Ideas for a photo salon. What does it take to open a photography studio from scratch? Additional services and sale of related products. We increase profit

Alexander Kaptsov

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Many people who want to start their own business prefer to open a photo studio as one of the fairly simple options in terms of organizing a business. This article talks about the nuances of opening a photo studio: in particular, about the location, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, etc. Also researched financial side question.

We organize a photo studio from scratch: where to start?

First of all, you need to understand the concept of business. This will depend on parameters such as the target audience, a set of services, requirements for premises and equipment, costs, complexity of the organization and others.

The following popular photo studio formats stand out:

A room with several backgrounds - at the same time, the photo studio mainly offers portrait photography.
A room divided into several interior and thematic zones or halls - the work of a photo studio is related to interior photography.
Universal photo studio, which provides the widest range of services. This is the most complex and costly option from the point of view of the organization, but at the same time enjoys a high level of demand from customers.

The photo studio has 3 main groups of sources of income, among them:

Studio photography.
Leasing of professional equipment and/or premises.
Reportage shooting - is made at any event.

After determining the range of services that the company will provide, it is necessary:

Think over and write down everything that may be required to perform these services - premises, equipment, personnel, etc.
Draw up a business plan for opening - determine the one-time and monthly costs, the level of profitability and approximate payback periods. At the same time, it is desirable to consider costs and incomes in several versions - pessimistic, realistic and optimistic.
Prepare Required documents and register as individual entrepreneur. It is also possible to open a company with limited liability, however, it is easier and cheaper to open an IP, and there are no restrictions in the legislation for photo studios, since it provides services to individuals. The downside is the fact that the entrepreneur is liable with all his property for obligations.
Prepare the premises and purchase equipment.
Hire staff.
Engage in attracting customers and fulfilling orders for photography.

Where is the best place to open a photography studio?

The location of the photo studio seriously affects the number of clients. So, it is best to choose a place in the area in a convenient transport accessibility from the center. At the same time, it is highly desirable to have convenient parking.

Many people make the mistake of planning to reduce the cost of opening a photography studio by organizing this business in an apartment.

However, this should not be done for the following reasons:

Despite the lifting of the ban on doing business in residential premises in 2015, complaints from neighbors are possible due to the large flow of customers.
There may be complaints from the inspection services.
The height of the ceilings in the studio must be at least 3 meters (in standard living quarters, the height is about 2.7 meters).
The photo studio should have several large windows.
It is desirable that the shape of the shooting room be square or rectangular, and the area should be at least 40-50 m2, provided that the length of the room is about 10 meters. In ordinary apartments, this condition is not met.

Therefore, an alternative option is to open in an office space.

At the same time, in addition to the space for filming, you will need to allocate space for the following zones (some may not be separated from the location of the photo sessions):

Bathroom.
A shower is a desirable but not essential option.
The dressing room is the place where clients will prepare for the shoot.
Small kitchen.
A place for processing and printing photos.
Places for a manager, make-up artist, stylist (if these positions are available in the state).

After choosing a location and a specific room for a photo studio, you need to arrange it. Depending on the set of services, each wall can be painted in its own color, since beige, gray or other pastel colors are more suitable for portrait photography, and white walls are the best option for product photography.

To plan and implement the design, it is necessary to understand whether interior photography will be carried out in addition to portrait photography. If there is one, it is necessary to immediately think over the possible topics of such photo shoots that will be of interest to clients - it can be historical, New Year's shooting, etc. After that, the necessary furniture is purchased and the design of the room is completed.

What equipment do you need for a photo studio?

To ensure the operation of a photo studio, you will need to purchase a large amount of equipment.

So, first of all, you will need equipment with which the photographer will work:

Professional camera.
A set of lenses with different focal lengths.
Several light sources (from 4 or more).
Various backgrounds (from 3 or more variants of different colors) and mounts for them.
Flashes and synchronizers for them.
Special umbrellas for light and reflection.
Softboxes and nozzles on them and reflectors.
classic reflectors.
Portrait plate.
Holders and tripods.
Racks for light.
Herons.
Flashmeter.
Interior items.
Additional props.

The studio must have an administrator or account manager. Also, in most of these organizations, photo processing is performed.

Accordingly, you will also need:

Computer tables (at least 2 - for the work of a photographer and an administrator);
Computers with installed software necessary for the work of a photographer and an office worker;
Telephone.

If the photo studio has a separate dressing room (which will be a significant plus), you need to purchase several large mirrors, an ironing board and iron, dressing tables and chairs, as well as a screen for changing clothes.

What kind of staff is needed to work in a photo studio?

Only a photo studio starting its work will be enough to have an administrator and a photographer on the staff. As the range of services provided expands, the services of several more photographers, makeup artist, stylist, etc. may be required.

So, the search for a photographer is best done among the resources on the Internet where professional photographers communicate. At the same time, each candidate must be evaluated according to the portfolio of works.

The photographer will be paid according to two components: a fixed salary plus a percentage of the work performed by him.

As an administrator, any fairly sociable person who is interested in the field of photography will do. At the same time, it is useful to include in his duties the monitoring of forums of professional photographers and participation in discussions in thematic groups on social networks, since this is one of the important ways to attract clients.

For a small photo studio, there is no need to have a make-up artist and stylist on staff; it is enough to use their services from time to time. At the same time, their wages will be piecework: at the moment, an hour of a makeup artist's work costs 1,200 rubles and more. Subsequently, as the number of orders grows, you can find several specialists who can do the job.

Advertising and marketing: how to promote a photo studio?

