What should be in a photo studio. DIY interior for a photo studio. Ideal location for filming

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. It takes very little time for most people to realize that creating very beautiful photos in low light, 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 complicated art, just a combination of basic lighting principles and camera skills, while the required kit has become 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:

1. Take a sheet of 300x300 cm muslin and dye.
2. Take a sheet of canvas (size as above) and paint it - it will be heavy and require a lot of dye.
3. 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. Prices - important factor, which should be considered when creating a photo 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. Factor to be taken into account wages 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 of them 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 to learn flash photography and get good results from it is to constantly work and experiment 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. An inexpensive way to find studio lighting is to 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. "Flashes" or "Speedlite" (depending on whether Nikon or Canon are used) is compact flashes, which can be used both on-camera and 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 chosen. 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 good system background support.

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. Basic kit home photo studio 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 should use it the same way you would natural light - to bounce the light back onto your subject and fill in any areas of shading.

There are several types of lighting:

1. 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.
2. Flash power is measured in W-seconds. Each part is 400 watts, which is approximately 64. This is normal for general portrait work.
3. 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.
4. 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 is the 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. Wedding photographers will need at least 2 flashes for their 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:

1. Determine the points of the business plan. This detailed document serves as a roadmap outlining how this will be beneficial. This affects things like cash flow, spending, property, and competition.
2. 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 rooms, you will need to study the commercial rental objects and indicate the monthly expenses 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.
3. Calculate your personal finances and calculate the possibilities.
4. Get professional experience. You will need to show your potential clients what you can do, and working with a professional photographer is a great way to gain some experience and start building a portfolio.
5. Buy a camera. If you buy used equipment, you can collect all the equipment worth about $5,000.
6. Come up with a pricing plan. This is a 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.
7. 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:

1. Create your own brand. You need to figure out what makes your studio unique and use that to brand your business.
2. "Join" to groups, forums, clubs, groups of photographers.
3. 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.
4. Use social media to promote yourself. It's best to start with one or two sites and use them consistently. facebook- a good option, but you might lean towards one of the more visual social media channels like Instagram.
5. Google Ads. You can take part of your marketing budget to buy keywords that generate more website traffic.
6. Connect with charities.
7. Create a list of email addresses.
8. Keep a photoblog. A blog is a great way to establish authority in your field. This is an open platform to showcase your photos.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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 weaknesses. 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.

How to open a photo studio on your own, how much it will cost and what are the monthly costs, what services can be provided and who will be their consumer. What form of management to choose, and what package of documents the owner of a photo studio should have.

Owning your own photography studio is a lucrative yet highly competitive business. Each student with a camera considers himself a photographer and often offers his services. However, the quality of the work of such a "specialist" leaves much to be desired. Therefore, people still prefer studios.

Despite the great stand out in the market, there is only one way - high quality and a wide range of services. And for a quick start in this area, you need a detailed and competent marketing strategy.

How much do you need to start?

To understand what initial capital is needed to launch a photo studio, it is necessary to calculate the possible costs for renting and arranging premises, equipment, paperwork, etc.

• Room rental - about 65 thousand rubles.
• Repair of premises and furnishing - up to 140 thousand rubles.
• Light sources - 150 thousand rubles.
• Accessories for light - 30 thousand rubles.
• Backgrounds - from 35 thousand rubles.
• Camera - from 50 thousand rubles.
• Camera lens - from 40 thousand rubles.
• Dressing room equipment - 50 thousand rubles.
• Administrator's workplace - from 35 thousand rubles.
• Computer for photo processing - up to 70 thousand rubles.
• Programs for photo processing - up to 50 thousand rubles.
• Additional accessories, materials and stationery - from 20 thousand rubles.
• Website development for a photo studio - from 20 thousand rubles.

In total, in order to open your own photo studio, you need to have about 800 thousand rubles.

Monthly expenses

Apart from start-up capital need to be ready for monthly expenses on the:

• rental of premises;
• staff salaries;
• public utilities;
• website promotion;
• advertising and marketing;
• taxes;
• additional expenses.

It is difficult to give exact figures here, since there is no specific area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe rented premises, staff salaries, etc. Therefore, these calculations must be carried out individually.

Range of services and target audience of the studio

About what services the photo studio will offer and who will target audience You need to think long before buying equipment.

The studio can be positioned as a photo workshop or as a creative laboratory. That is, it is necessary to determine the genres of photography, from which further services will be formed. For example, a photographer for corporate, wedding and other events, as well as individual photo shoots.

