I want to take my hobby to the next level.. YEs, guide me!

[ikjosh]

Okay friends.. I'm ready to expand one of my side businesses, it's been more of a fun hobby up to this point. It's different, and gets some attention, has been featured/profiled in local papers, magazines and television. I want to solicit the thoughts and suggestions of you smart young people. I have already answered these questions myself, but I'm a big advocate of gathering the thoughts, suggestions and input (whether positive or negative) of my peers, and those who are smarter than I am.

1. What, if anything, would you suggest to do to enhance the website?
   
2. What are some fun marketing campaigns you might suggest? Both at a local and national level
   
3. What are your thoughts on the viability of this business?
   
4. What are your suggestions as far as creating a simple, easy, core message that accurately describes what the business is about, and why you should do this?

My short term goal is to start booking 4 shoots per month. Right now I don't book many, mainly because it's been on the side burner for quite a while, and I mostly book shoots for fun, at no charge. I'm not sure of the long term goal - The brand is myself, not a product or service that I could build and sell.

Of course, any and all input is greatly appreciated. If you like any of the photos on the website, PM me and I'd be happy to send a larger version.

Josh Davis Photography - Vehicle, Boudoir and Custom Photography in Dallas, Fort Worth

Thank you!

[Carlos™]

For this kind of hobby. I'd start going to expositions. There are a lot of car import expos ALL the time. Especially between now and the summer. Build the portfolio and let clients, viewers, other like-minded businesses be impressed with your work.

For example, my passion and my big hobby since I was 4 years old is video games, I took it to the next level by writing for websites and started to build experience in the field, then some more. Through this, I have gained a new talent; Marketing. The industry has inspired me to look through a new way of expanding my dreams from where it started. I pushed this further by going to one of the most prestigious expositions for the video game and entertainment sector: E3. Since then, I have gained first-hand experience writing on a trip.

I got tired of working for others and gaining nothing from it. I lost a lot of money through working with others. So, Three years ago, I wine tasted the market and kept running my site. I bought a business license a year ago, and its moving at a snail's pace. Soon, things will change.

[DanaKS]

I agree with Carlos, expositions is perfect for this.

[ikjosh]

Cool guys, thanks for the suggestions, I'll search for some upcoming expos!

[abhaykhurana]

Hey Josh,

I'm happy to see your ambition and skillfulness in your niche profession.

I'm not extremely familiar with photography or exotic vehicles, but I do have knowledge of effective business principles and persuasion marketing.

One thing that is very attractive to potential clients is free education. In other words, people love to feel like your giving them something without expecting something in return. Using this principle can have tremendous results.

What if, on your website, you included a report like "7 Techniques to Make Any Car Shoot Look Like It Was Shot by Car and Driver Magazine" (not at all a title suggestion, but you get the picture).

By including some information up front without any cost, two things immediately happen:

1. Your clients develop some level of trust and faith in you, you start develop a relationship.

2. Your clients will see you as an expert because you've demonstrated that you understand and can explain specialized knowledge about your specific profession.

Of course, in your report, be sure to plug yourself and included testimonials of people saying that you do exactly what you're explaining is effective.

Again, congrats on the business that you've already built and on the business that is in store for you in the future.

Feel free to respond or PM for further information on this technique or other business related topics.

-Abhay

[ikjosh]

The thing that gets the most attention, that has gotten me all the publicity, is the photo shoots with models and the exotic cars. That is usually what I try to push.

I like your suggestion abhaykhurana - I definitely have been thinking about implementing a blog and posting articles like that

[nevaeh.aaric]

A few years ago, my life was centered around creativity. Then I changed my job, living arrangement, town, interests, etc. About six months after all this craziness, somebody asked me what I was doing each day, to cultivate creativity. I was at a loss...didn't even realize that this was one of the fundamental things that was missing. And it was missing because it was no longer automatically folded into my daily life. So I started looking for new ways to be creative, with limited time and resources. Some ideas:
Arrange objects on a shelf or coffee table. Redo every few days.
Reorganize the contents of a drawer. Think Tetris.
Reorder items in your closet, music library, book collection. By height, color, category, whatever suits your fancy.
make a necklace, scarf, candle, or something else equally crafty.
Twitter. Think of it as little bursts of creative thought and funny observation.
Doodle. Especially while on the phone.
Plan a theme party. Repurpose your outfits. Find new ways to accessorize, do your hair, whatever.
Bake something weird using whatever you have in your kitchen. My latest kick is putting strange spices on things. A dash of cinnamon on fried eggs is actually kind of delicious. Cilantro and chocolate is good too.
Make up jokes, puns, quotes, fortune cookies, business names, taglines, etc. Write letters. Mailing them optional.
Make CD's, play lists, etc.
Wrap gifts...use materials that can be recycled from stuff you have.
Hang art. Frame postcards.
Garden. Landscape. Plant things. Tend to them.
Add some things to this list. Just about anything can be turned into a creative endeavor.