Creating a photo studio from scratch. Photo studio business plan with calculations

With the development of digital technology, the market for photo services is expanding. Thematic photo shoots in nature and in the studio, family and individual, are becoming popular. Today, any creative person can open a photo studio and turn photography from a hobby into a business - it is enough to follow the developed plan.

Choice of business concept

For a photographer, a studio is a way to combine hobby and work, the ability to shoot regardless of weather conditions, to vary the surroundings for interior photo shoots. If you have achieved recognition as a photo artist, opening a photography studio will be a prospect for development.

When planning a business, take one of the existing concepts as a basis:

1. Interior photo studio. For productive work, you need to rent or purchase a room and decor items. In the absence of a stable request from clients for interior photography, the studio pays off only by leasing it to novice photographers and providing related services (stylist, hairdresser, make-up artist, and others).
2. Home photo studio. The possibilities of a photo lab created on the basis of an apartment are limited to portrait photography.
3. Photo salon. A small room with a minimum of equipment for making photographs for documents.
4. Children's photography room. The concept is designed for loving parents who want to capture their babies in professional pictures.

Photo gallery: types of studios

Create a list of services in accordance with the requests:

• individuals (family and individual photo shoots, shooting events);
• commercial companies (photos for printing on souvenirs, shooting goods for advertising catalogs, corporate events).

Additional sources of income:

• cooperation with glossy magazines, shooting branded products;
• photo shoots with novice models for portfolio;
• artistic processing and retouching of the best shots;
• services of a hairdresser and makeup artist;
• instant photo;
• release of souvenir products;
• master classes and lectures on image processing;
• hourly studio rental during downtime.

Souvenir products with a photo - an additional way to earn

At the beginning of your creative journey, form a set of additional services in accordance with the budget. Choose ideas that do not require huge costs and specific equipment.

Benefits and Risks

The cost of photo studio services varies from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles per hour, and additional costs are minimal. The profitability of a business is high if possible risks are prevented:

• increased competition;
• seasonality of demand (probable downtime);
• low liquidity (impossibility to sell the studio in case of collapse).

In a competitive environment, do not overcharge for services. Look for an individual approach to customers - develop a discount system for regular customers, come up with bonus student programs. To minimize risks, provide professional services, collect and offer portfolios to clients. During downtime, host contests for free photo shoots and distribute gift certificates. Hire a team of qualified employees who can work in your absence, ensuring the stability of the company.

Step-by-step instructions for opening a photo studio from scratch

To open a photo studio from scratch, a novice entrepreneur needs to go through five stages:

1. Business registration.
2. Room selection.
3. Purchase of equipment.
4. Studio decor.
5. Personnel selection.

Business Registration Documents

You can register the activities of a photo studio in the form of a limited liability company (LLC) or an individual enterprise (IP). The advantages of an LLC are the possibility of expanding, creating a network of branches and attracting financing from external sources. The positive aspects of IP are a simplified registration process, no need to keep accounting records, the ability to spend the proceeds at your discretion.

Documents for registration of IP:

• notarized application form No. Р21001;
• certified copy of the passport (all pages);
• receipt of payment of the state fee in the amount of 800 rubles.

By default, when registering an individual entrepreneur, a general taxation system (OSNO) is established. If you have chosen another type (simplified system or single tax on imputed income), file an application to change the tax system (notification form 26.2-1).

Documents for registration of LLC:

• application form No. P11001 certified by a notary;
• articles of association;
• the minutes of the meeting or the sole decision of the founder on the establishment of the company;
• certified copies of the identity cards of the founders;
• receipt of payment of state duty 4000 rubles;
• if necessary, an application for a change in the taxation system (notification 26.2-1).

The minimum authorized capital of a limited liability company is 10,000 rubles.

When registering a company, select the types of planned economic activity in accordance with the OKVED classifier. Possible options for a photo studio:

• photography activities (74.81);
• printing activities not included in other groups (22.22);
• other publishing activities (22.15).

After sending the documents to the registration authority, proceed to the choice of premises.

Studio location and space requirements

The success of a photo studio depends on its location. When choosing a room for a future studio, analyze the factors:

• remoteness from competing companies;
• convenience of accommodation for clients, remoteness from public transport stops, availability of parking spaces;
• the possibility of installing outdoor advertising structures near the building.

