with folks and see what people are doing now. In these times, businesses are looking to get creative, I suppose.
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        • Profile picture of the author peacedr
          A bank offering seo? I'd thought I'd heard it all. lol.
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          • Profile picture of the author SamyE
            You can also use a Kodak ZI8 and shot a short intro video, then upload to youtube and put the video on the clients web site as well
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            Samy Elashmawy Simple Sales Training
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        • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
          Originally Posted by LisaSchwartz View Post

          There are partner opportunities everywhere. I was talking to a bank consultant, yes, they work for a bank. And when we chatted about what we do, they said, yes, we provide one of those of services too. I was floored. A bank, doing website SEO, what has this country come to . Anyway, it turns out that they had to do their own site design (it's a private bank here) and their IT guy did such a good job a customer asked about it and they did it for the customer for like $25,000. So they thought that would be a good biz model to enter LOL. hilarious, anyway I said that we should do a seminar for customers and prospects at their bank. We are working toward that. You just have to chat with folks and see what people are doing now. In these times, businesses are looking to get creative, I suppose.
          My wife came home yesterday after she helped her mother with her banking. The tellers were all wearing T-shirts advertising a local flower shop. She asked about the shirts and was told that the bank believes in supporting local businesses. So I went to see them and agreed to switch my bank accounts over in exchange for letting me place portrait displays in both local branches and all the tellers wearing our T-shirts 4 days each month! And they charge less banking fees and pay more interest than my old bank!
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          • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
            Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

            My wife came home yesterday after she helped her mother with her banking. The tellers were all wearing T-shirts advertising a local flower shop. She asked about the shirts and was told that the bank believes in supporting local businesses. So I went to see them and agreed to switch my bank accounts over in exchange for letting me place portrait displays in both local branches and all the tellers wearing our T-shirts 4 days each month! And they charge less banking fees and pay more interest than my old bank!
            That is AWESOME.....

            I would join that bank in a hot minute.

            My credit union just brushes me out the door.... Too big for their britches I guess. They don't care for the little guy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Huskerdarren
    Gary, what a great idea. I'll have to ask my wife if she'd like to do this. She has a brand new DSLR that she mostly uses to take pix of our kids and family events. May as well monetize and maximize such a nice camera.

    I could see $49 for the pictures (10 - 20) over 30 minutes max, delivered on a cheap thumb drive or via Dropbox, then another $49 to $99 for a styled out Facebook fan page if they don't have one. After the job, ask for a testimonial, referrals and upsell them to other services such as Google Places optimization, SEO, video SEO, web design, email marketing. I love it, face to face foot in the door marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author JustinDupre
    What a great idea! Now I know what to do with the camera next time I'm out traveling.
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  • Profile picture of the author dv8
    Does she upload the photos for them? I assume not.
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    • Very interesting.

      The thing that catches me, as most of you, is the way she handles businesses that don't have Twitter, FB, etc.

      Thanks for your time, bye bye.

      What I'm reading here is all of you worried about the missed opportunity.

      The over riding theme from successful people on Warrior Forum is find something, do it well, and do it over and over.

      She has discovered her "niche", and is doing it, and perhaps doesn't want to deal with the developing, creating, etc of accounts for people.

      Could she monetize it..through a partnership or whatever? Sure. Could she do it herself? Likely, if she wanted to.

      But, she has identified a service she can offer, and provides that service, and does not worry about making every person she contacts a customer.

      That is what I've culled from Mr Durham's posts about cold calling. Identify if they are interested in your offer immediately, and if they are not, move on.

      It's a numbers game, right?
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      • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
        Originally Posted by CleanMountainLiving View Post

        Very interesting.

        The thing that catches me, as most of you, is the way she handles businesses that don't have Twitter, FB, etc.

        Thanks for your time, bye bye.

        What I'm reading here is all of you worried about the missed opportunity.

        The over riding theme from successful people on Warrior Forum is find something, do it well, and do it over and over.

        She has discovered her "niche", and is doing it, and perhaps doesn't want to deal with the developing, creating, etc of accounts for people.

        Could she monetize it..through a partnership or whatever? Sure. Could she do it herself? Likely, if she wanted to.

        But, she has identified a service she can offer, and provides that service, and does not worry about making every person she contacts a customer.

        That is what I've culled from Mr Durham's posts about cold calling. Identify if they are interested in your offer immediately, and if they are not, move on.

