In a city with a population of more than 1,000,000 people, opening a photography studio can be an excellent investment. The photo studio has several significant advantages: high demand among clients, a simple threshold for entering the business, and the absence of strict requirements for the location. Below is an example ready-made business plan photo studio with calculations.

Brief summary

Characteristics of a business plan for a photo studio with calculations made for the city of Samara:

• Initial investment - 706,500 rubles;
• Payback period - from 11 months;
• Break-even point (predicted) - 3-4 months.

A business plan for a photo studio involves two parallel areas of activity - renting out the studio and having your own staff of photographers. Although the high margins of the second direction attract most entrepreneurs, at the initial stage it is better to concentrate on renting out premises to photographers. This will allow you to get by with one or two professional photographers on staff and avoid unnecessary staff costs.

Project Description

Characteristics of the enterprise

In this photo salon business plan, the photo studio provides the following list of services:

1. Studio photography (own employees) - 1300 - 5000 rubles per 1 hour;
2. Studio for rent - 1000 - 2500 rubles for 2 hours.

Studio photography may have the following options:

• Photographing objects;
• Artistic photography;
• Photographs in the style of “Nude” (naked body);
• Portrait photography;
• According to customer's request.

Some of the above-mentioned services require special inventory or equipment (props, decor, macro lens, etc.), which can increase the initial costs.

Niche in the market

The target audience

This column of the photo studio business plan determines the stylistic design of the premises for conducting activities.

The target audience can be divided into the following demographic groups:

1. Men and women 18-36 years old. For this group, modern interior solutions in the loft style, or antique style - vintage, rustic "country" or "shabby chic" style with forged fittings, an abundance of textiles in light colors are suitable;
2. Married couples 28 - 46 years old. Popular styles for this category are modern, Provence or classic. You will need fittings in a cozy family style, a soft sofa, possibly a fireplace (artificial), or a solid table with dishes and decor for a family dinner.

Important! Divide the work area into several “islands” with different designs - this way you can satisfy the demand of both groups target audience.

Competitive Analysis

In the regional market, competition in the field of professional photographic services is not yet too high. At the time of writing the business plan, there are about 20 professional photo studios in Samara. Such a small number of competitors allows you to physically visit each one and evaluate its advantages/disadvantages.

Marketing strategy

The main emphasis in marketing should be on branding in order to distinguish the company from many others.

To do this you can do the following:

• Development of corporate identity. Creation of a logo and corporate colors of the company, POS materials (business cards, flyers, catalog, etc.).
• Creation of a personal website. When developing a website, emphasis should be placed on creative design. For example, users will appreciate the 3D tour function of the room and the voluminous portfolio. .
• Publications. Information noise should be created around the photo studio. Groups on social networks, printed publications in Samara and thematic communities are suitable for this.
• SMM promotion. Social media works very well in this niche. The reason is simple: the main clients of photo studios are young girls who spend a lot of time online.

Production plan

In this case, the most convenient form of business is an individual entrepreneur. Required OKVED codes are indicated in the “Project Characteristics” section.

Even if during the first start you plan to only rent out a photo studio, add code 74.81 “Activities in the field of photography” in advance.

Selecting a room

When choosing a room, it is worth considering that in a photo studio, in addition to the photo zones themselves, there must be:

• dressing room
• wardrobe or space for clients' personal belongings
• bathroom
• administrator's workplace.

You can reduce your initial rental costs by choosing a building in an industrial zone. The only requirement is the proximity of public transport and the possibility of parking a personal car. The ideal option would be studio rooms with high ceilings.

• Costs for furnishing the premises:
• Ordering a room design - from 28,000 rubles;
• Repair and Construction Materials- from 90,000 rubles;
• Decorations and props - from 100,000 rubles (bought used).

The total amount will be within 218,000 rubles.

• Minimum set of equipment:
• Lighting equipment;
• Octobox;
• Plain paper backgrounds;
• Background mounts;
• Light reflector;
• Beauty plate;
• Smoke generator;
• Fan;
• Sound equipment;
• Water cooler.