The target audience may be:

1. Individuals who mainly apply to the studio for family photos, photos for documents or for photos of holidays and celebrations.
2. Legal entities interested in commercial photography: photos of their products, events, creation of branded calendars, etc.

The main service of the photo studio is professional photography and photo processing. However, in order to provide a studio additional income, the following points must be taken into account:

• Printed publications often need the services of a photo studio. So they can ask for help. True, in order to break into this segment, you need to win the trust of customers and become a well-known photo studio in the city.
• The services of the studio are often used by novice models who need high-quality photos for their portfolio.
• Ordering a photo for documents or others instant photos, customers will require their printouts. Therefore, this service is mandatory.
• Often clients require artistic processing and photo retouching.
• Sometimes photographers or freelancers will contact the studio to rent it for a certain period of time. Naturally, such a service should be provided in free time from the main customers.
• It is likely that the studio will work closely with, which will give a good flow of customers.

The range of services can be expanded at your discretion. The main thing is that they should be closely connected with the main activity of the studio.

How to register - sole proprietorship or LLC?

There is no fundamental difference between sole proprietorship and LLC. Both forms of governance have their pros and cons.

Opening an IP will require 4 times less money than in the case of an LLC. Also, an LLC must have an authorized capital of at least 10 thousand rubles. In this case, all the money remains with the studio.

When conducting partnerships legal form important, since few people want to work with IP. But having an LLC as a partner is much more solid. At the same time, it is easier to recruit staff in an LLC, which in any case will be needed for the quality provision of services.

With regard to the choice of activity for opening a photographic studio, it falls under 74.81 and subdivisions 018000 4, 018102 9, 018104 5, 018107 6 and 018114 4.

Before registering a business, you need to rent a room and buy necessary equipment(more on that below). After that, to register an individual entrepreneur or LLC, you need to provide the following documents:

• Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (or other identity document).
• Business Permit.
• Permits from the fire service and SES.
• Certificate of registration with the Federal Tax Service.

How to get all these documents can be clarified with the local tax and fire inspection and SES.

The choice of premises for rent

There are a number of rules that apply to the location and layout of a photography studio.

Firstly, the studio is best located in the city center. Despite the fact that the rent will be high, a constant flow of customers is guaranteed.

Secondly, the studio space should not be less than 60 sq. m. At the same time, 50 sq. m. is the studio itself. The remaining 10 sq. m. - waiting room, dressing room, administrator's place.

Thirdly, the ceilings in the room must have a height of more than 3 m, since it is this height that is necessary to accommodate the equipment.

Fourth, the room should have large windows. This will allow photographers to work not only with artificial lighting, but also with natural light.

As for the dressing room, it must have a large mirror and natural light. The decoration of such a room is carried out in bright colors.

When choosing a room for a studio, you need to remember not only the comfort of the photographer, but also the clients. And from the technical part, the quality of the wiring deserves special attention - the equipment of the photo studio gives a high load on the power grid.

Photo studio equipment

All the necessary equipment for the studio will be listed below.

• Professional digital camera and lens.
• 4 lighting devices with power from 500 to 1000 watts.
• Camera tripods, holders, light stands, herons.
• Curtains, umbrellas, softboxes, reflectors and reflectors.
• At least 4 different backgrounds and attachments to them.

This applies to the main workplace of the studio. Additional props and interior items will also be required:

• Table and chair for the photographer's workplace.
• Computer or laptop with the necessary programs for work.
• Landline phone.
• Printer and other equipment needed to print photos.

In the dressing room you need to purchase:

• screen;
• large mirror;
• small table;
• shower cubicle.

The list of equipment and furniture may differ from the above and directly depends on financial capabilities, features of the rented premises and the range of services provided.

Required personnel

Administrator. He will answer telephone conversations, negotiate with clients, schedule filming, monitor the corporate website, communicate with clients in social networks and perform a number of works on the economic support of the photo studio.

Retoucher. This specialist will process photos and thus unload the photographer for shooting.

Hairdresser. It is needed to tidy up clients' hair before shooting.

Visagiste. Such a specialist is needed for staged shooting, which requires the application of makeup or make-up. The photographer will not be able to perform such work on his own.

Stylist. It will be needed only if the studio will accept future or established photo models who need to choose outfits or accessories for a photo shoot.

