Co-op Studio

RacinRandy

Has anyone ever been involved in or know of a co-op studio?

I have an opportunity to acquire a prime downtown location for a studio where I live. the draw back is I can't afford one alone.

We have a "Guild" of photographers here that I am trying to get interested in a co-op venture.

any advice or tips or pitfalls to look for?

Thanks

chrisjohnson

Sounds like a great idea. Downtown locations are great for passing traffic and impulse buys. Holidays and Christmas are the main moments. Perhaps you should look for premises that are temporarily available - eg empty and cheap. Otherwise downtown is too expensive unless you are selling shoes or clothes or chocolate. I would not share this idea with others - far too complicated.

Sharing a studio is an ok idea, but then you need to do it out of town with easy parking and low overheads.

angevin1

RacinRandy wrote: »

Has anyone ever been involved in or know of a co-op studio?

I have an opportunity to acquire a prime downtown location for a studio where I live. the draw back is I can't afford one alone.

We have a "Guild" of photographers here that I am trying to get interested in a co-op venture.

any advice or tips or pitfalls to look for?

Thanks

I understand you are asking for experiences. and I only have experience with a partnership in this realm, and I would NEVER do it again!

But a coop is different, and a GUILD is definitely different. I suggest you (The Guild) continue to debate it. I bet ya'll could come up with some neat ways to make this affordable and profitable for everyone.

RacinRandy

angevin1 wrote: »

I suggest you (The Guild) continue to debate it. I bet ya'll could come up with some neat ways to make this affordable and profitable for everyone.

This is exactly the function I am looking to create for it. I want it to be a place where 5 or 6 of us work out of regularly with an open invitation to other members to came and use as they need for a SMALL fee. I am willing to put my alien bees to be used by all as they wish. Also the few backgrounds and stands and things of that nature.

My thought is to have it be a USEFUL entity that helps everyone in someway(Gear, equipment, etc,etc,) not to mention a more "Professional" setting than someones home may seem.

deb22

Do your research as it can become a money pit or you end up doing all the legwork every month. If you have good knowledgeable people involved it can be a great venture for all.

angevin1

RacinRandy wrote: »

This is exactly the function I am looking to create for it. I want it to be a place where 5 or 6 of us work out of regularly with an open invitation to other members to came and use as they need for a SMALL fee. I am willing to put my alien bees to be used by all as they wish. Also the few backgrounds and stands and things of that nature.

My thought is to have it be a USEFUL entity that helps everyone in someway(Gear, equipment, etc,etc,) not to mention a more "Professional" setting than someones home may seem.

Consider Charity functions. For instance the _____ society has a Portriat fundraiser and they use your GUild-Studio for the portraits. Where the potential Donors call in advance or go Online and schedule with the photog of their choosing for their thirty minute session. You and said society figure out how much you recoup and they receive?

I just think working as a Group can have huge benefits.

Gary Peterson Photography

I have a studio and have a photographer that leases office space and shooting time from me on a full time basis. It works super well for us, as I work days, and am rarely in the studio in the evenings and on the weekends. The studio is also available for rental and is used quite often by other photographers and salons for shoots. I would suggest that if you plan on being a co-op/guild, that you take a hard look at when the studio would actually be available to the members and whether or not that works for them.

Snowgirl

Here's one in Halifax, NS that is a rental set-up. You might want to talk to the owner to see how it's working for him.
http://aperturestudios.ca/?page_id=79