Comments on: I want to start a portrait studio what is the basic equipment i’ll need?

By: ChaoRingmeister

ChaoRingmeister — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:08:59 +0000

Just to add to the computer point fhotoace if you do have 8GB of RAM you will need to run a 64bit OS something like Vista 64bit edition, otherwise you won’t get more than 3GB of usage.

You will probably also need a powerful graphics card. If you’re going to run Vista you can use a DX10 card, and make sure it runs DDR3 RAM on the graphics card. Processor Core 2 Quad should suffice.

Alternatively you could get a Mac Pro.
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By: Edwin

Edwin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:42:59 +0000

Before starting any business I urge you to contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office. They will likely refer you to a member of S.C.O.R.E. – Service Corps of Retired Executives. These are people who ran successful small businesses.

You should also have sufficient savings to cover at least 6 months of expenses – including your personal expenses as well as business expenses. If your personal bills are paid and the first months rent and utilities for your studio space are paid and your bank account is $0.00 or close then you are doomed. Unless, of course, you have someone else worrying about the bills.
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By: Perki88

Perki88 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:30:59 +0000

Insurance
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By: Fred F

Fred F — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:54:59 +0000

You have worked in a portrait studio so you should already know the basic equipment (camera, couple of lights, background at the most basic). But you obviously have not thought about the rest of it.
where how are the shots going to be developed/printed
how are you going to get them to your customers
how are you going to take payment
how are you going to get customers through the door

All very basic stuff to think of/sort out before you start
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By: fhotoace

fhotoace — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:44:59 +0000

Since you have experience working in a portrait studio, you will know what the basic equipment you need for lighting, backgrounds and depending upon your clients, if you will need a chroma key background as well.

Most portrait photographers also shoot some product shots to enhance the their cashflow, so you will have to look into some incandescent lights as well as the studio flash units.

If you plan on doing any retouching of the images you shoot, you will need a good CRT (if you can find them) monitor, a calibration tool and a very fast desktop computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and a few TB of hard drive space and a fast DVD/CD read/write drive. Don’t forget Photoshop CS4 and other programs like Noise Ninja that you will use when doing post production work.

If you plan on doing any off site work, you will also need a notebook computer.

I am assuming that you already have all your camera gear and the skills necessary to run a business. Armed with your business and marketing plan as well as a good realistic P&L sheet, you should do well.
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proFotog

By: www.datopia.com

www.datopia.com — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:03:59 +0000

well have you considered where you will get the images printed.

after it is sorted out, a portrait studio does not take much investment,

and the worst problems you will have is

1 – if you getting prints from outside, then reliability of timely service.
2- are you a photographer, i mean do you know how to click the right photos?
3- if you can deal with them, you can deal with a lit of other issues.
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