Open a photo salon business plan. Own photo studio - income or hobby

Many photographers open their own agencies, studios... This requires a lot of money, I still earn little, but this money is enough for me to get the necessary props and update my equipment. My main “means” of achieving goals in this area are the people with whom I work: they are a source of inspiration, they share good ideas and give advice, their opinion is important to me, with their help a large part of my creative growth. Other means are various educational information sources related primarily to art.

We studied the topic of opening a photo studio and compiled lists of costs, based on which, the amount for opening similar business will be about 70,000 rubles. But if you open a studio at home (without renting premises), then the costs can be halved. It is also possible that there will be additional expenses that can only be discovered during the course of the case.

Business plan for a photo studio

There are many pleasant moments in life, and people want to capture them so that even years later they can return to that place and time. At the beginning of the last century, a professional photographer would have been invited to do this, but then this fashion became history, because everyone had the opportunity to take photographs on their own. But the new, as we know, is the well-forgotten old. Nowadays it is again fashionable to organize themed photo sessions using expensive equipment and the skill of the photographer. To make money, you can open a photo studio.

Official registration of the studio

When registering any type of business, you can go in two classic ways: it is either an individual entrepreneur or an LLC. First the better, that it is easier and cheaper to register, which is more desirable for students. To register you must submit necessary documents to the tax authority at your place of residence. You can determine the address of your INFS using this service.

If a business is created in a photo studio, it will not be easy for an inexperienced person to collect everything necessary documents and correctly register an individual entrepreneur, so it is recommended to use the services of a law firm. In this case, the cost of registering an individual entrepreneur will be on average 7,000 rubles. The option with an LLC, in addition to the relevant documents, also gives the trust of visitors, but you must agree that customer trust primarily depends on the quality of the services provided.

There are some other nuances: if the studio plans to photograph individuals, then registering as an individual entrepreneur is enough; if the studio specializes in shooting advertising, then still think about an LLC.

Professional photography can be carried out without a license, so business in a photo studio can be called one of the simplest from the point of view of the law.

Types of photo studios

There are different types of photo studios, and a potential entrepreneur should understand this in order to clearly define the scope of activity. There are three types of studios:

photo salon;
a room with several backgrounds/interiors for filming;
universal photo salon.

The first type is the most boring for a creative person, but extremely necessary for the audience. The photo studio usually prints photographs from a variety of media and takes photographs for documents. This type of photo studio requires the least amount of organization costs: a place in a shopping center, a table with shelves, a printer and a camera.

The second type is more preferable both for our heroine and for other young people who love photos with meaning. A room with several backgrounds for filming is more expensive to organize; you need to come up with themed interiors, purchase decorative items, and furnish mini-scenes with furniture. Professional equipment is a must!

A universal photo studio, naturally, will have the greatest demand among the audience: here you can take passport photos, organize a thematic shoot, and then print the photos - it will come out much cheaper than the first two options, so first you should open a more highly specialized studio, and then expand your business .

A home photo studio can also be the least expensive option for filming. However, in this case, the photographer will face more problems with space. Firstly, you will need a lot of free space (it’s good if you happen to have a large room empty in your apartment). Secondly, the room should have full light control both day and night, so expect hefty utility bills for electricity. Thirdly, must be respected temperature regime, especially if all the equipment will be stored in the room. Fourthly, you will need to think about the background decor, which is usually made from different types of materials: cotton, vinyl, canvas or paper (here it is worth remembering that the structure should not be too noticeable).

And finally, you will need some decorative items, outfits, furniture, if you do not plan to take photographs only for documents. That is, in any case, you will have to diversify your photo arsenal.

Before setting up a home studio, think about whether renting a photo studio or renting space would be a more promising start to a business?

Choosing a room for a photo studio

Premises are an important point in the successful promotion of your business. Business in a photo studio will go uphill if its location is close to the central streets of the city, which are familiar to every resident, because when choosing a photo studio for a thematic shoot, a person looks not only at the internal design and prices, but also at where it is located - it’s unlikely someone will want to go to the outskirts.