Advertising and marketing

At the very beginning, you need to notify everyone around you about the opening of the studio. You can attract attention with promotions, bonuses and discounts. As advertising tools it is worth using:

• distribution of flyers by the promoter or by postal addresses;
• posting ads;
• advertising on billboards;
• bright and conspicuous signage.

Particular attention should be paid to the promotion of business on the Internet. This will require a corporate website. In this case, you should not use website builders. Its development should be entrusted to an experienced web developer. Only he will be able to give individuality to the resource and add the necessary functions to it.

It is desirable to place the finished site on large Internet sites and in advertising networks. The most popular and effective advertising networks for now are Yandex.Direct and Google.AdWords. With their proper configuration, they are able to bring dozens of customers a day. However, in this case it is better to entrust all work on advertising campaigns to an experienced director.

Social networks are a good and affordable tool for attracting customers. In conjunction with the corporate website, groups and communities of social networks can constantly bring customers.

The participation of the photo studio in professional exhibitions will not be superfluous. This will create a positive image for her. And gift certificates will help to attract private customers.

Possible risks

The main problem that a studio may face is power outages. As mentioned above, filming equipment places a heavy load on the network. Therefore, to avoid such problems, you need to buy a UPS.

The photography business has some seasonality. Observations show that very few clients turn to the photo studio in winter. Therefore, there may be losses during such periods of downtime.

Many software developers have a very negative attitude towards those who use their products for free. To avoid litigation, it is better to use purchased and licensed programs with a full range of functions.

As you can see, there are not so many risks and they can be avoided. The main thing is to properly organize your business and correctly distribute the budget, so that even during the period of downtime there are funds to pay rent, utilities and other services.

findings

The initial capital required to open a photo studio is about 800 thousand rubles. The form of government can be sole proprietorship or LLC. To promote the services of the studio, it is necessary to involve all available advertising tools, with the main emphasis on the Internet. Business profitability - 98%. Payback - 12 months. Profit - about 300 thousand rubles. per month.

In recent years, the popularity of photography has increased several times. Now not only professional models who need to update their portfolios have become interested in studio shooting, but also those who want to replenish their family album with bright and creative photos High Quality.

Not only famous photographers with many years of experience strive to open their own studio. Ordinary businessmen also find this direction quite promising. Naturally, to open a photo studio from scratch significant capital investment is required. But with a properly designed marketing policy, these investments will begin to pay off within a few months after opening.

The specifics of the photo business

Most often, photo studios are opened for the following three purposes:

1. Professional studio shooting (creating catalogs, portfolios, booklets, etc.).
2. Filming for reporting.
3. Leasing of premises and equipment as an additional income.

Working in a photo studio is everyday hard work. The peculiarity of this business is that Regular clients for photographers are usually few. Quite a few families regularly update their photo albums.

On the other hand, you should always remember about competition, which is quite high in this area. The same factor can be associated with a sufficiently long period of formation of a circle of regular customers.

It is also worth distinguishing a professional photo studio from a photo salon.

Do you want to open a pizzeria? We will help you choose the format of such a business and develop a business plan, if

First of all, professional photographers work in the studio, who can offer their clients interesting ideas for the upcoming shooting and have the skills of deep photo processing using special graphic editors. For example, Lightroom and Photoshop. In addition, they do an excellent job with their work not only in the studio, but also in the open air.

Photo studio workers can take good photos for documents, but they, as a rule, do not work outside the salons.

Studios offer their clients many other services. For example, shooting weddings or children's parties, creating slide shows, printing photos and photo books.

Registration

Registration is a very important step when starting your own business. Without this step, all commercial activities of a photography studio will be considered illegal. If a check suddenly comes to you, you risk losing not only your reputation, but your entire business.

You can register your studio as an individual entrepreneur (IP) or a limited liability company (LLC). At the same time, for the Russians, OKVED number must be chosen 74.81, which corresponds to activities in the field of photography.

Opening a sole proprietorship may be the best option if most of your clients will individuals. Moreover, registering an IP will cost a little less than an LLC. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that, according to the law, if the company has debts, the entrepreneur will be liable with his personal property.

An LLC can be opened by more than one person. However, for this you need availability of start-up capital. A limited liability company usually enjoys much more trust from customers and potential business partners than an individual entrepreneur.

To open your photo business, you do not need to spend a lot of time obtaining licenses and other permits.

How to open your own photography studio from scratch at home? We invite you to watch a video in which a professional photographer shares his experience.

Room selection

Your photo studio should be located as close to the city center as possible. The cost of rent, of course, will be much higher than in residential areas. But it will also be much more convenient for customers to get to you.

