Pageant photoshoot ROI
I come from a corporate background (5 years in Target Marketing at their Headquarters), so ROI, cost/benefit analysis, and double-declining annual depreciation come naturally to me. Just kidding about the last one—I was a marketing major, not finance!
But I do know about ROI, and I want to break that down for you using a client’s example today.
ROI, or return on investment, is what you get in return for the money you’ve invested into something.
Pageant headshots have an extremely compelling base ROI: stunning photos of yourself that will stand the test of time. Plus, it’s a need. I have seen very few girls win without professional headshots while competing, so getting an amazing capture of yourself is a must to stand out in the judge’s mind right away.
But additional opportunities can be sought out when you have images that WOW. Let me introduce you to my friend, Maranda. Maranda is the 2019 National American Miss Nebraska Teen, and it’s easy to see why she won! She’s naturally stunning, a true role model, and one of the friendliest clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I felt like we were old friends, even though we’d just met!
Maranda booked one of my travel specials which included 2 outfits. From that one session, she:
Won a national photogenic competition which gained her full entry into the system’s next state pageant, $100 gift card for gowns and virtual hair and makeup lessons.
Placed top 5 in National American Miss National Photogenic
Used her headshot for competition where she placed 1st runner-up to the National title
Was showcased on Pageant Planet
Created autograph cards for her year
Was featured on two different social media accounts and used in Facebook marketing for one of them
Won 1st runner up to the NAM National title
From a strictly financial perspective, her winnings far outweighed the cost of her photoshoot. My best advice to anyone who I work with—USE your photos! Submit them to magazines, post them on social media, & use them in competitions to get the very most out of your session with me. There’s nothing that makes me happier then seeing our photos put to good use.
And then in addition to the monetary gains you may win with your images, the potential for incremental exposure is great! Cultivating your place in the pageant world can lead to doors opening in the future—from brands, pageant systems, agencies—you name it! This takes time, patience, and consistency, but I can attest the pageant world has many opportunities for those willing to work for them.
Next time we get to work together and you’re in love with your final images, use them to their fullest potential to maximize the ROI of your photoshoot.
Curious for more Britany Link Photography? Check out these past photoshoots & studio updates