The area of the room must be at least 60 square meters, otherwise you won't be able to post beautiful backgrounds and decorative details in a small room. It is very important that the photo studio has high ceilings. Firstly, this will set the “model” to a relaxed state, and secondly, this will help establish necessary equipment. It is advisable that the room have a toilet. knot, since most often filming takes longer than two hours.

The approximate cost of renting a premises that meets these requirements varies from 30 to 50 thousand rubles per month. But novice entrepreneurs should still choose cheaper options. But buying a photo studio is generally an extremely expensive option.

*Calculations use average data for Russia

We solve the problem of how to open an interior photography studio from scratch. Given: creative person who wants to realize the abilities of a decorator. Conditions: 700 thousand rubles. Find: profitable business opportunity.

Today photographs are an integral part of our lives. So familiar that it’s hard to imagine how people lived without the ability to capture memorable events in photographs. Now everyone has a smartphone with a camera at their fingertips, with which they take pictures every day. However, most of us still want quality and beautiful photos taken by a professional photographer in a beautiful setting.

Therefore, it is quite natural that opening a photo studio is currently a promising business idea. Renting a space ready for photography is very profitable. This business requires relatively small investments and can quickly pay for itself. Another plus is its creative focus. After all, thanks to such a project you can realize your creative abilities and prove yourself as a designer.

The photography studio market has undergone enormous changes. Do you remember what photo studios looked like before? A white canvas against which you pose with simple props. Now the interior of photo studios can be considered a work of art. Typically, studios offer several interiors to choose from for shooting. Each interior is clearly thought out, full of interesting locations and details that can be used in shooting. Whether a person wants to come to the studio for a photo shoot depends on the originality of the design. The interior is the main component of success for a photo studio.

However, in addition to the creative component, the photography business has many organizational issues, which you need to understand to open your own photo studio.

How to define a photo studio concept

Planning your photo studio needs to start with clear positioning. What type of service will you provide? There can be two options: you either provide interior space for photographers who shoot there; or organize photo sessions, providing a whole range of services - from providing a studio to makeup and, directly, filming. The first option is less expensive. Here the business owner is focused on creating the interior. The second option is more complex because it requires a whole team of professionals (photographer, makeup artist, costume designer or stylist, administrator), and is more expensive. If the entrepreneur is a photographer, then it is more rational for him to choose the second option. But according to the terms of the task, the entrepreneur - creative personality, who intends to independently design the interior of a photo studio. Therefore, the essence of the project is to provide an interior studio for rent for photo shoots.

How to analyze the photography business market

To analyze the market, it is not necessary to conduct large-scale marketing research. Just find out how many photo studios operate in your city and study them sample list services. Your chief assistant- Internet. Today, almost all photo studios have their own website or social media account. Look at what interiors are presented there, how much it costs to rent a photo studio, determine their territorial location (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps or 2GIS will help). Based on the collected data, you will be able to plan your business more thoughtfully and create competitive advantages.

To attract clients, you will have to offer something that other photo studios have not yet offered. For fresh ideas and inspiration, look at what's on the market in other regions. You should also understand that your ideas should appeal primarily to your audience. Therefore, we advise you to find out what topic is relevant among the city’s population, what is the demand for existing services. This information will help you avoid unnecessary expenses.

How to calculate how much money you need to open a photo studio

The required investment is one of the most important elements of any business planning. In order to open your own photo studio, you will need from 700 thousand to 3 million rubles. It all depends on the scale of the business, the complexity of the interior, the idea, the city and the premises. For example, if you want to buy the premises in which the studio will be located, the amount will exceed 3 million. But 700 thousand rubles is enough to open a photo studio. You can save on the premises itself - rent it; for staff – limit yourself to studio rental services; interior – carefully consider locations that can be compactly placed in the rented area, and wisely select decorative elements by choosing budget options. You can also save on renovation costs by choosing a room in good condition. By the way, this will save not only money, but also time, allowing you to launch the project faster.

