Won't be lo0ng and you'll be selling all that other gear to but MINOLTA lenses for your SONY. Keep a Nikon for back-up. You won't need the Canons as the Sony's video is far superior. Check out the photos on our site… I sell MINOLTA lenses too and I'm always willing to yak with a fellow SONY shooter and share our experience and tips http://www.abetterdj.net
321-412-3878 Michael

I loved it and though 'it's about time someone put this out there!" and I was all set to forward it to you b/c it was so spot on and thought you'd enjoy it and low and behold, I looked at the bottom and YOU wrote it !!

I wrote Groupon back and said I couldn't agree more and that although there is great potential for success with groupon, they can also be somewhat responsible for completely tanking someone's business and/or life and that they are just pushing for higher profits and not giving photographers enough info to make a truly educated decision.

Well done on that piece – it was freaking great !! Apparently one of the photographers you cited (the worst one) was all upset and complaining to Groupon saying it made her look bad…

Anonymous, you are incorrect. You accuse me of being "SP" from AH's dicussion board. Actually I am BN and don't have an account with Groupon to post anything. Although on the day that deal ran, I agreed with much of what SP was saying, I am not him/her. Thus, your accusation is just as incorrect as your assessment of my "luck" as a photographer. As I mentioned several times, our studio's revenues are way above the PPA benchmark average in the country.

Lastly, I think you have taken my case study of the Groupon deal personally. For that, I apologize. It is simply a COGS analysis of the deal that was offered and really has nothing to do with anyone in particular. It has to do with the business decision to offer three hours of time for about $35 (maybe more in some cases)

Update: Received a threatening email from "Anonymous" and reported their threat to their ISP. I also reported them to the Brighton police department. Anonymous also identified himself/herself as another Denver photographer who ran a successful Groupon. Here are the last several that have run here in Denver:

* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/mark-stevens-…
* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/ashley-henry-…
* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/legacy-zoom-p…
* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/nicole-valent…
* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/photo-element
* http://www.groupon.com/denver/deals/alan-hill-pho…

If you structure your Groupon like Brad structured his deal, then I would take any day that Groupon gives you. In your city, you might sell 60-80. If you do the sales session right (which you have no problem with) you will make a great deal of revenue. Probably $60,000 – 80,000.

I would not be as worried about when the Groupon runs as getting on their docket. I would apply as soon as possible. The main reason is that if structured correctly, then there are few promotions that can or will make you more money than Groupon.

Structured incorrectly and you will be shooting for peanuts for a year or two. This is coming from our experience. We only made about $30,000 all in with Groupon. That includes the few long term clients we picked up and the wedding we booked because of it. But, some look at $30k and think that it is awesome. Looking at Brad's deal though, he will almost double our profit with 1/4 the work. That is THE way to do it. Don't stray from that model.

Thanks for always being so helpful.

Perhaps it would be helpful to read further on this site. You will quickly see that AH is only one of several photographers that I list under the review.

My interest is not in any particular Photographer. Rather, my interest is in the business deal that they are striking with Groupon. If photographers structure the right deal, then they will make a huge amount of revenue from the Groupon exposure. Structured incorrectly, they will work their tails off with very little revenues and profits compared with the hours they put into it.

Unfortunately and generally, photographers use their own names as their business name. For this reason, some photographers take it personally when I use their company as a case study. However, this is not the intention at all. If they were named ABC photography, then it would perhaps not be taken personally.

Like any business case study, you take the facts, apply economic and mathematic cost analysis to the facts and form an educated conclusion. With AH's case study, you can see I do exactly that using math and economics of time and scale.

The fact that I write about our own Groupon deal and am willing to give away this information for FREE just to help my colleagues should indicate that I have interest in helping other photographers and not in AH.