Thursday, December 22, 2011

Portrait competition

The portraits featured below are from past students who are now making money from their photography skills.

Our January 2012 photography courses are filling up fast, to book and for more information please call 01603 629 739 or visit our website www.barrettandcoe.co.uk

1st - Photographed by ex-student Marisa Taylor

2nd - Photographed by Ian Wilson

3rd Photographed by Brenda Wooldridge

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Partnership


The National Childbirth Trust  (NCT) have just made the following nationalpress release:                                                                       
                         
NCT partnered with Barrett & Coe

NCT, theUK’s largest charity for parents, has partnered up with Barrett & Coe, oneof the longest running photography companies in the country, to trial afantastic new offer.

Thepartnership gives NCT supporters the chance to raise valuable funding as eachphotography session sold will contribute 50% revenue to NCT. The contract withBarrett & Coe has provided the charity with an effective opportunity toengage with expectant and new mums and dads at a key point in their life.

The extrarevenue generated from this joint venture will enable NCT to continue providingresearch, information, training and support that focus’ on the needs ofparents.

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive at NCT said: “NCT is delighted to bepartnering with Barrett and Coe as our official photography agents. We believethe professionalism and ethical approach taken by the company will result in agreat experience for families, whilst also raising much needed funds to supportthe charity’s work with expectant and new parents across the UK.”
  
Andrew Coe, CEO of Barrett & Coe said:  “Barrett & Coe arevery proud and excited to be able to provide NCT families with an exclusiveopportunity to capture their memories, at the same time enabling us to supportthe fantastic work that NCT does within local communities.  Thepartnership of NCT and Barrett & Coe unites a charity and company where ourbrand values complement each other perfectly.”  

Barrett& Coe will ensure NCT supporters a friendly service combined with beautiful,modern, relaxed photographs. They use talented, experienced photographers whoexcel at capturing the true essence of babies and families in both traditionaland contemporary styles.


Ends

Monday, December 19, 2011

New Studios

Following the finish of our December photography courses eight graduates will be opening studios of their own early in the new year.

Elaine is visiting three this week who, have already earmarked premises, to advise on suitability and layout. Studios do not have to be large, neither do they have to have a high street presence.About 500 to 750 square feet is about right with rents in the region of £6,000 to £7,000.

It is usually possible to negotiate a rent free period, and a break clause after one year. As a start up business there should be no rates to pay in the first year.To start a business always requires much more preparation than originally envisaged, but with Elaine and David on hand to help the whole process can be streamlined and made easier.

A further ten studios are scheduled for 2012.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Portrait image competition

Barrett and Coe franchisees (all ex students from our Wedding and Portrait courses) benefit extrodinarily from continuous and ongoing tuition from one of the UK's leading Wedding and Portrait photographers David MacDonald.

The following images caught his eye whilst judging the October Portrait Competition

1st - photographed by ex student Caroline Brocklehurst

2nd - photographed by ex student Peter Evans

3rd - photographed by ex student Caroline Brocklehurst

Highly commended - photographed by ex student Loraine Mallon


Highly commended - photographed by ex student Peter Evans
Highly commended - photographed by ex student Carl Reeve




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

www.barrettandcoeportraits.co.uk

Finally the new site went live at 10.15 pm last night.

Thanks to Alec and Dominic who have managed a complete rebuild in less than 10days. This site is likely to become the most frequented Portrait site in the UK expecting to book approx 10,000 portrait appointments in 2012. The site will evolve as we have several bells and whistles to add.

All our studios have been flat out for weeks and the checking and monitoring of all orders for customers is making long hours essential. Chris Kay at Loxleys has informed us that the spend by Barrett and Coe franchisees has doubled from this time last year.

Yesterday, when negotiating a new contract with BT they were amazed at the vast increase in our calls, the biggest increase they have seen in the region this year.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

New web site

Well, they did not make it! Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Monday, December 12, 2011

New Portrait Site

Our new Portrait site www.barrettandcoeportraits.co.uk launches today.

Where we do not have a Barrett and Coe studio we will be appointing Barrett and Coe approved and recommended Studios to take Portrait bookings from our partner companies: Activity Superstore, National Childbirth Trust and Parent Teacher Association UK.

We are selecting these studios very carefully. Only the very best studios in the UK will be appointed thus ensuring that all our Partners customers/members receive the highest standard of photography and service. Each selected studio will have a presence on the new site and a link to their own website.

We pre launched to a few selected studios last week and already ten have joined. There will only be one approved studio in any location so that the whole of the UK is covered with first class studios. Appointments will come from WHSmith, Marks and Spencer online, Boots, Argos, Debenhams, Menkind, Clintons, Birthdays, Superdrug, Activity Superstore online, National Childbirth Trust, and The Parent Teacher Association UK.