We will return to the money issue later when we plan to fill the photo studio. We are still getting used to the idea that we need about 700 thousand rubles.

How to choose a room for a photo studio

If your studio is located in the city center, this is an ideal option. But achieving this ideal is not so easy: firstly, there are many requirements for the photo studio premises that are not so easy to fulfill; secondly, renting premises in the center is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, you can consider options located in the city center, but on less traveled streets. Going far, to industrial zones, which will take a couple of hours to get to, is not the best option. It is also impossible to place a photo studio in a residential area, because it does not provide essential services to attract residents of nearby houses. You need to attract people from all over the city, so the most logical choice is the center.

Now let's move on to meeting all the requirements for the photo studio premises itself:

high ceilings - from 3 meters;

studio length is at least 8-10 m;

the required repairs must be cosmetic, otherwise you will spend a lot of money and time on remodeling;

the space should not be divided by vertical beams;

When choosing a floor covering, you should give preference to dark color and high wear resistance. Otherwise, the floor will quickly lose its attractive appearance.

On average, the cost of an 80 sq.m. premises rented in the city center is 50 thousand rubles.

Once the room has been chosen, you can think about the layout. The room needs to be divided into several zones, each of which will house a location for shooting. A good photography studio should have at least three locations. Also, do not forget that in addition to the workspace, you should provide an area for receiving visitors and a toilet.

How to choose the interior of a photo studio

So we come to the main thing - planning the interior of a photo studio. The main character who determines the interior of the studio is the entrepreneur himself. Here he can realize all his creative ideas, give free rein to your imagination and get creative.

It should be noted that, no matter how sophisticated the designers, the most popular are the following location themes:

romantic - they are designed for clients who buy family photo sessions or love stories. Such a location should be of medium size to accommodate a family. Usually romantic locations are performed in light colors, With floral motifs;

stylish locations that are popular among younger audiences. The design style is close to loft or modern and is most often decorated in dark colors;

the third room is usually called the "chameleon" because its interior changes for seasonal filming. Here you will have to change the environment frequently, which will allow you to re-attract clients and invite new clients on the eve of various events. Typically, locations are based on the theme of the seasons.

For inspiration, we have collected several interesting interior concepts for decorating a photo studio.

Ready ideas for your business

You can support the romantic style with a chic hanging bed decorated with a canopy and flowers. It looks very beautiful and gentle. Miniature swings will also look interesting, which will help create lively shots in motion. But a romantic interior does not have to be in light colors. A country style location - a hayloft, a romantic inscription on a wooden wall and a mini-picnic - will look stylish and unconventional. Why not romance?

Within the walls of a photo studio you can imitate the space of the street. For example, equip a cozy courtyard with a beautiful door, a veranda or a fence covered with grapes, a bench and a bicycle left near it.

To maintain a stylish loft, you can make a brick wall or a gradient background that imitates plaster. A chalk board will be an interesting addition - inscriptions and drawings on it can set the mood of the photo; designs made from light bulbs that look good in the frame; stylish armchairs and step-ladder racks.

You can provide creative details that make the interior special. Attach a bicycle to a brick wall, decorate a window in an unusual way and turn it, for example, into a porthole, “grow” a magic tree in the studio, cover one wall with different wallpapers, creating several backgrounds for photographs. It is also important that the interior contains many interesting details that customers can interact with (books, pillows, musical instruments, three-dimensional letters, etc.).

How to equip a photo studio

There will be a minimum here lyrical digressions– only dry numbers.

Renovation of the photo studio premises - 150 thousand rubles.

Equipment - 150 thousand rubles, approximate list of equipment: light sources (from 4 pieces), umbrellas for transmission and reflection, curtains, attachments for reflectors, synchronizers, mounting installations, stands, herons, tripods. If you are afraid of incomprehensible names, you can contact companies that provide ready-made sets of equipment for photo studios. To choose the right equipment, you can consult a professional photographer.

Decorations – 250 thousand rubles.

Business registration – 20 thousand rubles.

Rent of premises – 50 thousand rubles.

Total: 650 thousand rubles.

