Teenagers becoming photographers?? I want one of these stores here!

I really love the color and the energy of this place! I know many may see this as a threat or a blessing but I do see this as a blessing.

I would love to own my own studio (once I master lighting) and create a place of fun, happiness, and joy for the family, the kids, and for other photographers.

What do you think? No need to blame or get negative about this. It's just a way to start on your own and build a business (with other photographers) in your town or in the mall. Anyone know the cost or start up on this type of company/franchise in NYC, Atlanta, or New jersey?

www.picturecompany.com​.ph

Oh, if you want to see more of these teenagers with camera do their thing, check out their facebook page! http://www.facebook.co​m …ture-Company/104811514491

So this is another picture mill? You can't franchise creativity, and these types of ventures always fail.

So how is the money made to keep something like this open?

robert61 wrote in post #12364091
So this is another picture mill? You can't franchise creativity, and these types of ventures always fail.

There will always be a spot in the economy for budget photo studios. We may not like it but they are here and from what I have seen they rarely fail. How many Walmarts have you walked in to and see their photo studio boarded up. How many Sears portrait studios shut down. They stay in business because serve a segment of the market that want reasonable portraits at a budget rate. I don't see these kinds of operations going away any time soon. In tough economic times families are going to still want pictures of junior and do they spend a couple of hundred for one photographer or go to a place like this for substantially less. We can talk about their lack of creativity and that they don't promote the learning of photography but that is not their mission. Their mission is to turn out sittings as fast as you can and pay minimum wage.

A franchise fee of only 7500.00 is probably attainable for many people. As franchise fees go, it is one the smallest I have seen. The trick is to have a line of credit or additional cash to keep it viable. If you put these in high traffic malls I could see it working.

Most people on this forum are about creating or at least trying to, something new and exciting while this sort of operation is very predictable with their results. In most of these places the camera settings are already decided for you but maybe they will let you play with them to get varying degrees of results. When the parents bring little Johnny in for pictures what they want is something nice that they can send to the grandparents and hang in the hall for a couple of years. If they can afford to pay the multi-hundred dollar sitting fees then great but if they can't this will have to do. At the end of the day they get what they want and they don't care how it detracts from promoting creativity in the photography industry. I would bet that these operations still charge more than alot of people just starting out and promoting their services on internet forums such as Craigslist.

RDKirk wrote in post #12364458
So how is the money made to keep something like this open?

Exactly!??? I am trying to figure this out. If I am not dreaming, I thought I seen this somewhere in New Jersey. However, the company CONFIRMED that it is only in the Philippines.

Also, I read (if I am not dreaming again) somewhere that they allow photographers to sign up to book rooms for their clients. This is cool, especially if you hate having the clients to come to my house (with all their kids).

I think there might be a rental and usage fee. So, if you don't want to hold and carry all the equipment around, they have it there.

THANK you so much for your feedback!

ssim wrote in post #12364839
There will always be a spot in the economy for budget photo studios. We may not like it but they are here and from what I have seen they rarely fail. How many Walmarts have you walked in to and see their photo studio boarded up. How many Sears portrait studios shut down. They stay in business because serve a segment of the market that want reasonable portraits at a budget rate. I don't see these kinds of operations going away any time soon. In tough economic times families are going to still want pictures of junior and do they spend a couple of hundred for one photographer or go to a place like this for substantially less. We can talk about their lack of creativity and that they don't promote the learning of photography but that is not their mission. Their mission is to turn out sittings as fast as you can and pay minimum wage.

A franchise fee of only 7500.00 is probably attainable for many people. As franchise fees go, it is one the smallest I have seen. The trick is to have a line of credit or additional cash to keep it viable. If you put these in high traffic malls I could see it working.

Most people on this forum are about creating or at least trying to, something new and exciting while this sort of operation is very predictable with their results. In most of these places the camera settings are already decided for you but maybe they will let you play with them to get varying degrees of results. When the parents bring little Johnny in for pictures what they want is something nice that they can send to the grandparents and hang in the hall for a couple of years. If they can afford to pay the multi-hundred dollar sitting fees then great but if they can't this will have to do. At the end of the day they get what they want and they don't care how it detracts from promoting creativity in the photography industry. I would bet that these operations still charge more than alot of people just starting out and promoting their services on internet forums such as Craigslist.

You are so right! This makes sense. Thank you for your feedback!

ssim wrote in post #12364839
There will always be a spot in the economy for budget photo studios. We may not like it but they are here and from what I have seen they rarely fail. How many Walmarts have you walked in to and see their photo studio boarded up. How many Sears portrait studios shut down.

In our town, pretty darned frequently. They've tried a studio in our Walmart a couple of times, and there was an Olan Mills for a short time in our Meijers. A couple of other franchise portrait studios have failed. The Sears studio hangs on, but I was talking to a former manager of that store, and she told me it was brutal.

But otherwise, this is actually a pretty good areas for boutique studios.

RDKirk wrote in post #12365264
In our town, pretty darned frequently. They've tried a studio in our Walmart a couple of times, and there was an Olan Mills for a short time in our Meijers. A couple of other franchise portrait studios have failed. The Sears studio hangs on, but I was talking to a former manager of that store, and she told me it was brutal.

But otherwise, this is actually a pretty good areas for boutique studios.

I had talked with a photographer at a picture me in the walmart and they are through walmart themselves if you try to find a site on the net to franchise you won't find it. now don't quote me on this but I was told by someone deep in the corp. of sears and they said stores like that have the photo studio as a lure to get people to come in for photos and end up coming out with photos and other goods. at the prices they sell picture packages for no one could stay in business long. they would just about break even just to get people to walk through and shop. i sat sometimes and watched as people come in and even though the prices are rock bottom they will allways expect more. most bring in thier children in not dressed or ready for a photo shoot and want miracles. i seen one young lady last for about a year but most quit within three months. if any of those places shut down, it's most likely they could not keep staff there to stay open! but this is just my 2cents!

That is the Wal Mart business model. They attract you with loss leaders to inspire you to buy more and more.