Kraft's business thoughts

[Kraftsims]

Hey all,
been perusing the forums for a few months now. I wanted to start a thread that I could keep active over time to discuss anything and everything related to a photo business. First some context and an introduction. I feel a moment of time to give proper introduction to the person can help to establish a better context of who I am and where I might want to go as a photography business. More on the future in a moment...


The past....


RN of 21 years. Happy with medical field overall. Was given a camera, some kind of small Kodak x-15 or something like that when I was a kid, little camera. Step mom gave me a Canon AE1-program circa 1980. Blew me away, such a nice camera. She thought I had a gift and saw something in what I was doing. I never learned anything formally as much as had an eye for composition and on the fly photography. Just fun, you understand.

2007 + ebay = digital Rebel XTi. Really bought it hoping to save some money as I was sick of developing film, running to sam's club, whatever. Just the whole film thing was tiring to me. I realize some have a passion for physical film and I do admire that, but not my world. I tried a couple of smaller pocket point and shoot cams, that was what got me realizing the potential for digital.

Cancer hit in January 2008. Eight months in the hospital, terrible battle for my life. Changed me, needles to say, mostly good, but have lingering health issues. I also have this unquenchable desire to focus my life and do something that has more meaning. I left my desk type position as an educator in dialysis to move to the bedside care of things. I was so touched by how some of these nurses and medical types could make such a difference with their compassion.

I found a parallel occurring in photography, in the sense that true powerful images can impact a person deeply. Compassionate photography? Well, perhaps a stretch.

At any rate, after my cancer ordeal, I hadn't done much with the rebel. I took some pics in the park of the family, including myself, January 2009. I was growing hair back. Beautiful day. The pics were so good it caught me by surprise. Decided to get a few physical prints to put on the wall. First time in years to do such. Tried the new (to me) online printing through Walmart. Would NOT give me the pictures without the photographers consent! We fought back and forth. I eventually won, signed my name to my pictures, walked out of there a bit amused, completely surprised, and wondering what just happened.

I purchased Photoshop CS4 extended, to be honest, not sure why. I guess more curiosity than anything. Elements wasn't doing all I wanted I suppose. Ended up attending Kelby CS4 day long seminar which rocked my world when I saw the inner workings of retouching portraits, etc. I joined NAPP, and found that I loved photoshopping. Picked up on Aperture 2 (have had a powermac G4 until recently) and started learning a bit about flow of processing lots of pics, mostly portraits, retouches.

I went wild. Having two beautiful teenage daughters who are both dating handsome men, out we go. All over the metro, taking senior pics. All this is new to me. Trip to New Mexico to ride the Cumbres Toltec Railroad Fall 2009 was a life changer for me. I rented for that trip my first big pieces of glass and started to see the value in finer equipment. I have to say, the outcomes surprised me. I loved the taking of pics, the processing, the impact on the families as they saw the pics, it was dream come true.

Family and friends have suggested for years I should go into photography. Nah, just a hobby. Too much fun. I enjoy blessing my friends and family. That's all. No desire for a business, just having fun with friends and family.

Enter Glamour Shots. **cough** My oldest insisted on the glamour shots experience. I was willing and able to get nice pics, but oh well. It was our gift to her I suppose. I've not had much experience except occasional Sears or Walmart or you know, the mall type deal due to wife's demands over the years. $79 dollars, look straight in to the camera, smile! whatever. Nice to have. I have to say that GS is WAY over priced, oh my. I about puked. I also will say they took a whole other approach. More experiential, bring out something in the person. Spent 1/2 a day with us, her changing clothes, hair styles, this and that. I watched them use this camera older than mine in small room with motivated happy people create quite an experience for the family. Then they raped me at the register. anyways...

That was THE defining moment. I walked out of the mall last fall and told my wife (a hairstylist of many years) that they did NOTHING that I can't already do. Never thought of doing such, but once I saw the process and how they popped the pics on PS elements to show us, it seemed a no brainer. I took off running with more senior photos of daughters and boyfriends, just to see if I could do it. Made a little video using Final Cut Express, turned out nice.