How to legalize a photo studio

While our studio is being renovated and decorated, you can do organizational issues. First, you should register your business. For a photo studio, the LLC or individual entrepreneur format is suitable - it all depends on your personal plans. It is safer to register an LLC, but registering an individual entrepreneur is much easier. As an individual entrepreneur, you will be able to conduct basic accounting and choose a simplified tax regime. As for the registration of activities according to OKVED, code 74.2 (Activities in the field of photography) is suitable for a photo studio - it includes several subsections.

To operate a photo studio, you do not need to obtain any licenses; a standard package of registration documents is sufficient. But it is required to obtain permission from the fire inspectorate to open a photo studio in the selected premises.

Ready ideas for your business

It is also worth mentioning inspections, which sometimes frighten entrepreneurs. Photo studios do not belong to the category of the consumer market that inspectors are closely interested in. Therefore, there should be no difficulties with the control authorities. The main thing is to keep the premises clean and tidy and provide high-quality services.

Another important issue is the search for personnel. A photo studio requires at least 2 people for the position of administrator who will work in shifts. If you want to save money, you can become one of the administrators, reducing labor costs. The average salary of one administrator is 25 thousand rubles. You will also need to hire a cleaner who will monitor the cleanliness of the premises. It does not have to be included in the staff.

How to advertise a photo studio

Promotion of a photo studio is usually carried out via the Internet. Aspiring entrepreneurs place special hopes on social media. And for good reason. Practice shows that Instagram gives the greatest return when managing your account properly. After all, the photo studio business is based on high-quality photographs, so this resource is best suited for promotion.

First, you need to photograph the studio locations yourself, and in the future you can ask photographers to use their work to demonstrate the locations. Contacts, examples of work, decoration options, information about promotions, and reviews should be posted on social networks.

You can promote your studio through collaboration with photographers. And the now fashionable word “collaboration” would be appropriate here. What is their logic? You independently invite photographers to shoot in your studio, in exchange for providing the location, he undertakes to post information about you in his account. Essentially, this is an association for the purpose of mutual benefit: the photographer gets a photo shoot in a beautiful interior, and you get advertising for your photo studio.

You can also attract customers with profitable promotions and offers. Organize a drawing for a certificate for a photo shoot in your studio; provide a discount on certain days; Organize a promotion to support family photo sessions at a discount. All these actions will have a positive impact on the promotion of your studio.

When planning a business, most entrepreneurs focus on two parameters: required investments and profit. It's time to ask the question - how much can a photo studio earn?

To give a specific answer, you need to determine the cost of services. To do this, we look at the prices that competitors set. Each city has a different price level. But on average, 1 hour of renting a photo studio will cost 1,300 rubles. You can count on 120 hours of rented filming per month (that is, approximately 4 hours of filming per day). In this case, the revenue will be 156 thousand rubles. Then the net profit will vary in the amount of 70-80 thousand rubles. During weddings and New Year's holidays this amount may increase significantly due to increased demand. With an average monthly profit level of 100 thousand rubles, you can recoup the investment after 10-12 months of work.

How to assess the risks of a photo studio

Any business involves risk. You should take into account all possible difficulties that may arise when opening and operating a photo studio. This will allow you to quickly respond to threats or avoid them altogether.

The first risk is outdated props. The specifics of the work of a photo studio require constant updating of locations and props. Irrelevant, out-of-fashion props are unlikely to decorate the photo and interest the client. Therefore, the owner of a photo studio should always be on trend - monitor trends and change the content of the studio in a timely manner.

Ready ideas for your business

The next type of risk is increased competition in the market. To reduce the impact of this risk, it is necessary to regularly invest money in marketing, improve the level of service, conduct competent work with clients, and create unique offers on the market.

Another risk is the seasonality of business. In the summer months there is a decrease in demand, but the most active months for photo studios are November, December, February and March. To minimize the risk, during low sales, organize competitions for free photo shoots and distribute gift certificates. You can also expand the list of services. For example, rent out a room for holding any events (birthdays, master classes, etc.).

