So 10 years into my career, I decided to open a side business to try and expand my self-proclaimed ‘empire’.

I’l break this article together into two parts, what I expected and What I’m going through, Read Below.

What I expected.

Well, like every optimistic business person with good knowledge and some PR, I did a survey. The survey always comes out with flying colours and that is what encouraged me to start a photography lighting equipment rental business. Based on my survey, I invested in spanking new equipment and dived right in. (I won’t break down the business much here, it’s more an expectation vs. reality write). I expected that people would be so excited, and would support this small new venture which btw isn’t too expensive, my usp being pocket-friendly, I thought people would dive right in. The photography industry isn’t as sensitive as I expected and people wouldn’t mind spending a little extra on quality lighting with quality support. This I especially considered because often when I photograph some luxury products that might be reflective such as watch photography or cosmetics photography, there is so much handling of light that is required that a great lighting gaffer is required for the same. If you try to do it independently it gets challenging because you need to be on the camera while moving the lights simultaneously. however, you can read my experience in the next paragraph.

What I’m getting!

Well, once we started the business, we realized a few things now. This business isn’t as large scale as we expected. Well, it has been super easy to start the business. Like every other entrepreneur, we realize that we should have started it earlier because the earlier we start, the more distance we cover. But the main challenge we’re facing is marketing and bringing together all the collaterals that a new business brings. Everything from a website, business cards, Instagram, and endless spreadsheets of pricing the product right (to entice photographers to start using the service). This we see as the main challenge, because no business is an original, most of us are usually taking other business ideas and seeing how we can better the process, for the potential clients. For us, being on the receiving end all these years recalling all the challenges we might have faced, and ensuring our business in no way makes the same mistake others have. Now, once all the mistakes are dodged and we’re running the basics right, what we need to find is the EDGE. An edge over others, our zing factor, the magic sauce. Will it just be running smoothly without hiccups? or is it that we will find this along the way? that remains the biggest mystery. This brings me totally back to starting my career right from scratch, which includes, cold calls, reminding people that ‘hey, we’ve started a new business, try it out?’

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Like a new born! - Starting a photography business