        It's a numbers game, right?
        She is being smart by focusing on what she does best. Today I photographed 9 quick sessions and each of them will earn me over $500 in profits. $4500 to $9,000 for a couple of hours of photographing. I asked each client if they had a facebook page so I can send them a video of some of the fantasy portraits I created for them to post on their wall. Most did and some did not but I'm not about to waste time trying to convince them they need a facebook fan page... I bought Martins Crumlish WSO Facebook Fanpage Arsenal at: http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...1302-sold.html but decided to hire Martin to build a new fan page for me instead of doing it myself. Hmm... I think I'll hire a VA from the Philippines, use Martins package to train him to create fan pages for me and mail each of these off-liners a sales letter for a Custom-built Facebook page. That way I can keep doing what I do best and outsource all of the hard technical stuff out to others while I continue to have fun taking pictures!
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        • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
          Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

          She is being smart by focusing on what she does best.
          The thing is she doesn't need to create the FB page if they want one. There are plenty of people who can do it.

          If I was here, I'd definitely sell FB fan page creation and outsource it.
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          • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
            Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

            The thing is she doesn't need to create the FB page if they want one. There are plenty of people who can do it.

            If I was here, I'd definitely sell FB fan page creation and outsource it.
            Absolutely... that is what I meant in my post earlier.... Heck... there are warriors that will do them for $67... even cheaper on fiverr....
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      • Profile picture of the author RRG
        Originally Posted by CleanMountainLiving View Post

        Very interesting.

        The thing that catches me, as most of you, is the way she handles businesses that don't have Twitter, FB, etc.

        Thanks for your time, bye bye.

        What I'm reading here is all of you worried about the missed opportunity.

        The over riding theme from successful people on Warrior Forum is find something, do it well, and do it over and over.

        She has discovered her "niche", and is doing it, and perhaps doesn't want to deal with the developing, creating, etc of accounts for people.

        Could she monetize it..through a partnership or whatever? Sure. Could she do it herself? Likely, if she wanted to.

        But, she has identified a service she can offer, and provides that service, and does not worry about making every person she contacts a customer.

        That is what I've culled from Mr Durham's posts about cold calling. Identify if they are interested in your offer immediately, and if they are not, move on.

        It's a numbers game, right?
        I agree with that. She could find a JV partner who wants more of that type of business. For each referral that converts, she gets 20-25%. As you say, then she can concentrate on what she does best and enjoys, and leverage her efforts for passive income.

        It's also a good deal for her partner; 75-80% of something is better than nothing, and he didn't have to prospect for those leads himself.

        Joint ventures, baby!
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  • Profile picture of the author deannatroupe
    This is a great idea! It will justify to my husband the expense of joining paid networking groups and allow me to get out of the house every once and a while.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mo Goulet
    I've picked up a few great ideas here. I'm already providing services to local businesses and the major problem is always quality content. I now carry a flip camera and many times I can do a quick 30 second video and help them convert and pop up on youtube where they can post to the facebook news feed.

    you can even go into a pizza parlor and shoot a series of videos of the different types of pizza and dishes. Go in for about 2 hours and shoot about 30 different videos and tons of photos and they'll have enough content for about 2 months. Everyday can be a new 30 second youtube video and special for a new pizza or dish. The possibilities are endless. Think about Sushi restaurants. Most people know crap and have to ask about everything on the menu. Why not put up 50 30 second videos on your website/facebook page explaining every dish...DAH?

    I'm going to add these to my menu of services today...My brain is boiling over right now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Doug Terry
      Originally Posted by proapc View Post

      I've picked up a few great ideas here. I'm already providing services to local businesses and the major problem is always quality content. I now carry a flip camera and many times I can do a quick 30 second video and help them convert and pop up on youtube where they can post to the facebook news feed.

      you can even go into a pizza parlor and shoot a series of videos of the different types of pizza and dishes. Go in for about 2 hours and shoot about 30 different videos and tons of photos and they'll have enough content for about 2 months. Everyday can be a new 30 second youtube video and special for a new pizza or dish. The possibilities are endless. Think about Sushi restaurants. Most people know crap and have to ask about everything on the menu. Why not put up 50 30 second videos on your website/facebook page explaining every dish...DAH?

      I'm going to add these to my menu of services today...My brain is boiling over right now.
      Excellent idea for creating content and by adding the social media photos to the mix you have another earn for very little effort.
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  • Profile picture of the author pamela99
    This is great, got the chance to go to some places and go out sometimes but at the same time earning.
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  • Profile picture of the author Federer123
    Super idea.

