Opening a Photography Studio?

My vision is to open up my own Portrait/Wedding Studio located on my

dads 50 ace. Farm. Beautiful....Old house, barn, open grass,

meadow, pound, tractors and all that stuff. I couldn?t ask for a

better location. Right off a state road. Considering I just

graduated last may with my photography degree, I have to say many

people in my town know I?m an aspiring photographer and say they

love my work when they see it. I checked out my competition. The

one I must say has a very ?awesome? studio that does a lot of the

senior portraits. None however have the outdoor location I would

have. The studio will come with time. I am very ambitious and

definitely want to open my own studio and be my own boss. This

summer I have done 3 weddings on my own and assisted with a wedding

photographer from Philadelphia. Also have done some portrait

sessions.

 

So other then word of mouth I would put business cards in a few hair

salons and other locations along with a promo books that show my

work, promo post cards ( that I would want to put in mail box?s) and

building a new webpage. Around the holidays I would have specials

that I would put in the paper to advertise.

 

I have 2 canon 20d cameras, few different lens, flash, brackets,

tripods, and background stand. I also have a new G4 Mac computer

with Photoshop cs. This October I plan on buying white lighting

strobes that I have used when I was in school, few different

backgrounds and other equipment when I attend the trade show in NY.

I figured I can probable get the equipment maybe a little cheaper.

I?ll have to see.

 

Now what I?m having trouble with is creating a business plan. I

would like to open it up by next summer. That way I have a year to

take some business class?s and get prepared. So I guess this goes

out to Owners of Photography studios.

 

How did you finally get started and what are some things that I

should really think about with opening a studio of my own. I don?t

have A LOT of money put away yet, but I am on my way. Saving

everything I can. It would probably be a part-time studio when I

start out, that way I can keep the job I have now and just work part-

time.

 

Advise for starting a studio?????<div></div>

Sara, when you say "open a studio," do you mean a studio in the sense of a physical building or rooms in a building where you meet clients, do studio photography, etc., or do you mean a studio in the sense of an independent business? Or both?

Well not physically building a room or studio ...I would work inside the barn for now till I could build my own building. I want to be able to take inside photographs using strobes. Independent business.

Start with a business plan. It's not a sexy creative thing to do, but it is the thing that can guide your business. It tells others and yourself that you are serious about your business. Also, if you seek investors, a business plan will be required. In addition, you must obtain professional liability insurance, especially for weddings. I've heard of rates starting at about $600/year for about $1.5 million in coverage.

 

Your ideas regarding marketing are good. There are others, including attending Bridal Shows, joining the chamber of commerce, developing relationships with florists, etc. Good luck!

If your competitive advantage over the other studio is outdoor portraiture, then why the need for backgrounds and strobes? Buy some big reflectors, take your camera, and go outside.

 

If it's your dad's farm, then it doesn't sound like he's charging rent. Go ahead and do it.

Sara - You will see instructions for posting images next time you post a thread. Keep the image below 511 pixels wide and put in a caption please so it doesn't show as a link ;-) Please.

Good answer Rich, that is what I say.

If I had a barn as big as that I could use for photography (at least part of the year im sure) I would try and specialise in large product photography. Get a 4x5 and some monster light banks and have people send you their new fighter jet, etc!

What about the zoning of the farm? Are you leagally allowed to open a studio on the farm?

Sounds cool, but does the barn house animals? Your pictures might look great, but they could literally stink. (Thanks, I'll be here all week...)

First off...Thanks for your comments. No there aren?t any farm animals yet. I think he?s going to get like 3 cafes to start. So it shouldn?t stink. I?ll have to find out about the zoning.

 

Andrew Waterman ?.I just love that idea! I love doing aerial photography and anything that involves planes and helicopters. I do have a 4x5 camera. My dad owns a plane himself and helicopter. I wouldn?t know how to get started in doing that though. I guess by advertising at the airports..Hanging stuff up. Ect.

 

I think I have a little more advantage over the other studios besides just the outdoor photography. I want strobes also so I?m not limited to just outdoor photography. What if they want a portrait on a background? I don?t want to turn them away. Plus I just want them haha. But your right the sun is free.

 

Thanks for the luck??.any other comments or advice welcomed!!! =)