FINALLY - Our New Studio - It's Been a LONG Road!

[pbyd]

[quote=Tom;1346616]

Originally Posted by pbyd

Wayne - are you switching to no studio?

Unlike Tri-Coast, after over four decades I would like to think I am not up and coming, but down and going :).
I have downsized the studio to a couple of upstairs office spaces, camera room is now down to 11x21, office space 10x8 and storage and print-server has been moved home. I am still doing the same business (most of my work is commerical now), still bringing in the same gross income, but my overhead cost are down $1500,00 per month, which is very nice.
I will leave it to the new people with fewer years in this business to expand and spend the money.
Wayne
Photography by Design

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by MyKey

My thoughts too Wayne - today in the digital world the walls are less of an issue as long as you did not do something stupid like red or pink or blue which is too strong.

So Gray can make you feel like walking into a cave so we went with something lighter but still in the family of paints which the hallway and lobby will have.


For now we want to grow and grow we will need to do, but since my house is paid for, my cars are paid for and my Credit Cards are almost paid for, I really do not owe anything to anybody. So the studio will be considered a new house payment which the business will cover (hopefully) :) Either way from a debt point of view I am in very good shape which is what I have been trying to do for many years. So when we did make the move to a large studio, such as this, we could enjoy the business more and not worry about numbers so much. Collecting gear along the way we will have a full complete studio with a ton of drops, equipment to hang them with, lots of softboxes and lights and stands. So hopefully it will be a one stop shop for the entire county in the area of professional photography.

While getting the building is the easy part, keeping it is the hard part, I feel it was a move we must make to continue to grow in this business or even continue to exist. Time will tell if it was the right move or not :)

Mike, I wish you all the best in your new studio. You are joining a small group of photographs that have tried the large studio approach, the ones that have made it are even smaller, if a city the size of the Houston area we have fewer than 10 that have done the big studio and made it. I hope in ten more years you are still going strong and are still able to make your monthly cost, if so that is when you claim success.

Wayne
Photography by Design

[MyKey]

Originally Posted by pbyd

Mike, I wish you all the best in your new studio. You are joining a small group of photographs that have tried the large studio approach, the ones that have made it are even smaller, if a city the size of the Houston area we have fewer than 10 that have done the big studio and made it. I hope in ten more years you are still going strong and are still able to make your monthly cost, if so that is when you claim success.

Wayne
Photography by Design

Well the key is not to just rely on local business, we have expanded outside our area as well thanks to the Internet and World Wide Commerce local business just is almost impossible to make work these days. Again we shall see :) With the low debt to my name I hope I can make it work, the numbers seem to think I can but of course no one knows the future. Worst case I can always flip burgers at a fast food joint and make rent each month :)

[FireHeart Photography]

I have no doubt with the brilliance of (all of the photogs at tricoast) your work that you all will be rocking for many years to come... this studio is not for one photog but 4.... so it's size seems completely inline with 4 photographers and 4500 SF of space... So happy to see the updates can looking foward to seeing the finished product...

I am curious - did you guys purchase the building?

[MyKey]

Thanks Francie and yes with our software coming out for Volume Business as well as other events outside our area we have expanded into more than just a photography studio. So with our low debt (which is a key to a successful business) and broad range of income sources we feel we can succeed in this or we would not be doing it.

We are even looking into hiring two more people right now - so pretty soon with some luck TriCoast will be 6 people hopefully.

[Mosephus]

What positions are you hiring for? I may be interested. I have experience and want to learn more about running a successful studio.

[MyKey]

Today was Day 40 of construction on the new studio. We put in 20 SOLID hours of work and got all the flooring in, yep all 4500 sq. ft, board by freaking board installed. Then finished up a lot of little details from adjustments of doors, trim work, ceiling tiles, and clean up. Paint will start on Wednesday or Thursday and by the end of the weekend I will be setting up clearance from the city to begin to move in and get the doors open to the public. I am simply too tired to make a video tonight, I will tomorrow so until then yesterday's video will have to do as an update.

Day 39 of construction on the new studio:

Day 39 of Construction of the New Studio on Vimeo

Day 39 of Construction of the New Studio on Vimeo

[texxter]

Coming together very nicely, Mike! Thanks for sharing the progress.

[morech]

I know I am bringing back an oldie... but this is the thread that lead me to this site. i was looking up studio ideas/layouts in google one day and it lead me here.

What is the update on this amazing project?! I'd love to see the final result.

[GoldenOrb]

Originally Posted by morech

I know I am bringing back an oldie... but this is the thread that lead me to this site. i was looking up studio ideas/layouts in google one day and it lead me here.

What is the update on this amazing project?! I'd love to see the final result.

Diddo!!

Guys that a awesome setup!

[stephenpinn]

Congratulations Mike, beautiful facility, much success there