How to Bid on School Photography Contracts
Bidding on school photography contracts can be a daunting task if you are unfamiliar with the system. The needs of the students, the teachers, the parents, the administrators and the school boards must be considered. Follow certain steps to create a plan of action that will enable a successful bid.
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Instructions
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Bidding on School Photography Jobs
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Create an updated contact list with all contact information for each level of the process that includes Board President, Board Secretary, Superintendent, Principal and Parent Teacher Association President. This will be the list of who to approach and correspond with.
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2
Create a bid that is realistic for the budget of the school. It needs to offer what the school is looking for as well as providing them with additional services included in the same price. If unsure of the demographics, create a bid that is an all-inclusive price while a second bid should be a cost per pupil. A Presentation Portfolio of prior work and a resume should be included in each packet. Depending on the district, consider creating a PDF version as well as a hard copy.
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Submit the materials to all parties at one time. If unsure who needs to receive the initial bid, consult the Board Secretary for clarification. Wait at least one week before making first contact after the package has been received if no notification has already been sent.
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4
Make yourself readily available for clarification by members of the board and administrators. Boards do not like surprises at their meetings and would prefer to have questions answered prior to presenting the bid to the public. At any point, the bid can be overlooked or denied for any reason, which includes "unable to reach bidder."
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Attend the Board Meeting where the Board will discuss the bids from each vendor and be prepared to field questions from anyone in attendance, including parents of the students who will be photographed. When the bid is approved, file any requested paperwork in a timely fashion so as to not lose the contract.
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Tips & Warnings
After a successful bid, do the job and exceed expectations. School boards will reward the photographer with additional work and perhaps a multiple-year exclusivity contract.
References
- Photo Credit photographer image by dave verch from Fotolia.com