The minimum height of the room for the installation of lighting equipment and the podium is 3 m, the optimal one is 3.7 m. The width of the pavilion for shooting is from 5 m, it is necessary to place a paper background. The length is calculated as the width multiplied by two.

The gray background reflects the light evenly and softly without interfering with shooting

In addition to the stylized pavilion, the studio should have:

• screen;
• dressing room;
• shower cabin;
• foyer with reception desk;
• technical room equipped for printing photos and providing related services.

If funds are available, additionally equip a relaxation room with a tea table and a vending machine with drinks.

Photo shoot equipment

Having chosen a room, proceed to the technical equipment of the studio. Install four or five light sources and attach softboxes to them. Additionally, purchase:

• reflective umbrellas;
• classic hard light reflectors;
• racks for light sources;
• portrait dish;
• herons and holders;
• flashmeter for measuring exposure;
• nozzles in the form of curtains and honeycombs;
• paper backgrounds with mount;
• flash synchronizers;
• interior items, props;
• mirror and steamer in the dressing room;
• computer and photo retouching software.

Photo gallery: equipment and props

If necessary, buy a SLR camera and a set of lenses. When choosing a camera, contact manufacturers specializing in the manufacture of photographic equipment - Canon and Nikon. Do not read advice on the forums - be guided by the technical parameters of the device and your own needs. List of important features of a professional camera:

• matrix size;
• matrix resolution - from 13 MP;
• ISO matrix sensitivity - from 10 to 25,000;
• the ability to manually change settings;
• dimensions and weight.

Studio decoration

When designing a studio, consider the general requirements for the premises for filming. Paint the walls and ceiling in neutral gray, and lay hard-wearing matte linoleum of the same shade on the floor. If the studio has a window, install a curtain rod over it and hang blackout curtains.

Equip the pavilion with ventilation and air conditioning systems, consider the location of outlets that is convenient for moving equipment. There are three options for the design of the studio:

• a simple gray room without decorations;
• hall with colored backgrounds;
• themed room.

Using the last design option, do not forget to change the scenery depending on the time of year. In winter, set up a Christmas tree, lay a fluffy carpet on the floor and scatter artificial snow. In summer, decorate the room with flowers or style according to the beach theme.

Studio decoration for the new year

In light pastel colors, design an area for shooting children and couples in love - it will be popular with studio tenants and clients, increasing the profitability of the business.

Recruitment

The photographer is the main "weapon" of the photo studio. If you have realized as a photo artist and plan to work independently, do not hire employees at first. Having successfully worked for two or three months and received the first income, invite an administrator to maintain a client base and a cleaner.

If you are opening a photo studio as a business, not doing photography, pay attention to the selection of a photographer. At first, it will be he who will form the image of the studio.

Having formed a client base and promoted the studio, hire specialists on a contractual basis to provide additional services:

• make-up artist for applying makeup;
• hairdresser to work on hairstyles;
• stylist to create an image;
• seller for the sale of related products.

The make-up artist forms the image of the model

A photographer, make-up artist and stylist can not only provide services directly, but also conduct master classes for beginners in shaping the image of a model, correct lighting or image processing.

Promotion and advertising of photo studio services

To attract customers, advertise the studio's services on available resources. Create a website or social media group and upload a portfolio of your best work. Think about how much your services will cost, place the price list in the public domain.

Sign contracts for the maintenance of large corporations - they will invite you to shoot their own events. Other advertising opportunities:

• discount system;
• Gift certificates;
• promotions and sweepstakes;
• installation of banners near the studio;
• advertising on television and radio.

To form and maintain the image of the studio, participate in creative exhibitions of professionals.

Financial plan - expenses and projected income

When opening a photo studio, plan for one-time and monthly expenses and try to predict income. Approximate calculations are summarized in tables.

Table: calculation of initial investment

Table: monthly expenses

The average cost of a photographer's services is 1,000 rubles per hour. The average daily employment is 3–4 hours. The rest of the time the studio is rented out at a price of 900 rubles per hour on weekdays and 1200 rubles per hour on weekends. The average daily employment is 3 hours.

