Tara Farmer

Monday, October 13, 2008 #

Senior DVDs

So you may have heard about Burrell's new Senior DVD, but you already create your own DVDs, so why should you order them through the lab?

Well, I have a couple reasons that may help you decide. Yes, it is nice to be in complete control of a slide show you create, but that takes time and these days we know time is money. You must also remain competitive with unique products and use your time wisely. A lab created Senior DVD saves you time and you can still show your creativity in how you layout the disk label, title and credit slides. Just drag and drop your images into the template as you do when ordering prints and the lab does the rest. You can check the royalty free music we have provided or choose your own selection of music. Pretty simple right?

Another reason to give Burrell's DVD a try is that when you order the Senior DVD, not only are you getting the slideshow, but you also get an MP4 (mpeg 4) file. The MP4 is a file that Seniors will really want because it allows them to post their slideshow onto social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube to name a few. If they want to get real fancy they can upload the slideshow to their cell phones and share with all their friends. This is a great way to have your Senior Ambassadors market for you.

Before you ask, No images cannot be copied and printed from the DVD. While I was at a studio recently, we tried every way we could think of to try and print these images. The Burrell staff has disabled that ability within the coding of the disk.

There are many different ways that this DVD can be utilized. It can be used to get the customer to order the next package up or as a nice add on. For different prices you can offer different number of images: best of session to all images shot. Sports shooters can also use it. Put the action shots with a team photo to create a team DVD and then offer at picture day a more personalized version as well.

There have been some misinterpretations as to the intended purpose of this new product. While we do offer Slide Show DVDs and DVD Proofs, the Senior DVD was designed with High School Seniors in mind and so it is edgier with more graphics and transitions to grab and keep their attention. Though it may look to some like it has too much going on, I suggest giving it a try and see what your Seniors think. Make sure to tell them about the MP4 and what they can do with it. Order one with multiple Seniors and let it run on a TV or computer monitor in a waiting room. Post it on your studio MySpace, Facebook, Blog or YouTube. Use it as a way to stand out from your competition and to spark interest in your studio.

You have nothing to lose by just giving it a try !

See Senior DVD Demo

posted @ Monday, October 13, 2008 5:20 PM | Feedback (2)

Thursday, June 19, 2008 #

Liver Brownies Anyone ?

Some of you may know me from the Burrell Help Desk, where I was the Camera and Software Specialist. Or perhaps from online and BEC courses. When Don got the lab back, we had a discussion about education, which eventually led to me becoming the Marketing Sales Representative for Tennessee and Kentucky.

While I'm out visiting studios or attending trade shows, I'm sometimes asked how I got into photography. The answer is that I grew up surrounded by creative artists, which instilled in me a love of photography. While in high school I took that love to the next level by joining the high school newspaper as its dedicated Photographer. At the end of my senior year, a teacher nominated me for Columbia College Chicago's High School Institute program. Of course I decided to take the Photography course. Once I enrolled, I never wanted to leave. I stayed every semester (including each summer), only leaving once I earned my Bachelors Degree. While attending Columbia I also studied Multimedia Design and minored in English Literature. So I'm pretty good with computers (if you need Photoshop help) and I like to read a lot (know any good books?).

From Chicago to Tennessee

I decided to move to Tennessee because that's where my father is originally from, and I still have cousins there, so it felt like a second home to me. I brought with me a little black American Cocker Spaniel named Sophie. She's a rescue, but has been a great companion. She enjoys riding along in the car and visiting her "friends" (who we make Liver Brownies for) and running all over the 10 acres we are currently living on. Life here truly runs at a different pace, but there's no place that I'd rather be.

When I'm not working I am either spending time with my family and friends or taking in the great outdoors. I enjoy backpacking in the Smokies or kayaking the many nearby lakes and rivers. Of course, whether I'm rock climbing or riding my mountain bike in the woods, I always have my camera with me, just in case.