Idea for a small photographic business adventure?

96offsuit

I'd like your thoughts on this. I've been playing with the idea for the past year.

My idea is very simple but I would like your thoughts on if it would be worthwhile going ahead with.

What I'd like to set up is a service whereby anyone who is having a birthday party, anniversary, retirement do, functions or any other social/private event(apart from weddings)....that they can hire someone ...i.e Me, who will go to the event, and take 2 or 3 hours worth of photos to remember the occasion. I will put this onto a dvd/cd in slideshow format, complete with music using a program such as proshow gold etc.

I've done these for family, friends etc and they all think that there is a gap in the market for a venture like this.

Now I may add that I am not a professional photography, nor do I claim to be. What I do possess is a good interest in photography (mainly people photography), a Nikon D80, plus a few lens, tripods etc, photoshop cs2 and proshow gold.

What do ye think about the potential for people to want to hire someone at low costs to remember the night for them?

You might say that sure is'nt this just what an ordinary photography would do? Well it is'nt really, as weddings would not be catered for by someone like me. I'd be targeting the families who would like semi professional photos taken of their childrens 1st birthday, communion etc....that woud'nt break the bank.

A professional photography would'tn get out of bed for anything under €500 for a few hours.

From what I can see, all thats needed for me to get this idea up and running would be a decent marketing campaign complete with a catchy name, business cards, flyers and a simple website that would show some of my slideshows that I've completed in the past.

any feedback both positive and negative will be taken on board.

regards,
Mike

decimal

So you want to be real life flickr slideshow?

From the sounds of things, it's going to be similar to designing logo's in MS Word. Lot's of people would be happy with average quality on the cheap, but I think the idea screams tackyness and unprofessional quality the way you put forward your idea. It could work if you make a name for yourself, however, there's software online that a monkey could do what you will charge people for.

Fajitas!

I cover parties, and have done everything you can imagine from birthday parties to work nights out to retirement parties... I wouldn't exactly say there's a gap in the market, a lot of photographers do it, and it's handy money, but it's something that isn't advertised as much as one might think.

If you can make it work, by all means go for it!

Taking and delivering the photos is teritary in this business though - You've got to have a good personality to keep your subjects happy, chat away, fit in etc... ie; good social skills and be a good business man, which is even more important...

96offsuit

decimal wrote: »

So you want to be real life flickr slideshow?

From the sounds of things, it's going to be similar to designing logo's in MS Word. Lot's of people would be happy with average quality on the cheap, but I think the idea screams tackyness and unprofessional quality the way you put forward your idea. It could work if you make a name for yourself, however, there's software online that a monkey could do what you will charge people for.

yes i know that, but how many people actually want to go out and spend the night taking photographs of all the family, relatives etc? And what about the person who's party everyone is there to celebrate. I know from personal experience that the quality of photo's that people take at these events are pretty badly washed out images. While it may sound tacky from the outside, I think that with the correct exposure(excuse the pun) it could become something that people would appreciate and use.

96offsuit

Fajitas! wrote: »

I cover parties, and have done everything you can imagine from birthday parties to work nights out to retirement parties... I wouldn't exactly say there's a gap in the market, a lot of photographers do it, and it's handy money, but it's something that isn't advertised as much as one might think.

If you can make it work, by all means go for it!

Taking and delivering the photos is teritary in this business though - You've got to have a good personality to keep your subjects happy, chat away, fit in etc... ie; good social skills and be a good business man, which is even more important...

exactly the person i was hoping would reply! You know where i'm coming from though. Maybe not a gap, but def something that could be advertised a little more. Yes social skills are key as well as a business head. do you have a website?

Fajitas!

96offsuit wrote: »

yes i know that, but how many people actually want to go out and spend the night taking photographs of all the family, relatives etc? And what about the person who's party everyone is there to celebrate. I know from personal experience that the quality of photo's that people take at these events are pretty badly washed out images. While it may sound tacky from the outside, I think that with the correct exposure(excuse the pun) it could become something that people would appreciate and use.

Definitely, and they do appreciate them, it also frees them up for the night.

96offsuit wrote: »

exactly the person i was hoping would reply! You know where i'm coming from though. Maybe not a gap, but def something that could be advertised a little more. Yes social skills are key as well as a business head. do you have a website?

Well, some 'togs do advertise themselves as "Event Photographers", it's all up to how you market and sell yourself.

I do indeed have a website, www.alhigginsphotography.com , but ironicly enough, I don't have any photos from these kind of events on it - I guess part of it is I don't like posting up pictures of some of these people on the piss - I know I have every right to, legally, but I think it's more of a moral thing!

96offsuit

Fajitas! wrote: »

Definitely, and they do appreciate them, it also frees them up for the night.



Well, some 'togs do advertise themselves as "Event Photographers", it's all up to how you market and sell yourself.

I do indeed have a website, www.alhigginsphotography.com , but ironicly enough, I don't have any photos from these kind of events on it - I guess part of it is I don't like posting up pictures of some of these people on the piss - I know I have every right to, legally, but I think it's more of a moral thing!

yes i agree...posting pics from these party nights would be abit messy. However, my main idea would be to give them a dvd/cd slideshow presented and finished off nicely. So "event photographer" would be the correct term? That would'nt lead people to think you do wedding photography though would it?
i'll check your website now.
cheers.

Fajitas!

Well, you can simply state that you don't do weddings!

smelltheglove

I've done business anniversary, birthday parties and christenings, it is a good sideline when there isnt a big income. It's just getting that kind of business is more word of mouth, everyone I've done is through people who have passed my name on. Do a couple for free to see how you go, if you like it and want to get into it then off you go but bookings can be quite slow for the first while, take what you get when you can.

Borderfox

Been there and done it and also sold and printed on site for birthday/anniversary/etc events. For smaller events I use proshow for slideshows and overlay picture numbers for ordering..