    Hint: an attractive young woman with minimal photography skills but great sales skills could absolutely CLEAN up with this tactic.
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    • Profile picture of the author want2knowhow
      Originally Posted by Federer123 View Post

      Super idea.

      Hint: an attractive young woman with minimal photography skills but great sales skills could absolutely CLEAN up with this tactic.
      ....wow. Just wow.
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  • Profile picture of the author stfuser
    great idea, thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex.R
    Not heard this one before, just shows what some people think up.
    That's the new world of the internet, brings up all sorts of new opportunities,
    You could expand on this quite easily, all it takes is a little get up and go and
    away you go or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author areevez
    I think tthis is probably the BEST way to make a first approach on a business. It seems very un threatening, just offering to take a few professional pics? and maybe a quick video to put on their FB, twitter, Website and at a very cheap price of like 25-30 bucks, who wouldnt mind paying that? Once thats locked in upsell upsell upsell, I must get a decent camera asap
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      When I first read this thread I thought it was a great idea and then I forgot all about it! It is soooooooooo easy just to start reading another thread, oh and ah about THAT method, start reading yet another thread and never take action...

      So, besides taking profile pictures of the business owner and uploading it to Facebook and possibly Twitter, what other opportunities do you guys see?

      Google Places for one, with pictures of their storefront and even inside pictures. Can you put pictures on Bing and Yahoo? What else?

      To take one picture and upload it, what would be a reasonable charge? Take ten? What to charge?

      Thank you, Eva
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  • Profile picture of the author jondabach
    She sounds ballsy - let me take your picture for 25 is a bit of a funny pitch - but I love how adding "facebook" and "twitter" makes it legitimate...and the money is just low enough that it's hard to say no to.
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  • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
    actually honestly it doesnt sound that good to me.

    because if i am the business owner i would be thinking.

    1. why must i hire u just to take a photo that i can take myself or ask my employee to take.

    2. most businesses do not like sales man knocking on their doors. [do you like them knocking on your door?]

    3. its not scalable, you want something that you can scale.


    But of cause if you are just saying a quick buck then yes, this might work, BUT then again there are many methods and ideas for a quick buck.

    i think its successful because of the networking event.
    if you try going door to door its a very low rate.

    AND in addition, NOT EVERYONE can do this.
    you need to be a pro in photography.
    its not any tom dick and harry taking out a cam and offering your services.

    if not all the more they will be asking "why must i pay u to take a photo"
    imagine the boss ask "do you have any professional training or qualifications related to photography?"

    and worse, if you are just a tom dick harry taking photos obviously the quality will not be good, they will be thinking "this kind of standard i also can take, why pay you $25 for this"



    just my opinion.. but of cos if you want to be a sales man [which this in a way is] you got to be thick skin and just do.
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    Pain is a perception, so is defeat & happiness!
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  • I think it is a great foot in the door - and very ingenious,

    Newbieee brings up some negative objection points that might be addressed.

    For myself, I was thinking if you are just "dropping in", some people may not be "prepared" for a portrait (think bad hair-day) or have other things on their schedule.
    How then, to turn the initial meet into a scheduled portrait session? That also could include setup of facebook, etc...

    Heck, maybe throw in a group photo for the lobby...to get the ball rolling.
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

      I think it is a great foot in the door - and very ingenious,

      Newbieee brings up some negative objection points that might be addressed.

      For myself, I was thinking if you are just "dropping in", some people may not be "prepared" for a portrait (think bad hair-day) or have other things on their schedule.
      How then, to turn the initial meet into a scheduled portrait session? That also could include setup of facebook, etc...

      Heck, maybe throw in a group photo for the lobby...to get the ball rolling.
      The bad hair day is a perfect way of setting up an appointment and have everybody looking their best! On your first visit you could take some general photos of their store/location, exterior, interior and put together a quick slideshow that you then could show the owner on your appointment day.

      If you go to google places and check to see who has pictures, most don't and if they do, its a generic photo somebody else took and looks like cra*p.

      Did some research myself to answer my own question and yes, you can put photos on Bing business listings. Go to Bing Bing Business Portal (BETA)
      to set it up. As the day turns, actually have an appointment with a client later today. Will do my best to pitch and will even set him up for free just to learn the ropes of Bing and Yahoo. I'm working on his website but was going to cancel him because he is taking FOREVER to give me the information that I need. Now, I'll approach it differently, lol.

      You could also submit photos to Linkedin. Any other suggestions welcome!

      Eva
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