The full national launch will take place at The SWPP convention in January at the Novotel Hammersmith. David MacDonald will be giving a seminar on each day of the trade exhibition and you may also book a free consultation with any of our experts during those days.

Spaces are limited so call now on 01603 629739 to book your place

Course Costs

We are often asked about the cost of our Wedding and Portrait courses. Below is a list of last weeks sales achieved by some of our ex students.

Week 49 - Total sales
Studio  £5,620
Studio 18 £3,790
Studio 1 £3,766
Studio 19 £3,570
Studio 6 £2,755
Studio 3 £2,412
Studio 20 £1,830
Studio 10 £1,575
Studio 13 £1,535
Studio 2 £1,419
Studio 8 £1,010
This illustrates how quickly it is possible to cover the cost of a Barrett and Coe photography course and the level of income that can be achieved after graduating from our courses.

Friday, December 9, 2011

September Portrait Competition


The portraits featured below are from past students who are now making money from their photography skills.

Our January 2012 photography courses are filling up fast, to book and for more information please call 01603 629 739 or visit our website www.barrettandcoe.co.uk

1st - photographed by ex-student Ian Wilson

2nd - photographed by ex-student Ian Wilson

3rd - photographed by ex-student Marisa Taylor

Highly commended - photographed by ex-student Marisa Taylor

Highly commended - photographed by ex-student Paul Milsom

Highly commended - photographed by ex-student Loraine Mallon

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Olympic Torch

Apologies to blog readers for sharing my excitement. Have just been told that I have been chosen to be one of the people to carry the Olympic torch. Amazing!!!

Course costs

We are often asked about the cost of our Wedding and Portrait courses. Below is a list of last weeks sales achieved by some of our ex students.

Week 48 - Total sales
Studio 1       £3,904
Studio 2       £3,640
Studio 3       £3,500
Studio 4       £3,130
Studio 5       £2,845
Studio 6       £2,100
Studio 7       £1,810
Studio 8       £1,603
Studio 9       £1,455
Studio 10     £1,380
Studio 11     £1,378
Studio 12     £1,260
Studio 13     £1,175
Studio 14     £1,110
Studio 15     £1,095
Studio 16     £1,095
Studio 15     £1,042

This illustrates how quickly it is possible to cover the cost of a Barrett and Coe photography course and the level of income that can be achieved after graduating from our courses.

For more information on our courses starting in January 2012 call 01603 629 739 or visit www.barrettandcoe.co.uk

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Course practical day

Saturday 3rd December Practical day

Below are pictures of three of our successful students who achieved a Grade 1 Barrett & Coe Diploma, together with an available light image they took on the day.

Course tutor Andrew Coe and student Andrew Ginger



Course tutor Andrew Coe and student Gregg Smith



Course tutor Andrew Coe and student Yolanda Frost


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

October Baby of the Month

October Baby of the Month has been chosen. A selection of images and winning photo, taken by Brenda Wooldridge (who runs a Barrett & Coe studio in Bagshot) are shown below:

Baby of the Month October

Photographed by ex student Ian Wilson

Photographed by Astra Richardson

Photographed by ex student Carl Reeve

Photographed by ex student Carl Reeve

Monday, December 5, 2011

Course Comments

On Saturday and Sunday we finished our Option One courses. Everyone did well with a record number of six students achieving a Grade 1 Diploma.  Here are some of the comments made about the courses:

"The course provided me a very comprehensive introduction to portrait photography which was inspirational. The balance between practical and business advice was just right and has left me feeling very confident about my future options." Hazel Faint - Portrait Course

"Another very enjoyable, positive and relevant learning experience which has provided a good balance between practical portrait photogrpahy, theory and business management. I shall miss Sunday meetings in Ware each month. Thank You." Sue Maisfield - Portrait Course

"Whether or not you intend to make money out of photography, if you are taking photos of people you'll love this course! Thanks very much." Simon Brice - Portrait Course.

"It was very enjoyable and I learnt so much.  I'm looking forward to attending the Portrait course." Alex Manciani - Wedding Course

"The course was excellent. I now have the knowledge to be comfortable shooting a wedding." Paul Brooks - Wedding Course

"Having never used a camera before the day I arrived to start my course, I feel having completed my exam, excited at the potential in photography before me. I felt on the day of taking my exam that everything started to click together and  I can really start to enjoy taking pictures. The most important bit for me was on the practical side - taking the practice photos. Plus critique of homework was invaluable."
Amanda Bates - Wedding Course

"Greatly informative - learnt a huge amount." Russell Pieters - Wedding Course

"A great course, I've learnt so much about photography, my camera and setting up a business. I'm really pleased with my results. My advice to future candidates would be keep practising the homework shots." Kim Wright - Portrait Course

"I will be taking the next step in becoming a professional photographer and joining the Barrett & Coe franchise.  They have provided the support and advice complete with confidence building training to help fully support the set up and successful running of a fully running studio. The two words of advice I can give if you're looking for a career in wedding or portrait photography is DO IT." Gregg Smith - Portrait Course

"Enjoyable, informative, inspirational." Toni Banerjea - Portrait Course

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Mentoring

Our courses are structured so that it is possible to come on a course and following completion to immediately earn money from your camera. It also enables someone to find out just what is involved if someone is considering becoming professional - the upsides and the downsides!

It is also a possible way for someone considering a franchise to find out about us, and the potential of a photographic business, without making a commitment. Either way, with what is learnt on the course, it is possible to earn back the cost of the course and equipment very quickly.

If  we accept someone for a franchise (there is absolutely no pressure to become one, but not everyone is accepted), we provide an exhaustive, and comprehensive, support programme. No stone is left unturned.

A key element of that support involves a mentoring programme.  Gregg Smith wrote the following re a visit to Marisa:
"Marisa has been a huge help to me. It is so valuable to see the set up of a studio which I can see working and will be pretty much the same size as the one I am looking to open. Marisa also let me sit in on two viewings (NCT and 3 adults) and to watch it all happen from the intro to the shoot to the viewing was really useful, and given me alot to think about. I have thanked her but please also do pass on my gratitude because nothing was too much trouble and she really does go the extra mile. I'm sure she won't have got out on time on Saturday due to me asking so many questions, but also thank you for putting me in touch with such a good mentor and setting the mentor programme up."

Marisa had sales of over £6,000 last week from just one week of viewings.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Wedding Course

Quite often we hear from students about how they are progressing.

Victoria Cook and Robert Jackson finished their wedding course with us in June achieving high results with their Barrett and Coe Diploma. Yesterday we received an email from Robert updating us on their progress:

"We have weddings booked in for next year, and my employer has actually made me their official corporate photographer so I will be doing the staff photos and events.
We have taken on seperate projects too, and secured work doing lifestyle portraits."

This year Barrett and Coe have raised nearly £7,500 for two charities. £2,200 for Love a Child which helps children in Burma, Tibet and Equador. Yesterday I was able to present their principal, John Margetson, with a cheque for £1,500, pictured below.

We have also given £5,239 to Bliss which is a special baby care charity.

Andrew Coe with John Margetson from Love a Child Foundation

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

New Websites

We currently have five different websites. www.barrettandcoe.co.uk for Wedding and Portrait Courses, for the Barrett and Coe franchise www.barrettandcoefranchise.co.uk www.barrettandcoeweddings.co.uk for weddings, www.barrettandcoeportraits.co.uk for portraits, and www.portraitleads.co.uk for independent photographers wishing to use our portrait booking and leads service.

We are busy completely revamping the wedding and the portrait sites. The portrait site should go live at the end of next week. Over the next couple of months we will be using this site to advertise national coverage of the UK through our franchisees and elite Barrett and Coe recommended and approved studios. These studios will fill the areas where we do not have a franchisee. Only those independent studios attaining our exacting requirements for quality and service will become 'recommended and approved'.

A small number of select studios will be invited to join next week prior to the official launch at the SWPP Conventions 2012 in January where David MacDonald will be giving a presentation/seminar on each of the three days. It is possible to call now on 01603 629 739 to book your place on any of the three days.

Places are limited to 40 each day so it would be wise to reserve your place for the most exciting photographic event in 2012. At the show Elaine Shephard (marketing), Glenn Hoy (telemarketing) and myself (career and business consultation) will be available to book for 30 minute free sessions. These sessions can also be booked in advance by calling 01603 629 739.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Ex-student success

Posted this morning on the Barrett & Coe Facebook group by one of our ex students:

"Two family viewings this evening, first one mum, dad and livewire 4 year old - at the start of the shoot the mum was adamant she wanted to be in as few pictures as possible. £870 spent :) Second one, 3 generations, only 3 of the family came back for the viewing but couldn't stop spending... £2910 spent :) :) Just blown my highest order value and highest monthly totals completely out of the water!!"

For more information on our Photography courses please call 01603 629 739 or visit our website

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Winners

At our last course weekend students were shown how to select images for qualifications and awards by reference to the CLEPS scoring system. Images are assessed seperately in the five categories:

Composition
Lighting
Expression
Posing
Space

During this session a number of images are judged after animated discussion and exchange of opinions. Students scoring closest to our tutors win Loxleys vouchers! This makes for a competitive enjoyable couple of hours.

Joint 1st - Maggie Clothier - Winner of £50 voucher

Joint 1st - Bernie Ramsay - Winner of £50 of voucher

3rd - Mark Adams - Winner of £30 voucher

Monday, November 21, 2011

Next courses

Our next courses begin in January and places are filling up fast. We are getting as many as four/five enquiries a day and in many instances I speak to the people enquiring on the phone, or some come and visit and look around our extensive facilities. It is always interesting listening to the many different reasons that people give to begin professional portrait/wedding photography. Today I had a call from a lady who owns a dog grooming parlour and is often asked for portraits of the dogs! She has the space to take pictures on her premises and to add family portraits as well. What a good combination!Last week was another record sales week for those of our ex-students with studios. One achieved sales in excess of £7000 in just one week! There seems to be no shortage of customers with many continuing to make large orders.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Super Group

Last Friday and Saturday were our Seminars 3 and 4 for the Portrait and Wedding course 2 and on Sunday Seminar 5 for our Course 1.

Before the Saturday seminar began the Portrait course were given a tour round David Macdonald's studio by David before he started a very busy schedule of family sittings.  Course members found this hour inspirational.

Below is a picture of some of the students from this group which is proving to be one of the best and most receptive we have ever had! I am sure many of this group will be running their own succesful wedding and portrait studios by this time next year.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Quadruple sales

This email was received from one of our part time studios yesterday:
"Dear Elaine & David

I just wanted to write and say a massive thankyou to you both for all the help and advice you have given me over the last couple of months, especially when I was struggling with sales and viewings in October. I have changed a few things around in the studio and adjusted my viewing process and things really feel like they are working well at the moment (I'm waiting for the bubble to burst but hoping that it won't). This has resulted in a couple of really great weeks in the studio and in the fact this week alone I have had sales over £4k (which is more than I took in some entire months in 2010!)."

David and Elaine meet with all photographers once every two months in small groups at Ware covering everything from photography, to sales and increasing profits.  Probably the best team in the UK giving support and assistance to photographers.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Kodak

Once Kodak was one of the biggest companies in the world. They are now reported to be close to going into the American version of administration Their success was built on global sales of film, but in the early nineties they did not put their resources behind research and development of digital technology, preferring instead to please their shareholders with increasing short term profits.

Typical of our western culture.

In the mid eighties they paid us £450,000 for less than 40% of our company which had 35 wedding and portrait studios, all with one hour mini labs attached. We were in some prime high street locations including Nottingham, Cambridge, Leeds etc. When we sold the remaining shares a few years later most locations became the first Kodak Express or Snappy Snaps shops.

Unwisely all the studios were dropped as one hour processing became the fashion. Moral of the story: Build slowly and surely and beware of short term strategies. The Chinese plan ahead for thirty years whilst Europe can't see further than the next month!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Busy studios

Most of our studios are fully booked through to Christmas which has been the case for a couple of weeks. As we appear to be in the midst of a recession this is very encouraging.Our new partnerships with The National Childbirth Trust and Parent Teacher Associations UK are proving very succesful and marvelous organisations. A proportion of any monies spent with a studio goes back to them.

They have not appointed National Partners before so this is a very exciting new initiative for the photography Market.

We began working with NCT in July and have received some amazing feedback from their members.'Very impressed with the quality of experience, professionalism, and Ian took time and effort to make sure we were totally happy with our photos. We were delighted with the final selections.

We have no hesitation in recommending to any of our friends or contacts.'this is the true Barret and Coe experience:'Fantastic photography... By Very Nice People'

Monday, November 7, 2011

September Baby of the Month

September Baby of the Month has been chosen. A selection of images and winning photo, taken by ex student Jenny Baxter (who runs a Barrett & Coe studio in Oxford) are shown below:

Baby of the Month - Winner





Thursday, November 3, 2011

Kim Kardashian will be a Wedding Organizer Soo


In his triumph, Kim literally put his heart and soul daily for a few months she went to the salon Vera Wang fitting to wedding dresses , met with florists, stylists, agree on a wedding photo and video.
Despite the many troubles, pre-wedding stress is not touched by Kim Kardashian  , on the contrary, she got the unspoken pleasure from the process of training and decided to continue to help other brides to organize important day in their lives.
"In my head a lot of great ideas, Kim, so she plans to create a company that will deal with weddings famous people" - shared plans for an ambitious Kardashian one of her friends.
 Well, entrepreneurial abilities, Kim can not be doubted: for example, on your wedding Kim Kardashian earned a total of about $ 18 million, and now she successfully negotiates participation in promotions of clothing and products for pregnant women in an amount not less than $ 10 million.