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6638
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:42 am Post subject: Do You Think it would be worth starting a Hobie Photography |
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| My Idea is to offer a variaty of diffrent thing to do with photos and diffrent packages like senior photos & family,kid's and still wedding photos. or is their any other small business ideas that u can think of that we could use in this area. I want some impute before diving in. If u r from around the area i would like to here your opinion. |
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antonim1857
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: Do You Think it would be worth starting a Hobie Photography |
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| photography is a skill that some people make money out of and most dont.if you are as good as those making money go for itphotography is expensive as a hobby, do some thing else unless you want to be serious, do you know exposure or lighting?go hard |
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VicSEO1127
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: Do You Think it would be worth starting a Hobie Photography |
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| If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and publish your IWeb webpage(s).Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card by selecting from their many templates a suitable one that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of your website along with a telephone answering device. Do not place your home address or anything personal such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when you receive the finished business card, pass it around to various churches, temples and the like to solicit business.When you receive a major photography assignment, visit your local professional camera store and "rent" the necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment. When starting out, you don't want to tie your money up with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever changing technology "becomes obsolete." Remember, that 90% of professional photographer are not "buying" camera equipment continually which can easily become outdated; instead, they merely "rent or lease" the camera equipment for set period of time; thereby keeping their money for other expenses. Even though you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you may have to give up that concept for the moment, since digital photography offers the most economic method of photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on a computer and the print quality is often far superior to regular film-generated prints. You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the go and you don't have to drag along a tripod to steady your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650 at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs circles around the D40 Nikon!For digital print processing, find a private professional film processing lab who can handle all your client's print orders. And with a resale license, you will be qualified for considerable "professional" discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a photography studio and get a dealer's pricing for any number of albums, guest books, etc.Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to the client's residence or office to set up a photo shooting environment which consists of a set of lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.Good luck! |
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CharlieP4220
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: Do You Think it would be worth starting a Hobie Photography |
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| I grew up in Mt. Pleasant and began making money at photography when I was 13-years-old. So, I like your ideas.In general I agree with VicSEO except in two areas. Although I love MACs and hate Windoz PCs a MAC is no longer needed for artistic pursuits, photo manipulations and desktop publishing. So, if money is a imitation, get a PC first and a MAC when you can afford one.And on business cards... I've used VistaPrint and they do do good work but I just bought new cards from an eBay auction listing and their quality blew VistaPrint out of the water for less money. Here's a link for your information and this isn't spam as I have no connection to this company at all. I just highly recommend them based on my own experience.1000 Full Color Custom Business Cards Printing + Design http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-Full-Color-Custom-Business-Cards-Printing-Design_W0QQitemZ160138441905QQihZ006QQcategoryZ47112QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemAt one point in my past I took HS Senior pictures for a large firm. I shot around 35,000 portraits in 3-1/2 years as well as other photography. The company I shot for approached the school and the yearbook faculty advisor to gain an exclusive contract for senior pics. We provided free photos of every Senior student to the yearbook. The "catch" was that the student had to have a picture from us. Pictures from other studios were excluded from insertion in the yearbook by the contract. That meant they all had to come to you although they didn't have to buy from you. They were free to have their pictures taken by another photographer. However, if you pics were really good they just might buy from you rather than go through the hassle of another appointment. That also meant that you had to be good at upselling packages of photos to cover your expenses. In order to get the contracts we also gave the schools additional "freebies." I would go to sporting events, school plays, speeches and take photos that I provided to the yearbook without charge. Not only did I get to attend a lot of great events, I got in free. These photos were a lot more fun for me to shoot than the portraits. I would also take all the group photos; clubs, teams, etc. and give them to the yearbook. Sometimes we negotiated film and paper for the school darkroom. On my own I would offer my expertise to the student photographers. Sounds expensive, doesn't it. Our studio had contracts with three large Indianapolis high schools and two very small schools. We also had a regular studio for child through adult portraits. And we did animal portraits (the only place in Indianapolis at the time that would). Our studio did over $1 million annually with myself and 4 other employees!A suggestion on baby photos: Through the area hospitals have a card included in the new baby gift packages. The card is for a free b&w 8x10 or the new baby. (My suggestion is to ask the new parents to not use the card until the child is 6 months old or more - better photos = more sales). Again, upselling is the key to profits. You're shooting in color but giving away a b&w. I always had lots of choices for them to look through. We NEVER sold our proofs. If the customer wants prints they can buy prints.When I started out I didn't charge a sitting fee for portraits. I didn't charge any fees at all. That wasn't cost effective. Then I started charging a sitting fee. That was good either. People don't like being charged for something they haven't yet seen. I finally hit on the idea of a deposit. That works; the sitter has a financial investment in the process that they won't make unless they're serious about wanting photos.One final suggestion. Visit successful studios at some distance from you where your business won't be competition for them. Introduce yourself and tell them what and where you want to set up your business. Tell them that you would like it if you don't have to reinvent the wheel and if they would be willing to share their success and failure stories with you so you can learn what to do and what not to do. You may be very surprised how much they will be willing to share and their experience, their stories, are worth more to you than money could buy.Whatever you decide to do have fun with it all. Good luck! |
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