Corospondence with an up and coming photographer.

I'm a senior in high school, I do Hair and Photography as well. I am doing a project and it involves researching what I want to do for a career. My question was " How can I successfully own my own hair and photography Business" I Googleed it to see what I got and your name showed. I was wondering if by any chance I could ask you a few questions about it? It would be greatly appreciated. And help me a great deal with my project.
Thanks for your time.
Lexie Bennett

Do you want to email me or drop by the studio? Scott


Ha ha, I live in Washington. I could just e-mail some questions if that's not to much trouble?
Lexie


On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 10:22 PM, Lexie Bennett wrote:

Ok, thank you SO much!! I have to do a ten page paper on this to graduate. The more you write the better. You don't have to finish it right now if your to busy. Thank you so much again!

1) Tell me what your profession is: Photographer

2) What made you want to start this particular career: I enjoyed Photography, but I was schooled in graphic arts, old school, so I needed to do something else when old school graphics became out dated.

3) What are the benefits of owning your own business: Just being my own boss, but you really need a business background or payout allot for someone else to do your business, and you concentrate on the creative end.

4) What were some of the biggest challenges: Sales and property taxes, advertising ( you need to shoot to create the income to support your career...

5) How is it financially ( does it support you well ) : currently all photographers are having a tough time for several reasons, economy for one, everyone is being more cautious about spending money and this being a luxury, we suffer. plus everyone thinks they are photographers because the have a 10megapixel camera and go shoot their cousins wedding... sorry if this is disappointing but with you natural energy and desire you can sway people to use you services, I have have a successful career just not lately. Just some more info on me, go to > http://scotthancockphotography.com/html/about_us.html my equipment (some come to me because I'm current in technologies> http://scotthancockphotography.com/html/technologies.html my studio> http://scotthancockphotography.com/html/studio_tour.html

this is an accumulation for just over 30years so don't think its impossible. just be smart when starting out.

6) Did you set up a business plan: A basic plan with allot of desire and getup and go!

7) Did you take any class for hair, photography or business: I was in the graphic arts industry and so allot of study in master painters from the past, learning about light and art design, etc., photography was a required course back then not now, from what I understand.

8) What is the best way to get started: Passion and shoot allot. Study your work and set the goal of higher percentage rate of successful, salable image content, every time you shoot. study and plagiarizer photographers. Something really helpful is become friends with photographers on Facebook. Allot of good work at your finger tips to view and study...

9) Would you recommend this career why or why not : Only if you have a passion, I, at this time, can't think of anything else I would want to do except my passions, I like the creation aspect of anything.

I wouldn't recommend this to a novice as a trade, unless their passion is really strong. but if you can't see the shot when you look through the lens, then don't go into this as a trade, get a job to survive and do this as a weekend warrior photographer (just my partial opinion).

10) How long did it take you to start it up: 5 years to break even, but I was an upholsterer to sustain myself for that period and then I quit and went full time photographer but during that time I honed my craft to be more readily acceptable to the masses (you know, those who have money :)

11) Is it home-based or do you own a separate building: See #5 above.

12) Is it just you or your family too: My wife is the main business operator and everything that she needs to be to keep the studio going, we also have a part time employee. we booth rent our salon, with four chairs.

13) What would be your biggest suggestion for someone who wanted to do this: Passion and additional income (job) to support your desire of getting you career going, or someone who believes in you and are willing to financially support you while you get going.

14) Is the studio and salon set up kinda close (what's the set up of the location): see # 5 above.

15) Why do you prefer owning your own business over working for someone else: My Dad owned his own business, but shadowing someone (established photographer) will give you an edge, I have student come to my studio every semester from the nearby colleges and high schools to mentor.

My question is "How can I successfully own a entrepreneurial business combining my skills in hair and photography?" It will all fall in to place, start shooting your clients as portfolio pieces to shoe hair clients and then expand and have them as photo clients as well! Offer your hair and do makeup to photographer for opportunity to shoot with them and pick their brain, etc...

If you can think of anything else to help me answer this question it would be great! I'm not so sure of what the first steps that I would need to take like financially or anything so any help would be greatly appreciated. =)

Lexie Bennett

I hope this is some what helpful, all this was off the cuff, May I add this to my blog?

GOOD LUCK!!!!!! :)
Scott Hancock

Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

I thik you will like this!

My Daughters Illustrations

Check it out @ one of the following:
andrahancock.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1809970646&ref=ts
andrahancock.com

This was really sweet how it came together!

Photography
Author: Unknown

A photograph is more than just
A gift to bring or send.
And more than just the likeness of
A relative or friend.

It is a kindly greeting and
A memory to hold.
Of happy times and pleasant things.
However new or old.

It is a mirror that reflects
Companionship and cheer.
And now and then the wistfulness
That turns into a tear.

A photograph is something to
Adorn a desk or wall.
Or carry in a pocket and
Display to one and all.

It is a faithful portrait
The smile that friendship shares
To add its sunshine and to show
That someone really cares.

I really like how this guy instructs, please do yourself a favor read on:


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It is amazing the results you can achieve with Photoshop. Old and damaged, even torn, photographs can be restored and renewed to their original colors and vitality using the tools available in Photoshop.

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It is not only the best but easier to work with than you might think. Many shy away from Photoshop because there are intimidated by the complexity.

With the help of a good Photoshop tutorial you can begin to learn Photoshop within minutes and be on your way to restoring those old photographs and preserving your family’s memories for year to come.

There are less expensive digital editing applications but the problem is that they often have very limited capabilities when it comes to doing high quality digital photo restoration.

Those cheaper digital photo software packages often utilize a one size fits all approach to photo restoration and they just don’t have the functions to deal with all of the types of damage you may encounter in renewing your old photos.

The other benefit of using Photoshop to fix your old photographs it that you can work in layers.

The layers function ensures that you won’t waste an hours work with one little mistake. As you work your photograph you can save each new change as a new layer. If you mess up simply delete that layer and try again.

Photo restoration requires patience and attention to detail. Only Adobe Photoshop has the tools to do a quality job restoring your old photographs.

Learn Photoshop now and start bringing those old photographs to new life.

Success, Scott Hancock

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You won't be disappointed, Best regards, Scott hancock

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