cnorman27

<p><strong>Maryball and Aimee: </strong>The honest truth is that I don't know if I would be invited or not. He is a person I have gotten kind of close to during our deployment but I don't know where it will go after we get back from Iraq.<br>

Also, the unfortunate truth is that even though it IS worth the $1000 for me to have the photos in my porfolio, I wouldn't be able to afford to go on my own accord. I would need at least half of the travel costs covered right now.</p>

<p><strong>Max: </strong>I agree with you. I have read alot of posts concerning being the photog for a friend and the disasters that can come from it. While they are the same things that can go wrong with someone off the street, the rewards and the price of failiure are much closer to home.</p>

<p>Thanks all for your answers. <br>

They are in line with what I was thinking. I only was expecting to charge for airfare, cheap hotel, and inexpensive rental car. I am thinking that I would need to be in town for 2 days, 2 nights. I want to arrive early the day before and leave late the night of the wedding/reception.<br>

I looked online at travel costs and it would be less than $900. From what I understand, that would still be a lot cheaper than highering a professional with an established reputation.<br>

<p>First, my apologies for not keeping up with this thread, until a few days ago, work was pretty hecktic.<br>

<strong>IAN </strong>- I have thought about the things that you mentioned. I just haven't had lots of time to get real in-depth with my idea. However, I will be returning from my deployment soon and will spend more time thinking about it.<br>

<strong>Charles and Hilary</strong> - I really think it is a good idea but I am thinking that it needs to be a bit broader than I was thinking of. I am now also considering renting camera equipment. There is no local place to rent cameras and lenses. I feel that if I offer the "complete package", the business will have a better chance. I would like to keep in touch with you as our ideas develop. You can e-mail me at <a href="mailto:cnorman27@photo.net">cnorman27@photo.net</a> and it will forward to my Gmail.</p>

<p >A few days ago, a friend asked me if I was going to come over and shot his wedding after our deployment. (I’m in Iraq with the National Guard). </p>

<p >I have never done a wedding but it is something I have been interested in for a while. </p>

<p >Since it is my first one, I have every intention of doing it for free. I am going to give him permission to get prints somewhere else if he wants. All I expect to get for this is experience and samples for a portfolio.</p>

<p >That being said, there is one problem. I live near Seattle, WA and he lives in Montana. </p>

<p >My question is this: Would I be asking too much to make him pay for my travel expenses? I will do the wedding for free and I know it would still be a much better deal for him than hiring an established pro.</p>

<p >Also, if I do charge for travel, is all inclusive, i.e. air travel, rental car, food, lodging? </p>

<p >I honestly have no idea what to do in this situation and I would really like your help.</p>

<p >Thanks,</p>

<p >Chris.</p>

<p > </p>

<p>I would look into to renting. I have the same issues, but I like to go to the zoo to take my pictures.<br>

<a href="http://www.lensprotogo.com/">LensProToGo</a> has a wide selection of photographic equipment and the prices are about the same as the local stores around here. You can also get insurance added to the price of the rental. <br>

If this is a one time thing and you are looking for a lot of bang for little buck, this is the way to go. BTW, they also have a wide range of bodies if you want to take something other than the D40x.</p>

<p >I have been looking online at properties for lease for a photo studio I would like to open. I am still in the infant stages of my plan, just brainstorming. However, some questions have developed in my head that I would like help with.</p>

<p >I have read in other posts such as <a href="../photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00Facg">this one</a> that “. . . 30x30 and 14 ft ceilings is ideal.” I assume that is just for the shooting space. I would add a 12x12 meeting space, a restroom and a couple of small dressing/makeup rooms, possibly another 12x12 work space with a couple of workstations and computers, and small foyer area with a secretary.</p>

<p >That size leads me to think of warehouse space converted to a studio. As many of you know, warehouses will have other advantages such as large garage doors you can open to make a daylight studio. However, the other thing that comes to mind when I think of warehouse space is “industrial park”.</p>

<p >With that in mind, how do you choose a location for a studio? I live near Bellingham, WA (which is where I want to open the studio). How do you pick a location that people will WANT to visit and not a location that they will not visit? </p>

<p >With the location problem solved, I doubt that I will have enough business to keep the studio occupied 8-10 hours a day with customers. Are there other photogs that would be interested in partnering for the cost of leasing the space and wages for a secretary or someone who can manage the booking, billing, etc?</p>

<p>After reading your post and most of the other comments that have been made in reply to this, I would like to give my personal advice.</p>