Mom made a donation so I could purchase lighting equipment, nothing fancy, but a decent starter set up. Also got a light meter, pocket wizards, that kind of thing. I am seeing/learning that lighting is very difficult and taking time. The challenge is something I am enjoying. As time permits, I keep doing random photography here and there with family, friends, funerals (seems to be a season I'm in as parents are passing).

And the rest is history. The urge to go into photography is undeniable. I have sat back the last couple of weeks and made a final and careful decision to embark on a new road in life. I do not plan on leaving medical field behind, at least not for the time being, as the benefits are good and I enjoy the compassionate care aspect.

Yet I can't stop taking pictures, processing photos, just got a macbook pro i7, upgraded to aperture 3, put in verizon Fios for speedy uploads, wired the house out for ethernet, put in a drobos FS and buffalo server for backing up and storage, oh my, I'm out of my mind!

Or am I?

I suppose what transpires over the next few years will determine such. As my daughters fly the nest in the next two years, life will be changing. I suspect this is a good time to lay the groundwork for a transition, either partial or complete, to a whole other career.

Having said all that as an extended background, let me turn my attention...




...to the present.




I am counting the cost as we speak and am trembling just a bit on the inside. And well I should. You have collectively shared your passion and expertise on this forum in such a way that it is clear to me there are two kinds of people in this business: The few who make it, and the rest who have good intentions. It is hard work and I can see it will be nothing less than hard work, deliberate planning, steep learning, sacrifice, mistakes, and I trust many successes.

I thank God for this forum. I have read and read and read. I have been reading the pros and cons of business, the lively banter about non-professionals and all that entails, reading about equipment, bought a ton of (EXPENSIVE) books, have established a relationship with Arlington Camera, induced more debt than I probably should **coughs**, and...

...I have the following to say very carefully to each of you on this forum who is earning partial or complete living from photography as a business:

I truly admire you and have the utmost of high respect for what you have accomplished in this world of photography. Without your insight, passion, communication, cautions, touch of bickering, and well expressed viewpoints, I would be some blind idiot who thinks taking great pics + photoshop + a digital file = a business. You've done a fine job of setting me straight on that note.

And honestly, I'm a bit scared right now. In a good way. I should be. I need to count the cost. I've read your many postings on here and am continuing to do so. I'm busy studying anything online I can find. I'm also working a full time job, daughter graduating, dad just died, ugh. Life could not be any fuller.

And I sat in a hospital bed for eight, 8, l-o-n-g months wanting to do something meaningful with my life. I think I have found it. There is great passion and power in the business of photography. I cannot seem to stop perusing sites, studying pictures, looking at pics I've accumulated, taking more, learning, reading, growing quickly, and having the time of my life in the process. I am a fortunate man to be able to even consider this as a future.

I almost talked myself out of this the last couple of weeks as the reality is hitting home of how serious starting a business is, the details, taxes (good thread!), small details of accounting, keeping a sober steady mindset, and so forth. Choosing a business name (another good discussion), the tireless commitment I will need to make, insurance, joining professional organizations, oh my, the list goes on and on.

I would like to draw upon your insight, expertise, and admonitions for the purposing of posturing myself for a successful business. A few thoughts in no particular order:

#1 - time is on my side. I don't have to rush. With my daughters both graduating in the next 14 months, I see a transition time occurring in the next 2-5 five years. Steady progressive change.

#2 - today is the "formal" day for me to start this from a more business aspect. I'm following the advice of a great thread (or maybe I read it on the net) about writing out a general business plan. Execute the plan, modify. Going to start the DBA, not sure if I should do sole proprietorship or not. I guess the main thing for me is the liability. Can someone take my house from me in a law suit? Or does Texas prevent that? Those are the kinds of questions swirling in my brain I need to get clarified.

#3 - I admire the bluntness on this forum and ask you to be direct with me. Kind, but direct. I notice this isn't in short supply on here, for that I am grateful. Iron sharpens Iron.

#4 - I am weighing out the general idea of being an independent photographer Vs perhaps joining with others? I've not read much about that, seems most people are fiercely independent. I'm ok with that. I have also been an educator for a few years, worked with groups, motivated teams to great success, charismatic speaker, and have the gift of influencing others. Therefore, trying to understand my general characteristics in life and how that might best be leveraged in the business world. I am curious if anyone has gone into the business from the angle of having started a partnership/coop/multiple owner type of approach? Vs the predominate trend to independence and name branding of the person?

