Why Business Boot Camp?
There's a long answer to this and a short one. In short, we must realize that professional photography is an art AND a business... and that training is needed in BOTH in order to be successful.
The long answer is that a lot has changed since 9/11 and the digital revolution; there are more and more photographers entering the market every day, yet few have formal training in managing a successful business before they plunge head-first into starting their own.
The Business Boot Camp (BBC) is designed to address areas that are most often neglected in collegiate and industry photography training - managing your business based on goals, numbers, and understanding of key functions in your business including but not limited to:
- Goal-Setting
- Studio Management
- Business Formation and Organization
- Critical Hiring
- Cost of Sales Analysis
- Break-Even Analysis
- Business Planning and Forecasting
- Marketing & Sales Plan Development
- Branding
- Web-site Development
- Immediate Marketing, e-Marketing
- Streamlining Workflow
- Taking better photos straight out of the camera
- Communications
- Sales
- Office Management
- Merchandising
- Product Development
- Pricing and Packages
- Customer ServiceThe BBC is an intense, intimate two-day experience designed to help you take your photography business to the next level, enforce business health and profitability, and create a better work/life balance.
We believe that change happens in baby-steps and in small group environments; therefore, each BBC is comprised of no more than eight studios at a time. You will truly have an opportunity to work on what your business needs the most. Since everything stems from understanding your goals and values, and creating a financial snapshot of your business as the foundation to make decisions off of, we are including the Profit Center DVD as a prerequisite for all participants.
Expect to come prepared with a lot of hard work and thought put in beforehand. We will start by reviewing what you've learned/applied through the Profit Center DVD lessons and go through an analysis of your business based on the numbers. On the first day, we will look at your goals and make plan for our time together based on what is needed the most.
The format of the class is a small-group disscussion environment so you can expect to actively particpate and take your turn in sharing, brainstorming/working, listening, and observing. You will not be bored to tears with two days of lectures and presentations. The two days will be intense but will fly by!
Watch what photographers Caroline and Bill Johnson have to say about the experience: