Display board pictures

[PerfectlyPaintedFaces]

I know there have been a lot of display board topics, and I apologize in advance but I'd love to get some fresh perspective on a few questions I have.

What I've always done in the past is laid out a bunch of hand-drawn (pencil crayon) designs in photo sleeves for kids to choose from. They pick the one they like best, bring it to me, and I paint it. This works fine for small birthday parties, buuut...

I'm hoping to do some bigger PPF events this spring/summer, so I'm wondering if it's time to create some display boards to draw in the crowds!

Right now I'm thinking I'll buy some nice big poster frames (probably one for cheek art, one for half-face, and one for full-face) from Wal-Mart (24x36in) and put photos in with photo corners, so I can easily swap them out as necessary AND they'll be protected by glass... which would be nice for outdoor events.

So my main question is the PICTURES. I have all these hand-drawn designs, but I think actual photographs would be a lot more eye-catching. However, I don't have many pictures and I don't know any cute little kiddies I could use as models.

I'm hoping to have at least 40 designs total, so it would be a long process to get them all through birthday party bookings alone. Plus I'd like to have a nice backdrop and lighting for nice looking photos. So... would it look weird if all the pictures were of me? I'm happy to paint myself but it just seems odd to not have any pictures of children when they're my main customers. I could always ask some friends too, but they're all in their 20s as well.

Thoughts? Advice?

[Airyfairy]

I'm using myself as my main model, for the boy designs I am using a practice head. I do think it looks kind of strange but it's my only option right now....I hope to replace them with kids pictures when I get them.

[a face painting mom]

I have the same issue, few actual photos, and it really bothers me that they are not all the same quality, pose, back drop, etc, etc. I think it would be fine to have them be all you, but getting them to be all uniform is more important.

I have used full faces that I paint on, I know some people would rather not waste the paint, but I have not been able to replicate colors or splits, etc.
At this point, I have a few good picutes, so at my last pay per face event, I mixed them; some painted paper faces, some photos. The painted faces attracted more attention, exept for my snowflake special, which is my avatar, which was walking around the festival all over the place. I had no difficulty with painted paper at events all last summer.

As for the display plan, I would stay clear of glass. It is both heavy and breakable, and the biggest issue you are going to face at summer and spring events is going to be weather, which means wind, water, and humididty. Once you get a little water under that glass...the photos will be gonners, and one big wind storm, and the glass could be history. You might look at plexiglass or scan your pics in and have a banner made with all your photos, or mount them.

Making things water proof, wind tight and easily portable are almost as important as how it looks, and sometimes more if you end up needing to replace it mid event.

One more thing to think about with glass, you could be putting yourself into an insurance quandry if you have glass that size break while you have a long line of children.

[PerfectlyPaintedFaces]

Hmmmm... those are some really good points. I'll definitely reconsider that glass! Maybe Wal-Mart has some kind of plexiglass frame... I'll have to check it out. If all else fails, I'll just have to laminate the photos. Banners are a good option as well.

I don't mind wasting paint, so it's just a matter of getting a nice set-up to try to take uniform, high-quality photos. Maybe I'll end up just setting aside 2 days on my Christmas break to paint my face like crazy and get a friend over to take pictures.

[ChaCha]

For the models, I am fortunate to have two nieces, a nephew and my son. I have recently switched with my xmas designs to a uniform black backdrop and I love the difference! I once did a "faux party" when I needed a group party pic for marketing I was doing. Do you have neighborhood kids, a preschool or a moms day out group in your area you could volunteer to paint for free in exchange for the pics?....or even talk to a local art teacher or call a former client and offer a free improptu party for the pics...could work out great for word of mouth advertising too!...ohhhh.. there might be a beginning photographer in your area who also wants pics for their portfolio? Could be a win/win

[a face painting mom]

Take a look at Daizy Design's blog (you can find it from her web page, here on the forum) she takes terrific pics, and describes how she does it really well. Laminating is a good choice, it is light, and keeps the water out! It rained on us at almost every event this last year. And the wind....ugh the wind. Bungie cords, zip ties, buckets you fill with water to weigh down your tent, stakes...we learned so much about how to keep dry and how to keep things from blowing away!

[barbb919]

here is my picture board which is my banner..i used photo sleeves and commercial grade double sided tape to hold the sleeves on...you can change out your pictures...[img][/img]

[barbb919]

i made a frame out of pvc pipe and zipped tied the banner on to the frame...

[MandiIlene]

Many starting and advanced painters use themselves as the models for their board. Not a problem, also using your friends is a good idea. Children will always want face painting but one way of marketing to adults is to have pictures of adults, so its actually a good thing to have them on there representing your work, then other mature folks will feel like it us normal to be painted.

My own board is a magnetic dry erase board from walmart, the size of a poster board. I make a cute bright yellow paper with face paint written on it in pretty letters and laminated it (at home kit) and put magnets on the back. I also have one that says body paint, so I put the one that I am marketing that day (or both) on the top of the board. Then the photos are all in pockets that are magnets. I have tons of them and they are very interchangeable depending on the gig I am going to be at. More church folk=less skulls, or more biker people= more body paint photos, depending on the crowd. I also have magnet laminated price tags, so I put them on at a PPF event and take them off at a per hour gig. Plus some PPF gigs I charge more than others, so it helps to have a 3,5,8,10, 15, dollar signs so I can price accordingly.

Thats my two cents.

~*~Mandi Ilene~*~

[jolenebox]

Barb919 that looks great!!!! I am going to put that in my photos so I can give the local banner maker and idea of what I want if thats ok with you?

[Shannon Fennell]

I print off pages with 9 or 16 photos, laminate, stick velcro dots on the back and mount on my display units.

[PerfectlyPaintedFaces]

Thanks for the tips everybody! I'm loving Barb's banner!

[Jobena1]

I use a foam core board a little more expensive ..actully .it is more plastic sheets with foam core inside...They are very durable and clamp very nicely to my Tent legs...also all my photos are laminated and both can withstand an occasional weather disturbance. I will have to post on where to get them...Like I said very expensive but durable no bending ...I think it might be called Plasti-core Boards. Tend to be a bit heavier but works really nice no tacky residue left over when removing package and they are cleanable with a lysol wipe.

[barbb919]

anyone one is welcome to use my idea...I can also attach this banner to the leg of my tent with the buggie cords with the balls on the end...or I can use it like a sandwhich board , but i would rather hang it on the tent so no ones feet go thru it ..lol..

[OtterGirl]

The way I get faces for my boards is to announce to all my friends/family on facebook/email/etc. that I am doing a "free face day." I have a list of the faces I need and let people pick from there. I take pictures as I go. I've also done this in a local park. When a random kid approaches me, I tell them to bring their mom over and have her sign a photo release form. The moms are usually happy to do it in exchange for the free face painting. In this way, my board has over 40 designs and no repeat faces. I also tell everyone that I will post the photos on my blog, and that drives a lot of traffic to my site. Hand out business cards at the same time and you may even get some gigs out of it.