How can I start a photo retouching/restoration business online?

  • Thread starter Thread starter susie q
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susie q

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Hi, I was curious if anyone has any ideas for me. I would like to start a photo retouching "business" and I'm not sure where to start. Although I'm really good at the artistic part of it (I can do everything a photo restoration business online can do), I'm lost on how to advertise myself. Do I need a website? What if I don't know anything about building a website? Do you think I could advertise on something like craigslist? And if I did advertise on craigslist, how do you think I should get paid for my services? Any suggestions would be appreciated!
 
Large part of running online business is marketing. That means large part of your time, and large part of your money.

Also ask yourself, if this is something that is client interaction intensive work (translation: you need to talk with your clients face to face a lot).

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If you decide to open an online business, contact a local web designer (who is familiar with WEB COMMERCE software systems). Not all web designers know enough about commerce (credit card transactions, etc.).

then look up google "ad-sense". Learn all about marketing your business through "ad-sense"

And good luck...
 
Getting paid may be the largest challenge, but I don't know how you are going to discuss the image with the clients you do get. The retouch artists I know work through a local lab and actually meet with the people who need retouching or restoration done to their images.

Since costs can be from as little as $25 for a routine touch-up to over $1,000 depending upon the complexity of the project, you really need to sit down with the client and discuss the many options available

This becomes problematic as the distance between you and the client increases.

Providing a before and after list of services and the cost of each would be a good start.

My post production Photoshop wizard bills at $150/hour

Of course as with any business, you need a business and marketing plan as well as run a Profit and Loss spread sheet to see if your pricing structure is such that you can afford to run such a business and still provide for your family.

You can visit your local SCORE office and have them help you in establishing your business.
 
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