Studio question...

[ramiro]

I have a question that I'd like to post to this forum. Currently my focus is weddings, but I have started to do seniors and I am getting some good results. As I mentioned in my intro post, this coming fall I'll be moving from the Chicago area to TX near the border, and based on what I have seen the studios doing in the area I am moving to, I think spcializing on seniors rather than weddings will be much better for us. However, we want to set ourselves up as a boutique studio and herein lies the question.

My idea is to start small, from the house, and grow the business organically based on demand, then eventually get a studio location and grow from there. However, my wife feels differently. She feels that without a studio location that expresses the fact that we are a boutique studio, we are not going to attract the type of client we want in the first place. The things is that this move is costing us a lot I would prefer to have a smaller up front investment (starting small and growing), rather than a larger investment and then try to pull it off. I am scared that we may make a huge investment upfront, then if the market can't support what we want to offer, then we won't have enough cashflow to support the business.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, especially from people that have made moves in the past, but I do want to get as much input as possible. Thanx for your time and thoughts.

[CaptainTom]

Both sides of the argument are valid.
I think the ratio of studio vs. location senior photography in the DFW area is about 50/50.
Those who have studios use them in conjunction with their location photography. Those that don't have studios, and there are a lot of those, just work on location.
I think that to start off with a studio in your home, if well done, would be the better option. Advertise your senior work as on location and you don't have to worry about the lack of a fixed studio impression. If they are looking for location photos and you can also throw in a couple of studio sessions they might be less interested in your brick and mortar location, or lack of one.
Bring some of that Chicago area cool air with you when you come.

Investigate the possibility of sharing a studio, or of getting into a co-op studio if available.

[tresorph]

Originally Posted by ramiro

I have a question that I'd like to post to this forum. Currently my focus is weddings, but I have started to do seniors and I am getting some good results. As I mentioned in my intro post, this coming fall I'll be moving from the Chicago area to TX near the border, and based on what I have seen the studios doing in the area I am moving to, I think spcializing on seniors rather than weddings will be much better for us. However, we want to set ourselves up as a boutique studio and herein lies the question.

My idea is to start small, from the house, and grow the business organically based on demand, then eventually get a studio location and grow from there. However, my wife feels differently. She feels that without a studio location that expresses the fact that we are a boutique studio, we are not going to attract the type of client we want in the first place. The things is that this move is costing us a lot I would prefer to have a smaller up front investment (starting small and growing), rather than a larger investment and then try to pull it off. I am scared that we may make a huge investment upfront, then if the market can't support what we want to offer, then we won't have enough cashflow to support the business.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, especially from people that have made moves in the past, but I do want to get as much input as possible. Thanx for your time and thoughts.

Just a quickie - South Texas is more traditional. Especially, in their photography tastes. Some of your competition would be those that go into Mexico for the heavily posed studio photographs. I say, give them something different and fun. The youth down there are just like the big city kids. Fresh clothes and the latest electronic gadgets. The storefront will make the parents more comfortable. Good luck!

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by tresorph

Just a quickie - South Texas is more traditional. Especially, in their photography tastes. Some of your competition would be those that go into Mexico for the heavily posed studio photographs. I say, give them something different and fun. The youth down there are just like the big city kids. Fresh clothes and the latest electronic gadgets. The storefront will make the parents more comfortable. Good luck!

Since they seem to be more traditional, she makes good sense and I would agree.

[ramiro]

Wow, first of all, I am amazed at how quickly I got responses, thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Both sides of the argument are valid.
I think the ratio of studio vs. location senior photography in the DFW area is about 50/50.
Those who have studios use them in conjunction with their location photography. Those that don't have studios, and there are a lot of those, just work on location.
I think that to start off with a studio in your home, if well done, would be the better option. Advertise your senior work as on location and you don't have to worry about the lack of a fixed studio impression. If they are looking for location photos and you can also throw in a couple of studio sessions they might be less interested in your brick and mortar location, or lack of one.
Bring some of that Chicago area cool air with you when you come.

Investigate the possibility of sharing a studio, or of getting into a co-op studio if available.

Hi Tom, thanx for the inputs. You do bring up some good points, and that is my style. I like doing mostly on location type work for seniors, however, even with that, my wife feels that without having a nice studio location, when people come for their viewing session, they may feel the freedom to try to negotiate, since I am running things from the house. Adding to her argument is the fact that the house we are moving into is not very big, although it has a nice sized "game room" in the back yard that I am turning into an office. I never thought of a co-op, I'll further into that idea.

Originally Posted by tresorph

Just a quickie - South Texas is more traditional. Especially, in their photography tastes. Some of your competition would be those that go into Mexico for the heavily posed studio photographs. I say, give them something different and fun. The youth down there are just like the big city kids. Fresh clothes and the latest electronic gadgets. The storefront will make the parents more comfortable. Good luck!

You are right, and this is one of the central reason why I don't want to do weddings while we are starting out. First, because it's easy for people to simply go across and get cheap photography, and 2nd, because there are about 8-9 studios in a 25-30 mile radius where I am moving to and they all do weddings and Quinceañeras and families, and kids and such, but most of them if not all of them don't do the type of senior photographer I'll offer. So this helps me offer something different and helps me respect them that are established by not becoming competition for them, although I am sure after some time they may become competition for me, but such is the nature of the business.

[HotHolly]

This is my suggestion. You want as LITTLE overhead as possible. Since you shoot on location a lot, I would just get the boutique/ selling space set up and continue to shoot on location and not do the physical studio part of the business right now. Office space is cheaper per sq foot than retail space. You can also look in commercial areas at warehouse/ loft kinda places. You could even rent an artists loft - sometimes its cheaper than office space.



My boutique has a 10x25 room that I do all the consultations and most of the sales. You only need a little space. And you can make a little space look posh and get the feel you are wanting.

PS - I couldn't get paid what I get paid, and attract the clientele I have without the vibes the boutique space gives off.

[bondarnes]

Since most of the area along the border is economically depressed, I would not advise you to open a studio at this time. If you want to create a more professional atmosphere, rent a small office for meeting clients and for viewing sessions.

[ramiro]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

This is my suggestion. You want as LITTLE overhead as possible. Since you shoot on location a lot, I would just get the boutique/ selling space set up and continue to shoot on location and not do the physical studio part of the business right now. Office space is cheaper per sq foot than retail space. You can also look in commercial areas at warehouse/ loft kinda places. You could even rent an artists loft - sometimes its cheaper than office space.



My boutique has a 10x25 room that I do all the consultations and most of the sales. You only need a little space. And you can make a little space look posh and get the feel you are wanting.

PS - I couldn't get paid what I get paid, and attract the clientele I have without the vibes the boutique space gives off.

Wow! I like your office space. I just showed this to my wife and we now agree, a nice office space for us is the best compromise between what we both feel is right. Thanx for the suggestion, but I agree completely about keeping the overhead very small. Thanx for your wonderful idea.

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Since most of the area along the border is economically depressed, I would not advise you to open a studio at this time. If you want to create a more professional atmosphere, rent a small office for meeting clients and for viewing sessions.

Hi Don, I couldn't agree with you more, although I am hoping that being a new studio with a new and fresh flair and very fresh and unique products, we'll cater to the more affluent market. I am studying like crazy the area and the business dynamics, so feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, but with Holly's idea, I feel a huge load off my back.

[CaptainTom]

If I were in the Chicago area I'd definitely want an indoor shooting space because the summers are relatively short. Down here in the south we have to live with year around summer so an indoor space is not a major part of most photographers business plans.