Table: projected monthly income

Is it profitable to open a photo studio: reviews of entrepreneurs

At first, you will work at a loss to yourself. But if you manage to develop the project and develop a customer base, ensuring the full loading of the premises, the photo studio will begin to make a profit. This is confirmed by the feedback from entrepreneurs from business forums.

A successful photo studio should have a “chip”. It should not be just a room where you can take pictures, but a stylized salon with a thoughtful interior design and interesting photo zones. Creating a creative space requires financial costs.

Alexandrof

I have been following photography business trends since 2011. There are more than 40 studios of various types in St. Petersburg, and 1-2 of them close or change direction every year. A studio is a good option for the established photographer who wants to save income during the winter months. If it is possible to attract 20-30 customers per month and rent out the premises, the studio will pay for itself.

http://www.biznet.ru/topic188946.html

In the work of a photo studio, a range of services can lead to success: photo for documents + on-site shooting + photo processing + sale of souvenirs. In other cases, it will be difficult to earn bread and butter.

http://www.penta-club.ru/forum/topic/87654-want-to-open-a-photo-studio-in-small-siberian/

Video: how to open your own photo studio

The business plan contains approximate figures that you can adjust depending on the region, your own needs and the request of the target audience. Before you open a photography studio, calculate your own business plan based on the proposed one and act in accordance with it.

Having your own studio is the cherished dream of any photographer. Today we will tell you how to get closer to achieving it and not go broke.

What is photography without?

There is a proven question with which venerable photographers baffle beginners. It sounds like this: “Without what is photography impossible?”. There are various answers, quite logical at first glance: “without a camera”, “without a photographer”. Only a few answer correctly: "Without light."

Indeed, it is easy to do without a photographer, using a computer and setting a shooting program. You can also do without a camera, an example of this is the camera obscura (the predecessor of the camera) and scanography, which is gaining popularity. So the main thing in photography is light. And in this regard, the photographer is very dependent on the vagaries of the weather, if he focuses on natural light. You can fully control the process only in the studio.

What is a photo studio

Firstly, this is a sufficient amount of usable area (high ceilings are better - from 3.5 square meters), suitable for photo shoots and the presence of a certain minimum of professional equipment. What is included?

Equipment

• Professional camera
  Tripod
  Lighting equipment
  Reflectors
  nozzles
  Background
  Optional interior
  Necessary themed accessories
  Computer
  The necessary minimum for a comfortable stay in the studio

Kinds of light

• Drawing light. The main light source, it is he who defines the shape of the subject and emphasizes the details. brighter than other species.
  Fill light. Needed to soften hard shadows. Removes excessive contrast. Equipment: softbox and reflective panel.
  Back light. Separates the object from the background, creates light accents, emphasizes the texture. A hard light source behind the model.
  background light. Works with the background, creating various lighting effects. Allows you to simulate various effects of natural light.
  directional light. Illuminates only surfaces that face the source, the rest of the parts are usually in the shade. It shows the volume of the image well, but the shape comes out a little blurry. Gives a glare effect and denotes pronounced highlights and shadows.

Types of lighting schemes

Asking the question “How to make a photo studio at home”, you need to study such an important issue as the types of lighting schemes. It is the control of light that makes a photograph a masterpiece.
It is important for a novice photographer to master the first two schemes, after which it will not be a problem to learn how to work with other options as they become more complex (and more powerful).

Option 1. It implies the use of one source (monoblock and dish) and a white background.
We get clear transitions between light and shadow, that is, the maximum rigidity of the picture. The model stands close to the background so that a dense short shadow is cast from the frontal light source.

Option 2. This scheme also implies the use of one light source. Components: monoblock and white umbrella + dark background. We get depth and expressiveness. This time the model is standing some distance from the background.

Making a studio at home

Let's move on to the most interesting part of our article. To create a mini photo studio at home.

Space

As we have already said, the first and most important component of the studio is space, and there is definitely not much of it.

If you have the luxury of having a separate room, great! free it from furniture and everything that takes up space. More air, more light! After all, objects have the property of absorbing light. We understand that this is not always possible. Therefore, compromise options are possible.

Light

The next step is to ensure that the light is controlled, regardless of the time of day or night. Natural light may also be needed, but you should be able to completely block out the natural light with a "flick" of your hand.

