It's getting harder
Right now, getting the business off the ground is getting incredibly difficult. Initially, I was running off emotion and pervasive pessimism. Now, the reality has set in and I have to use cunning business practices to ensure my logical decisions are not flawed.
My ultimate goal and very tight focus is to have my own studio. To me, I want to eventually have opportunities at commercial photography. That is a HUGE goal of this business. The majority, perhaps 99% of my competition does not have a formal studio. Many of them do have a space in their homes that they use as a makeshift studio. Secondly, a studio has a lot of overhead that requires one to increase the cost of the products or sell more of a product than the competition in order to cover that overhead of a studio. Because of the competition also being existing, they already have an essential built in clientèle based on word of mouth.
For me, I still have to begin the building process of my own clientèle. I have begun that process in a few small steps. Of course, being able to put the studio in a salon will be a great start to getting clients since I can pull from the list of the salon Getting my work displayed, like on the walls of Hallowed Grounds will at least get my name out there. Eventually, the work will come.
Right now, it's tough for my family to understand the amount of work it takes to START and continue a business. Many people (including family members) still look at photography as being a hobby. I know a lot of people that have hobbies and they are costing them. Their benefits are personal satisfaction. My hobby, has been stepped up one notch above satisfaction by recognizing that my images have a value. My skills allow me to capture moments in time that others feel are worth buying. I just need to match my results with the buyers in the form of marketing and proper pricing.
I think that is the difference between a (perceived) hobby, and a business.
Next week has an opportunity coming up in the form of a 10 day youth basketball tournament. Tournaments can be a huge money maker or the most work a photographer can do with the least amount of return.
Apart form next week, I have several projects in the fire. I have to get my web site online in less than two weeks, get my insurance finalized, work on the studio and finalize my price list. The price list is about two weeks behind only in the situation that I am trying to determine my product line. Weddings and high school seniors are the most lucrative at this level. Commercial work is the most lucrative at any level. I only have my consumer product lines ready. Commercial photography is based on usage and each client has a different use for the images a photographer will take.
So, running on logic, the emotion has taken a back seat and the day to day forward momentum makes it a little more difficult.
My ultimate goal and very tight focus is to have my own studio. To me, I want to eventually have opportunities at commercial photography. That is a HUGE goal of this business. The majority, perhaps 99% of my competition does not have a formal studio. Many of them do have a space in their homes that they use as a makeshift studio. Secondly, a studio has a lot of overhead that requires one to increase the cost of the products or sell more of a product than the competition in order to cover that overhead of a studio. Because of the competition also being existing, they already have an essential built in clientèle based on word of mouth.
For me, I still have to begin the building process of my own clientèle. I have begun that process in a few small steps. Of course, being able to put the studio in a salon will be a great start to getting clients since I can pull from the list of the salon Getting my work displayed, like on the walls of Hallowed Grounds will at least get my name out there. Eventually, the work will come.
Right now, it's tough for my family to understand the amount of work it takes to START and continue a business. Many people (including family members) still look at photography as being a hobby. I know a lot of people that have hobbies and they are costing them. Their benefits are personal satisfaction. My hobby, has been stepped up one notch above satisfaction by recognizing that my images have a value. My skills allow me to capture moments in time that others feel are worth buying. I just need to match my results with the buyers in the form of marketing and proper pricing.
I think that is the difference between a (perceived) hobby, and a business.
Next week has an opportunity coming up in the form of a 10 day youth basketball tournament. Tournaments can be a huge money maker or the most work a photographer can do with the least amount of return.
Apart form next week, I have several projects in the fire. I have to get my web site online in less than two weeks, get my insurance finalized, work on the studio and finalize my price list. The price list is about two weeks behind only in the situation that I am trying to determine my product line. Weddings and high school seniors are the most lucrative at this level. Commercial work is the most lucrative at any level. I only have my consumer product lines ready. Commercial photography is based on usage and each client has a different use for the images a photographer will take.
So, running on logic, the emotion has taken a back seat and the day to day forward momentum makes it a little more difficult.
Labels: business, opportunities, studio
posted by Brent Rust at
7:58 PM
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