How a photo studio is promoted will depend on the services it offers, as well as the target customers. In particular, when providing premises and equipment for rent, it is often enough to provide information about the studio on professional photographers' forums.

To find clients for organizing photo shoots, first of all, you need to make your own website, which will provide an indicative price list. -list for the services provided by the company, as well as a portfolio of the photographer's work. Work should be conveniently categorized.

It is also advisable to gradually add customer reviews to the site in order to potential customers photo shoots were sure high quality services.
Another promotion option is. This method is cheaper than creating and maintaining your own website.

In doing so, it is important to consider the following factors:

The group must constantly be filled with certain content - these can be articles-recommendations on different types of filming, information about equipment, etc.
A good way (and, accordingly, to increase the circle of potential customers) is to hold various promotions and contests - these can be free makeup artist services, a discount on a photo session, etc.
It is advisable to advertise the group through other thematic communities - for example, through groups dedicated to interesting places in the city where a photo studio is open.

However, there will be the so-called "word of mouth", namely recommendations to friends, acquaintances and relatives from those customers who have already used its services. That is why Special attention should be given to the high quality of the work of the photographer.

We draw up a business plan for a photo studio: an example of calculating income and expenses, profitability and payback period

When organizing any business, it is necessary to provide for one-time costs that will arise when organizing a business, as well as monthly expenses that the company will incur during the operation of the photo studio.

Cost items are presented in the table below

One-time costs		Monthly expenses
Paperwork	5 thousand rubles in the case of an individual entrepreneur From 12 thousand rubles. in case of LLC	Premises for rent	From 40 thousand rubles and more
Premises renovation	From 150 thousand rubles.	photographer salary	From 35 thousand rubles. and higher
Buying furniture	From 55 thousand rubles for a studio specializing in portrait photography From 90 thousand rubles. for a studio offering interior photography	Salary to other staff	From 25 thousand rubles.
Buying photography equipment	From 250-300 thousand rubles.	Advertising	From 20 thousand rubles. (in the first months the amount will be higher)
Purchase of related equipment (computer, printer, etc.)	From 60 thousand rubles.	other expenses	From 10 thousand rubles.
Site creation	From 30 thousand rubles.	Unforeseen expenses (associated with equipment breakdowns, interior renovation, etc.)	On average, from 15 thousand rubles.
TOTAL	From 550-600 thousand rubles and more	TOTAL	From 145 thousand rubles.

At the same time, the cost of one photography is from 3000 rubles and more. If we take into account that on average 3-4 photo shoots will be carried out per day (taking into account a larger number of clients on weekends), it turns out that the monthly income of a small photo studio will be from 270 thousand rubles a month. However, this level of income can be achieved only 3-4 months after the start of the photo studio .

Working with photography in a creative studio can be both challenging and rewarding. At the beginning, when the first steps are taken to improve photography skills, the use of available light always begins. For most people, it takes very little time to understand what to create is very beautiful pictures in low light conditions, especially indoors, can be extremely difficult. Looking for answers on how to get around the low light problem ends up buying faster lenses and better cameras. But a better and more expensive camera device cannot properly capture poorly lit areas. In the latter case, it becomes flash photography, a topic that intimidates many photographers.

However, the thought of setting up a home studio with lighting can seem like a scary prospect. But studio flash is not a complex art, just a combination of basic lighting principles and camera skills, while necessary kit much cheaper and easier to use. And it completely depends on the photographer, what kit he buys, and how much he spends. You can get rid of the use of a large polystyrene plate as a reflector, or expand the softbox to almost life size.

But I want to save money. Then the best place to start is with a home studio flash kit. This set offers a range of benefits. First, it will give you control over the exposure. The high flash output means that lower ISOs can be used and therefore produce images with less noise. Secondly, a studio flash kit effectively gives you control over depth of field, as increasing or decreasing power allows you to open or close the aperture.

However, the biggest benefit is the control over what a studio flash produces in light quality. You can choose whether it will be diffuse or sharp, wide beam or narrow beam, you can choose to have it radiate from any angle. Therefore, creating a studio may not be as costly as it seems.

Basic Steps to Starting a Home Photo Studio

It is necessary to take clear and structured methods in the process of setting up your home photography studio. To understand what you have to do in the future and calculate the costs, you must follow the following instructions:

Determine location. The place that is chosen should be wide, spacious and comfortable. A lot of equipment will need to be installed here, and you need space for: backgrounds, equipment, and even people. A hidden location is more suitable than outdoors, but if you plan to take more outdoor shots, then this is a great place to set it up. However, this may interrupt the process (there will be all kinds of disturbance such as nosy neighbors, etc.). Nothing in the room should be too bright or it will take away from the quality of the photo. Bare walls work best. Comfortable, cream-colored carpets create a pleasant atmosphere.
Make a waiting room (optional). If you need a professional approach, you can create a waiting room where clients can relax and unwind before taking their photos. This room should not be as spacious as the "photo room". But it must be quite large. Chairs and/or a few couches should be set up for customers to take a seat and look around. This room should be bright, warm and welcoming. You can hang some of the past work on the walls for clients to observe and compare. You can also provide magazines for entertainment. You need to create a pleasant atmosphere by exploring wall and carpet options. It is desirable to do everything so that customers feel like guests.
Set a schedule and hire assistants (if needed). Unless you're planning to set up an entire photo studio on your own, you'll need responsible, dedicated people to help. It takes somewhere between 2-8 people to successfully run a photography studio. Once this process is over and a good team is assembled, the scheduling can begin. This should be discussed with your current employees.
Make seamless paper backgrounds. A good photo studio has a wide variety of photo backdrops. Clients expect quality designs, landscapes, and solid colors to complement their photographs. Backgrounds should not be sloppy or unprofessional. You need to have multiple backgrounds to choose from (solid white, solid black, and maybe a few decorative ones). They should be large enough to take up the entire frame. Can use gels on background lighting to customize appearance(solid White background may appear red with gels). You can create your own backgrounds to save costs:

Take a sheet of 300x300 cm muslin and dye.
Take a sheet of canvas (size as above) and paint it - it will be heavy and require a lot of dye.
Look for used backgrounds.