Temperature

Neither heat, nor cold, and even more so drops will not benefit professional equipment. And the model, wet from sweat or shaking from the cold, does not contribute to a successful photo shoot.

Soundproofing

This item is important if you are going to shoot video in addition to photography.

Making a softbox

A softbox is a fixture worn over a light source to produce soft light without glare.

• We will need: a cardboard box, Whatman paper, a halogen lamp, a piece of translucent fabric, wooden slats, clothespins, wire, a cutting tool, a set of nuts and bolts, a set of hairpins.

Components: frame (any cardboard box can be adapted. One cover is cut off. The next item is a layer that reflects. We take white paper (or foil) and carefully glue it. Next, a light and translucent fabric is taken to create a reflective screen and glued with it side without lid.

Any softbox has a two-color cover: black on the outside, metallic on the inside. The opposite side of the screen should have a hole for a lighting fixture (a halogen spotlight will do). You can attach it using wire

If there is a need for a large softbox, it can be made from slats and wire knitting needles. The frame for the screen should be much wider than the frame for the projector. A cover is pulled over the frame. Separately we fit the walls with clothespins. To mount the softbox, you can use a microphone stand or a table lamp leg. To avoid excessive heating of the equipment, turn it on only when you are actually shooting.

When wondering “how to equip a photo studio at home”, it is important to consider everything. But this is impossible, so we take into account the most necessary, the rest is acquired as needed. In addition to the equipment that we talked about at the very beginning of the article, you cannot do without: a beauty dish, reflectors, an umbrella, reflectors, color filters, tubes, honeycombs.

Background reflector

The function of the background reflector is to evenly illuminate the background. It provides the hard light you need for any shoot.
The beauty dish is positioned in front of the subject. Thanks to her, the photographer receives a soft concentrated light, complemented by diffused light. For this, you need a softbox with an umbrella.

The lamp is placed directly behind it or used as a reflector (if a white cloth is placed on the inner surface). Today, the softbox remains the most common nozzle.

Softboxes are divided into octoboxes, which are great for group shots, and long rectangular ones (streepboxes), which are suitable for shooting portraits and if you are going to shoot models in full growth.

With a sync cable. This method is inconvenient because it gets underfoot.
After synchronization, switch the camera to manual mode. Exposure is measured using a histogram or a flash meter.



Conclusions on the topic

As you probably understand, it is problematic to reveal such an extensive topic as "Photo Studio at home from improvised means" within the framework of one article. We talked about the main components of the studio, the role of light, what color schemes you need to know initially, how to make a softbox and how to furnish your studio inexpensively.

Sooner or later, there will be a return on the invested efforts and money, and you will remember with gratitude the day when you decided to take the first step in this matter. We wish you good luck in your endeavors and thank you for your attention to our portal. On the site you can also find other articles on photography.

Setting up a simple home photography studio can be a very rewarding endeavor for any photographer. Whether you're a professional portraitist or a product designer looking to shoot, a home studio gives you the opportunity to work, and most importantly, learn and experiment. Let's take a look at a few basic things you need to set up a home photography studio.

Room.

First of all, you need free space - the more the better. If it is possible to free one of the rooms or at least part of it from furniture and other things as much as possible, do it.

Ideally, it would be great to completely empty the room before filling it with photo equipment. In real life, this is unlikely, there are a lot of things in the house besides a photo studio, so you have to put up with crowding.

In a room, you will need tight control of the lighting conditions at any time of the day or night. Natural lighting can certainly come in handy, but make sure to close the windows tightly, completely blocking out any natural light that can ruin the light picture.

Another thing to keep in mind is the temperature. Especially if you are going to work all the time and keep the equipment in the studio. For example, in the summer, a room can heat up by itself from the sun and working lighting equipment to very high temperatures, which is not very good for photographic equipment. In addition, models sweating from the heat or shivering from the cold are not the best subject for shooting. Therefore, think about maintaining an optimal climate and temperature in the room.

And the last thing you should also think about is soundproofing. If you are going to shoot only photos, then this will not bother you much, but if you are planning a video, then you should think about how much extraneous sounds can interfere with you, for example, the noise from a busy road outside the window. In this case, it is worth considering investing in some soundproofing.

Backdrop (background).

