April 6, 2011
A couple months ago I wrote an article about starting a part-time photography business from home. I started this venture because a problem presented itself: Blank walls in my doctor’s office and I had a solution – pictures taken at interesting locations including Niagara Falls, Vienna, Zurich, etc. After discussing with the physician, I contacted my accountant and asked about the business structure and what I should record for tax purposes.
Before putting my photos on display, I started immediately on branding my business. My first steps included a name for the business – fotosbydion – and reserving the domain name for website sales. After considerable thought, I changed the business name to Stepping Stone Studios; it mirrors the title of one of my best pictures and a feature of the website’s home page. Domain name reservation through GoDaddy and free email via gmail was a consideration in the naming process. The business name had to available for domain and email; my first choices were taken. Though my original choice was to use Etsy as my sales outlet – it is a very low cost service – I wanted more of a professional image that a dedicated website reflects.
One of my original plans was to exhibit at local art and/or craft shows and gain additional exposure and business. While that is still a possibility, the late winter shows were filled and I wanted to do some research on possible competition at these events. I needed to see if a customer base for my product was present, if other photographers were participating, and get an idea of pricing.
I also wanted to have the permanent on-display pieces framed by a professional; I contacted a wonderfully talented framer – Julie Novak – I’ve used in the past for personal reasons. After many back and forth trips between our houses, we have some real showcase pieces that I am very pleased with. Contact Julie at framingsource@gmail.com.
While the shows I attended are probably not appropriate for my work, I was fortunate and found the name of a graphic designer to work with. I looked at her portfolio, contacted her and now have a logo for Stepping Stones – something that will add a professional touch to my business cards and other marketing material. Lindsay has a reasonable billing rate, listens well, works quickly, and is quite thorough. I am very pleased to be working with her – she will be a very valuable resource for any future project. Contact Lindsay at design@lindsaycoats.com
Our first face-to-face – virtually via Skype video chat – was this evening where we covered next steps for both parties. I need to provide her with products (photos), divided into specific categories, and related pricing; Lindsay has committed to producing a couple of mock-ups (sample pages) within days. I will provide previews and links of her work in future postings and examples of pricing worksheets as this business develops.
By Dion D Shaw
Dion Shaw is the founder and owner of Homepreneurs and Stepping Stone Studios
Posted by homepreneurs 
In 1991, Dion Shaw was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Over the years, his health has declined, including ongoing vision problems associated with optic neuritis, and doctors now say a stem cell transplant is essential to his well-being and perhaps, survival.
