A picture is worth a thousand words. When leveraged properly, it can also be worth hundreds of dollars in support for your booster club. During the Boosted Volunteer Podcast, Founder and CEO of BoosterHub Robin Eissler sits down with industry experts to provide practical tips that will give your club’s productivity a boost.
On the episode The Art of Sports Photography, Eissler chatted with Haim Ariav, the founder of Glossy Finish. The youth sports photography powerhouse is changing the game with its innovative approach to athletic imagery. Here’s a glimpse into the conversation.
Photos and Fundraising: A Winning Formula
For decades, sports teams and student-athletes have participated in group and individual photo sessions. However, most booster clubs fail to tap into this revenue-generating trend.
The typical youth athlete photo process goes something like this:
The big problem with this formula is the lack of consistency across teams. Photo quality and format will vary depending on who takes the photographs and what sort of presentation strategy is used. Pricing can vary greatly, too, which may lead to frustration among parents.
By centralizing the photography process, your booster club can create a better experience for parents and athletes while also raising more funds. Here’s what Ariav recommends:
Meet With the AD
First off, your booster club needs to meet with the athletic director. Let them know that the club would like to take on the responsibility of organizing team and athlete photographs for all of the school’s organizations. The AD will likely be relieved to pass this task on to the club.
Connect With Skilled Photographers
Next, you’ll need to find a skilled photographer in your area. Carefully vet the photographer candidates, ensuring they have the skills and equipment necessary to accommodate your needs. Look for competitive prices and choose the person who is the best match for your school.
Schedule Events
Now, you are ready to book photo sessions with student-athletes. Coordinate with coaches and school faculty so that photo sessions are minimally disruptive. Make sure you keep parents in the loop, too, so they can encourage relatives to purchase photo packages.
Compile Photo Books and Banners
Finally, put those great photos to use. Don’t stop with family photo packages. Use photography content to compose team photo books (memory books for athletes), banners for the school’s pep rallies, and other visual content.
Expanding Your Fundraising Horizons With Photography
In order to do the most good, your booster club needs to generate as much revenue as possible. Photography sessions and selling personalized merchandise to the families of student-athletes are a few excellent ways to generate more funds for the club. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start making moves to grow your club!
