Concept in progress for Photography Business

[RandySmith]

I recently purchased an old farm in N. Texas (Approx 1 hour drive NE of Dallas). I've got several old barns, a creek, and three ponds. Along with trees, pastures and old fences.

I am thinking of establishing an "outdoor photo studio" where photographers can come out with their clients and utilize the property to take photos. Of course I'd like to receive some minmal compensation for the upkeep of the property and miscellaneous props, etc. This is a "work in progress" that will probably take 1-2 years to build up the idea and get the whole concept into a functioning concept.

I'd like to offer the location to all photographers.

Would appreciate your thoughts, questions, & pro/con's on this idea.

Thanks.
Randy

[brad]

I like the idea.. I have a dream someday to do something similar, but for my own studio business.

One thing I would do is find an old rustic building and make sure (by spreading it myself) that bluebonnets bloomed on the good light side of it every spring.

[RandySmith]

Brad,

Yes, from what I've read, bluebonnet seeds need to be spread out in Aug/Sep so they can germinate by the following spring. Here's a few pics I've captured around the place during the last couple of months. I've taken a few HS seniors and family portraits using the old barn.

Thanks.

[brad]

Originally Posted by RandySmith

Brad,

Yes, from what I've read, bluebonnet seeds need to be spread out in Aug/Sep so they can germinate by the following spring. Here's a few pics I've captured around the place during the last couple of months. I've taken a few HS seniors and family portraits using the old barn.

Thanks.

Yes, that is true. And they need a wet winter with a couple of hard freezes to have a really good bloom.

[rab3rd]

So we should have a good crop this year?

[ldelacruz]

I think it is a great idea! I also think you could do it sooner than later. It looks great as is!

[carrbowl]

jealous i don't still live in Frisco!!! Randy, there is a very well known photographer in Sioux Falls, SD...the name escapes me, but others will know his name. I have see a video, maybe even from Photovision, where he walks through his farm property and talks about all the things he has planted and the different areas he has just for photography. It made me so jealous....

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Let me ask, why would you want to farm out the farm when you can invite families, children, seniors to your location and make more money?

[hue-e]

I think it's a cool idea... might even be cool to convert the inside of one of the barns into a big white seamless area.

[ErinV]

I'd love to have a place like this to work! I'd, of course, love it more if it were my own, but that's not in the works for our budget any time soon :) Once I have enough clients, and of course, clients willing to drive a bit, pretty sure I'd be signing up to use it.

[mercphoto]

Originally Posted by Ernst-Ulrich Schafer

Let me ask, why would you want to farm out the farm when you can invite families, children, seniors to your location and make more money?

If you farm out the land then you let those renting time from you worry about finding clients, doing all the post processing, etc. etc. etc. I think its a great idea.

[David Whatley]

One of the things that might hamper you is that the state park in Cedar Hills has an old farm on it. I forget the me, but it has an old house and barns on it. It might be McCormick farms?
Any way its only like 10 dollars a day to visit and they are a lot closer to the metroplex.

[mercphoto]

I'm wondering what else you could supply that would add to simply renting access to cool old barns with groomed and nurtured vegation. In other words, to compete against Cedar Hills. Battery powered lighting rentals? Rent-an-assistant? Seminars and how-to's?

I'm trying to think of what small race tracks do. They don't just sell/rent time on their tracks. Driving schools, instructional sessions, corporate events, race car rentals. Lots of value-add stuff in their business plans. You could do a lot with this idea of yours.

[csa]

Love it! You might even consider working an area as a wedding/event venue.

[RandySmith]

Appreciate everyones suggestions and ideas. I'm still in process of cleaning up a lot of the briars, poison ivy, etc., that will certainly hamper any interest. Before end of summer I'll have installed a 3-rail, cedar split rail fence across the front of the property with the old barn in the background. There has been some buzzards nesting in the barn so have to clean it out before inviting anyone inside. As I get closer to completion, I'll post an invite to some folks to come out if they like. Eventually, my plan is to use this for my own photography purposes, but would love to also generate some small amount of revenue to offer the place to other photographers. As I receive suggestions from photographers for "photo" ideas, I'll do my best to incorporate them for future use. There are also three ponds, a creek, and lots of woods for various opportunities. Oh yeah, there's even an old two-seater outhouse ! There is an old 1 BR farm house built in the 40's, it's pretty dilapitated and questionable structural integrity... possibly may remodel/decorate to that time period and use as a changing room facility. Lot's of work ahead of me, will advise to all soon.