Starting a Photography Business: Part 24 – Photography Tours

As the site gets closer and closer to being ready for business – hopefully I will be giving you a guided tour around it this time next week – I’m starting to think and plan for alternative sources of income.

Photography courses seem like a good option they require little outlay in terms of finances; it’s more a question of time and planning to make sure the guests get value for money. The difference between the research for setting up a photography website is that I was pretty much able to do from sitting in front of a computer, this time for some parts of it any way, it’s about getting out and doing a dummy run.

I’m really enjoying the process of starting to put it all together. In the main they are going to based in Europe, I’ve lived in a few areas of mainland Europe, so my tours will draw on that local experience. Hidden gems of the towns and countryside that I spent hours exploring, restaurants used by locals that serve good tasty food with great service, and a knowledge of locations for sunrise and sunsets, alluring alleyways and hidden coves.

An exciting tour with a twist I’m looking at, working in partnership with a friend who owns a travel agency is, a photography cruise holiday. This all sounds exciting doesn’t it? And it is, yet to make sure a worthwhile course is delivered there are some important structures that need to be in place, not least that the content I give is useful and moves people forward in their photography.

A few technical things need to be taken into consideration regardless of whether it is land based or on a ship, what facilities/rooms are available for coming together as a group to review our days photos? Will computers be provided or shall we all bring our own laptops? Do we include lunchtime meals in the overall cost or let people pay for their own?

We have pretty much made a decision on lunches and evening meals, though I’m still going to do a bit of market research amongst friends. As I’m an independent traveller I can only go on my own preferences, however we would like to offer a service which appeals to all guests so it would be good to have some feedback before anything is set in stone. In fact, do please feel welcome to post your thoughts either at the bottom of this article or on my Facebook page as to the type of traveller you are. Would you prefer your evenings to yourself to explore the local town or would you like to have the evening meals organised for you?

Recce’s are going to be an important research tool, although I lived in many of the areas we’ll visit, I wasn’t assessing the places in the same way as I would for a working trip. It’s been a few years too, so restaurants need to be re-visited to check that the standard of the food is still as I remember it and to see if I can do a deal for a set lunch menu. Ah yes, it’s a tough life I know! On these recce’s I’ll be taking photos to help promote the tour and also for adding to my collections on the site.

There are many other exciting areas I’m planning to diversify into as I start to launch the business and get my name well known which I’ll cover in future articles. For now though please do remember, if you have time, to share your travelling preferences with me. Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Notes

• Keep a note pad with you so whenever you have a business idea you can note it down. As the ideas start to flow so will all the things you’ll need to research into it.

• Remember, if you’ve had the idea, it’s possible to bring into fruition.  Good luck!

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Photo Credit: © 2010 Ruth Bayley

Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife.  Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.

However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.

Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes.  It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.

Company: Ruth Bayley Landscape Photography
Website: http://www.ruthbayleyphotography.co.uk
Twitter: @iaminthemoment
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-Bayley-Landscape-Photography/134360899943964

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Related Posts

1. Starting a Photography Business: Part 54 – Going Home
2. Starting a Photography Business: Part 34 – Staying True
3. Starting a Photography Business: Part 54 – An Eventful Recce
4. Starting a Photography Business: Part 29 – Half Time
5. Starting a Photography Business: Part 1 – From Conception to Birth; a Business is Born