business questions for a ski resort photo company

[Mikeroscope]

We are two twentysomethings trying to start a business and would appreciate any advice. This forum has been such a great resource since I have discovered it.

Let me start by explaining our business then I will ask my questions. Our business will be taking quick portraits at the top of the ski lifts or action shots on the slopes. Resort guests will be able to purchase the photos via our web site or in a kiosk we will have set up in a store in the village. I have a few noob questions.

I was looking at buying a Sony UP-DR200 printer to handle orders onsite. I can't decide what type of paper I should get for it. The rolls that print 4x6 are way cheaper, but what if people want 5x7 or 6x8. If I get the big rolls thats going to cut a lot of profit out when I want to print smaller sizes. I have seen some places print a 6x8 sheet with either two 4x6s on top of each other or a 4x6 with wallets below it, and of course it could also be one 6x8. I have no idea what program I could use to print like that.

Another problem I have come across is how to give the photos to the customers once they have purchased them. I was thinking of some cheesy touristy frames with skis or mountains. Something paper or cardboard with our logo on it. If we do the 6x8 page with multiple sizes then we could use one size frame as well. Any ideas on where to get these made?

Should we drop the money on a good printer to do 8X10s? I was looking at the Canon Pixma Pro 9xxx series. Or should we just use Mpix for those?

Thank you for your time and any help.

[JWright]

There isn't somebody already doing this in your area? Ski slope photographers were very common as far back as 20 years ago.

The other thing to consider is what do you do after the snow melts and ski season is over?

[Mikeroscope]

Yeah no one does it in our area. We have summer jobs at the beach.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Well a simply photo shop template will print on the 6x8 paper easily enough. Just set your prices so they either get 2 4x6 or a 4x6 and wallets. It's up to you to decide what to offer customers. But here's a question if they want a larger size do they have to go to the web site? Or will you just ship it to them. Because you will want them to committ and pay right there because they may never make it to your site.

[golfecho]

Don't forget to cover/discuss the legalities with the resort owner/operator. Better to get that out of the way before a big investment in time/equipment only to find out they won't allow you to operate your business on their property . . .

[smmokan]

I think a photo service such as that which limits print sizes to 4x6 or 5x7 is not well thought-out. You should pay the extra money to get a printer capable of printing 8x10s, I'd imagine plenty of customers would want that.

Have you asked other resorts what kind of revenue they drive from these operations? In my experience in CO, most of the shooting is done by "Sharp Shooters", which I'm assuming is an outside firm separate from the resort. If you're working at a smaller resort, I have a hard time imagining enough people buying these pictures to make a good amount of money.

[Mikeroscope]

The guy in Corporate wants us there. He is the one arranging us renting out a corner of another shop to put the kiosk in.

[Mikeroscope]

The UP-DR200 is not cheap. It prints fast and cheap and has a roll of paper so there are no scraps or jams. I was just going to do the small fast prints and use Mpix for the rest.

Do you really think that many people will want an 8x10 of them in their ski gear?

[20DNewbie]

The UP-DR200 is not cheap. It prints fast and cheap and has a roll of paper so there are no scraps or jams. I was just going to do the small fast prints and use Mpix for the rest.

Do you really think that many people will want an 8x10 of them in their ski gear?

Depends on the clientele really, is it more of a local hill I wouldn't expect to sell much if any. Probably a lot better if it was a weekend/vacation spot.

When I was living in Aspen the togs would spend a decent amount of time in the park. Sure, some of the people would want the family snapshot with the Rockies in the BG but most of the sales seemed to come from the pipes and rails. Well them and the first timers if they're having a good time, so maybe spend some time at the beginner hill maybe at the top of the lift with them getting off.

One thing they would do was position themselves on a prime spot and yell out numbers to people passing by so they could check out the shots whenever they were done. That or they were hired to follow people around for however long they were needed. They also did video mainly for ski school though, I believe it's all been farmed out since I was there.

Best of luck.

[egordon99]

Our family probably has an 8x10 from EVERY year we've gone skiing. Starting back from around 1987 or so...Steamboat, Snowmass, Vail/Beaver Creek, Deer Valley. I'm looking at a 5x7 of us all from Deer Valley (2002, last time I went skiing :( ) We also have shots of us doing NASTAR, and I have a couple of me going down a double-black in Snowmass :lol:

So yes, there's a market...

Good luck!