The floor area must be at least 60 square meters, and its length is 10 meters. This is due to the fact that the distance between the photographer and the model should be no less than three human heights, and between the model and the background - two. About 90-95% should be dedicated to the studio itself. At the same time, it is worth thinking about a comfortable waiting room for clients, as well as a dressing room and a dressing room. Larger studios may also have walk-in showers and other amenities. It all depends on your financial capabilities.
Ceiling height also matters. If a ceilings will be below 3 m, it will be very difficult for you to properly position all the necessary equipment to get the desired result.

The photo studio should have several large windows, which will enable the photographer to work not only with studio lighting, but also with natural light.

In the dressing room should be light under any conditions. It should contain large mirrors. Do not forget that makeup artists will be most comfortable working in natural light.

Once you find the perfect space, you can sign a lease and start renovating. By the way, you will have to work not only on lighting. The studio should have good ventilation and heating system. After all, your client can be funny company out of a dozen guys or a family with a small child.

The quality of the wiring is also of great importance, because you will need to connect a huge amount of equipment. If your studio will be around the clock, then do not forget about soundproofing. This will help avoid conflicts with people living in the neighborhood.

Before starting interior design, break the room into zones, think about what you would like to see in your photo studio, and draw up its design project. If your studio has several rooms, you can safely decorate them in different styles, but if you are limited to one room, then you can divide it into several stylistic sectors. If the room is small, choose neutral tones for the interior. This way you will get rid of unnecessary reflections on the body of the model.

Necessary equipment

What does it take to open a photography studio from scratch? You have to purchase the necessary minimum equipment, which will consist of:

• at least 3 softboxes of different sizes and several attachments for them. Optimum power - from 500 J;
• umbrellas for light and for reflection;
• reflectors;
• sources of light;
• racks, tripods, holders;
• reflector;
• color filters;
• flashmeter;
• flash synchronizers;
• backgrounds and mounts for them.

Also, if necessary, you can buy props and reflex camera with a set of lenses.

Do not forget about the accompanying premises. You can go to the dressing room buy a dressing table, a large mirror, chairs and a screen. An iron with an ironing board or a steamer will not interfere either. The administrator and photographer must be provided with a computer with the necessary programs installed, appropriate furniture and telephones.

Keep in mind that the list only lists the most necessary equipment. In the first few months, you will have the opportunity to understand what is still missing for more effective work studio and fill in the gaps in the configuration.

Recruitment

Ideal if you are an experienced photographer who is opening a studio for himself. In this case, all you need is to find a good administrator who will communicate with clients, maintain order in the photo studio, update information about your establishment on the Internet and help you with the shooting process. If you are looking to work seven days a week, consider looking for multiple administrators, to provide them with shift work.

If you need to choose a photographer, pay attention to the portfolio of candidates. Don't ignore the young pretenders they can be several times more creative than their more famous counterparts. The work of experienced craftsmen can cost several times more than the services of the “young generation”. However, this is a worthy payment for their experience, which can be the key to the success of your business.

A good photographer should be able to communicate properly with a client, understand what he wants from a photo session, and also have a supply of bright and original ideas for quality photographs. Remember that the photographer is the face of your business.

You can also hire a stylist, makeup artist and hairdresser. They will help your clients to create exactly the image they expect to see in the photos. For bookkeeping and quarterly reporting, you can hire a part-time accountant or use the services of an outsourced accounting company.

Advertising and promotion

How to correctly and most effectively build a marketing policy for a photography studio? First of all, pay attention to social networks, websites and thematic forums. If you are engaged in renting studios and equipment, it would be nice to attract the attention of experienced craftsmen. Invite them to the opening let you try out new equipment, consider possible discounts, bonuses or special programs for regular customers. Believe me, no photographer can resist such a temptation.

From time to time, various promotions or lotteries can be held. You can highlight some that will have discounts or bonuses during certain hours or for certain services in your studio. You can also create a discount program for regular customers.

Do not underestimate modern web technologies. A bright, well-built website can be a wonderful business card for you. And do not forget that good pictures and satisfied customers are the best advertisement for your establishment.

Possible problems and risks

Any investment of capital and the opening of an independent business is associated with some risk. What should be feared when opening a photo studio?

