michaelariganello

[michaelariganello]

Photography Business Update

What’s Working? While I didn’t get any bookings this week, I’ve used the time to think about the last few weeks running my photography business. I also received some kind words and positive feedback from past clients, which was a great reminder of why I started this in the first place. It’s encouraging to know that the work I’ve done makes an impact.

What’s Not Working?

My social media efforts haven’t led to much engagement on top of that, trying to juggle the last couple weeks of school, full-time work, and this business is definitely taking a toll on me and im starting to feel burnt out.

How’s It Going? This week was slower, but I’ve come to understand that it’s part of the journey. With finals and end-of-semester stress, I expected things to quiet down a bit. I’m not giving up I’ve just been shifting my focus toward some other stuff in my life untillI have more time.

What Am I Learning About Business?

Some weeks will be slow, and that’s okay.

Building a business takes time, consisitant effort is important.

What Am I Learning About Myself? I’m learning to be more patient and resilient. It’s easy to get discouraged, but I still have a passion for photography and a vision for where this can go. 

Thanks for following along with my updates!

[michaelariganello]

Photography Business Update

What’s Working? Even though I didn’t get any bookings this week, I’ve been working on improving and updating my portfolio. I also got some positive feedback from past clients, which helps me stay motivated.

What’s Not Working? I didn’t get any new bookings this week, which is frustrating. Social media hasn’t been bringing in much interest, and I still don’t have the budget for paid ads. Balancing school, work, and trying to run this business is starting to make me feel burnt out.

How’s It Going? This week was a bit slow, but I’m not giving up. I’m learning that not every week will be busy especially with the end of the semester coming up, and that’s okay. I’m using the extra time to plan new ways to promote my services and reach more people.

What Am I Learning About Business?

Not every week will be a win, and that’s part of the process.

I need to keep showing up and being consistent, even when things are slow.

Free marketing (like social posts and referrals) is super important when you're on a small budget.

What Am I Learning About Myself? I’m learning to be patient. It’s not easy, but I’m trying to stay focused and keep going. I still love photography and believe in this business I just need to keep working at it and not get discouraged.

That’s my update for this week. Thanks for checking in, and I’ll share more soon!

[michaelariganello]

My Photography Business Update

Here’s another update on my photography business.

What’s Working?

I got a few more bookings this week, and I’m feeling more confident in my work. A couple of happy clients even recommended me to their friends, which is awesome. Word-of-mouth seems to be my best marketing tool right now.

What’s Not Working?

Marketing is still tough. Social media posts don’t always reach the right people, and paid ads are expensive. I also feel like I need a better way to showcase my work online. Balancing everything business, school, and work is still a struggle I feel like there’s alot to balance

How’s It Going?

Overall, things are going well. I’m slowly growing my client base, and I’ve made a bit more profit. I still need to book more sessions to reach my goal, but I feel like I’m making steady progress.

What Am I Learning About Business?

Word-of-mouth is powerful, happy clients bring in new ones.

I need a better strategy for online marketing, a better online presence more consistent posting.

Time management is key. If I don’t set clear schedules, I fall behind and get unorganized.

What Am I Learning About Myself?

I’m starting to feel more confident in my skills, but I still find self-promotion challenging. I know I need to put myself out there more and be okay with asking for business.

That’s my update for this week.

Thanks for your time, stay tuned for more!

[michaelariganello]

My Photography Business Update

Here’s another update on my photography business.

What’s Working?

I’m still getting bookings, and my clients have been really happy with their photos. This week, I had my first client who wasn’t a friend or family member, which was exciting.

What’s Not Working?

I’m still struggling with marketing to people outside my personal network. Social media helps, but paid ads are expensive, and engagement is hit or miss. Also, juggling this business with school and my job is tough I feel like there’s never enough time. 

How’s It Going?

The business is moving forward. I’ve made some profit, and I’m learning more about what clients want. I still need to book more sessions to reach my goal, but I feel like I’m making progress.

What Am I Learning About Business?

Networking is just as important as marketing, Personal connections lead to bookings.

Time management is key, if I don’t plan my schedule well, I fall behind. 

Pricing my work fairly but competitively is tricky. I’m learning to value my time and skills.

What Am I Learning About Myself?

I’m realizing that I love photography and working for myself, but I still hesitate when it comes to promoting my business. I need to be more proactive and put myself out there more.

That’s my update for this week.

Thanks for your time, stay tuned for more!

[michaelariganello]

Business Showcase: Michael's Photography

Link not working, emailed to professor

[michaelariganello]

Tumblr Post: My Photography Business Update

Here’s a quick update on my photography business.

What’s Working? So far, I’ve booked a few sessions, and people seem really happy with the photos. All the clients I have had are people I personally know, so marketing hasnt been to public nessecary

What’s Not Working? Finding customers takes time. Ads cost money, and not everyone replies when I message them. Also, balancing this business with school and a full time job is tricky.

How’s It Going? Overall, I think the project is going well. I’ve made some money and learned a lot about pricing and talking to customers. I still need more bookings to reach my goal, but I feel like I’m on the right track for the most part.

What Am I Learning About Business?

Marketing is super important, if people don’t know about you, they won’t book.

Good customer service matters. If clients like you, they’ll recommend you.

Planning is key. Running a business takes more time than I thought.

What Am I Learning About Myself? I like being creative and working for myself, but I also get nervous about pricing and asking people to book. I need to be more confident and keep pushing forward.

