I would love to offer a digital photo printing service.

Description

Idea

I would like to offer a printing service for digital photos. Egypt is catching up with the rest of the world with the rise of digital photography. Digital photography using digital cameras is gaining widespread popularity in Egypt. As more people are getting mobile phones with cameras and as mobile phone cameras get better, digital photography will gain even more popularity in Egypt, a country where people love having mobile phones and upgrading them as a symbol of social status. In the years to come, digital photography in Egypt might become oblivious.

Pleasure

Having a print version of your favorite digital photos is something many people like. Holding a photo in your hand has a special feeling to it. Carrying printed photos around, putting them in a physical album and sharing them with others are all activities that give a special kind of pleasure that only printed photos can provide. Besides having regular size print versions of your best digital photos, it can be a lot of fun to pick one or more outstanding photos you have shot and print it in large size then hang it on the wall.

Starting Up

I can start catering for this growing need by buying a color printer that prints on special paper to produce near film quality of professionally printed photos at photography studios. The quality of the photos and paper may be less than that of professionally printed photos yet so should the price I would be offering them for.

Later on, I can make a feasibility analysis of buying a professional quality photo printer and using professional quality printing paper. I should take into account current prices of photo printing services at different studios in different areas of Egypt, mainly in Cairo and perhaps in Alexandria as well. To deter the presumably high cost of a professional quality photo printer, I can start by printing my digital photos at some studio. Perhaps by making a deal with one or more studios, preferably one only to guarantee higher volume for it, I can get a discount for my digital photo prints.

Next Stage

As things get better and the business increases, I can start renting a small studio/shop at some good location and do all required legal papers and all. A studio would provide me with a wider audience and enable me to market my digital photo printing service more aggressively. I may even offer a bunch of other related services such as photo editing, photo retouching and special effects.

The studio can be at a popular place such as Abbas El Akkad street in Nasr City or at some mall such as City Center in Nasr City or at any other well known mall in Cairo. Perhaps opening a second branch in Alexandria, maybe also at some popular mall there, would be a good next step at a further stage down the road.

Advantage

The main advantage I have is that I am good at photography and I am connected to people and events where photos are in need. Another advantage I have is my high skill with using computers. The only lacking skill I might not have is inability to use Photoshop or similar programs on a professional level to do advanced image editing and special effects, yet I am good at basic photo editing such as cropping images to provide a better overall image impression. I can cash on my photography skills, the frequent photo-hungry events I attend and my reputation of shooting good images, I can cash on all that to get business from those attending such events with me and who would like print versions of photos taken at such events.

Later on, as such service I offer is known even more to more people, I can offer photo printing service for digital photos shot by other people. One other advantage besides my good photography skills is that in most of the events I attend I am the only one having a digital camera!

Website

I can also make a website for my digital photo printing service. The website will include a few select and diverse images I have shot to entice visitors. The site will also include basic contact information including an email address, a phone line and an online form to fill for even easier communication than email. The site will also show prices for prints as well and list any other services offered.

The website may also list events I have attended and shot photos at. That can be a good way to bring many users around the site. Users can then order prints of some public photos from such events. I may also offer a service on the website to upload and order prints of one’s own digital photos as other websites in the USA and a few in Egypt do.

Conclusion

I believe that this digital photo printing service can be a profitable business for me both financially and personally. My deep love for photography would make such an endeavor highly rewarding on the personal level.

Implementation

Obstacles

• Social obstacles for working in this field which may be considered as inappropriate for me.
• High cost of photo printing for me which might make it not possible for me to compete with market prices. 

First Step

• Buy a color printer with ability to print on special photo paper.
  

Progress

• Attended events that call for good photos and shot many good photos there.
• Started a blog about photography in which I aim to showcase some of the photos I shoot.