Every good studio has a few backdrops against which pictures are taken. You would be wise to ditch the expensive "professional" backs you may have seen in hardware stores in favor of something simpler. You need something with a dense, uniform color and an inconspicuous texture.

Backs are usually made from a variety of materials, including cotton, canvas, vinyl, and plain paper. The easiest and cheapest choice for a backdrop is plain paper, especially when found in large rolls.

But if you want to get a more professional studio and get better results, it's still worth spending the money and picking up an inexpensive backdrop material from a photo store or having it made to order.

However, for starters, for the first experiments, a simple white sheet or a roll of wrapping paper is quite suitable, with which you can build something similar to the photo below.

Light

Light is the most complex and expensive part of the studio. The choice of studio light is not an easy task and is the subject of a separate discussion.

In short, there are two types of light. Permanent and impulsive. The permanent one is cheaper, but generates a lot of heat in the studio and is not as versatile as the pulsed one. With pulsed light, you get much more power, very good light quality, and a lot more options. But it also costs significantly more.

To get started, you can purchase a simple inexpensive studio lighting kit. But for a good result, be prepared to fork out a decent amount in the future. And no matter how much you would like to save money, it is better to immediately buy an inexpensive set of pulsed light with two or three flashes and not a constant one. For a small home studio, this will be enough to get excellent results in various situations, and over time you can expand the kit.

Umbrellas and softboxes.

Looking at different lighting kits, you can start to toss between what is best for your studio - an umbrella or a softbox. Unfortunately, there is no exact answer, since both have their pros and cons. At the same time, both perform their task - softening the light.

Umbrellas are usually cheaper and more versatile. They often come with a reflective surface that allows you to control the light output - you can make the most of the light by bouncing or dim it by removing the reflector and shining the light directly through the material of the umbrella. Umbrellas spread light over a fairly large area and they work well in large rooms or when photographing a group of people. In addition, umbrellas are more mobile than soft boxes, they are faster to assemble and install.

Most professional photographers work with umbrellas and softboxes at the same time to achieve the best results. But if your budget is limited, then an umbrella is a great choice to start with.

Entourage and costumes.

What people often don't think about is a lot of crazy and at first glance completely unnecessary accessories and other junk. Creating a portrait is insanely boring for most people, so using costumes for dressing up and anything that can make shooting fun and enjoyable and get models excited can be quite relevant.

So it will be useful to keep in the studio all sorts of nonsense such as stupid sunglasses, wigs, toy jewelry and other nonsense that will “stir up” the most notorious clients - from clerks to children, causing a smile, good mood and liberated state.

The main thing is to make the person relax. A photograph of a person with a tense face “like a passport” will always lose to a photograph taken in a relaxed atmosphere.

Photo accessories.

Do not forget about the specific and often necessary equipment for the studio. It can be a refrigerator and a plasma TV or a laptop, but first of all think about the most necessary things. For example, you will definitely need a tripod or even two. You may need remotes or cables to remote control the camera.

If you use flashes, consider wireless controllers for them. Do not forget that a small stepladder can be very useful to choose a specific angle or hang a backdrop. And also a mirror, for those who, at the last moment before shooting, decide to check how it looks.

And further. Treat your spending wisely and try to be aware of your goals. Otherwise, creating a home studio can milk you a lot of money, some of which you will spend on expensive, but not needed or rarely used things. Therefore, always think carefully about what will be useful for you and what is not. Perhaps an inexpensive constant light is also suitable for your specific purposes, so there is no need to invest in a pulsed one, etc.

Well, the main thing. Don't be afraid to learn and experiment - shoot more, try new approaches, and you'll see for yourself what you need the most. Remember, a home studio is only the first step in getting your hands on the basics of working in a studio. And then you either start to improve your own studio or find the right professional one.

The total investment amount is 758,000 rubles.

The payback period starts from 10 months of work.

The term for reaching the break-even point is 3 months.

2. Description of the business, product or service

The activity of the photo studio is based on providing clients with professional photography in the interiors of the studio. The main advantage of studio photography is professionally set lighting and the use of additional equipment. In addition, studio photography provides more opportunities for the photographer's creative work, as it does not depend on environmental factors (for example, weather). In other words, the client gets the opportunity to take a large number of photographs in a short period of time against the background of various scenery using several images.