Organizational plan

The staff will consist of the following categories:

1. Administrators are employees responsible for the functioning of the photo studio. Their competence includes setting up the organization’s equipment, processing clients, and receiving payments. A minimum of two people is required. Work schedule: from 9:00-19:00 seven days a week, 2/2 shift. Receives a fixed payment of 18,000 rubles and a bonus of up to 2,000 rubles.
2. Photographers are employees who receive pay based on their work. The number can be any, depending on the capabilities of the photo studio premises. You must have your own equipment for work (camera and laptop). Work schedule: from 10:00-19:00, seven days a week (the schedule is conditionally free, does not require hiring), shift 2/2. Payment of interest on each transaction (30% for photography in the studio and 45% for on-site photography).
3. Manager - employee (often owner) receiving management decisions. In charge of marketing the company financial part and is responsible for the implementation of the company's development plans. Payment and work schedule are negotiated individually.
4. Technical personnel for repair work and cleaning of premises

Financial plan

A photo studio business plan requires an initial investment of 706,500 rubles. Most of this amount will be allocated for repairs and arrangement of the photo studio premises. To purchase equipment you need to allocate at least 100,000 rubles.

Cashflow company

The project reaches the break-even point in the third month of operation. The payback period of the project is 10 - 11 months.

Risk management

The danger for such a business is the negative reputation of the brand due to the unprofessionalism of employees. The risk can be reduced by hiring only qualified photographers and dealing with negative reviews in the media and social networks.

If you like the art of photography, but for some reason you don’t want or can’t become a freelance photographer, then opening a photo salon might be a great idea for you.

Such a business has clear advantages: firstly, it does not require large start-up costs; secondly, if the owner has the desire and capabilities, a small photo studio can grow into a large, well-known photo studio. What does it take to open a photo salon and how much will it cost?

The initial investment in a photo studio can be quite modest, and minimum amount It will especially please those who do not have a lot of capital. For example, an office will not require huge areas, so the cost of renting the premises will be low. Regarding the renovation of the room and furniture, you can also get by with an inexpensive, acceptable option. What you shouldn't skimp on is photographic equipment. It must be professional and of high quality, since the quality of services that your salon can provide will directly depend on it (of course, in conjunction with the skills of the photographer).

In general, the start-up costs of opening a photo studio may look something like this. Please note that all these figures are indicative only and may vary depending on different conditions:

• Company registration: $70.
• Room rental: $400.
• Cosmetic renovation of the premises: $300.
• Equipment (photo equipment, computer, printer): from 2 thousand dollars.
• License for software: 200 dollars.
• Furniture: $300.
• Advertising campaign: $100.
• Consumables(paper, disks): $100 for initial purchase.

At high flow clients this business can pay off in just 5-6 months, with an average of up to a year. To ensure good client turnover, you need to take into account many nuances of business organization. More details about some of them below.

How to open a photo salon from scratch

Company registration

There are two options for the registration form for a photo salon - an individual entrepreneur and a limited liability company. If you are opening a small photo salon, the main service of which is photo for documents, then it is definitely better to stop at. The LLC option will be more acceptable if you open a large photography company that provides all types of photographic services and related ones. If in the future your business expands to just this, you can always switch to a different legal form.

When registering a company, pay attention to the OKVED codes that you will indicate in the documentation forms. If, in addition to photographing itself, you are going to provide other services (for example, photocopying, printing from electronic media, selling photo accessories, etc.), then the codes under which all these types of activities fall must be indicated.

Premises and location

You need to look for premises first of all where there is a large concentration of potential clients. It doesn't have to be the city center. We know many examples of successfully operating photo salons in residential areas of the city, the main thing is that the area is densely populated.

The nearby passport offices can help you make your business successful. recruitment agencies, visa departments and other companies that require their clients to take photographs for documents. Clients of such services will automatically become your clients if you are lucky enough to be nearby.

As for the room itself, its dimensions can be no more than 10-12 square meters. This is quite enough to provide photo services for documents. If you plan to provide artistic photography services, then you also need to design the interior in which it will be performed. The size of the room for art photography can also be small. And some even make do with the same room for different types shooting, changing backgrounds and various interior items.

