Preparing your business for a big move

Hey guys,

I recently graduated from college and am on the job hunt. Through the last few years of school I worked part/full time, attended class, and ran my photography/videograph​y business. I feel like I was just getting to the point where I had a pretty good groove going here in the area, but realistically I am looking at having to relocate if I want to have a steady job that takes advantage of my new degree.

I don't yet know where I will end up, but what would you guys be doing to prepare to pack your bags and move across the country with your business? I have already stopped taking booking deposits past the end of the summer, and have been telling people that I will happily take on their future shoot but that I am job hunting and may be moving soon. A few people have said that is fine and booked anyways, a few others have gone elsewhere, but everyone has been very polite about it.

I also know that it will take some time once I move to get settled and rebuild the business that I had going here. Is there anything I should be doing now or once I have a job and place to live lined up that could help speed that process up before I am on the ground wherever I land?

I know. Moving is such a hassle especially in this business. You may need to go out and go to some trade shows or bridal shows (if wedding photography is your thing). Starting from scratch in a new place is always difficult. I went back to Illinois for about 10 months and felt like I'd be stepping on peoples (friends) toes if I tried to get photo gigs up there.

You just have to get your name out there.

CameraMan wrote in post #16940255
I know. Moving is such a hassle especially in this business. You may need to go out and go to some trade shows or bridal shows (if wedding photography is your thing). Starting from scratch in a new place is always difficult. I went back to Illinois for about 10 months and felt like I'd be stepping on peoples (friends) toes if I tried to get photo gigs up there.

You just have to get your name out there.

Its definitely a scary thing to be contemplating, I've lived withing 50 miles of Lexington my entire life. I think it will be a good experience though and I'm looking forward to the challenge really.

I just want to have as little down time as possible while I try to rebuild what I have here.

Do you know where you might end up location wise? You might want to put some feelers out there before you get there.

So far I have applied to a few positions locally as well as jobs in or around, Seattle, Denver, Boulder, Atlanta, NYC, Nashville, Tulsa, Charlotte, Charleston, and probably a few others that I forgot about for the moment. I'm pretty willing to go anywhere the work is haha.

Oh and Portland, and Cincinati.

Scratch Atlanta. It's pretty dismal hear as far as the job market is concerned. There are plenty of jobs to be had in Chicago. I went up there and had no problem finding a job. The weather was brutal though. I don't ever remember it being as cold as it was this past winter. It was the coldest winter on record and almost beat the record for the most amount of snow fall. Missed it by 10 inches I believe. It was snowing the day I left.

CameraMan wrote in post #16940354
Scratch Atlanta. It's pretty dismal hear as far as the job market is concerned. There are plenty of jobs to be had in Chicago. I went up there and had no problem finding a job. The weather was brutal though. I don't ever remember it being as cold as it was this past winter. It was the coldest winter on record and almost beat the record for the most amount of snow fall. Missed it by 10 inches I believe. It was snowing the day I left.

I hadn't poked around Chicago yet, gunna have to add that to the list of places to look. Atlanta has the headquarters for the guys that own Discovery/History channel and all of their offshoot channels/studios which is why it's on my list.

Edit: I guess I should add that I'm trying to go into documentary television/film

As soon as you know where you are going start blogging your sessions to build SEO in the new location. If you took the pic in London but move to Seattle still make your blog title for Seattle as well as your tags. Building up SEO before you get there can help but it's hard. I moved in April and just booked my first session here this week. Starting over sucks!! I'm having an easier time getting featured/published then getting clients, it's backwards!

RobynK wrote in post #16943409
As soon as you know where you are going start blogging your sessions to build SEO in the new location. If you took the pic in London but move to Seattle still make your blog title for Seattle as well as your tags. Building up SEO before you get there can help but it's hard. I moved in April and just booked my first session here this week. Starting over sucks!! I'm having an easier time getting featured/published then getting clients, it's backwards!

Good to know, and congrats on starting to get back into the swing of things. I will probably take this opportunity to do a pretty heavy redesign of my website as well.

solepatch wrote in post #16940336
So far I have applied to a few positions locally as well as jobs in or around, Seattle, Denver, Boulder, Atlanta, NYC, Nashville, Tulsa, Charlotte, Charleston, and probably a few others that I forgot about for the moment. I'm pretty willing to go anywhere the work is haha.

Boston. There are always jobs up in Mass. Just too far of a drive for me. Lots of potentials

Although the year round warm weather for the most part down south is sure a bonus.

If you are serious then I would highly recommend moving to the large markets. New York Chicago and LA. New York and try and get a job with a top shooter in one of those markets.

Chicago now has a booming film industry.

Is your new degree and job hunt photography related? If not, I would spend my time looking for a job- in my field of study- in a place I would enjoy living FIRST. You can resurrect your photo/ video business once you know you have a "real" job and get to know your new home. Good luck!

solepatch wrote in post #16940373
Edit: I guess I should add that I'm trying to go into documentary television/film

Might consider adding Austin and New Orleans to your list.

The job market is going to be tight wherever you go and I'm assuming you know you'll be starting as, at best, a PA.

Aki78 wrote in post #16943893
Boston. There are always jobs up in Mass. Just too far of a drive for me. Lots of potentials

Although the year round warm weather for the most part down south is sure a bonus.

I'll definitely add Boston to my list to check out. As far as the weather is concerned I think I could be happy most places regardless of weather if I can find somewhere a little less humid during the hot months that would be a plus though.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #16944090
If you are serious then I would highly recommend moving to the large markets. New York Chicago and LA. New York and try and get a job with a top shooter in one of those markets.

Chicago now has a booming film industry.

I've been looking into New York and LA pretty heavily, Haven't looked much in Chicago but I would more than happily move there. I'll check it out for sure.

Shane W wrote in post #16944509
Is your new degree and job hunt photography related? If not, I would spend my time looking for a job- in my field of study- in a place I would enjoy living FIRST. You can resurrect your photo/ video business once you know you have a "real" job and get to know your new home. Good luck!

I'll be going into some sort of film/video work, preferably doing documentary film/television although I'm currently working for a non-profit here in Kentucky with their media department and wouldn't be against doing something similar somewhere else. The photo business is at least for the foreseeable future my side gig.

Fernando wrote in post #16944576
Might consider adding Austin and New Orleans to your list.

The job market is going to be tight wherever you go and I'm assuming you know you'll be starting as, at best, a PA.

I'll look into both places, I've heard a lot about Austin having a lot going for it right now. I'm looking into everything I can find including lots and lots of PA jobs.