Thoughts? Pros cons?





.....The future.......


I'm going to take a risk. I'll share what really stirs deeply inside of me long term. Long term, 20+ years of hard work down the road type of vision. Laying awake at night, while driving, idle moments of pondering, the following more or less is what seems to stir the strongest in me for a long term vision of where I would like to go.

I love so many things about photography. I would like to use various skill sets I possess: leadership, influence, education, love of photography, seeing people succeed in life, students growing, families impacted, you name it. I can see endless possibilities related to photography, teaching photoshop to beginners, aperture/LR, FCE, iLife classes, etc. I have been an educator for years and see the power in what Kelby et al have done and how a one day random chance at a seminar changed me for the better.

I see colleges, students, hungry people who can't stop the same inner passion to create and capture something special in the expanding world of photography. Even the camera soccer mom and dads are a great resource to be tapped. Business photography. I drive by the gas wells popping up around Tarrant County and want to film them at all times of the day and night, experimenting with lighting.

My mind has pondered the larger implications of what could be done in a photography studio + educational center that has a larger vision of "all things photography" for varying levels of the community. I would love to walk into a busy business one day, have photography students from a local college teaching something to some segment of the community, a studio or two popping away with family portraits (arlington studio seems to have caught a vision for this), perhaps a coffee bar, some classes set up for all levels of programs, photography, perhaps have a rental studio set to the side, link in with local colleges that want an outlet for their students to earn some coin as they go through and learn their trade in a formal capacity at a college but teach a local family how to use their iLife apps for fun for a small fee.

Synergism anyone? People love photography and the world of photography is changing so much. I have read the ponderings and musings of those on here watching an industry change, causing all the good and bad that goes with it. I have heard the pain of those with years of experience feel a sense of threat and loss as the industry is absolutely reinventing itself on so many levels. I am soaking in on here (and many other resources online) related to this whole evolution of the world of photography. And something in me stirs to get caught into a world of change that capitalizes on the best of what the industry has to offer as it evolves.

I can envision a busy thriving growing steadily productive on many levels studio + experiential learning center that captures the very inner stirrings and passions I feel on so many levels. People do things because they want to do things. They get an urge, see a potential, enjoy and experience, and they are willing to drop their hard earned cash for the experience of living something out from so many angles. Who says some kind of business venture couldn't bet set up with multiple partners, board of directors, who knows. I do know this much, I have watched so many doctors who were visionaries set out in a parallel fashion and they have locally made an impact so far beyond the traditional MD role. I admire them. What is their distinction? They see a need, they have a vision, they scratch an existing itch...

Not talking about a quick flash in the pan start up venture, just a steady growing business that integrates so many independent functions already in operation out there.

Why the heck not? Fun dream if nothing else.

There is a plaque on the Riverwalk in San Antonio that I have read since I was a teenager. The "father of the river walk" had a vision for a small muddy occasionally flooding river that ran in front of the Alamo. Old area town now, things were not in general economic boom in this area. He saw, to some extent, possibility and a future. He kept seeing in his minds eye potential. something stirred in him. Was this vision, this inner unction fully realized in his day and time? No. He was told he would drown like a rat in the mud with each river rise. He was scoffed at.

What possessed him? He couldn't help but see in his minds eye, the vision he could perceive, compelled him. I aspire to be no founder of a riverwalk and do not pretend to have such a calling. I can't seem to stop envisioning something integrated that pulls in the best of what already exists in the rapidly expanding industry of everything photography related and wanting to capture a more experiential, enjoyable, sustainable long term product that impacts multiple segments and levels of peoples passion for photography and all the supportive process.

My sharing this doesn't mean I will set out to do this, but if I were to take the greatest risk and vision, this is what stirs in me long term. As much as you guys keep pulling me back to the real world of nitty gritty hard nuts and bolt work, I desire to take on such with the hope that perhaps a greater business on a larger scope could be realized that suits many of the skill sets I already possess and/or am growing into.

