Time to fish or cut bait, I guess...

[brian.austin]

I'm not enjoying my job much lately and I've been mulling over an idea I've had for a while. While I risk "losing" the idea to someone else, I really need some information to figure out how to tailor it. So I'm going to toss it out for discussion and feedback.

While I enjoy photography, I have no interest in owning a studio. There are plenty of good ones around here and I don't see where I can bring anything NEW to the genres they offer.

But...I am very good at information technology. Actually, just about ANYTHING related to technology. I design, implement, manage, and troubleshoot systems of virtually any type: databases, local and wide area networks, business process to technology workflow design, servers, workstations, wireless, hosting systems, websites/servers, etc.. But instead of doing it for everyone from the small local print shop to 200 school districts to government installations (federal, state and local), I'm considering narrowing my focus...to photography studios. Exclusively marketing this expertise to photography studios, including 15 years of business & marketing knowledge.

Instead of competing with photography studios, I want to develop technology solutions that support them. For example, I have a couple of good friends that own a studio locally. Both are fantastic photographers and, once in front of the client, can get the job done and make a decent sale. But, from the business side of things, they try to do too much themselves and don't focus on growing the business or shooting clients. I want to develop systems that allow them to concentrate on what they're good at instead of trying to replace a hard drive in a server or figure out how to archive another 100Gb of data.

I'm interested in feedback from studio owners, both past and present. Is there a market for this in your world? If I could bring enterprise level systems into your studio, even adapting your own systems and workflow to it, would you be interested? I'm not looking for a sale here. I'm not ready for that and wouldn't do it here on PC.

A few more questions:

1. Apple or PC-based systems? Or a hybrid?
2. What's your Internet connection speed? Does it suit you?
3. Is your backup solution adequate or do you get headaches thinking about it?
4. What studio management software do you use? Server or workstation based?
5. Has your system ever failed to the point where you've lost money? How many times in the last year?
6. What type of services might interest you?

Again, this is NOT a sales pitch and I will NOT be following up with a call. This is local to me (at least for now) and still in the "idea" phase. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bunny N]

Brian I think this is an excellent idea. It always surprises me how many people are illiterate in this area. One of the seasoned nurses from the job I just left didn't even know how to access her company email account. I don't know if there really is a market for this type of service but I can't imagine why there wouldn't be. Good luck I hope you find a market for your idea.

[bledsoe]

I think its great also...as for your question to apple or pc....I would say Mac. There is a program you can use already implemented to help design. My husband is starting to use it for my website to redesign. Also, you dont get those random pop up errors on a mac. Very intuitive and user friendly...hope the opinion helps!

S

[bledsoe]

Also, sorry to hear your not enjoying it....you are quite talented.

[heartseye]

Hi Brian....it IS a great idea.....if you can sell it. I offer digital retouching etc at a good rate.....not cheap, but enough that I make money and the client saves studio time which he/she can use more profitably. Every photographer I approached thought it was a really good idea! But, at first....no-one bought in to it. It has taken me around 3 years to get the small amount of business I want in this field.....yet pretty much EVERYONE saw it as a good idea.
Photographers seem to drop money easily on certain things......but services that they need, is not one of them.........I wish you the very best with this venture though.....many in our business could sure use what you can offer them......regards...Bob

[brian.austin]

Bob, I know exactly what you're saying. This wouldn't be the first company I've started (or even computer company) and I heard the same things: yes, it's a great idea and I think lots of people would do it...just not me.

I'm okay with the marketing aspects of it. I know how to do that. And it will take some work, especially at the start. At this point, I'm more interested in its attraction to owners in a general sense.

Thanks for the feedback.

[JDArt]

The first question that comes to my mind is whether photographers and/or photography studios will want to pay for these services. My impression is that you're targeting a market in which margins are not great and money is always tight. Studios, I'd bet, are used to paying bottom dollar for service folks (kids who can staff the various components of a studio), not top dollar. Funds for consultants, I bet, would be tight. Sounds like a tough way to make a living.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by JDArt

The first question that comes to my mind is whether photographers and/or photography studios will want to pay for these services. My impression is that you're targeting a market in which margins are not great and money is always tight. Studios, I'd bet, are used to paying bottom dollar for service folks (kids who can staff the various components of a studio), not top dollar. Funds for consultants, I bet, would be tight. Sounds like a tough way to make a living.

This is a good point. One thing that is starting to sink into my friends, however, is the value of their time. In other words, when are they MAKING money and what takes them away from it?

One of the two is pretty good on the computer side of things. He gets it from a tinkering and eventually making it work point of view but has no education or experience in IT. But he's also one of the two photographers...and when he's tinkering, he's NOT generating income.

The flip side of this is "who cares if no one is coming in for pictures?" Well, the owner should care. Because if no one is coming in...someone should be going OUT and developing a network to point business back to the studio. Mark's explanation of how he develops a "wedding network" in Marketing with Business Cards is a perfect example. Yet things like this seem to be a surprise to most photographers from what I've seen.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

This is a good point. One thing that is starting to sink into my friends, however, is the value of their time. In other words, when are they MAKING money and what takes them away from it?

There's a huge difference between someone saying "great idea," even if they know it's a service they would or should pay for, and someone actually handing you a check, especially in slow times (some even predicting we're in or heading quickly toward a recession).

If I were going to try this, I'd find enough time in my schedule to give it a shot without quitting my current gig. Test the waters, so to speak.

[Rense]

Brian,

A could idea. From your description I think you focus to much on the hardware site. People can easily buy service contracts from their distributors for that type of thing.

If you broaden your business to: 'All computer aspects of an efficient workflow' you can help (i.e consultancy) them with calibrating, archiving etc.

However I still miss an USP in your business proposal.

To answer your questions:
1. Apple or PC-based systems? Or a hybrid?
->hybrid
2. What's your Internet connection speed? Does it suit you?
->ADSL, yes
3. Is your backup solution adequate or do you get headaches thinking about it?
->adequate but not top notch
4. What studio management software do you use? Server or workstation based?
->No studio, so no studio management, if I would have it, it would be: server based
5. Has your system ever failed to the point where you've lost money? How many times in the last year?
-> nope, but I do have a weekly maintenance routine
6. What type of services might interest you?
->none for this moment, as I'm an IT guy myself.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by JDArt

There's a huge difference between someone saying "great idea," even if they know it's a service they would or should pay for, and someone actually handing you a check, especially in slow times (some even predicting we're in or heading quickly toward a recession).

If I were going to try this, I'd find enough time in my schedule to give it a shot without quitting my current gig. Test the waters, so to speak.

Like I mentioned, I've actually been in this market for quite a while and recognize the difference. I also wouldn't be walking into something like this without a backout plan. I would not work both gigs at the same time, primarily because my current job tends to be support 24/7. I'm expected (and paid) to be available.

If things didn't pick up, I can always do some contract gigs. I've got a list of people who call regularly for PM work.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Rense

Brian,

A could idea. From your description I think you focus to much on the hardware site. People can easily buy service contracts from their distributors for that type of thing.

If you broaden your business to: 'All computer aspects of an efficient workflow' you can help (i.e consultancy) them with calibrating, archiving etc.

However I still miss an USP in your business proposal.

I don't know what "USP" means.

"Technology solutions" in this market center around software, hardware and process development. It's recognized as not being focused on hardware. Honestly, I don't want to get into the hardware market at all. Too much trouble.

[Rense]

USP=unique selling point.