Thus, you can determine the main advantages and disadvantages of opening your own photography studio. After weighing all the pros and cons, you can make a final decision about opening this business.

Table 1. Pros and cons of opening a photo studio

It is quite possible to organize a photo studio by spending no more than 700 thousand rubles. To consolidate the material, we offer a checklist for opening a photo studio from scratch.

Checklist for opening a photo studio:

Demand analysis

Competitor analysis

Studio concept development

Search for rental options

Premises assessment

Conclusion of a lease agreement

Measuring a room for a design project

Creation of a design project for each location

Business registration

Alexander Kaptsov

Reading time: 9 minutes

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Many people who want to open their own business prefer opening a photo studio as one of the most simple options from a business organization point of view. This article talks about the nuances of opening a photography studio: in particular, the location, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, etc. Also being explored financial side question.

Organizing a photo studio from scratch: where to start?

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

The following popular photo studio formats are distinguished:

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.
A universal photo studio that provides the widest possible range of services. This is the most complex and costly option from an organization’s point of view, but at the same time it enjoys a high level of demand from clients.

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

Studio shooting.
Providing rental of professional equipment and/or premises.
Reportage photography is carried out at an event.

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

Think over and schedule everything that may be required to perform these services - premises, equipment, personnel, etc.
Draw up a business plan for opening - determine one-time and monthly costs, level of profitability and approximate payback periods. At the same time, it is advisable to calculate costs and income in several options - pessimistic, realistic and optimistic.
Prepare the necessary documents and register as an individual entrepreneur. It is also possible to open a limited liability company, but opening an individual entrepreneur is easier and cheaper, and there are no restrictions in the law for photo studios, since they provide services to individuals. The downside is the fact that the entrepreneur is liable for the obligations with all his property.
Prepare the premises and purchase equipment.
Hire staff.
Engage in attracting clients and fulfilling photography orders.

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 within 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 inspection services.
The ceiling height in the studio should be at least 3 meters (in standard residential premises the height is about 2.7 meters).
The photo studio room should have several large windows.
It is desirable that the shape of the room for filming be square or rectangular, and the area should be at least 40-50 m2, provided 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 areas (some may not be separated from the photo shoot location):

Bathroom.
A shower is a desirable but not necessary 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, makeup artist, stylist (if these positions are available on staff).

After choosing the location and specific premises for the 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 for product photography the best option is white walls

To plan and implement the design, it is necessary to understand whether interior photography will be carried out in addition to portrait photography. If it happens, you need to immediately think through possible topics for such photo sessions that will be of interest to clients - it could be a historical shoot, New Year’s shoot, etc. After this, the necessary furniture is purchased and the decoration of the room is completed.

What equipment do you need to purchase 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 that the photographer will work with:

Professional camera.
A set of lenses with different focal lengths.
Several light sources (4 or more).
Various backgrounds (from 3 or more options in different colors) and mounts for them.
Flashes and synchronizers for them.
Special umbrellas for light and reflection.
Softboxes and attachments for them and reflectors.
Classic reflectors.
Beauty plate.
Holders and tripods.
Light stands.
Herons.
Flash meter.
Interior items.
Additional props.

The studio must have an administrator or customer service manager. Also, most of these organizations perform photo processing.

Accordingly, you will also need:

Computer desks (at least 2 – for the photographer and administrator);
Computers with software necessary for the work of a photographer and office employee;
Telephone.

If the photo studio has a separate dressing room (which will be a significant advantage), you will 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?

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

Thus, it is best to search for a photographer among resources on the Internet where professional photographers communicate. At the same time, each candidate must be assessed based on a portfolio of work.

The photographer will be paid according to two components: a fixed salary plus a percentage of the work he performs.

Any fairly sociable person interested in photography will be suitable as an administrator. At the same time, it is useful to include in his responsibilities monitoring forums of professional photographers and participating in discussions in thematic groups on social networks, as this is one of the important ways to attract customers.

