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We are all amateur photographers these days. With our smartphones, we can capture every moment, meal, and memory to post and share. But within the larger framework of special events, a professional photographer is the only way to go. Photo buffs and current professional photographers love being behind a camera for the moments people want to preserve. If this is you, a photography franchise might be a perfect fit for your next venture.
Photographers find franchises have some excellent perks too. For some, it is a way to find consistent customers. Wedding couples will only use you once, for example, but schools and teams offer consistent scheduling and income opportunities. With a known brand, you can expand your skills and customer base to provide more consistent income. Here are a few other ideas to consider as you search photography franchise opportunities.
- Drones. New technology like drones and mini-drones provide visuals that no handheld device can capture. For example, with a franchise like Hommati, you provide video to real estate companies to showcase homes or connect with commercial developers that want to “see” a property without actually travelling to it. And for private use, some of the best shots I saw of a friend’s wedding were from the outdoor party afterward. A drone captured the whole area: the game-playing, the various groups of people, etc., with steady action shots that would’ve been impossible without a drone. Plus, there is a documented shortage of pilots for commercial use. Your desired focus could help fill a market inefficiency.
- Live photo printers. Since everyone at an event is taking photos on their own phones, use them to your advantage with this sleek and savvy tool. Impressius licensing lets you blend Polaroid-style photo immediacy with a roomful of phone cameras. Attendees capture special moments as they occur, and the images can be printed on site immediately. With high-profit margins, it is a nice tool for your photographer toolbox—and it performs on demand for events and parties. To benefit long-term, the printer can be installed as a permanent kiosk in venues like restaurants and hotels, providing recurring passive income with few manhours.
- Recurring customers and community partners. TSS Photography works in more traditional, familiar surroundings — your own community. Sports and athletic teams are the primary customers along with national organizations like the YMCA. These organizations appreciate the turnkey approach to managing services for large numbers of players. And no more need for name cards and figuring out which photo is whose. Instead, TSS technology simplifies names and photos with its PhotoMatch system and then streamlines online ordering for the families and groups in your area.
- Macro-photography. As camera lenses bring clarity beyond the capability of the human eye, scientific endeavors are capturing macro-images of things we cannot normally see. From extreme close-ups for forensic needs or large images of tiny insects, what was once a narrow niche is now more readily available to mainstream photographers. Although there isn’t a specific franchise for this area yet, it’s definitely an area to keep an eye on for the future.
Set up your next career shot with an eye toward success. No matter your artistic style or experience, a photographic franchise offers equipment, technology, training, and service support to help you focus on your business and meet your individual needs.
Anne Daniells is a co-owner of Enterprising Solutions, a professional services firm specializing in corporate communication and financial improvement for businesses where she shares decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience—including franchise ownership—in her writings on business culture. She has authored hundreds of articles for publications including AllBusiness.com, TweakYourBiz.com, and MSN.com. Reach out via her website for more on where corporate culture, communication, and human architecture collide.