Cosmetics and accessories. Clients want to look their best in photos - they pay good money for it. You can hire a makeup artist to apply makeup on them. You need to purchase a medium-sized mirror that can help in applying makeup. Also, consider providing accessories for photos such as hats, jewelry, wallets, etc. It can make the photo more interesting and stylish. Clients will be pleased with the huge help and will strive to ensure that their photo turns out great.

Determine prices. Pricing is an important factor to consider when setting up a photography studio. Too high a price will quickly scare away customers. However, too low a cost will make profits meager. It is worth looking at the prices in your area. You need to set a price per visit, as well as charge for printing. You need to take into account the salary factor of employees, the cost of studio equipment and your personal experience.
Post price list so that customers can see it.
Name the studio. Every photography studio needs a name to attract clients. The name that is given can either excel or fail such a business. It is worth discussing the choice of a name with your colleagues and think about your business. What are the strengths? How can this be expressed in a few words?
Advertise the studio. Now that the location, workers, props, and even a name have been created, it's time to start advertising your photo studio. Before you start advertising, you need to make a list of all the strengths of the studio. Why does the client want to come to this photo studio? It is important to create a colorful, engaging ad that lists these strengths.
Start a business.

Studio equipment

In the field of photography, there are numerous professional photographers who have never touched a flash. Some of them couldn't do it for financial reasons (unfortunately, it's quite common among professionals that flash photography is extremely expensive), some were too afraid or too busy to try, others felt they never needed it. Most photographers tend to attach a flash to their cameras (in Auto/TTL modes), point the camera at the subject and take pictures. And when their flash breaks after being shot 20 times, they will blame Nikon for not overheating well. Sounds familiar?

If people are paying to work on photography, you need to know how to work in different lighting situations. AND The best way study flash photography and get good results from it - keep working and experimenting with it. Setting up a small, affordable photography studio at home is a great way to get started. You can learn a lot just by taking pictures of your family and children at home. Even if photographs are taken for fun, why not experiment and learn something new? To build an affordable photography studio at home, consider some basic and must-have tools and then expand your studio lighting options.

The very first thing to decide is what to work with. Inexpensive way to find studio lighting- use continuous "hot" (tungsten) or "warm" (fluorescent) lights. You can buy two light stands with umbrellas. But this type of setting has its own problems, and they will not teach you how to deal with low light.

If there is an interest in continuous lighting, it is better to use it before using the flash. Then there will definitely be an understanding of what is needed, and you can get the maximum benefit from the equipment.

Many high-end studios use continuous lights because they can pinpoint the light just the way they want it. Professional studio photographers often require precision and consistency. But for someone who is just starting out, there is no need for this.

Therefore, despite its relative complexity, it is better to learn how to use flash first. There are several basic guides to flash photography. This will be the most expensive part of the purchase. "Flashlights" or "Speedlites" (depending on whether Nikon or Canon are used) are compact flash units that can be used on or off camera. To adjust outside the camera, the flashlight is removed from its camera and installed on a lighting stand. This is the configuration used to create the first studio. The nice thing about high speed flashlights is that they store enough power for everyday needs - from lighting one person to a group of people. They are also expandable - you can start with one high speed light and add more flashes in the future for more creative photography.

All leading manufacturers of digital SLR cameras make LEDs that are proprietary to their cameras. Nikon calls its flash system the "Nikon Creative Lighting System" with many built-in automations. Canon and Sony also have their own comparable flash units. All three provide a variety of options for high-speed flashlights, from basic to high-end models used in commercial photography. Nikon currently offers three accelerator options for DSLRs: SB-400, SB-700 and SB-910. For a single light setup, the cheapest way is to use the SB-700 in off-camera configuration and use the camera's built-in flash to trigger it.

If you have an entry-level DSLR, then there are several options. The first option is to buy a command unit like the SU-800. The second option is to buy a set of PocketWizard Plus III devices. If you have a Canon DSLR, you can start with the Speedlite 320EX or 430EX II, both of which can act as slaves. Many of Canon's new DSLRs, such as the 7D, can also act as flash commanders. The total cost will cost: from $250 to $550.

Like cameras, there are all kinds of lights to choose from. To run indicator lights under controlled conditions, the most affordable lights that can be found are usually selected. You don't need anything super powerful to fire flashes.

You will then need an umbrella adapter that will sit on the light stand - it will hold both the flashlight and the umbrella (to soften the light that comes from the flash). The best inexpensive two-in-one adapter is the Impact Umbrella bracket with adjustable boot. If you line up two lighting setups, consider purchasing the Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Kit. The total cost of the kit is about $60.

The background support system is not needed. You can find and use a white bed or colored muslin as a backdrop. But if you want something more pleasant and portable (for photographing corporate clients), it is recommended to buy a good background support system.