For a small photo studio there is no need to have a makeup 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: on at the moment An hour of work for a makeup artist costs 1,200 rubles and more. Subsequently, as the number of orders grows, you can find several specialists who can do the work.

Advertising and marketing: how to promote a photo studio?

How to promote a photo studio will depend on the services that are offered there, as well as on the target clients. In particular, when providing premises and equipment for rent, it is often sufficient to provide information about the studio on professional photographers’ forums.

To find clients for organizing photo sessions, first of all you need to create your own website, which will present an approximate price list - a list of the services that the company provides, as well as a portfolio of the photographer’s work. It is necessary that the work be conveniently divided into categories.

It is also advisable to gradually add customer reviews to the site so that potential customers of photo sessions are confident in the high quality of services.
Another promotion option is. This method is cheaper than creating and maintaining your own website.

In this case, it is important to consider the following factors:

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

However, there will be so-called “word of mouth”, namely recommendations to friends, acquaintances and relatives from those clients who have already used its services. That is why special attention should be paid high quality photographer's work.

We are drawing 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 the 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 individual entrepreneurs From 12 thousand rubles. in case of LLC	Renting premises	From 40 thousand rubles and above
Room renovation	From 150 thousand rubles.	Photographer's salary	From 35 thousand rubles. and above
Buying furniture	From 55 thousand rubles for a studio specializing in portrait photography From 90 thousand rubles. for a studio offering interior photography	Salaries for other staff	From 25 thousand rubles.
Purchasing equipment for a photographer's work	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.
Website creation	From 30 thousand rubles.	Unforeseen expenses (related to equipment breakdowns, interior renovation, etc.)	On average from 15 thousand rubles.
TOTAL	From 550-600 thousand rubles and above	TOTAL	From 145 thousand rubles.

At the same time, the cost of one photo shoot ranges from 3,000 rubles and above. Considering that on average 3-4 photo shoots will be carried out per day (taking into account more clients on weekends), it turns out that the monthly income of a small photo studio will be from 270 thousand rubles per month. However, this level of income can be achieved only 3-4 months after the start of the photo studio .

IN recent years The popularity of photography has increased several times. Now not only professional models who need to update their portfolios, but also those who want to add bright and creative high-quality photographs to their family album have become interested in studio shooting.

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

Specifics of the photography business

Most often, photo studios are opened pursuing the following three goals:

Professional studio photography (creation of catalogues, portfolios, booklets, etc.).
Shooting for reporting.
Renting out premises and equipment as additional income.

Working in a photo studio is hard work every day. The peculiarity of this business is that Photographers usually have few regular clients. Quite a few families regularly update their photo albums.

On the other hand, it is always worth remembering about competition, which is quite high in this area. The same factor can be associated with a fairly long period of formation of a circle of regular customers.

It is also worth distinguishing a professional photography 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, the studio employs professional photographers who can offer their clients interesting ideas for the upcoming shooting and have the skills to deeply process photographs using special graphic editors. For example, Lightroom and Photoshop. In addition, they do an excellent job not only in studio conditions, but also outdoors.

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

The studios offer their clients many other services. For example, photographing weddings or children's parties, creating a slideshow, printing photographs and photo books.

Registration

Registration is a very important step when starting your own business. Without this stage, all commercial activities of the photo studio will be considered illegal. If an audit suddenly comes your way, you risk losing not only your reputation, but also your entire business.

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

Opening an individual entrepreneur may be the best option if most of your clients are individuals. Moreover, registering an individual entrepreneur will cost a little less than an LLC. But it is worth remembering that, according to the law, if the company incurs debts, the entrepreneur will be held liable with his personal property.

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

To open your own photography business, you don’t need to spend a lot of time obtaining licenses and other permitting documents.

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

Selecting a room

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

The area of the room must be at least 60 square meters, and its length is 10 m. 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 allocated to the studio itself. At the same time, it is worth considering a comfortable waiting room for clients, as well as a dressing room and locker room. Large studios may also have showers and other amenities. It all depends on your financial capabilities.
Ceiling height also matters. If ceilings will be lower than 3 m, it will be very difficult for you to arrange all the necessary equipment correctly to get the desired result.

