I'm starting a photography business from my home. Any suggestions on a plan? Ideas? Suggestions?
141857
The first step is to determine what type of photography you want to do. You can do assignment photography, focus on photographing children, doing portraits, or collecting photos for a stock photography business. \n\nFrom the article "Starting a Home Based Photography Business", here are some steps you may want to consider:\n\n1. Think through your business by writing a business plan\n2. Establish your legal business activity\n3. Open your business banking account\n4. Check zoning restrictions in your area esp if clients are going to come to your home\n5. Invest in your equipment\n6. Setup insurance\n7. Join professional organizations\n8. Finalize photo and lab arrangements\n\nThe article includes some recommended books that you can read for more in-depth information:\n\n- How To Start a Home-Based Photography Business \n- How You Can Make $25,000 a Year With Your Camera \n- The Business of Studio Photography : How to Start and Run a Successful Photography Studio \n- How to Operate a Successful Photo Portrait Studio \n- Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion \n- Sell & Re-Sell Your Photos : How to Sell Your Pictures to a World of Markets a Mailbox Away
201917
You can find start-up information from the article "Starting a Home Based Photography Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol56/photography.htm . The article also cover tips on pricing your services, marketing your business\n\nYou may also want to check the following associations:\n\nAdvertising Photographers of America ( http://www.apanational.com ) American Society of Media Photographers ( http://www.asmp.org ) Professional Photographers of America, Inc. ( http://www.ppa-world.org ) Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (http://www.wppi-online.com)\n\nYou can also read the following books for more indepth information on the topic:\n\nKen Oberrecht. "How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business." 3rd edition. Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press, 2000. \n\nGeza Szurovy. "Profitable Photography: Start and Run a Profitable Business:." New York: TAB Books, 1995.\n\nThe Business of Studio Photography : How to Start and Run a Successful Photography Studio by Edward R. Lilley
1105231
My wife found a home based business that works really well for us.  If you'd like her site just e-mail me.\n\nGood Luck!
368223
Entrepreneur Magazine has a list of Low Cost Startup Businesses that you may want to check out: http://www.entrepreneur.com/lowcostbusinesses/0,6617,,00.html\n\nSome other home business ideas:\n\nTop 10 Home Businesses with Rapid Break-Even Time http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol33/breakeven.htm\n10 Profitable “Go-Out" Home Businesses http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol31/goout.htm\n\nThe best home business of course will depend on what you want, how you define to be interesting. A person may consider a pet sitting business to be the most exciting work in the world, while another person would rather watch TV than take care of dogs. \n\nThe key is to determine what your interests are, what you want to do, what is suitable for your lifestyle and your overall goals, and what can fit with your resources.\n\nDan Ramsey in his book "101 Best Home Businesses" has a chapter on how to find YOUR best home business. He suggests these 10 steps:\n\n1. List 5 things you do best\n2. List how others would benefit from what you do best\n3. Find out how to give people what they want\n4. Learn the value of your services to others\n5. Find out who else offers similar services\n6. Learn from the successes of others\n7. Learn from the failures of others\n8. Plan your own success\n9. Make low cost mistakes\n10. Enjoy what you do and how you do it\n\nHe then made suggestions on the best home businesses according to type. Here are a few of them:\n\nBest Businesses Using Craft or Physical Skills\n- antique restoration\n- auto detail service\n- carpet cleaning business\n- errand/delivery service\n- housecleaning business\n\nBest Service Businesses \n- bed and breakfast operator\n- caregiver\n- catering service\n- senior day care center\n- tutoring service\n\nBest Professional Businesses\n- desktop publisher\n- magazine writer\n- import/export service\n- income tax preparation service\n- event planner\n\n\nYou can also check out the following books:\n\nTurn Your Talents into Profits: 100+ Terrific Ideas for Starting Your Own Home-Based Microbusiness \n The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century \n 121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home \n The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start \n 101 Ways to Make Money at Home
377194
Hi, I have no experience with this but I've found two sites that may help in starting up your business.\n\nGood luck!
531398
The price will depend on the type of service you offer, going rate in your area, and extras you provide clients. There are several ways to help you determine your prices:\n\n1. Go to the Web and search for your competitors ("home portrait photography") and check the price ranges offered. There are many that do not put their prices up but you can ask for it through email, while some actually puts their prices on the site.\n\n2. Go to the yellow pages and contact the photography studios in your area. Pretend you're a client and ask for prices. Just make sure you don't sound too technical that they may detect that you are a competitor, not a client
445966
Okay, let's get you going.  Start by getting a portfolio together and putting your work on line.  You can get an inexpensive web page and/or  blog and post your photo's.  Get free and or inexpensive business cards on line at a place like VistaPrint.com (your first 250 cards are free).  Then start with friends and family and see if you can start getting some opportunities to work.  Create flyers about your company and what you offer and drop them off at homes in your neighborhood.  See if the local newspaper has a section where they interview new local business'.  Join networking groups.  Hope this helps.  Most important, JUST DO IT!  Good luck.
201680
I did it about 2 years ago.  Went from working for someone else to starting my own studio.  The only hang up was affording the right equipment.  I started off with a couple high quality cameras I bought off eBay.  Did a few weddings for rock bottom prices just to get my name out there.  And now we are crazy busy with weddings, sport videos, memories and such.  And this summer we are working on our first short.  I am not sure what you are looking for answer wise.  But if you have any questions on what I did or suggestion just let me know.  I might be able to help or at least tell you what not to do.