You will need a couple of other things with the background system. First, you need to decide whether to buy a paper background or muslin. Paper is cheaper, and if it gets dirty, you can simply cut out the dirty piece. Plus, you don't have to worry about ironing. But much more storage space is required. Don't forget to grab a pair of adjustable paper clips.

These are the most basic tools to get you started. Once you start using more advanced flash techniques, you can start learning the best light modifiers, shaping tools, flags, and other tools for total control.

Studio lighting can be tricky if you've never had it before. However, this is not as scary as many people think. Using a simple home studio kit with a few flashes and a few basic accessories, you can get great results in no time.

There are many home studio lighting kits to choose from. The basic home photo studio kit includes everything you need to get started. Here are some of the key tools you can use to create classic studio lighting technologies:

Flashes. Most kits have two flashes. Along with the flash, there is a model light. Most have a switchable "slave" to allow one flash to fire another, so you only need to connect your camera to one of the heads.
Constant light. Studio flash is all about positioning the light source away from the camera. They support flares, which means they can be positioned at just the right distance and angle to the subject.
Photo umbrella. The flash is aimed so that the light is reflected on the subject. They are available in different reflective surfaces - usually white, silver or gold.
Softboxes. They are a bit more complex, but they create softer light with more even coverage.
Snoot and honeycomb. Both of these tools help focus or "focus" the light. They are ideal for use as highlights or for highlighting a particular part of an image.
Reflector. A simple reflector can be really helpful in a studio lighting setup, especially if only one light is being used. You need to use it the same way natural light, - to bounce the light back onto your subject and fill in any areas of shadow shadow.

There are several types of lighting:

The selected shutter speed is less dramatic in the studio, but it should be fast enough to avoid camera shake. However, you also need to be careful not to set the shutter speed faster than the camera's specified sync speed. On most cameras this is usually 1/200s or 1/250s.
Flash power is measured in W-seconds. Each part is 400W, which is approximately 64. This is normal for normal work with portraits.
Switch the camera to manual and use the histogram and LCD to judge the exposure and the effect of the lights. Use the switches to change the power of the lights and aperture.
To connect the camera to a light source, a sync cable or wireless trigger is required so that when the shutter is pressed, the lights will turn on at the same time. Some wireless are now so cheap that this is the best option since many popular DSLRs don't have the PC jack required to use the more traditional sync cable.

Basic expenses for starting your own photography studio

A professional photographer will need at least two professional cameras. You need to have a professional grade backup camera.

The equipment needed will vary depending on whether it is a portrait shoot or a wedding photo shoot. The following list is exactly what it is recommended to buy for a beginner:

Cameras. Nikon d750- best camera For wedding photography. For portrait photographers - 2 Nikon cameras D7500. Wedding photographers need 2 Nikon D750 cameras.
Lenses. As for lenses, the following are recommended for both portrait and wedding photographers: Nikon-50mm-1.8, Nikon 35mm f/2.0, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 85mm f/1.8. Also, for wedding photographers: Nikon 70-200 f/2.8.
Other equipment. For wedding photographers you need at least 2 flashes for the camera. Recommended Nikon SB-700. You also need to purchase camera bags, memory cards, reflectors, light stands, flash triggers, etc. It will depend on the style of the photo.

Because costs will vary by location, market area, and type of business, the costs listed are generic in most cases.

The following expenses will be required:

The cost of registering a photo studio as a private enterprise.
Annual accounting services: for filing tax returns at the end of the year, etc.
Insurance (if desired).
Photo samples. If customers cannot see products, they will be less likely to pay for them.
Legal fees and photo contracts.
Computer software. (For example, an iMac costs $1299).
2 redundant hard drives.
Screen calibrator.
Buying Lightroom and Photoshop.
Web site. Having a website that is not just a free site is absolutely essential.
Other photo business needs. Many photographers start a business without any idea of how to actually run it. They do not know how to get new customers, how to attract or even how to get them to buy their services. To avoid wasting time and money, the following tools and courses should be included in your startup costs: A Photographer's Guide to Pricing and a Community of Professional Photographers.

Business plan

Before you buy a camera and create a website, you need to do a little preparatory work:

Determine the points of the business plan. This detailed document serves as a roadmap outlining how this will be beneficial. It affects things like cash flow, costs, property and competition.
Get access to financial needs. As part of the business plan, you need to access launch tools. You will need business licenses, insurance, a website, and accounting software. If the studio needs office space, you will need to research commercial rental properties and specify the monthly costs and cost. utilities into the plan. Most photographers who start a studio need help. You can ask friends and family for financial support. Whether asking for help from friends and family or applying for a bank loan, you will need a plan before starting your business.
Calculate your personal finances and calculate the possibilities.
Get professional experience. You will need to show your potential customers your capabilities, and working with professional photographer is a great way to gain some experience and start putting together a portfolio.
Buy a camera. If you buy used equipment, you can collect all the equipment worth about $5,000.
Come up with a pricing plan. This difficult question for every photographer, especially when for a beginner. You need to find out what hour of time is worth how much. For every hour spent filming, about three hours of editing will be spent. You need to take this into account in your prices.
Invest in a site. The site must showcase the work. This is what clients will want to see. You need to keep the site organized by categorizing the galleries. Include a picture of yourself and a page that describes the experience. Contact Information is also required. You need to include pricing information on your website.

