Where the Action Is A mobile photography business can go a long way if you know where you're going.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Q: My husband and I want to start amobile photography business by traveling in a studio on wheels toevents such as dog and cat shows and motorcycle rallies. How do wefind out if there's a market for this and if it will beprofitable?
A: You'll likely be investingtens of thousands of dollars in a van for your mobile studio andphotography equipment. So you'll want to know if you canproduce enough income from primarily weekend events to cover yourinvestment plus provide yourselves with a decent living.
We know from our own experience at dog shows that there is amarket for professional photographers at these kinds of events.Because dog breeds are judged simultaneously in different rings,there is often a need for multiple photographers. Before you getstarted, however, you should:
- Talk with entrants at these shows. Ask how often theyneed photographs and if they're happy with the photographersthey've used in the past.
- Listen to their complaints. How can you provide photosbetter, faster or cheaper than they're getting them now?
- Watch your competitors in action. Noting the things theydo--or don't do--can help you satisfy future customers.
- Do some research. Check out magazines and websites (suchas www.showdogsupersite.com) that cover championshipevents for other markets.
- Broaden your scope. To make enough money, you may needto branch out and cover horses, birds, fish and other pets. Youcould also expand what you offer to include videos, DVDs, andportraits of animals with their owners at their homes.
Authors and career coaches Paul and Sarah Edwards havewritten 15 books, including Working From Home. Send questions towww.workingfromhome.com or in care ofEntrepreneur.
