Before I start, this isn't a bit about saving money, recycling old furniture and finding bargains. If that's what you're after you're better off looking at
Martin Lewis... This is more about being self employed at a time when people have less disposable income.
My business, like many others, falls into the category of "non-essential" or maybe even "luxury". It's not something people absolutely must have (like food) and it's not something people need in an emergency (like a plumber for a leaking dishwasher). Photos are very much a "nice to have" item. It's nice to have
fun family photos to display at home. It's nice to have some
sexy boudoir photos to give your other half as a gift. But these things are not necessities.
In a recession, people have less disposable income to spend on niceties. And the media's over hyped, sensationalist reporting of the situation makes people think they have even less than they actually do! The first things to be sacrificed are the luxuries. Fewer people will come to have their photo taken and the ones that do will spend less on prints and canvasses. So how do we deal with this?
For me, it's about making the most of what I have and trying to maximise what's available. I try to make myself as visible as possible so as many people as possible know about me. My
website ranks well in Google. I have a
virtual tour on Google and
on my website, I'm on
Facebook and
Twitter, I have a visible shop front, I have leaflets and I
network. I've also extended the range of products and services I offer to maximise my audience.
But what's more important is that I work hard to build and maintain my reputation and high level of customer service. Happy customers will come back. But what's more, they will recommend you to their friends which is worth more than any expensive advert I could put in the newspaper!
My business started in a recession so I haven't had to deal with a fall in revenue. In fact, year on year, my business has grown, which gives me a lot of confidence. So if I can ride out this recession and continue with the trend I've started, when the newspapers finally tell people it's OK to start spending again I can only grow even more!
I've have a target market for my family portraits and target my advertising accordingly. I don't exclude anyone but targeting a certain sector of the local population will naturally limit my market. So to extend my market a little bit I started taking different types of photos in my studio. As well as family photos I also offer boudoir photography, maternity shoots and animal and pet photography. That has the studio covered but is still mostly evenings and weekends to fit around school and work. I still have the daytime to fill... Which is why I started the commercial photography part of my business.
Businesses are generally open 9-5 Monday to Friday, which is when the studio is quiet. So why not go out and do some work for them?! I spoke to a few businesses and built up a good list of contacts which enabled me to go out and photograph businesses and their products to be used in their marketing materials. This in itself has been diverse from hotels, to restaurants, to Vulcan bombers, to massage therapists, to food, fitness and fashion!
And don't worry about your size or shape either. Chances are you're having the photos taken for your other half. And they think you're sexy! Whatever size or shape you are there is an outfit and a pose that shows off the good bits and hides the bits you're not so keen on. Whether you're a size zero or a more Rubenesque shape I can make you look sexy!