Thinking of starting up studio HELP

[JBF]

I am thinking of giving up my job of the last 15 yrs to start up a studio. I feel really comfortable doing portraiture. Have done some weddings, but I like the studio idea better. I need some good business advice, hopefully from some of you in the business. As far as what I need to spend up front. (ex...lighting, computers, software, client tracking software, business software...etc)

Also, what about marketing myself, how do you do it and what has been successful for you.

HELP!!!

[weka2000]

Im in a simalar siuation but would start at night and keep my day job.

Where would your studio be at home or rent one?

[JBF]

I think I would probably find a place to rent. I need to be somewhere working other than the home.

[weka2000]

I think I would probably find a place to rent. I need to be somewhere working other than the home.

I guess it comes down to expenses vs income = profit/loss :)

What will you do to advertise. You could create a web site with a series of sample works, create business cards with your web site on it and start by handing them out at every chance you get.
How may others in your area doing the same type of thing?

How many of yor past clients could help you recommend their freinds?

I guess the biggest thing is keeping expenses, down unless you are making a big investment to get started.
In my case I have to start slow and build up.

[coreypolis]

strobes, I like Norman and prophoto
lots of different sized softboxes and umbrellas
gels
lots and lots of C stands
lots of sandbags
a studio tripod
remote shooting capabilities
decent sound system
good light meter
pocket wizards
loads of various sync cords
few different rolls of seamless
a few different muslins
a support system for muslin and seamless
black or med gray paint for all the walls
plexiglass for over the seamless
lots of light stands



seating area
model makeup area
lots of mirrors




oh and one of these :)
http://www.virtualbackgrounds.net/pages/technology.html

[Vegas Poboy]

Hello,
I understand what you're going through and have been there myself for the last couple of years. I have the suggest the following. Keep the day job until you've purchased all the gear needed to run your studio & have a client base where you're making enough to pay for studio space. Start school and take photography lessons on all of the basics of lighting, portraits and the business. Check out the where you live and see how other photographers is making it. How stressed out they're trying to make it. Be flexable on what you want to do, when you have bills you need to shoot everything can you do that?

Now my experience is I have a great job that allows me and my family to live well but photography is my passion. I started school four years ago just for fun, I never wanted to do anything more than just learn the basics of photograpahy so when i went on vacations I could capture those postcard shots. One thing after another I know have a full blown business and growing after three years of hard work and still attending school. I've figured there is over a 1000 photographers here in Las Vegas and that is high competition. Most photographers that I've worked with or from has some sort of backup income, Wife, day job, retirement and they use the photography as additional.

Early part of this year I went through my finances and figured that in order to make it and still live the way I'm living would not work just with photography. I also scouted areas to open a studio and it would cost me roughly $1.50 a square foot to operate not including my house note. So I converted space within my home to do portraits that will hold up to four people. My client enjoys coming to my home and taking their time to prepare for the shoot and not have to wait inside a store with babys crying and other distractions so the home is a plus all the way around. Also I have gone to my clients home and setup they even like that more.

All in all take plenty of notes and research much as possible.

Good luck,
BP

[weka2000]

oh and one of these :)
http://www.virtualbackgrounds.net/pages/technology.html

I like that idea, whats the cost?

[coreypolis]

I like that idea, whats the cost?

$4k+

realistically you could do the same thing with a 35mm slide projector and a strobe, thats all it is.

lighting that is very hard to get right, it has to look natural on the background and the person, and fitting them into it also.

Not worth it to me, especially with photoshop and a clean white background

[weka2000]

Not worth it to me, especially with photoshop and a clean white background

Can you explain how I would acheive that. I assume a well ironed white sheet. Selct model and past into new background layer?

[coreypolis]

Can you explain how I would acheive that. I assume a well ironed white sheet. Selct model and past into new background layer?

start with an evenly lit background, hopefully very differently colored and lit than the model.

then follow these instructions


http://mouseprints.net/old/dpr/ReplaceBG.html

[12345Michael54321]

Start school and take photography lessons on all of the basics of lighting, portraits and the business.
Emphasis on "the business." Classes on lighting and portraits probably won't contribute as much to your business success as will classes on bookkeeping/accounting, business management, marketing, business law, etc.

The business of photography is generally more about "business," than it is about "photography." Oh, sure, you should be a compentent photographer; I'm not suggesting otherwise. But if Photographer A has little background in the aforementioned businesss subjects, yet is a gifted photographer; and Photographer B has excellent business skills and is merely a competent photographer, I will bet on Photographer B having (by far) the more successful career as a photographer. Not 100% of the time, but it's definitely the way the smart money would bet.

I've mentioned this once or twice before on POTN. I've recounted how two fellows I know are brilliant chefs, yet each of their restaurants failed within 16 months, because they couldn't accept that running a successful restaurant is more about running a business than it is about cooking fantastic food. I know a woman who has been an interior decorator for some years, and who has done incredible work, but who isn't as successful professionally as her competition who may lack her gifts, but who have marketing and business skills she lacks. And my former neighbor's son is the finest mechanic you'd ever hope to meet - yet his auto repair business failed horribly, because he didn't know a thing about running a business; he figured just being able to fix any motor vehicle ever built was all it took.

You want to give up a job of 15 years to start a photography studio? Great. And by all means, take classes in photography. But take at least twice as many classes in business matters.

Admittedly, I'm not a professional photographer. But I am a lawyer who's dealt with plenty of small and medium-sized businesses, and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to why businesses fail.

[weka2000]

But I am a lawyer .

What lawers involved already ;)

Good advice. In New Zealand many get caught out with Tax issues. I had a mate who got a $20,000 tax bill after 3 years into his business "What the..."
and he had an accountant who was ment to sort all that out

[Vegas Poboy]

Emphasis on "the business." Classes on lighting and portraits probably won't contribute as much to your business success as will classes on bookkeeping/accounting, business management, marketing, business law, etc.

The business of photography is generally more about "business," than it is about "photography." Oh, sure, you should be a compentent photographer; I'm not suggesting otherwise. But if Photographer A has little background in the aforementioned businesss subjects, yet is a gifted photographer; and Photographer B has excellent business skills and is merely a competent photographer, I will bet on Photographer B having (by far) the more successful career as a photographer. Not 100% of the time, but it's definitely the way the smart money would bet.

I've mentioned this once or twice before on POTN. I've recounted how two fellows I know are brilliant chefs, yet each of their restaurants failed within 16 months, because they couldn't accept that running a successful restaurant is more about running a business than it is about cooking fantastic food. I know a woman who has been an interior decorator for some years, and who has done incredible work, but who isn't as successful professionally as her competition who may lack her gifts, but who have marketing and business skills she lacks. And my former neighbor's son is the finest mechanic you'd ever hope to meet - yet his auto repair business failed horribly, because he didn't know a thing about running a business; he figured just being able to fix any motor vehicle ever built was all it took.

You want to give up a job of 15 years to start a photography studio? Great. And by all means, take classes in photography. But take at least twice as many classes in business matters.

Admittedly, I'm not a professional photographer. But I am a lawyer who's dealt with plenty of small and medium-sized businesses, and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to why businesses fail.


Very well put Michael, the main reason I mentioned photography classes is make sure you have the basics on photogrphy covered once you give up the day job, you have to know how to pose & light body shapes, skin tones etc. You want clients to return and refer you to keep the income rolling in. Business Class is a very big need I just completed one here in Vegas last spring business plan and all more info than I care to write.