The design of the sign at the entrance to the photo salon deserves special attention. Here we should take into account a certain amount of laziness, which is inherent in most people. If you limit yourself to just the word “photo salon,” you risk losing a significant part of your potential clients, because not everyone will bother to go inside and find out whether the photo services they need are provided here. Therefore, place on the front door or on a street stand a list of all the services that can be obtained in your photo salon. And, naturally, the sign should be bright and catchy, since, in essence, it will be your effective advertising. Advertising of small photo studios on radio and television is not justified either in terms of financial costs or in terms of effectiveness.

Services provided by photo salons

What services can a photo salon provide? In fact, there are quite a lot of them. You can start with the simplest and most popular ones, if the size of the premises and the quality of the equipment do not allow you to immediately begin providing all possible services. Work for the future, and with the growth of popularity and profit, increase the number of services provided. Their list might look like this:

• Photos for all types of documents (including “urgent”).
• Artistic photography in the interior (strict photo for a resume, holiday photos with children, romantic photos, etc.). Printing photographs in various formats, on paper of different thicknesses and qualities. Framing photographs.
• Photocopying, scanning, lamination.
• Printing photos and documents various formats from electronic media.
• Printing photographs from films.
• Photo editing and retouching.
• Production of photo collages, thematic photo albums.
• Print photos on clothes, fabric bags, dishes and other items.
• Sale of related products: photo frames, photo albums, batteries and covers for photographic equipment, films, etc.).

Equipment

Availability good equipment– a very important moment in organizing the entire business. This is not to say that success will depend only on equipment, because the skills and creative approach of the photographer also play a huge role. However, it is better not to skimp on the quality of equipment, and after working for a few months, you will understand why: people will return to you for services if they are satisfied with the quality of the photographs. Equipment for a photo studio:

• Digital camera.
• Tripod.
• Lighting devices.
• A computer with programs for editing, processing and retouching photographs.
• Color photo printer.
• Xerox, scanner, laminator.

It is also necessary to install display cases for the goods put up for sale; reception desk, full-length mirrors, sofas for waiting in the hall, hangers for outerwear. Some photo salons have a classic men's jacket and tie in stock for those cases when the client urgently needs to take a photograph for documents, but he did not have time to prepare for this.

Consumables that are necessary in the work of photo salons:

1. Photo paper. The most common are glossy and matte, but for some types of products semi-gloss, satin, and silk are also used. Also make sure to have paper of different weights and formats.
2. Ink.
3. Cartridges.
4. Plain paper of various sizes.
5. Consumables for lamination.
6. When providing printing services on items, it is advisable to have plain white cups and plates, plain T-shirts and fabric bags available. The client will not always be able to bring you his product, which should be photographed, so it is better to provide for all options.

Staff

Very often, photo salons are opened by those people who plan to independently photograph clients, that is, already professional photographers. If this is your case, then you only need to hire an administrator and a cleaning lady. The administrator's duties will include providing information about services, recording clients, and answering telephone calls.

If you yourself are not a photographer and are planning to hire a specialist for this position, then you need to pay attention to the following. Of course, this is work experience and skills. When the photo salon gains popularity and there are many clients, the photographer will have to work quickly and deftly so as not to delay those waiting. If a photo salon provides artistic photography services, then the photographer’s creativity and ability to find an approach to each client are very important. When selecting a photographer, carefully study his portfolio and reviews of his past and current clients.

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

• initial costs – from 500 thousand rubles;
• a large room with an area of ​​275 square meters. Rental cost – 125 thousand rubles per month;
• monthly income at this stage is 400 thousand rubles per month;
• payback – 6-8 months.

How to open a photo studio from scratch?

Please note that in such a business you will be very high demand. If you work yourself, you must have a high level of skill. If you lack the appropriate skills, it is better to hire a professional photographer.

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

But here, of course, a lot depends on the experience of the specialist.

Below I will give a small step-by-step instructions on how to open a photo studio. It should help you build an algorithm for further actions and future promotion:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Be sure to register officially. Otherwise, an audit from the tax office will come very quickly. There are two options for a photo studio: LLC or individual entrepreneur.

As a rule, entrepreneurs choose the first option. If the work will be carried out only with private individuals, then an individual entrepreneur will be sufficient.