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

The dressing room should be light under all conditions. It should contain large mirrors. Don't forget that makeup artists will be most comfortable working in natural light.

Once you find the ideal space, you can sign the lease and begin renovations. 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 may become fun company of a dozen children or a family with a small child.

The quality of the wiring is also of great importance, because you will need to connect huge amount technology. If your studio will be open 24/7, then don’t forget about soundproofing. This will help avoid conflicts with people living next door.

Before you start decorating the interior, divide the room into zones, think about what you would like to see in your photo studio, and draw up a design project for it. 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 colors for the interior. This way you will get rid of unnecessary reflections on the model’s body.

Required equipment

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

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

You can also purchase additional ones if necessary props and reflex camera with a set of lenses.

We must 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 and ironing board or a steamer will also come in handy. The administrator and photographer must be provided with a computer with the necessary programs installed, appropriate furniture and telephones.

Please remember that the list only includes essential equipment. In the first few months, you will have the opportunity to understand what is still missing to run the studio more efficiently and fill gaps in the kit.

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 during the shooting process. If you are focused on working seven days a week, think about finding several administrators, to provide them with shift work.

If you need to choose a photographer, pay attention to the candidates' portfolios. Don't ignore young applicants they may turn out to be several times more creative than their more famous colleagues. The work of experienced craftsmen can cost several times more than the services." younger generation" However, this is a worthy price to pay for their experience, which can be the key to the success of your business.

A good photographer must be able to communicate correctly with a client, understand what he wants from a photo shoot, and also have a supply of bright and original ideas for high-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 create exactly the look they expect to see in photographs. For reference accounting and preparing quarterly reports, you can hire a part-time accountant or use the services of an outsourcing accounting company.

Advertising and promotion

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

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

Don't underestimate modern web technologies. A bright, well-built website can become a wonderful business card for you. And don’t forget that good photos and satisfied clients mean best advertising for your establishment.

Possible problems and risks

Any investment of capital and opening an independent business is associated with some risk. What should you be wary of when opening a photography studio?

There is a lot of competition in the photo business, the presence of rivals with more low prices etc. A well-thought-out advertising campaign will help correct the situation.
Inconsistency of demand for a number of services provided. A wide range of services provided will help you avoid problems.
Possibility of losing some staff. To avoid this, try to create a cozy atmosphere in the team, and also think about a employee motivation program.
Risk of loss of property. Nobody not insured against robberies, power surges or fire. A good smoke alarm and contract with a security company will help you minimize this risk.

The structure of the photo studio and composition is described in the video.

With the development and spread of technology, it would seem that photography services should have become a thing of the past. Now almost everyone has their own photo and video camera, and photo printing devices are available. In the wake of cheaper technologies, it was even born new genre taking photographs - selfies. However, as practice shows, photo studio services are still relevant.

And since services continue to be in demand, it makes sense to take a closer look at them and calculate business opportunities.

For this you can take as a basis ready business plan to open a photo studio and make the necessary adjustments to it for a specific purpose. Or entrust its development to professionals.

Generally speaking, a business plan is needed for 2 purposes:

To understand the general course of things. In this case, there are no special requirements for the plan;
To receive investment, lending, or attract partners. In this case, it is advisable to implement the business plan in accordance with the recommended standards.

The description below can serve as a template for writing a well-developed business plan.

Download a ready-made business plan for a photo studio, current for 2019, you can from our trusted partners "Biplane". Download link.

The difference between a photo studio and amateur photography

The photo studio provides a range of services:

Services of a professional photographer. Use of quality equipment. Outdoor shooting in the studio and on location. Filling your portfolio with professional photographs. Artistic photography. Subsequent image processing.
Instant photo. Don’t forget about the well-established market for instant document photo services.
Printing and processing of provided photographic material. Both printing of the client’s own photographs and various processing of them, including the possibility of posting on various resources.
Providing studio and equipment for rent. Another area that is not yet sufficiently represented on the market is the provision of professional equipment and studios for use.
Conducting training seminars and master classes. Photography, image processing, artistic photography, etc.
Additional services. Here you can offer services for preparing for a photo shoot: makeup artist, hairdresser.

