With modern technology in the form
of SLR digital cameras, you do not even need the room for a dark room. You need
only to have a personal computer and a photo-editing program. The standard is
Adobe Photoshop.
It is not necessary to
clutter yourself with equipment you do not need. You can hire equipment on and
when you need it basis. You have the freedom to work part time for a while
until you can devote yourself full time to photography. All you need to be is a
serious photographer. There are two types of photographers that makes their
living from photography, the serious photographer and the very serious
photographer. You can always bookmark this link and then you can quickly access
just about all you'll ever need from here.
Whilst
the technical skills needed to make a successful photographer have never been
easier, other aspects have changed the business. The market for photographs of
virtually every type has widened, the world seems to have an insatiable
appetite for photographs. However the price has fallen as the marketing net has
broadened. Photographers are needed in many more fields. For instance many
people use car web sites, they simply did not exist ten years ago, and they
sell their products as a result of photography. Cameras used by scuba diver's
are now an excellent quality, and whilst they are initially expensive, they
have forged a new market. People celebrate special occasions more with
photography, than they did years ago. The travel and advertising markets have a
greater need for landscape, travel and nature shots.
It is now easier than ever to turn your dream into reality and
create a worthwhile business out of an engrossing hobby. However in today's
modern world there is more to it than simply pointing a camera, and shooting a
picture. You need to be aware of marketing techniques, and here marketing
simply means transferring ownership of a product, in this case an image from a
buyer to seller. You also need to be aware of any local gaps in the market in
your local area. You should also try to be on top of your competitor's prices,
to undercut an existing photographer is one choice, but to neglect to value
your skills and not charge enough to cover your overheads is another matter entirely.
Remember this, its an important point.
Use
your skills to the best advantage of the business and define what you want from
it. Writing a business plan helps to keep you focused on the areas you
specifically want to exploit. A business plan helps you to define your goals
and strategies, it will be changed and updated, but it will help you, to keep
things in perspective. You can then refer back to it when things become
confusing or complicated. Everyone's business plan will be different, as every
objective will be different, but there are certain common factors that make up
a good business plan which will help your business grow. It allows you to
develop a professional attitude to your business, which not only helps you to
increase your earnings, but also help you to finance your business.
For the
photographer it should include, your business name, or your own, with full
details of the proposed location of the business, a copy of your logo, as well
as details of your copyright notices. What is the form of your proposed
business (sole ownership, partnership, Limited Liability Company or
Corporation). This should be followed by a table of contents, which focuses on
a logical order. There are resources that will give you further details on such
as profitable-photography.com
Included after this should be the type of
business you intend to pursue, in a fair amount of detail, and it should
contain the services you intend to offer. This section should include any
future gaols or avenues you would like to explore, stating your clear
objectives. This is so you can check at a later date whether your objectives
are on course, or if you have got sidetracked.
If you envisage at any time you may need financial help, then
you should include your personal business history.
You should also state a clear and concise marketing plan that
should demonstrate how your business will differentiate from the businesses of
your competitors. You should be able to establish whom your customers will be,
as well as where your market will be, as in wholesale or retail or a
combination of both. You should also be able to determine how long this type of
market will be available to yourself.
The
next section should clearly define your opposition, as well as their strengths
and weaknesses. This should include the ways you may be able to exploit any
gaps in the market in the specific area where you live. A section should follow
this on how you intend to market and promote your individual services.
A financial segment should be included as to how you intend to
manage the day-to-day bills of the business. How you intend to price your
services, and what factors influence this pricing structure, which includes a
section on your competitor's financial structures. This means a fair amount of
detective work as well as homework. Get your friends to ask from quotes from
the local competition. Or try an even more direct approach, tell your
competitor's that you intend to start a new business, and that you do not want
to undercut them, as this reduces the cake for everyone. They may well offer to
help you construct a pricing structure that ensures everyone's livelihood. It
is in their interests to help. Not everyone will be cooperative, but it may
mean you can get a truer picture of the market factors that govern your area.
Make a list of all the equipment you will need in your first
year, as well as how and where you intend to purchase. Note any difficulties
that may arise in obtaining your supplies. Note whether the prices of your
supplies have a seasonal fluctuation, that may help you influence you when to
buy. You should make a note of any local licenses that will be necessary, as
well as any zoning restrictions, that may restrict the growth of your business.
Your neighbours may not be thrilled at a procession of customer's to your door,
check whether they can restrict your services. Make a study of all your
business insurance requirements.
The
final segment should be devoted to how you intend to finance the growth of your
business, as well as isolating what your financial needs will be. This should
include a projection on your future earnings, as well as an accurate assessment
of your outgoings'. This should be assessed on a monthly basis for the first
year, and on an annual basis for the following three years. An important aspect
of the financial statement is an assessment of the break-even point of your
business, in other words the minimum you will have to take to pay your
expenses.
The purpose of this documentation is to allow you to
enunciate what the core elements of your business will be, in doing this it
should help you to be able to quickly evaluate the success of your business
objectives. If you are not clear on your objectives then you cannot possibly
make a plan to bring about the success of those objectives.
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