Opening and promotion of a photo studio

As for taxation, one of the best options is UTII or patent form. The OKVED code for this activity is 74.8 (this includes the provision of various services) and 74.81 are specialized codes that only apply to photography.

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

Registration is required Pension Fund and a number of other organizations. After arrangement of the premises and repairs, there must be a conclusion from the SES and fire inspection. Be sure to buy a cash register and strict reporting forms.

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

4. Once the documents are completed and the premises are ready, start purchasing equipment. At the initial stage, you can not spend much and buy only the essentials.

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

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

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

The decision to purchase a franchise must be made with professional recommendations section:

You can read about the latest news and trends in franchise business

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

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

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

You can take an experienced person in working with Photoshop and put him in charge of processing photographs, restoring old photographs, creating collages, making retro photos, and so on.

As a rule, it is enough to take 1-2 assistants who, if anything happens, can replace you and take simple photographs for documents. At the same time, wage costs will be insignificant. As a rule, you can meet the amount of about 30-40 thousand rubles.

Table No. 1. Potential of photo studio product services in Russia

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

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

What does it take to open a photography studio?

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

You must be a professional in your field and approach each client individually. Opening a photo studio should be a special event in the life of your city, so advertise before work begins.

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

You don't need much to start your own business. Firstly, you must absolutely love what you do (even if another person works as a photographer). Secondly, there must be a desire and readiness to organize a business.

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

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

Do you need a business plan for a photography studio?

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

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

The more accurately the document is written and the more details are taken into account, the less likely it is to fail. Of course, there is always a risk, but it can be minimized.

Opening a photo studio: total costs

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

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

At the same time, the potential income of your business in the first month can be from 200 thousand rubles. As popularity grows, profits are sure to increase.

With development digital technology The market for photographic services is expanding. Thematic photo sessions outdoors and in the studio, family and individual, are becoming popular. Today, any creative person can open a photo studio and turn their passion for photography from a hobby into a business - just follow the developed plan.

Choosing a business concept

For a photographer, a studio is a way to combine hobbies and work, the opportunity to shoot regardless of weather conditions, and to vary the setting for interior photo shoots. If you have achieved recognition as a photo artist, opening a photo studio will be an opportunity for development.

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

1. Interior photo studio. To work productively, you need to rent or purchase premises and decorative items. In the absence of a stable client request for interior photography, the studio pays for itself only by renting it out to beginning photographers and providing related services (stylist, hairdresser, makeup artist and others).
2. Home photo workshop. The capabilities of a photo laboratory 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. Room for photographing children. The concept is designed for loving parents who want to capture their children in professional photographs.

Photo gallery: types of studios

Create a list of services in accordance with your requests:

• individuals (family and individual photo sessions, event photography);
• commercial companies (photos for souvenirs, photography of goods for advertising catalogues, corporate events).

Additional sources of income:

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

At the beginning of your creative journey, create a set of additional services in accordance with your budget. Choose ideas that do not require enormous costs or specific equipment to implement.

Benefits and Risks

The cost of photo studio services varies from 3 thousand to 10 thousand rubles per hour of work, and additional costs are minimal. Business profitability is high if you prevent possible risks:

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

In a competitive environment, do not inflate prices for services. Look for an individual approach to customers - develop discount system For regular customers, come up with bonus student programs. To minimize risks, provide professional services, collect and offer your portfolio to clients. During downtime, run competitions 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, an aspiring entrepreneur needs to go through five stages:

1. Business registration.
2. Choosing a room.
3. Purchase of equipment.
4. Studio decoration.
5. Personnel selection.

Documents for business registration

You can register the activities of a photo studio in the form of a limited liability company (LLC) or an individual enterprise (IE). The advantages of an LLC are the ability to expand, create a network of branches and attract financing from external sources. Positive sides Individual entrepreneur - simplified registration process, no need to maintain Accounting, the ability to spend the proceeds at your discretion.

Documents for registration of individual entrepreneur:

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

By default, when registering an individual entrepreneur, it is set general system taxation (OSNO). If you have chosen another type (simplified system or single tax on imputed income), draw up a statement about changing the tax system (notification form 26.2–1).