Marketing and development of a photo studio

Now, after organizing a photo studio and purchasing all the equipment, you can attract customers by following the following steps:

Create your own brand. You need to figure out what makes your studio unique and use that to brand your business.
"Join" to groups, forums, clubs, groups of photographers.
As a photographer, you need to have not only insane composition skills, but also communication skills. Not only does the client have to trust the photographer, but also bring and bring others. If necessary, you can meet with your clients before shooting.
Use social media to promote yourself. It's best to start with one or two sites and use them consistently. Facebook is a good option but might lean towards one of the more visual channels social networks, such as Instagram.
Google Ads. You can take a portion of your marketing budget to buy keywords that generate more website traffic.
Connect with charities.
Create a list of email addresses.
Keep a photoblog. A blog is a great way to establish authority in your field. This is an open platform to showcase your photos.
Make a savings plan. It takes time to make a profit from a photo studio and even more money is needed in a savings account, but saving money should be a priority as it develops and becomes popular.
Reinvest in business. Once you have at least three months worth of income to run a studio, you can start thinking about reinvesting it. With new lenses and improved editing software, new technologies can improve the product. To make the right decisions, you need to make a list of items that are needed.
Diversification. Over time, certain elements can be added to the business that will help diversify the income stream. You can add maternity and newborn photography to your list of services. Instead of generating all your income from baby runaways alone, you can generate more money by branching out.
Keep learning and improving your skills. You can supplement your classes, watch instructional videos, or schedule time to photograph something completely unrelated to your photography career.
Hiring help. At first, you will need to perform all the functions: shoot, edit pictures and place print orders. Once the business is established, it would be a good idea to delegate responsibilities. To do this, you need to recognize your strengths and weak sides. You can find a freelancer to help you in some area.

As with any new business, there will be ups and downs with a photo studio, but if there is a commitment to photography, it is easier to build a solid reputation as a photographer with your own studio.

Which simply cannot be unprofitable. Photo studios, as a type of business, are especially in demand among young start-up businessmen who seek to open a profitable and promising enterprise at low cost. How to open a photo studio, where to start and what costs will be required - the answers to these and other questions are contained in our new article.

In order for a photo studio to make a profit, you need to think through each step in detail:

Analyze the market situation and competitiveness of the future photo studio. Choose the format of the studio, determine the range of potential clientele.
Prepare the necessary documents for the implementation of activities.
Rent or buy suitable studio space.
Get the equipment for shooting at the highest level.
Hire staff.
Develop and implement a photography studio PR marketing plan.
Calculate the ratio of initial and current costs and expected profit.

Analysis of the market situation in the service sector and competitiveness

When analyzing the services market, the first thing to determine is the circle of potential consumers interested in your services.

The most popular photo studio is in:

firms that need printed advertising materials - banners, signs, flyers and others;
ordinary people who want to replenish their home photo album with fresh pictures;
fashion models - they need professional high-quality photos to fill their portfolio.

When choosing a studio format, one should not forget about the unique circumstances, the main of which are:

security of the population;
amount of starting capital;
urban population;
presence and number of competitors.

A photo studio from scratch is not, so there can be no competition in this environment. Be sure to analyze the activities of competitors at the planning stage of the studio and decide how exactly your project will be able to attract customers.

This feature could be:

Providing unique services that competitors do not provide.
Reduced price for the provision of a particular service.
Expanded range of services.

What is your photography studio like?

If you decide to go into the photography business, you must clearly and definitely imagine what it will be like. The same studios may seem only to amateurs, professionals distinguish the following types of photo business:

Home photo studio. Such a business involves conducting on-site filming events and processing the footage at home. The advantage of a home studio is that you do not need to pay for renting a room for work and its repair.
Photo salon. This studio format provides for the smallest initial capital, since little equipment is needed for work - printers, a computer with Adobe Photoshop or another editor installed, equipment for photographing documents. The owner himself can work in such a studio, which allows you not to spend money on staff salaries.
Mini photo studio. This option is popular with novice businessmen with a small start-up capital, since the cost of organizing the work of the studio will be minimal. In addition to studio shooting, mini-studios are engaged in printing multi-format photographs, their artistic processing, printing on related products - ceramics, fabrics, and so on. A complete studio. This business is suitable for entrepreneurs with experience in large businesses.
Complete photo studio requires impressive costs, and it does not pay off quickly - it is worth counting on making a profit from such an enterprise no earlier than in 1.5–2 years. Filming in a professional studio is carried out in specially equipped premises, and thematic photography is organized to attract clients - for example, New Year's or Valentine's Day.
Baby. The activity of such photo studios is focused on the main clients - children, respectively, the premises are decorated in fabulous cartoon forms, costumes of popular characters are purchased. The services of such a thematic studio are quite popular among customers with children, since every parent wants to capture their child in high-quality photographs.

Documentation of the activities of the photo studio

To conduct photography and open a photo studio from scratch, obtaining permits and licenses is not required, but you will have to visit the state registration authorities.

For a budding entrepreneur the best option is that it is inexpensive and does not have any particular difficulties. The disadvantage of entrepreneurship is the risk of losing your property in bankruptcy and the inability to pay debts.

Multiple partners can. But this is somewhat more complicated - it will be necessary to hire an accountant, to contribute authorized capital.

In the event of debts and bankruptcy, the founders of an LLC run the risk of only authorized capital. Large clients are usually more willing than individual entrepreneurs, but if the main clients are private individuals, then it won't matter.

To ensure the operation of the photo studio, you must purchase the official licensed software for each computer you use.

Space for a photo studio

The choice of studio space should be approached especially responsibly - it must be high (at least 3 meters, this makes it possible to correctly place lighting) and spacious.