1. Great competition in the photo business, the presence of rivals with lower prices, etc. A well-thought-out advertising campaign will help correct the situation.
2. Volatility in demand for a number of services provided. A wide range of services provided will help to avoid problems.
3. Potential loss of staff. To avoid this, try to create a cozy atmosphere in the team, and also think about a program to motivate employees.
4. Risk of loss of property. None not insured against robberies, power surges or fire. A good fire alarm and a contract with a security company will help you minimize this risk.

About the device of the photo studio and the composition is described in the 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 programs for image processing.

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 - the provision of various types of services. And if you plan as additional services sale of accessories or photocopying, then it would also be correct to choose 52.4 - other retail trade in specialized stores and 22.22 - printing activities not included in other groups.
• Then you should register with the 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 finding a suitable location. Of course, ideally it should be located where hundreds of potential clients, For example, shopping center, 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 studio will need a maximum of 12 square meters, so you should not be afraid of a high rental rate - it will be covered by a 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

For a photo studio you will also need expendable materials: 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 square meter), printer ink, laminator consumables, replacement cartridges for copier.

The issue of software deserves a separate discussion. 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 for 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 safer 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 business efficiency 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 for work, since photography and photocopying itself will not require much time and one person, the owner of the business, can easily cope with the organization of the workflow. But as soon as the business begins 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 it will take to open your own photo studio, 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.

A good photograph is comparable only to a brilliant printed work, which has not changed its content over the centuries, but at the same time every family wants to have it. It is for this reason that many aspiring entrepreneurs decide to open a photo studio, a business plan for which is created similarly to all other types.

Who is it aimed at?

This type of earnings is more suitable for entrepreneurs who have sufficient patience, who do not want to take risks in vain, who can wait for the full return of their investments. This can be explained by the fact that the demand for photography is growing steadily, but it does so quite moderately in comparison with other industries.

The profitability of the business is ensured only if there is enough start-up capital. The project can be launched only if the business plan of the photo studio is ready, and it describes in detail all the moments and nuances of this type of activity, organizational factors and financial issues. for this type of activity is quite high, about 2-4 years.

While what is planned is characterized by a very specific degree of clarity, there are a huge number of complexities that can make this business segment quite difficult to start. You should not only consider the business plan of a photo studio, an example of which will be presented below, but also important points regarding the direct activities of such an organization.

Consumer market

Clients can be conditionally divided into two large groups, while target needs are taken into account. legal organizations a tool in the form of a photograph is actively used to position their brand and its further development. For ordinary citizens, the need for photography arises as an aesthetically useful attribute designed to capture important life moments: anniversaries, weddings, baptisms, and so on.

A business plan for opening a photo studio should also take into account such a new trend as updating your own portfolio for girls and guys who are active on various Internet resources and social networks. In this case, there is an urgent need to obtain a high-quality image.

Photo studio options

The choice of the format of the project being developed affects a lot of additional factors that the entrepreneur will have to take into account to one degree or another. When compiling a business plan for a photo studio, it is necessary to determine the priority direction, because it depends on it when the launched project begins to please profit. Any of the described options, with the proper approach, is capable of providing high level income.

Full-format photo studio

If you decide to open a photography studio, the business plan can be drawn up so that it will be an organization that provides a full range of services in this area. For these purposes, you will need an interior room with scenery, costumes, as well as photographic equipment of all kinds. The business plan of the photo studio in this case should also include additional ways to earn money in the form of renting out premises for short periods of time or for photo shoots; production of gift products and various souvenirs, holding master classes with practical exercises.

photo studio

This option involves the creation of only the official type of photos. In this case, the photo studio business plan can be called the simplest, since this option is budgetary, designed to start activities. Success is predetermined by the location, that is, the premises should be chosen correctly.

Photo studio for children

This version of the project is aimed at parents who want to capture their kids in all their glory. To meet the corresponding demand, a stylized interior space will be required, as well as thematic scenarios with a full set of necessary attributes. Even ready business plan photo studios of this format is not suitable for beginners, as it is aimed at organizations with a powerful

mini studio

This is an analogue of a full-length studio, which allows you to deal with all kinds of industry areas. This option is convenient for starting, as it has a wide prospect of growth and further change of specialization.

Regardless of which photo studio format is chosen, success will be regular as a result of providing high-quality services in this area.

Competition

A novice entrepreneur will find himself in a situation where he will need to fight for clients with two types of opponents: large-format studios and private photographers. The former prefer to cooperate with large customers in the form of magazines, modeling agencies and others, so they will not be a real hindrance to a small photo studio with limited capabilities. But private photographers are focused on medium and small consumers, like the novice entrepreneur himself.