Documents for LLC registration:

• application form No. Р11001 certified by a notary;
• articles of association;
• minutes of the meeting or the sole decision of the founder to create the company;
• certified copies of the founders’ identity cards;
• receipt of payment of state duty 4000 rubles;
• if necessary, an application to change the taxation system (notice 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:

• activities in the field of photography (74.81);
• printing activities not included in other categories (22.22);
• other types publishing activities (22.15).

After sending the documents to the registration authority, proceed to choosing a 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 following factors:

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

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

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 you have the funds, additionally equip a relaxation room with a tea table and a drinks machine.

Equipment for photo shoots

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;
• stands for light sources;
• portrait plate;
• herons and holders;
• flash meter for measuring exposure;
• nozzles in the form of curtains and honeycombs;
• paper backgrounds with fastening;
• flash synchronizers;
• interior items, props;
• mirror and steamer for the dressing room;
• computer and photo retouching software.

Photo gallery: equipment and props

Buy if necessary reflex 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 forums - focus on the technical parameters of the device and your own needs. List important characteristics professional camera:

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

Studio decoration

When designing a studio, consider General requirements to the filming premises. Paint the walls and ceiling in a neutral gray color, and lay wear-resistant matte linoleum of the same shade on the floor. If the studio has a window, install a cornice above it and hang curtains made of light-proof fabric.

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

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

Using last option decoration, do not forget to change the decorations depending on the time of year. In winter, install a Christmas tree, lay a fluffy carpet on the floor and scatter artificial snow. In the summer, decorate the space with flowers or style it with a beach theme.

Use light pastel colors to decorate an area for photographing 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 yourself as a photographer and plan to work independently, do not hire employees at first. After successfully working for two to three months and receiving your first income, hire an administrator to maintain your client base and a cleaner.

If you are opening a photo studio as a business without doing photography, pay attention to selecting a photographer. At first, it will be he who will shape the image of the studio.

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

• makeup artist for applying makeup;
• hairdresser to work on hairstyles;
• stylist to create an image;
• seller for trading related products.

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

Promotion and advertising of photo studio services

To attract clients, advertise the studio’s services on available resources. Create a website or group in social network and upload your portfolio best works. Think about how much your services will cost, post the price list in the public domain.

Sign service agreements large corporations- they will invite you to photograph 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, take part in creative exhibitions of professionals.

Financial plan - expenses and projected income

When opening a photo studio, plan 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 thousand rubles per hour. Average daily employment is 3–4 hours. The rest of the time, the studio is rented at a price of 900 rubles per hour on weekdays and 1200 rubles per hour on weekends. Average daily workload is 3 hours.

Table: Projected Monthly Income

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

At first, you will work at a loss to yourself. But if you manage to develop the project and develop a client base, ensuring the premises are fully occupied, the photo studio will begin to make a profit. This is confirmed by reviews from entrepreneurs from business forums.

A successful photo studio must have a “trick”. This should not just be 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 tracking trends in the photography business since 2011. There are over 40 studios of various types operating in St. Petersburg, and every year 1-2 of them close or change the direction of their work. Studio - a good option for an established photographer who wants to maintain income during the winter. 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 a photo studio, a range of services can lead to success: photo for documents + on-site photography + photo processing + sale of souvenirs. In other cases, it will be difficult to earn your bread and butter.

http://www.penta-club.ru/forum/topic/87654-I want-to-open-a-photo-studio-in-little-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 requests of the target audience. Before you open a photo studio, calculate your own business plan based on what is proposed and act in accordance with it.

The total investment amount is 758,000 rubles.

The payback period starts from 10 months of work.

The time to reach 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 studio interiors. The main advantage of studio photography is professionally set lighting and the use of additional equipment. In addition, studio photography provides more opportunities for creative work photographer, since it does not depend on factors external environment(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 backdrop of various scenery using several images.

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

The more interior zones, designed in different stylistic directions, are presented in the studio, the more expensive it is to rent one hour of this photo studio. The rental price is also affected by the quality and cost of finishing materials and decorative elements. The studio, whose interiors are furnished with Italian furniture and designer decor from famous designers, will set a deliberately high price for the premises. However, this requires a huge initial investment, which is considered impractical for this business plan.