In the amateur version, the quality of the resulting images is in most cases worse, and significant time spent on editing images does not always lead to the desired results.

Market analysis

At the first stage, a market analysis must be included in the business plan for creating a photo studio.

We need to get an answer: how much demand the service has, who will use it, the saturation of offers. Market analysis is carried out in several sections:

potential clients;
competition;
location.

Depending on the planned implementation of the photo studio, clients may be:

companies ordering photo services to promote their products, or for technical support of events;
models for filling a portfolio;
individuals to receive high quality photos or other services.

Competition in the photography services market is heterogeneous. First of all, by territory. The greatest competition is traditionally in Moscow, St. Petersburg and large regional centers. In small towns, competition is much lower, but the demand for services is low, and some professional photography services may not be in demand at all.

The heterogeneity of the market also lies in the fact that the elite segments of the photo services market are quite densely occupied by a relatively small number of large players. The rest of the market is less saturated, especially with the growing demand for these services from enterprises, lovers of high-quality photos, etc.

Some consultants are inclined to believe that locating a photo studio near the center plays a significant role. But the Internet and advertising largely neutralized this significance. If a photo studio produces high-quality goods, then potential clients may travel a few extra kilometers for its services. And for outdoor photography, the location of the studio does not matter at all.

However, a studio located in a busy area will inevitably be more in demand than a studio located on the outskirts of the city. This especially applies to the initial stage of work.

What is required to open a photo studio, costs

To draw up a business plan for a photo studio, it is necessary to calculate investments. Of course, at this stage an approximate cost calculation is made.

First you need to choose a place. For a full-fledged photo studio you need a room of over 60 square meters. meters, the ceiling height is not lower than 3 meters (this is required for placing spotlights). The price range here is quite large. You can buy a room or rent it. The price largely depends on the location. Additionally, targeted re-equipment will be required if the premises were not previously specialized.

A minimum set of equipment and equipment will be required:

At the initial stage, you don’t have to spend money on workers, provided that you do the filming yourself. But if you are not a photographer, then it is advisable to hire a professional. Profit will directly depend on professional qualities photographer Other personnel are less important: administrator, technicians.

In some cases, it is advisable to conduct a full-fledged advertising campaign: street advertising, advertising in networks, on television, etc.

On average we get

From an organizational point of view, opening a photo studio does not present any difficulties. Just register individual entrepreneur. Licensing of activities is not required. If you plan to work with large clients, then an individual entrepreneur is not always convenient; in such cases, it is better to register an LLC; licensing is also not required.

Profit and payback

When starting a photo studio, you should not expect a large influx of clients. Even taking into account a well-thought-out marketing policy, a tangible response from an advertising company can take from a month to two. Without an advertising campaign, the flow of clients will be small at first. Therefore, if you have hired personnel, it makes sense to first draw up part-time or piecework contracts.

Average prices for photo studio services in Moscow are as follows:

1 hour of photography – 1,000 – 5,000 rubles.
wedding photo shoot, events – 30,000 – 50,000 rubles.

On average, we calculate approximately 2,000 rubles per hour.

Work in the first months is expected to be 2-3 hours a day, then the flow will increase. Those. about 5,000 rub. per day. Per month - 100,000 rubles.

It’s easy to see that in the first months of operation, a photo studio will generate losses. Approximately about 50,000 rubles. per month. You need to calculate your financial capabilities for this period. With an increase in clients, within 2-3 months the photo studio should reach the level of self-sufficiency.

When reaching an 8-hour workday, the monthly income will be from 200 to 400 tr.

Accordingly, the profit is 50 – 100 tr. per month.

With such a cash flow, the payback will be from 1 to 2 years, which is a good payback period for a business.

This article does not reveal in detail how to open your own photo studio; this requires a more thorough elaboration of the project for a specific purpose. The article provides only an indicative business plan.