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All Forums > Tech Talk > Tech Talk Forum Page 21 > A better way: event/headliner photo meet & greets
AuthorPost
Proxy
Member


38 Posts
5/09
Posted - Oct 6 2009 : 11:51AM
I always see those headliner meet and greets with the ubiquitous $10 Polaroid shots...and was thinking of a better way to leverage technology and increase profit margins.
My thought was to use a digital camera and instead of giving out a Polaroid, burn the image to a disk OR to offer the Polaroid with an option of a burned copy.
Ultimately the scenario would work as follows:
Patron would pay their $10 for the photo and be given a number, picture would be taken via digital camera equipped with a eye-fi/wireless card.
Image would be transmitted to a laptop, the shot would show up on the laptop and someone would burn the image to the CD. Patron would browse around the store while this was going on, their number would be called and they could pick up their image.
I had originally thought about just e-mailing the picture to the patron, having a second laptop with wireless access so they could check that they got the image but I was wondering what the implications of the transmission of the image would be, if there would be any record keeping requirements, etc.
Proposed Pricing:
Polaroid or CD $10
Both $15
I was even thinking:
Polaroid $10
CD $15 (as it is a premium product and lasts longer)
Both $20
I know the technology works as I shoot this way all the time, using a Canon 1Ds Mk III wireless to a computer in studio...but even now a simple point and shoot can accommodate and eye-fi card. http://www.eye.fi/
So the equipment lay out would be a P&S, an eye-fi card, and a laptop with wireless to act as the ad-hoc storage device and burner.
I sort of got the idea seeing those kiosks at the local fair, the ones where they do the digital shots and then make key chains, hats, buttons and t-shirts whatever with the image on it. I guess ultimately you could do all the t-shirts and stuff but I was really thinking only about delivering digital images to the patron...and secondarily creating a way to establish an "e-mail list" of new patrons and maybe having them browse the store longer.
Is anyone doing this now? Any thoughts on it's viability.

Edited by - Proxy on Oct 6 2009


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BigBobxxx
Senior Member

2681 Posts
5/04
Posted - Oct 6 2009 : 1:00PM
I went to a stroke-shop meet & greet photo-op, with Jade DeLuxxxor, about five years ago.
She had a digital camera with a decent printer using photo-quality paper.
Got an 8-1/2x11 color print right-on-the-spot for $25 (nude).
The best part was hanging out with her and chatting for over an hour (she was naked the whole time between taking photos).
How can you put a price on that
With today's flash-drives, they ought to include putting a copy on your flash-drive at no extra charge. Better yet, they should give you a discount if you'll accept a flash-drive only file copy -- and save them the printing costs.
Plus, you could get some seriously hi-res files to view (instead of a crappy single print).
Saves everyone money, and is good for the environment too.
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Gentleman Jon All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

1881 Posts
6/05
Posted - Oct 6 2009 : 1:07PM
I've wondered about that for years. I think Polaroids have been kept around in pornstar autograph sessions in adult stores and strip clubs for a combination of some people actually liking the retro kitschiness of Polaroids, and for calming the fears of the guy who's afraid of the wrong people seeing copies of him in an adult business with a pornstar, and wants to know that he has the only existing copy of that photograph. Though, surely there's not too many of those guys left, if there ever even were that many of them.
Since undeveloped Polaroid film is becoming an ever scarcer commodity, pornstars making store visits may soon have to go digital, whether they really want to, or not.
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DrP0rn0
Senior Member

1836 Posts
5/04
Posted - Oct 6 2009 : 9:46PM
I think this is one of those crossover moments in history. Right now tangible real pictures are obvious and a commodity to the guy that's willing to pay $10 to $20 for a picture of him with a porn star. Laptops, wireless interfaces, and digital cameras are a bit more expensive than a cheap old Polaroid camera.
Having *two* people to man the operation: One on the camera, and one on the laptop, makes things more intricate. Waiting for it? Oh that's nothing like picking up a low res, but *real* picture seconds after meeting "her".
I think this is a great idea that has logistics against it. I'm *all about* digital photography. How do we make it work for this exact situation? I need to give it some thought. The prospect now is rather clunky compared to the instant gratification and extremely cheap Polaroid.
Dr. P
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Proxy
Member

38 Posts
5/09
Posted - Oct 7 2009 : 7:56PM
I totally understand the logistics concerns but my rebuttal is as follows:
Most of the time there are a couple staff members at the local shop dedicated to this process. Even if there are not often I have seen at least one if not two other people with the talent at some of these.
So lets us, for the sake of this exercise consider that staff is not so much of an issue.
In timing a develop cycle of a Polaroid and the burn of a single digital image on a CD, with a regular laptop, the CD wins. The Polaroid,takes about 2.5 minutes to fully develop, the CD, about 35 seconds for a 16 MP image.
Now I don't disagree that logistically the equipment is much more complex and requires a certain level of skill...but if all things work well, think about the outcome.
Instead of a crappy and poorly lit souvenir, you end up with a high quality digital image that can basically last "forever", can be reprinted if you lose the old one, can be used as a screen saver, resized for a forum icon, etc.
Now as for standing around and waiting for the CD or whatever...most of the time I have seen this done (and I am no expert) the talent is naked and the guys enjoy hanging out watching her anyway. I have never really seen these shot is a back room but actually out on the floor of the shop. A person takes the money, the guys stand in line, get the picture taken, are handed the picture as it develops, then they can pay "extra" for a signature.
Alternatively I have seen it where the patron pays, is offered the option of a signature, if he or she chooses the signature, the picture is held, then after all the pictures are taken, the talent signs the developed ones.
I totally see where you are coming from Dr. P....the principle of KISS would come into call here, but as a person that does shoot studio and field work all the time with the aforementioned equipment...it is pretty much at appliance level...very easy to do.
lastly I saw this little ditty...
The "digital Polaroid"
http://www.zink.com/polaroid-pogo-digital-camera
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