"Sharks" of the photo business recommend renting premises with an area of not less than 70 square meters, which will allow organizing a full-fledged shooting at 50 meters, and installing equipment on the remaining ones. The prosperity of a photography studio directly depends on how conveniently it is located.

When choosing a location for the studio, you need to consider the following factors:

the proximity of competitors;
the possibility of advertising outside;
Is it convenient for clients to get to the studio.

It is better to locate a photo studio closer to the center of the district (if the city is large) or closer to the city center, so the traffic of customers will increase.

Photo studio equipment

It is impossible to carry out activities in the field of photography in the absence of equipment. Quality camera needed for studio and location shooting.

When choosing a technique, choose reflex camera and be sure to purchase several lenses for it for diverse shootings. For photo sessions, you need powerful light sources in the amount of 4 pieces.

For the camera you need:

holders height-adjustable tripod;
racks for attaching light;
herons.

From the studio equipment you also need:

umbrellas;
honeycomb nozzles;
exposure meter;
multi-colored backgrounds made of paper or fabric, holders for them;
softboxes;
props.

In the dressing room you need to place:

mirror;
shower room
a screen for changing clothes;
chairs and tables.

IN administrative department will be located:

printers for printing photos in different formats;
computers with Internet access and installed licenses;
comfortable furniture.

Do you need staff for your photography studio?

You can run a small photography business, provided that you yourself know how to take beautiful pictures, process pictures and find clients, without involving third-party labor. In all other cases, hiring workers is indispensable.

You will need:

Photographer. You can find a suitable photographer through bulletin boards, social networks, through acquaintances. Be sure to study examples of the work of a potential employee before entering into a contract with him employment contract. If your views on how photos should look are radically opposite, then you are unlikely to work together.
Administrator. This person will coordinate the work of the studio, solve organizational problems, and also deal with advertising, search and record clients.
If the budget allows, then hire a hair stylist, who will do hair and makeup for clients before shooting. The services of a beauty specialist are popular even in everyday life, and before photographing they are simply necessary - each client wants to look beautiful in the photo.

PR-actions and marketing of the photo studio

Not yet earned client base, you can resort to the following methods of self-promotion:

- on forums, bulletin boards, city portals;
in print media - newspapers, magazines;
on television and radio;
on bulletin boards and by delivering brochures to mailboxes (if the potential clientele of the photo studio is concentrated in one area or the city where the activity is carried out is small.

Photo studio business plan

An approximate calculation of the cost of the studio is as follows:

rent - from 35,000 rubles per month;
photographic equipment - from 80,000 rubles at a time;
other equipment - from 50,000 rubles at a time;
advertising - from 50,000 rubles;
licensed software - from 50,000 rubles;
administration room - from 40,000 rubles at a time;
payment of utilities - individually;
current materials - from 30,000 rubles;
monthly - individually.

When working, as a rule, an additional purchase of something is required, so when calculating costs, include another quarter of the planned budget in the budget.

With the right management of the photo business, in a year the photo studio will be able to work daily about 12 hours(Initially, you should not count on a workload of more than 4 hours a day).

Simple calculations (7 days of the week * 2,000 rubles for studio shooting per hour) show that after a year, the photo studio will not only fully pay for itself, but will also bring a stable profit. The average annual income from the photo business is about 180,000 rubles.

Photo business - which, with the right approach, will not only pay off the initial and ongoing costs, but also bring good profits.

How to open a photo studio? Tips from a professional photographer in a new video:

A photo studio is a great idea for a business. On the one hand, such a business does not require special financial costs at the start, and the business owner himself can work in the salon. On the other hand, a photo studio can become a starting point for creativity, and eventually turn into a well-known photo studio. How to open a photo studio and what you need to know about the specifics of ID photos?

A little about the photo for documents

Everyone will agree that everyone takes ID photos from time to time. Such photographs are needed when applying for a job, when entering any educational institution, when issuing an internal and foreign passport, passes, badges, medical certificates, identity cards, student cards and other things. And this means that there will always be work in the photo salon. But, of course, there are some specifics here too: for example, the main influx of customers, as a rule, is in the summer and autumn months. The main contingent at this time are applicants and vacationers. But the decline in demand usually occurs by the New Year. It is then that income is provided by additional services that must be offered to customers.

Do I need to be a professional photographer to work in such a salon? Technically, anyone can take a photo for documents (even those who do not know the basics of photography). You just need to invite a specialist to correctly set the light and prepare the equipment. This can be done once a month, and the rest of the time you can use the equipment according to the set parameters. But if business development is in the plans, then it is easier to complete courses for beginner photographers and learn the technical basics, as well as the rules for working in special image processing programs.

Normative base

Many are interested in the question: how can a beginner open a photo studio? I must say that it doesn’t really matter here whether you are a beginner or not, since anyone can cope with simple photographic equipment. But if you plan to provide document photography services to citizens, you will have to study the legal requirements on this issue.

The thing is that for a passport photo, for example, there are certain requirements that must be observed. You can get acquainted with them by studying the order of the Federal Migration Service of December 7, 2009 N 339 with changes from 2011 and the orders of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 785, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs N14133, the FSB N461 of 06.10.2006.

Business registration

So, you finally decided to open a photo studio? Then you need to draw up a business plan for a photo salon and start registering your own business.

Buy or rent suitable space for a photo studio.
Pass state registration in the tax authority (it is also possible, but at first the IP will be easier and more profitable).
Choose a tax system (simple or patent).
Decide on the OKVED codes: 74.81 - activities in the field of photography, 74.8 - providing various kinds services. And if you plan to sell accessories or photocopy as additional services, then it would also be right to choose 52.4 - other retail in specialized stores and 22.22 - printing activities not included in other groups.
Then you have to register with pension fund and other organizations.
Make repairs and bring the room in line with fire regulations.
Get strict reporting forms or a cash register.