Hey, living at the edge of a wealthy demographic base like Southlake doesn't hurt either....**coughs**

The potential exists.


I appreciate you hearing me out. I suspect future postings with be **much** shorter.










Time to get down to some details right now. DBA and banking stuff awaits and the vision will live on in some form or fashion.

Kraftsims
-Robert

[David Whatley]

Robert, nice to meet you and thanks for sharing so much of yourself.
Call me, 817-715 Seven 089
David

[KdLaneJr]

Your diatribe relays a focused passion. As long as you nurture the business side of your passion, you should succeed.

Hopefully it's a ride you can enjoy for as long as it moves you.

[TxTowman]

My personal opinion is: You have mastered the hardest part. Getting focused and not procrastinating.

You have the sales mindset. And think about all those friends and colleagues in your other biz. If you carefully and passively nurture your work associates into a sale you will do very well.

So much better than cold calling.

I think you have it figured out.

Again just my opinion.

[rusty_tripod]

Time to find a mentor and carry on this dialogue with him (her).

[Kraftsims]

Got to speak with David on the phone a bit the other day. Very productive and insightful. Tons of great advice.

I've gotten the dba, "Baxter Photography." Ya, original. But you know what, I really like the classic sound of it. I debated for months on what to call the business and read on here many thoughts, finally couldn't escape the pull of my last name.

It is what you make it long term. Business is built on quality and relationships. People know if you care, try hard, and deliver a good product.

I agree with the mentor part. Open for suggestions.

Had a young couple approach me about a wedding. Not interested in the wedding part, just not ready for that, beyond my reach and expertise, don't have the back up equipment, and honestly, not real sure I want to do weddings.

We are discussing engagement photo ops, just sent my first proposal to them to see if they are interested.

Got the business checking/savings opened up, now need to get tax stuff, accountant, business cards, and so forth. Been working in my "real" job a lot of hours this week, but that is how it goes burning the candle at both ends, eh?

Hey, anyone know of a good location for a "Victorian" photo shoot? Have a lady who's interested in a victorian look. We could go anywhere in the DFW metro local. If we lived in Mississippi, that would be an easy request to fulfill....

more later, appreciate your time and interest

Robert

[Outlaw]

You have a great vision Robert, and certainly, few "impossible" dreams are made reality without that vision.

As Stephen Covey would put it, start with the end in mind. If in 20 years you want to have built a photography mecca, combination studio and vocational learning center, the vision is intangible - but the bricks that build that reality are completely tangible.

Every small step you take down this path is another brick for the foundation, structure, and in decades, completion of your vision. It all starts here, simply, humbly. The progress is excruciatingly slow, so slow as to seem imperceptible.

But with Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of small daily improvements / progress leading to great change with time, you can make it happen.

My best advice is to run lean, fail fast and often, track and measure your progress, and start with the end in mind. If you want to maximize your momentum, practice Pareto's Law, the 80/20 rule - 80% of results from 20% of efforts. Focus your time and money on the educational, equipment, business, and marketing opportunities that give you 80% of results from 20% of cost in minutes or dollars.

Avoid paralysis by analysis, don't bog down in minutiae, and shoot paying clients like it's going out of style. You're in the perfect life position and mindset to invest yourself fully and make these dreams come true.

Last words, don't curse yourself with a workaholic's life and obsession (to the unwitting exclusion of individuality and family and friends), and always stay cognizant of your freedom - your dreams, your desires, your vision, your wants and needs, your priorities, your values, your goals, may all shift and change over the years. You are the captain of your ship, your dreams and vision submit to your will, not vice versa. Stay present, stay in command, have faith in your Self and your Judgment. 'Mind like water.'

Fair winds, mate - glorious adventure awaits!

[Kraftsims]

Well, I've gotten the dba, gotten the tax ID deal, got the bank account open. talked with an accountant. There are not too many accountants that can even answer the phone until after the 18th when tax season is over.

