Opening a Rental Studio

[Sonny]

Beau,

Check out our Studio Rental forum.
Studios For Rent

[RiseAbove]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

Beau I know how you feel as I still feel the same way sometimes but I know I just can't afford to open my own.


As for the studios that closed, if I remember correctly one was owned by a Make-Up artist and the other was a part-time shooter so I guess you could say they were dedicated so most of the time they were available.

The part-time shooter dude got the ire of TPF because he was spamming everyone about his studio.

The MUA got sick I think.

One more thing that I might add, in Houston the studios used to offer Co-OP type arrangements where photographers pay a small fixed monthly rate and they can schedule themselves accordingly, wish some of the studios here brought it back.

Yeah, I was thinking of doing a monthly membership type thing for a monthly fee. I have a whole business plan full of little ideas that im not leaking yet. Wink Wink. But I have ideas of making it totally unique, I hope.

[RiseAbove]

Originally Posted by hue-e

I haven't read every response so I appologize if it's already been asked, but what brand of lighting gear will you have?

I don't know just yet. I will see what kind of deals I could get when the time comes. I am looking for sponsors too, so I don't know what direction that will take me.

[peeker]

So, you are looking for interest of photographers, generally in Texas to gain some level of acceptance of a rental studio somewhere in the borders and are open to a lot of ideas... Do you have a business plan yet, or has there been an investment made already? If you had a studio in process of opening in the next three months, that will be vastly different than having one that might open in the next year. Sorry, but it's hard to understand what you are asking for with the amount of vagueness in the offer from a new forum poster. Can you help us understand what you are trying to achieve...

Helping professional photographers with a great studio, or making money off a space with a shaky at best business model. Help us?

[RiseAbove]

Originally Posted by peeker

So, you are looking for interest of photographers, generally in Texas to gain some level of acceptance of a rental studio somewhere in the borders and are open to a lot of ideas... Do you have a business plan yet, or has there been an investment made already? If you had a studio in process of opening in the next three months, that will be vastly different than having one that might open in the next year. Sorry, but it's hard to understand what you are asking for with the amount of vagueness in the offer from a new forum poster. Can you help us understand what you are trying to achieve...

Helping professional photographers with a great studio, or making money off a space with a shaky at best business model. Help us?

I am glad you asked. Let me clear it up, I was waiting for this reaction.

I am new to this forum as a poster and I understand why you brought that up. I am looking to get a feeling for this idea with out spilling all the beans. I am originally from Buffalo NY(moved to Texas 6 years ago) and at the time there was nothing like this for me as I was coming up as a photog. I see photo studios for rent and I want more then what they offer. I do not think I am the only one out there that feels this way. So I want to build a studio for rent that would fill the needs I was looking for.

I am not going to lie, I would like to make a living doing this full time then working my job now, but that is not my motive. I want to provide something that I was looking for myself. I see photogs renting their studios on the side when not in use. I want to do the opposite, I want to put more time into the studio for a community of photogs to call their home and then do my things on the studios spare time.

I have most of my business plan done. I do not have any financial investments made as of yet, but tons of time into it. I open up this discussion to see if I am wasting my time. to get a feel if my idea would be used by others. I would hate to build this thing and have it fall on its face cuz no one was interested in the first place.

I am Vague cuz
1. I don't want all of my ideas out there for others to use before I could.
2. I dont want a few of my local buddies to know what I'm up to yet. (they might have the means to beat me to it)

I mean no harm by being vague.

[ggeen]

Hello Beau. I am sure there must be more people out there like me who are just amateurs but like some studio time. I wish you much luck. It sounds as though you have put a lot of time into your business plan. I read through the thread.

Earlier this year, I talked with a franchise coach. I was thinking of going solo. The one thing that I learned was to budget for your grand opening advertising.. $4 - $5K was considered a good starting point. You should also consider that your annual advertising budget moving forward. Also as a start-up service business, try to get bookings before you open.

Good luck and God bless.

[Tom]

It really depends. If you are going to have a studio space, I really think you need great gear in it. ProFoto or Elinchrom.

I think it is telling that not a lot of people have this as a successful venture. You are going to have to be really, really innovative.

The idea that you would have you or your staff on hand in the studio for every shoot would be a real negative to me. I wouldn't want someone else outside my studio assisting or participating in my photoshoots.

[David Whatley]

I have been a member of a local co-op in Arlington and now have my own place and share it with a cpl of other photographers.

My take is that the ones that need a studio on occasion arent going to be willing to pay the rate you are thinking of because what they are charging isnt going to give them the margin to pay that amount.

The professionals that command a good rate, and have enough busness to justify paying that hourly rate will already have a studio.
The exception "might" be the pro with their own studio that gets a new client that needs something special that requires the additional room.

Also keep in mind how often you will need to rent the space jsut to pay the rent and the utilities, and to pay someone to be there to let folks in, clean up, lock up behind them etc, and I dont really see how it would work.
Daryell Briggs here in Dallas rents his studio, maybe you ought to call him.
I have been asked If I would rent mine, and although I have thought about it, there really wasnt enough "demand" for it at a rate a lot less than what you are thinking of.
Now I dont have the sq. footage you seem to be talking about, but for those that have seen it, it is fairly well equiped and layed out very well.
DW

[csa]

David just said it all. I shoot on location and set up a studio in my living room with my own backdrops and lights as needed. Would I like a space? Sure, but I can't pay $120 an hour for one. Plus, most of my clients prefer location shoots. For the right place, I might sign up for a co-op situation. Props, maybe some extra backdrop options, and possibly just having a dedicated studio address might make it worthwhile more than tips or lights.

[RiseAbove]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

It really depends. If you are going to have a studio space, I really think you need great gear in it. ProFoto or Elinchrom.

I think it is telling that not a lot of people have this as a successful venture. You are going to have to be really, really innovative.

The idea that you would have you or your staff on hand in the studio for every shoot would be a real negative to me. I wouldn't want someone else outside my studio assisting or participating in my photoshoots.

I would only provide help in needed. I have no interest in getting in the way. I'd be there when needed only.

[RiseAbove]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

I have been a member of a local co-op in Arlington and now have my own place and share it with a cpl of other photographers.

My take is that the ones that need a studio on occasion arent going to be willing to pay the rate you are thinking of because what they are charging isnt going to give them the margin to pay that amount.

The professionals that command a good rate, and have enough busness to justify paying that hourly rate will already have a studio.
The exception "might" be the pro with their own studio that gets a new client that needs something special that requires the additional room.

Also keep in mind how often you will need to rent the space jsut to pay the rent and the utilities, and to pay someone to be there to let folks in, clean up, lock up behind them etc, and I dont really see how it would work.
Daryell Briggs here in Dallas rents his studio, maybe you ought to call him.
I have been asked If I would rent mine, and although I have thought about it, there really wasnt enough "demand" for it at a rate a lot less than what you are thinking of.
Now I dont have the sq. footage you seem to be talking about, but for those that have seen it, it is fairly well equiped and layed out very well.
DW

Thank you for the insight. This is the whole reason why I came here. I may have to lower the prices a bit. The shops around here have some High prices and they are booked pretty solid. I shot slightly higher in the prices here to see what everyone thought.

Thanks