Choosing a room: looking for a "bread" place

Particular attention should be paid to the search suitable premises. Of course, ideally, it should be located where hundreds of potential customers pass every day, for example, shopping mall, transport interchange in the center of the city or district, business center next to the passport office, travel agency, educational institutions. Naturally, the rent in such places is not the lowest, but a photo salon will require a maximum of 12 square meters, so do not be afraid of a high rental rate - it will be covered good demand for photo services in such places.

Repair and furniture

After the conclusion of the lease agreement, the premises must be put in order, repaired and prepared for work. This means that you should install a hanger for visitors' clothes, a couple of easy chairs, an administrator's desk where a computer, printer and other office equipment will be located. A mandatory attribute of such an institution should be a mirror. In addition, you can keep a “duty” jacket and tie for clients. This will help out in cases where the client urgently needs to take a photo for documents, but he is not ready for this.

Required professional hardware and software

The photo salon will also require consumables: glossy and matte photo paper (for document photos, its density should be 170 grams per square meter, and for reproductions it is better to take A4 and A5 formats with a density of 230 grams per square meter), ink for the printer, consumables for the laminator, replaceable cartridges for the copier.

The question deserves a separate discussion. software. To work, you will need a couple of programs that will help you quickly and efficiently process photos and take pictures of the desired format: for example, a program for photos on documents from AMS Software with formats for all types of documents and Adobe Photoshop, which is useful for processing the finished image and eliminating existing defects (of course, it is more reliable to purchase licensed programs).

Additional services: increase the chances of a decent income

As for additional services, they are simply obligatory for a photo salon. This is necessary in order to increase the efficiency of the business and not be completely without income at a time when the number of people who want to take photos for documents will decrease. What additional services can you provide? It all depends on what equipment and skills you have. If you are a novice photographer and are still uncertain about working in graphic editors, then you can provide simple, but very popular services:

photocopying;
recording photos to external sources of information;
scanning;
photo printing from electronic media on photo paper;
printout of publications, articles, dissertations, term papers and other things;
sale of various accessories and photographic equipment (accumulators, batteries, albums, frames, etc.).

Well, if you have been working for a long time and have certain professional skills, then you can do photo retouching, creating retro photos, printing photo paintings, restoring old pictures, making booklets, business cards, inserts, wall posters, collages, photos on mugs, key chains, T-shirts.

Advertising

Of course, the location of the salon is of great importance, but advertising is a must for business. In addition to a bright signboard, you should make announcements and posters that can be pasted on the nearest streets, and business cards that are best placed in the mailboxes of residential buildings. You can also leave information about the salon in nearby institutions that will refer their clients to you.

Staff

Starting a business, it makes no sense to attract additional labor force, since photography and photocopying itself will not take much time and one business owner can easily organize the workflow. But as soon as the business starts to gain momentum and there will be more customers, it makes sense to hire an intelligent employee, since it will be difficult for the owner himself to cope immediately with the performance of work duties, and with the provision of additional services, and with reporting and documentation.

If you decide to hire a photographer, then it is better to choose someone with skills in special programs, versed in photo design. Then you will not only free yourself from unnecessary work in the salon, but will also be able to significantly expand the list of your additional services.

Initial investment

Let's calculate how much money is needed to open your own photo salon, given that the area of the premises is 12 square meters, and the cost of rent is 3000 meters per square meter per month.

If we talk about the payback period of a business, then this is an average of six months or a year. It all depends on the cost of rent and client flow. But with the constant expansion of the range of services and the high quality of work, you can quickly return all initial investments and earn good money.

Good afternoon, colleagues. My name is Egorov Alexander, I live in the Moscow region. Six years ago I asked myself how to make a photo studio. For several months he studied the art of photography, delved into the essence of the business. After some time, I managed to open my own studio, which has been successfully operating for more than four years.

The characteristics of my business are as follows:

initial costs - from 500 thousand rubles;
large room with an area of 275 square meters. The cost of rent is 125 thousand rubles per month;
monthly income for this stage- 400 thousand rubles per month;
payback - 6-8 months.

How to open a photo studio from scratch?

Keep in mind that in such a business there will be a very high demand from you. If you work by yourself, you must have a high level of skill. In the absence of relevant skills, it is better to hire a professional photographer.

A feature of the photo studio is the provision of a wide range of services, that is, not only photographing and transferring images, but also processing the latter in special editors, creating a portfolio and further processing, designing photo books, and so on.

But here, of course, much depends on the experience of the specialist.

Below I will give a small step by step instructions how to open a photo studio. It should help you in building an algorithm for further actions and future progress:

1. Before opening a photo studio, Decide on the range of services provided (the wider it is, the better).

You can take photos for documents, model (portrait) photography, take pictures at events and holidays, make advertising and subject photography, make photomontage, make souvenirs based on the photos taken, and so on.

2. Find the right space. The ideal place for an office is the central part of the city, where large flows of people move.

Of course, rental costs will increase in this case, but it will also be easier for customers to find a photo studio.

The optimal area of the premises for the first time is from 60-70 square meters.

Please note that for the convenience of visitors, it will not be superfluous to organize a small reception and dressing room. Pay attention to the height of the ceilings. It is very important for the photographer that it be at least 3-3.5 meters.