The cost of renting a photo studio varies from 1,200 rubles per hour to 3,000 rubles per hour.

The more interior zones, made in various stylistic directions, are presented in the studio, the more expensive is one hour of renting this photo studio. Also, the rental price is affected by the quality and cost of finishing materials and decorative elements. The studio, whose interiors are furnished with Italian furniture and author's decor from famous designers, will set a deliberately high price for the room. However, this requires a huge initial investment, which is considered inappropriate within the framework of this business plan.

The photo studio provides clients with two main services - photography with a full-time studio photographer and renting a studio to work with your own photographer. In both cases, the costs of using the premises are borne by the client. An approximate range of market prices is shown in the table below.

Studio photography includes various genres, the most popular of which are:

1. Portrait shooting;
2. Artistic staged shooting;
3. Shooting nudity;
4. Subject photography;
5. other genres.

For staged shooting, it is extremely important to have props and decorative elements that will create the necessary atmosphere in detail.

For subject photography, a special set of equipment is required. The purchase of such equipment will increase costs, which, however, pay off very quickly, since almost all enterprises and organizations that produce and sell goods order professional photography to fill websites and online stores.

3. Description of the market

The clients of the photo studio are both photographers and end users - customers of photo shoots. Among the latter, individuals and companies are singled out. Individuals usually order individual photography, family photography, photography of children. As for working with the b2b segment, orders are received either for corporate shooting of employees, or for professional shooting of products for an online store or website content.

The target audience is the determining factor when choosing the interior design of a photo studio. If your main clients are young people aged 18 to 30, then styles such as loft (brick walls, external wiring), vintage (underlined antiquity), country (rustic style), shabby chic (white and pink colors) will be popular. , a large amount of textiles, forged furniture). As for filling the interiors, such props as a motorcycle, a leather chair (the zone of a successful leader), a wrought-iron canopy bed, etc. will be in demand.

For family photography aimed at an audience of 30 to 45 years old, you need to set up a sofa, a soft area with an artificial fireplace, or a beautifully set dining table. Such styles as Provence, classic, modern will enjoy popularity.

The ideal option would be to reach a large target audience. This can be achieved through a variety of room design: for example, within one hall, you can create from 4 to 8 different zones. Each will be designed in a certain style using suitable props and other decorative elements.

If we talk about the statistics of studio attendance among various groups of the target audience, then about 50-60% of clients are girls from 18 to 30 years old who order shooting for posting photos on social networks.

As for the competition among photo studios, the main criterion for difference is the design of the premises. Not all studio creators are ready to invest in unusual and expensive props. In addition, some studios focus on only two or three types of shooting or work with a limited number of photographers.

Since there are 16-20 photo studios in a city with a population of about 1,000,000, we advise you to visit each of them before opening your own studio. This will help you evaluate the level of service of each competitor, see all the details and even the quality of the equipment used. In addition, by communicating with the administrator, you can roughly estimate the level of employment of each studio, and then analyze this data.

The competitive advantages of the studio are:

• Customer service quality.

Timely reminder calls, hospitable administrator, a tour of the filming space, the opportunity to relax and have a snack (tea / coffee / light snacks).

• Opportunity to order photography in the studio, and rent a room.
• High quality equipment.

Several sets of lighting equipment.

• Possibility of subject photography.

A separate set of special equipment.

• Additional inventory for spectacular shots.

The studio has a powerful floor fan and a smoke generator.

• At least 5 interior zones with unique props.

There are no analogues of decor and interior items in other studios.

• Possibility of taking photos in the bathroom.

Photo studio website with photos of interiors and portfolio of studio photographers.

4. Sales and Marketing

5. Production plan

It is more profitable to carry out state registration as an individual entrepreneur. Two main codes are indicated as the type of activity:

70.20.2 "Rental of own non-residential real estate"

74.81 "Activities in the field of photography."

Even if at the initial stage you decide not to form a staff of photographers, but only sublease, you should indicate both types of activity. The fact is that ordering photography from a studio photographer significantly increases the price for the client and, as a result, increases the profit of the studio owner. That is why, sooner or later, you should recruit a staff of photographers working under the brand of your studio.

After completing the registration, you need to select a room.

The room of the photo studio includes not only a room for photography.