I am trying to get a business card generated. Really didn't want to do something simple and cheesy. I mean, cheese is good on a hamburger and such, but really want something that speaks of me. Spent lots of time in a stupid program, Logo Design Studio Pro, that just is bunk. It is really good only for template driven logos and designs. I fought with that thing until I was blue in the face. Contacted customer support, all they had to offer was a standard set of answers that had NOTHING to do with the original question. I blew that popsicle stand and moved on to good old fashioned CS4.

I managed to kick out to initial formats, have thrown them up on my facebook page and am getting votes on them. One is very simple and with a bolder look, one is a little more artsy looking.

I made a huge, and I mean HUGE leap from a Powermac desktop G5 computer to a macbook pro i7. Talk about a major speed leap. That was a feat, though, as the 500gb drive just didn't cut it. Installed a 1TB drive, that helped.

Then added in a drobo FS and buffalo to the house after Verizon 35 gig up and down was installed with ethernet to all rooms. Has taken a while to get all sorts of backing up done, but it is happening. I am surprised at how slow ethernet really is compared with firewire 800, even when directly connected to the computer's ethernet.

I then upgraded to Aperture 3. Talk about a best of a program. Omg, I feel so sorry for all you lightroom users. Just kidding. This program is seriously powerful. It is such a major boost compared with aperture 2. I have even dumped the skin toning program I was using for smoothing. the feature in Aperture is so smooth. Anyways.....That took days for ap3 to upgrade the library.

I figured out the watermarking deal with Aperture3. Made a watermark and can now watermark my "Baxter Photography" logo into the bottom right corner.

I purchased quicken books and am about to tackle that. I hate the financial side. Just hate it. but I have decided I will, that is, I WILL get over my distaste of dealing with the business side of this. As I said before, I counted the cost and realize that the business side IS the foundation of it all.

I had my first actual "clients" over to preview some of the work I have. One major gap is a neat organized "porfolio". I do have lots of work to show. I've been having to go through all the pics I have and selecting what I would include in my portfolio. Oh my, that is taking SO MUCH time. I suppose that is normal.

I've gotten my account with bayphoto opened and downloaded their ?roes? program. A bit more to it than meets the eye, that has been taking a while to upload portfolio pics to it, figuring out what I want to order.

Working on the front room, which used to be a game/computer room. It was built for a dining room. It is now my office and an occasional studio. A bit too small to use as a studio full time, but does good in a pinch. I am going to clutter the walls with all manner of photographs with varying materials, sizes, textures, etc. My wife didn't know I was going to take her words "do what you want with the front room" so serious. She thought that meant I was putting family pics, OUR family, on the walls. Ha. Yes there will be a few of our family, but the point is to show a broad range of pictures and what materials can be ordered professionally, as opposed to wally world or wallygreeenage pharmacy.

I won that argument, case closed.

Then there is the reallocation of time. Hm. the yard has to be mowed and my share of the work around the house has to be picked up. Well, that went over like a lead balloon yesterday at breakfast. So I unloaded plenty of lead balloons. If I'm going to allocate more of my time, which used to be "free" time to a business to earn money to send my daughters to college, to get that new used car we need, and all that stuff, then i need family help.

I won that one too.

Now to finalize that very large order from bayphoto, get quickenbooks up and running, and get some business generated.

What do you use to advertise and get the word out besides word of mouth?

More to come...

[Kraftsims]

I failed to mention one thing and also need to ask another question:

Got to go to a Studio, do some practice shots, learn about lighting, metering, and such. Good fun and very informative.

Now my question:

I'm starting up my information with Quickbooks. They are asking for my "federal ID."

I have two pieces of information that both could classify as such, so I looked in their help files. The only thing mentioned is "Federal ID. The ID you use on your company's federals taxes."

I have my "Taxpayer number" and my "EIN," both of which tell me they are filed on my federal taxes. I'm really green at this part, so any insight you could give me would be helpful.

I'm leaning towards they want my Federal Tax Number, but the paper I have with my EIN says "This EIN will identify you, your business accounts, tax returns, and documents, even if you have no employees. Please keep this notice in your permanent records.
When filing tax documents, payments, and related correspondence, it is very important that you use your EIN and complete name and address exactly as shown above."

So both are federal numbers and quickbooks doesn't get any more specific than that.

Any ideas?

Thanks