If you take standard apartment with ceilings of 2.4-2.5 meters, then there may be problems with the placement of equipment. Pay attention to the windows - they should be large.

At the same time, it is desirable that there are several of them in one room. Natural lighting is an essential attribute of a high-quality photo. A similar requirement applies to the dressing room. In addition to artificial lighting, it should also have natural light.

It is not necessary to buy a room for the first time - it is enough to rent it and make a high-quality designer renovation. Keep in mind that everything in a photo studio should “breathe” with creativity, so it’s better not to skimp on finding and paying for a quality designer.

The average cost of renting a room is from 50 thousand rubles (but here it all depends on the city, proximity to the center, arrangement of the premises, and so on). Additional costs for finishing and purchasing basic furniture - from 150 thousand rubles.

Again, you can save money or furnish the room in the highest class.

3. Be sure to formalize. Otherwise, check with tax office it will heat up very quickly. For a photo studio, two options are suitable - LLC or IP.

As a rule, entrepreneurs opt for the first option. If the work will be carried out only with individuals, then IP is enough.

Opening and promotion of a photo studio

With regard to taxation, here one of the best options- UTII or patent form. The OKVED code for this activity is 74.8 (it includes the provision of various services) and 74.81 is a specialized code relating only to photography.

If sales and copying services will be provided, then two more codes must be specified - 52.4 (retail) and 22.22 (printing work).

You will definitely need to register with the Pension Fund and a number of other organizations. After the arrangement of the premises and repairs, there must be a conclusion of the SES and the fire inspection. Be sure to buy a cash register and strict reporting forms.

Expenditure for the entire registration stage (together with the purchase cash register and other devices) - from 30,000 rubles.

4. As soon as the documents are processed and the premises are ready, start buying equipment. At the initial stage, you can not spend much and buy only the most necessary.

Please note that you will definitely need a high-quality camera (it will cost from 30,000 rubles).

In addition, you will need a computer with software, which must be very powerful to work in various video and photo processing programs (from 35,000 rubles).

Russia and Ukraine is the first step to the beginning successful business with an easy and simple start.

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To print photos, you will need a good photo printer (its price is about 10-15 thousand rubles), a tripod for mounting a camera (about 2,000 rubles), a copier (about 10,000 rubles), lighting devices (about 10,000 rubles).

Be sure to buy a laminator - about 8,000 rubles. The total cost of purchasing equipment is about 110,000 rubles.

5. Personnel may be needed, if the photo studio will offer additional services for scanning, photocopying, recording information to external sources, printing photos, printing other information, and so on.

You can take an experienced person to work with Photoshop and put him to process photos, restore old pictures, create collages, make retro photos, and so on.

As a rule, it is enough to take 1-2 assistants, who, in which case, can replace and take simple pictures for documents. At the same time, the costs of wages will be insignificant. As a rule, you can meet the amount of about 30-40 thousand rubles.

Table number 1. Potential of photo studio production services in Russia

6. If you want to quickly recoup your costs, then advertising is a must. Ideally, it is desirable to make your site on the Internet with examples the best photos, organize outdoor advertising, make beautiful announcements and hang them around the city.

Thus, the total cost of starting a business, taking into account the investments mentioned above, will be about 400 thousand rubles. Plus, the monthly costs for renting premises, advertising, paying people, and so on - about 100 thousand rubles.

What do you need to open a photography studio?

The business of opening a photo studio is one of the most accessible in terms of organization, design and competition. But here it is important to remember that not everyone succeeds.

You must be a professional in your field and have an individual approach to each client. The opening of a photo studio should be a special event in the life of your city, so advertise before you start.

In the future, the reputation will be formed solely on the basis of customer reviews. So be courteous, always go forward, listen carefully to the wishes and carefully bring your professional vision. If the client sees you as a professional, then he will completely trust.

It doesn't take much to start a business. First, you must be madly in love with your work (even if another person will work as a photographer). Secondly, there must be a desire and readiness to organize a business.

Thirdly, you need to have about 500 thousand rubles (at least) on hand. This is the answer for people who are wondering how much it costs to open a photography studio. As a rule, at the initial stage, the above amount is sufficient.

Then you can continue development - buy (rent) a larger room, expand the range of services (for example, you can open a store selling photo or video products), hire people, and so on. Here much depends on success and profit.

Do you need a photography studio business plan?

Before you open an interior photography studio, creating a business plan is a must. This document becomes a reliable assistant in the harsh world of business.

If you have certain knowledge and experience, you can write a document yourself or entrust the work to professionals.
Please note that the business plan should reflect the following aspects- goals of the future enterprise, types of services provided, development prospects, risk factors, ways to overcome competition, all types of costs, start-up capital for starting a business, initial and monthly expenses, recruitment features and so on.

The more accurately the document is written and the more details it takes into account, the less likely it is to burn out. Of course, the risk always remains, but it can be minimized.

Opening a photo studio: total costs

Let's summarize the total costs of opening a photo studio:

renting a room will cost from 30-50 thousand rubles (monthly);
repair and arrangement of the selected office - from 150 thousand rubles;
registration of all papers, purchase of a cash register, registration - from 30 thousand rubles;
staff remuneration, provided that you hire 1-2 employees - from 30-35 thousand rubles (monthly);
the cost of a full advertising campaign- from 30 thousand rubles;
other expenses (taxes, purchase of accessories, components, and so on) - from 20 thousand rubles per month.

Wherein potential income your business in the first month can be from 200 thousand rubles. With the growth of popularity, profits will definitely grow.