Be sure to allocate a separate dressing room for changing clothes for clients, as well as for preparing for shooting (make-up, hairstyle, trying on images). In addition, the studio needs a bathroom. If it is technically possible, you can install a bathroom that will be used for filming and will become an additional element that sets you apart from the competition.

The total leased area will be from 80 sq.m. It is important to note that for this type of business, location does not play a decisive role. Therefore, you do not have to look for a room in the very center of the city. On the contrary, a room with the required ceiling height (from 3 m or more) and the absence of partitions over a large area is easiest to find in the industrial area of ​​the city. Photographers and clients allocate time in advance for photography, so they are ready to come to any part of the city. The main thing is that your studio should be easily accessible by public transport, and parking should be provided for motorists.

The next step is to renovate the premises. Despite the fact that the repair of a photo studio includes the organization of several zones, its cost will be moderate, since you are focusing on the appearance of the design, and not on the quality and reliability of the materials used.

To ensure that all finishing materials and decorative elements are harmoniously combined with each other, you should hire an interior designer. A design project with the selection of materials will cost you about 30,000 rubles.

The price of the project depends on the amount of space occupied. About 100,000 rubles will have to be allocated for finishing materials and labor. Props and decor should be bought by hand. In this case, you will be able to save a lot and keep within 150 thousand rubles.

Then you need to purchase professional equipment. It includes softboxes, reflectors, beauty dish, reflectors, etc. A more detailed list of equipment can be found in the investment table (section "Financial Plan"). Also, do not forget about the installation of sound equipment, since photography is always carried out with background music. The best solution would be to purchase Bluetooth speakers with the ability to connect from any portable device. Such speakers will cost about 15,000 rubles.

Do not forget about installing a Wi-Fi router. Your customers will appreciate the ability to scroll through their Instagram feed at any time or instantly post a couple of finished photos.

The next step is to find staff. You need to find two young people for the position of administrator. Indeed, it is better to hire guys, because the studio needs a person who can fix small problems in the equipment, advise the photographer on the use of equipment and call the master in time.

As for the formation of the staff of photographers, they must be carefully sought. You can hire individual photographers for each type of shooting. Thus, it will be easy for you to distribute orders, and each photographer will have the opportunity to become the best master in his specialization.

6. Organizational structure

The staff consists of administrative staff (studio manager and administrators) and photographers.

The head of the studio makes decisions on the internal content of the studio, on the replenishment or reduction of staff, on staff salaries. He chooses the main directions of development of the studio, specialization in the types of shooting. Determines the marketing strategy and ways to promote the studio. Interacts with the media, develops the brand of the organization, attends professional events, and is engaged in networking. In addition, the head manages the cash flow of the photo studio, distributes profits, regulates the cost of working capital. For his work, the head receives 30,000 rubles a month. If the profit received is insufficient to pay this salary, then it is reduced, which stimulates the head of the studio to work more in the next month or change the direction of the studio.

An administrator is a person who is constantly in the studio. He should be able to deal with studio lighting, know the intricacies of setting up equipment. His task is to record clients, receive visitors, show the studio, accept payment and ensure that all technical equipment is in good working order after shooting. In his spare time, he performs tasks assigned by the manager.

Since the studio works 7 days a week for 10 hours, two people are needed for the administrator position. Working hours - 2 working days after 2 days off. The salary is fixed and amounts to 20,000 rubles.

Photographers are the workforce of a photography studio. The staff of photographers can include from 1 to 10 people. Professionals unite in studios to work under a single brand. Their task is to maintain the reputation of the company with the high quality of their own work. Each photographer has his own camera and computer for photo processing. Finished processed photos of the client are marked with the company logo.

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, you need to calculate the possible costs of 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

In addition to the start-up capital, you must be immediately ready for monthly expenses for:

• 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

It is necessary to think about what services the photo studio will offer and who will become the target audience 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 the studio with additional income, the following points must be immediately foreseen:

• 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.
• When ordering ID or other snapshots, customers will require them to be printed. 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, the legal form is important, since few people want to work with an individual entrepreneur. 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 the 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 phone calls, negotiate with clients, schedule filming, monitor the corporate website, communicate with clients on social networks and perform a number of work 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.

conclusions

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.