<p>I know how important $250 can be. For me it's a car payment, or groceries, or a payment on our RV Trailer. I will not tell you that is too small of an amount to worry about.</p>

<p>However, that being said, I would gracefully apologize for any miscommunication that may have occurred, give her back the $250 and try to move on. I know that this seems wrong to you, if I were in the situation, I would probably feel compelled to “stick it to her” and take her to court. Others that have mentioned that the court costs would be more than the $250 you would gain are probably right.</p>

<p>I know that the option of returning the $250 seems like it’s undoable but you could potentially hurt your business in ways you can’t possibly imagine. If the bride goes telling people how bad of a person you are over this, the bad news will spread like a disease. People tend to tell all the people they meet about bad experiences they had with a business but tell very few about the good ones. </p>

<p>Again, I don’t want to discredit your need for this $250 and I understand the principle seems totally wrong but I think your best option is to bow out of the argument and try to leave her happy. It may not be possible for her to leave the situation happy but I have seen it happen in my own experiences. I have had to repo stuff from people and left them with a smile on their faces.<br>

Hope that this advice helps.</p>

<p>I will not pretend to know a lot about Stock Photography and therefore will not insult you or myself with advice.<br>

That being said, I did just pick up the June 2009 Shutterbug Magazine and they had an article that talked about some of the pros/cons of the different models for stock photography. It might be helpful to read if you haven't already.</p>

<p>Zenfolio is great. It's $99 a year for their highest level of service.  They offer lots of advanced tools like customizable price lists and coupons.  You can apply a pricelist to a single photo (for special editions, etc). Their print fulfillment is done through MPix. They also have fulfillment through fotofloat and someone else. </p><br>

<p>Pictage has new offerings too. Their normal service is expensive but they are now offering Pictage lite.  I haven't checked them out yet but have heard good things.</p><br>

<p>To start though, I would definately recommend Zenfolio.  It's easy to figure out and navigate both for you and your potential customers.</p>

<p>I have just started using Zenfolio. They offer a lot of different products from three different vendors. The print fulfillment is done by MPix. I only have put a couple of photos on it so far but it looks like it'll be a good site.<br>

Also look at Pictage Express. I have been getting e-mails from them regarding the new services they offer. They say no monthly fees now. I haven't really looked at it yet but Pictage is normally the #1 recommendation.</p>

<p>Cathy and David: Renting is hard to do. The nearest place there is for me to rent equpiment is 1.5 hours away. I have thought about renting but it doesn't seem feasable where I am.<br>

ND Trivette: I have thought about the "core group" of members also. It seems that would be best. <br>

Aimee: You are right about the time breakdowns. I am trying to look into how they work things with the office rental types of business. A couple of them opened up in Seattle that seem to be doing really well. They have different "tiers" for payments and I assume priority for time.<br>

Thanks all for your comments, keep them comming. I would like as much help brainstorming this as I can get!</p>

<p >I have had an idea for a while of starting a type of cooperative studio near Bellingham, WA. </p>

<p >I have done some research and found that especially with Wedding Photographers, the idea of an actual studio is becoming les and less common. There are a lot of posts about people who meet clients at the local Starbucks, etc. However, most of the books I have read, suggest otherwise, even going as far as to recommend large plasma TVs to show your work. </p>

<p >That in mind, I have thought of an idea to start a studio where you can rent the space for blocks of time. Because of the age that we are in, I am thinking of purely digital. </p>

<p >I would like to have a couple of meeting rooms set up so people can meet clients. Computers in case people need an office away from home (I have read that this can be more important than a lot of people think. (The office away from home helps separating work and home). </p>

<p >I also want to provide a studio area with lights and backgrounds, dressing rooms and possibly a boudoir area if that is something that people would use.</p>

<p >Since I myself am just starting out in photography, I am starting to realize how expensive all of the equipment and space can be. I am sure that other beginners, and even seasoned professionals are noticing the same problems with our lagging economy.</p>

<p >Now to my questions: </p>

<p > </p>

<p >· Is this something that other photographers would be interested in starting? </p>

<p >· Do you have examples of cooperatives like this that have been successful or unsuccessful? </p>

<p >· If people were interested in this type of cooperative, what kind of lighting and equipment would you like to see available?</p>

<p >· Lastly, how many people do you think you would need in order for this to work?</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I would like to thank you in advance for helping me with my brainstorm. This is just the beginning of my idea and I would like help making it grow.</p>

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