109188
Wow, you are like me, enjoyment of many fabulous things :) Okay So I have just a few ideas, take a look see if you can see yourself doing any of them.  I will put some links below that are to sites that give free articles, success stories (for ideas)and help with business forms, plans, naming your Biz and helping with marketing ideas, etc...\n\nTeach/tutor Cumputer use (basics at day cares or senior homes)\n\nwrite and ebook on low cost decorating and sell through a website (there is a reason most of the HGTV networks shows are on how to get a designer room on a budget)\n\nSell your arts and crafts creation via a website and/or ebay\n\nstart a fashion or home decorating website or blog (then sell advertising space)\n\nAt the end of the day it should be something you are passionate about, hope you find that :)\n\nGood Luck
173916
If you are looking for a business idea, I suggest looking at various business ideas books and check if any interests you. One example is Dan Ramsey in his book "101 Best Home Businesses" made suggestions on the best home businesses according to type. Here are a few of them:\n\nBest Businesses Using Craft or Physical Skills\n- antique restoration\n- auto detail service\n- carpet cleaning business\n- errand/delivery service\n- housecleaning business\n\nBest Service Businesses \n- bed and breakfast operator\n- caregiver\n- catering service\n- senior day care center\n- tutoring service\n\nBest Professional Businesses\n- desktop publisher\n- magazine writer\n- import/export service\n- income tax preparation service\n- event planner\n\nHe also has a chapter on how to find YOUR best home business. He suggests these 10 steps:\n\n1. List 5 things you do best\n2. List how others would benefit from what you do best\n3. Find out how to give people what they want\n4. Learn the value of your services to others\n5. Find out who else offers similar services\n6. Learn from the successes of others\n7. Learn from the failures of others\n8. Plan your own success\n9. Make low cost mistakes\n10. Enjoy what you do and how you do it\n\nSome other websites where you can find business ideas:\n\nTop 10 Home Businesses with Rapid Break-Even Time http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol33/breakeven.htm\n10 Profitable “Go-Out" Home Businesses http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol31/goout.htm\nLow Cost Startup Businesses http://www.entrepreneur.com/lowcostbusinesses/0,6617,,00.html\n\nOther business ideas book include: \n\n- Turn Your Talents into Profits: 100+ Terrific Ideas for Starting Your Own Home-Based Microbusiness \n- The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century \n- 121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home \n- The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start \n- 101 Ways to Make Money at Home  \n\nNote that the best home business that you can be sure is not a scam is one that you start yourself. It will depend on what you want, how you define to be interesting. A person may consider a pet sitting business to be the most exciting work in the world, while another person would rather watch TV than take care of dogs. \n\nThe key is to determine what your interests are, what you want to do, what is suitable for your lifestyle and your overall goals, and what can fit with your resources.
499741
I would consider hiring an outside photographer so long as the prices were reasonable.  I am in Virginia and one of the admin. gals charges $250 to go to a listing, take what she considers to be "staged" photos and create a windows movie presentation to music on CD.  I found that I like my own photos better but it's difficult enough to make time to go and take photos of every listing, much less to then sit and put together a tour.  I wouldn't mind being able to email someone photos that I took and have them email me back a presentation which could be saved to disk.  I would think that would be more profitable because then you aren't limiting yourself to your local area.  You could procide the service to anyone, anywhere.  Of course if photography is your thing and that's what you are looking to do then I would market yourself by offering a "POGO" offer, Pay for One, Get One.  I don't really care for any of the virtual tours that require stitching because they always look like the "egg" tours, dort of distorted.  I like the ones where the camera seems to zoom in and out.  If there was a high quality 360 tour, I would consider it but I haven't seen one I like yet.  I think that having some sort of staging experience or at least being able to say you completed a staging course would be essential if you are going to actually go and take the photo.  Also, you need to consider access to the homes.  You can always ask the agents to meet you and let you in but I would think that it would be easier to check with the local Realtor board and see if they offer bus. memberships so that you can have a lockbox key (if they are even used in your area).   I know I would much rather pay someone who can let themselves in, take awesome photos, make a nice virtual tour that I could use on my website, on CDs that accomany the brochures etc.. and offers me some sort of discount for multiple jobs.  Just my input!  :)
837533
Go to a professional photographer - he/she will have ideas you never thought about.\n\nWe've had some great ones done - kids in the trees, all of us by some sea oats on a sand dune at the beach,  all of the kids piled onto my Harley by an American flag holding my college pennants, etc. (It really is as corny as it sounds, but we like it!)\n\nGo to a pro!
76515
Set up an adult webcam.\n\nSeriously?  Clean house and sell used gear on eBay.\n\nYou need a product or service that you can provide faster, cheaper or better than everyone else, or a better way to market an exisiting product you can sell. If you have something in mind, then you can set up a small business. It is probably easier to use Yahoo shops or eBay for a trial period toget used to having an online business.
903360
Please re-phase you question. You said you want photo but what do you want the photo for? Are you trying to buy a house?
1143019
Wow!  I like your idea!  So they can submit photos and stuff to you and you compile them eh? \nI think the best way to start is to create a portfolio of your work, so others can see what you do.  Perhaps family and friends would be a good place to start.  Once you have several projects completed, you can then present what you offer to other people with more confidence.  \nYou can get som much information online to help with marketing etc.  It depends on where you are from.  \nGood luck with your venture... it sounds great!!!
106171
Sounds like a good idea. Websites by experts offering good independent advice are always a good idea. Is this intended as a business or a hobby?
447204
i would probably start by creating an online business that deals with what you are trying to do. That could help you obtain the capital needed to start you big business