It is possible to propose an optimal strategy for an entrepreneur who intends to open successful business and has already drawn up a business plan for a photography studio. Taking into account the small concentration of existing photo studios and the insufficient saturation of this niche, one should choose a place that will be remote from the accumulation of photographers and small firms.

Required costs. Business plan

It should be understood that there is no maximum bar for this area, therefore, an average photo workshop is used for the calculation, which is capable of conducting high-quality and diverse activities in this area. A ready-made business plan for a photo studio with calculations will contain the entire list of expenses that are expected to open it. The list of variables, that is, one-time expenses, must include the following:

Legal registration of all documentation that may be required - 40-60 thousand rubles, depending on the region;

Costs associated with the repair and subsequent design of the premises - 250-300 thousand rubles, depending on the initial indicators;

The purchase of a set of working equipment may require an amount of 200-600 thousand rubles, depending on the chosen direction and format of activity;

Purchase of office furniture - 150-300 thousand rubles;

Other expenses and accessories - from 100 thousand rubles.

It turns out that the amount of variable costs is 740-1360 thousand rubles.

There is also a list of costs that are fixed. Among them are the following:

Racks, holders, tripods;

Camera and set of lenses;

Decorative background with fasteners;

Flashmeter;

Synchronizers designed to ensure the normal operation of flashes;

Dressing room equipment;

Computer with good performance;

Auxiliary attributes not originally included in the photo studio business plan (sample). Example: background, etc.

Staff

The staff at first usually includes such specialists:

- Photographers can be both young professionals with a high-quality portfolio, and experienced reputable masters. The first option will provide certain savings on wages, and the second guarantees a flow of regular customers. The ratio of experienced and novice masters is ideal one to one, in this case you will get a successful photo studio. A business plan, calculations and an indication of all costs must be contained in a single document.

- Administrator in a photo studio it should be mandatory, and for uninterrupted work they will need at least two. A good administrator not only solves any issues on a professional level, but also warns potential problems in a timely manner.

- Technical staff should be in any photo studio, the number depends on its size. Employees should have a shift schedule with the possibility of substitution if necessary.

- Content Marketer assumes obligations related to the creation of the image of the studio on the Internet and its promotion. On the this moment this sector contains the vast majority of potential customers, so it is imperative to keep it in mind. If you intend to open a photography studio, the business plan must contain this item.

Opening dates

This moment completely depends on the chosen business format and the availability of investment funds. Depending on the situation, the period can be from 1-3 months to 6-8. If we are talking about entrepreneurial maximalism in conditions of a significant shortage of funds, then the period will be from 9 months. The main time wasters are the search for financial institutions, investors or partners who could provide the required amount of money.

Marketing plan

The business plan for opening a photo studio initially assumes that this is a very costly idea, which requires a lot of funds to implement, and it is impossible to count on a quick payback without a good client influx from the first months of work. Therefore, the organization of advertising is carried out in three directions: among regular customers, through traditional means of presenting information, through Internet promotion.

In order for visitors to start talking about the photo studio, you need to choose an individual approach to everyone, non-standard options for implementing wishes, as well as provide services at a high professional level. Only in this case, the creation of a photo studio, for which a business plan is being developed, will be appropriate. To use the traditional form of information submission, it is necessary to involve an advertising agency with a proven reputation, capable of notifying everyone about a new photo workshop in the shortest possible time. Promotion on the Internet requires constant support, taking into account consumer trends and directions.

Even if a business plan is being created, one should not ignore such important service positioning tools as discounts, bonuses, promotions, prizes, and so on. This approach has already been tested and works.

Planned revenue and payback

It is influenced by many factors, among which the following stand out: location, professional services, correct advertising campaign. With the correct and systematic organization of activities, you can count on an average annual income of 600-800 thousand rubles. Such indicators provide a full payback period of not more than 4 years. Aspiring entrepreneurs should understand that in the photography business, numbers are relative indicators that have limitless opportunities for growth. From the first days, you can not try to create an expensive project, as there are nuances and circumstances that will correct it in any case. It is better to organize a moderate start with an emphasis on the high quality of the services provided.

findings

For a new studio, income depends on the level of workload and the quality of the services provided. And here it does not matter whether there is a ready-made business plan for a photo studio with calculations or not, it is necessary to approach this issue with all responsibility and understanding of the current market situation. Downloading for an organization that has just started its work can only be achieved in terms of the right advertising. With its incomplete organization or the wrong approach, the new photo workshop will have every reason to close in the first half of the year.