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

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

1. Portrait photography;
2. Artistic production photography;
3. Shooting nudes;
4. Subject photography;
5. Other genres.

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

For product photography, a special set of equipment is required. The purchase of such equipment will increase costs, which, however, pay for themselves 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 sales market

The clients of the photo studio are both photographers and end consumers - customers of photo sessions. Among the latter are individuals and companies. Individuals usually order individual photography, family photography, and children’s photography. As for working with the b2b segment, orders are received either for corporate photography of employees, or for professional photography 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 (emphasized antiquity), country (rustic style), shabby chic (white and pink colors) will be popular , large quantities textiles, forged furniture). As for filling the interiors, such props as a motorcycle, a leather chair (zone successful leader), wrought iron canopy bed, etc.

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. Styles such as Provence, classic, and modern will be popular.

The ideal option would be to reach a large target audience. This can be achieved through varied room design: for example, within one room you can create from 4 to 8 different zones. Each will be designed in a specific 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 to post photos on social networks.

As for competition among photo studios, the main criterion for differentiation 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 photography or work with a limited number of photographers.

Since in a city with a population of about 1,000,000 people there are 16-20 photo studios, 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 will be able to roughly estimate the occupancy level of each studio, and then analyze this data.

Competitive advantages studios are:

• Quality of customer service.

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

• Possibility to either order photography in the studio or rent a room.
• High quality equipment.

Several sets of lighting equipment.

• Possibility of subject photography.

A separate set of special equipment.

• Additional equipment for taking spectacular photos.

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 photographs in the bathroom.

Website of a photo studio with photographs of interiors and portfolios of studio photographers.

4. Sales and marketing

5. Production plan

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

70.20.2 “Renting out your 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 to engage only in subletting, you should indicate both types of activities. 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 registration, you need to select a room.

The photo studio includes not only a room for photography.

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

The total rentable 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 don’t have to look for premises 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 an industrial area of ​​the city. Photographers and clients set aside time in advance for photography, so they are ready to come to any area of ​​the city. The main thing is that your studio is easily accessible by car. public transport, and parking was provided for motorists.

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

In order for everything Decoration 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 approximately 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 purchased secondhand. In this case, you will be able to save a lot and keep it to 150 thousand rubles.

Then you need to purchase professional equipment. It includes softboxes, reflectors, beauty dish, reflectors, etc. You will find a more detailed list of equipment in the investment table (section “ Financial plan"). Also, do not forget about installing 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.

Don't forget about installation Wi-Fi router. Your clients 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 personnel. 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 minor problems with the equipment, advise the photographer on the use of the equipment and call a technician on time.

As for forming a staff of photographers, you need to carefully search for them. You can hire separate photographers for each type of shooting. This way, it will be easy for you to distribute orders, and each photographer will have the opportunity to become the best master in their specialization.

6. Organizational structure

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

The head of the studio makes decisions about the internal staffing of the studio, about replenishing or reducing staff, and about staff salaries. He chooses the main directions of development of the studio, specialization in types of shooting. Determines the marketing strategy and ways to promote the studio. Interacts with the media, develops the organization’s brand, attends professional events, and engages in networking. In addition, the manager manages the cash flow of the photo studio, distributes profits, and regulates costs working capital. For his work, the manager receives 30,000 rubles per month. If the profit received is not sufficient to pay a given salary, then it decreases, which stimulates the studio manager to work more in the next month or change the direction of the studio's development.

An administrator is a person who is constantly in the studio. He must be able to deal with studio lighting and know the intricacies of setting up equipment. His task is to sign up clients, receive visitors, show the studio, accept payments and make sure that after the shooting everything Technical equipment it was fine. In his free time, he carries out instructions from his manager.

Since the studio operates 7 days a week for 10 hours, two people are needed for the position of administrator. Work schedule: 2 working days every 2 days off. Wage fixed and amounts to 20,000 rubles.

Photographers are work force photo studios 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 company's reputation high quality own works. Each photographer has his own camera and computer for processing photographs. The client's finished edited photographs are marked with the company logo.