That’s my update for now.

Thanks for your time, stay tuned for more!

[michaelariganello]

Start-Up Venture Update:

Progress on My Photography Business

Starting this small photography business has been an exciting and eye-opening experience. As I progress through this, I’ve encountered successes and challenges shaping my understanding of entrepreneurship.

What is Working?

One of the biggest wins so far has been the interest in my services. My market research suggested that people in Thunder Bay are looking for affordable and flexible photography options, and I’m seeing that firsthand. I’ve had a few inquiries from individuals looking for portraits and small businesses interested in branding photos.

Another thing that’s going well is the cost-effective approach of running a mobile photography service. I’ve kept overhead costs low without needing to rent a studio. Thunder Bay provides beautiful scenery, making a backdrop unnecessary.

What’s Not Working?

One of the biggest challenges has been marketing. Since I’m still building my portfolio and reputation, getting my name out there has been tough. Word-of-mouth referrals are helping, but I realize I need a stronger promotional strategy to reach a wider audience.

Balancing this business with my full-time job and school has also been difficult. I initially planned to book two sessions per month, but scheduling them has been tricky. Some potential clients need availability on weekends, which doesn’t always align with my workload.

How Do I Feel About the Project?

Overall, I feel optimistic. While there are hurdles to overcome, I see potential in this business. I’m learning that patience and persistence are key to building a successful brand.

What Am I Learning About Running a Business?

Marketing is essential. Just having a good product or service isn’t enough—you have to put in the effort to make people aware of it.

Customer service matters. A good client experience leads to repeat business and referrals.

Time management is everything. Juggling multiple commitments means I need to be extremely organized and strategic about scheduling sessions and handling administrative tasks.

What Am I Learning About Myself?

I’ve realized that I truly enjoy the creative and business side of photography. I love capturing moments for people, but I also enjoy figuring out pricing, promotions, and strategies to grow the business. At the same time, I see that I need to push myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to self-promotion.

Next Steps

Begin my social media marketing strategy with more consistent posting and engagement.

Offer limited-time discounts to attract more clients.

Explore potential partnerships with local businesses for cross-promotion.

This journey is teaching me so much, and I’m excited to see how it continues to develop.

[michaelariganello]

Financing the Future of My Photography Business

Starting small with just $50 for marketing, my photography business has shown potential to generate revenue. But to take it forward, I need additional financing.

One option is a small business loan through a financial institution like BDC. According to BDC’s article on financing factors, lenders look at elements like cash flow, credit history, and collateral. Since my business has minimal overhead and a steady demand for photography services, I believe a loan could help with essential investments like upgraded equipment, studio space, and expanded marketing.

On top of this, self-financing by reinvesting profits. This would mean growing at a slower but more controlled pace, ensuring financial stability without accumulating debt.

Either way, securing funding is key to expanding my business and reaching more clients and growing by business.

[michaelariganello]

Starting My Photography Business

Business Operations Plan:

I’m getting ready to launch my photography business over the next little bit! Since photography is a service, I don’t need to buy products, but I need the right tools and a solid plan.

What I Need

I already have a good camera, but I want to add:

A tripod

Extra lighting

Editing software (Lightroom, Photoshop)

A website or Instagram to show my work

More storage for photos

Will I Be Ready?

Yes! My gear is almost set, and I have editing software. Now, I just need to market myself and find my first clients. I plan to offer discounts or free sessions to start building a portfolio.

Do I Need Any Permits?

Since I’m working for myself, I might need a small business license. Permits may also be required if I shoot in public places, but that is about all.

Who’s Helping?

For now my business is limited to just me. I will be:

Taking photos & editing

Marketing on social media

Talking to clients & booking sessions

What Else Do I Need?

To begin I’ll need:

A business name & logo

A website or social media page

A way to accept payments (Probably E-Transfer)

Contracts for clients

Flyers or ads to spread the word

I’m excited to get started! Once I have everything set, I’ll be ready to take on clients and grow my business. Follow to see my entrepreneurial journey!

[michaelariganello]

Creative Advertising: Making Your Business Stand Out

To create interesting ads for your business, try creative advertisement ideas to draw your customers in.

Step 1: Identify Your Business Example: A small photography business in Thunder Bay

Step 2: Brainstorm Ad Ideas Think differently, Instead of a regular ad that says: “Hire Me” maybe try: - A before-and-after post showing “bad” vs. “amazing” photography - A short TikTok about a day in the life of a photographer

Step 3: Emotion People connect and relate with stories as they draw emotion. Instead of saying, “A Photoshoot” try: “Capture memories that last forever because your best moments deserve more than just phone photos.”

Step 4: Trial & Error Try different ad ideas on social media and see what draws in the most people 

Creative advertising helps your business stand out and makes customers excited to work with you.

[michaelariganello]

How to Create a Customer Persona for Your Business

When starting a business, knowing who your ideal customer is super important. That’s where a customer persona can help. A customer persona is like a character profile for the people buying your product or service. It helps you understand their needs, wants, and habits so you can market to them the right way.

How to Build a Customer Persona:

Age & Location – Are they teenagers, young adults, elderly, etc.? Where do they live?

Interests – What do they like to do in their free time?

Shopping Habits – Do they shop online or in stores? How much do they spend?

Problem – What problems do they have that your business can solve?

Customer Persona: Emily is a 20-year-old college student in Thunder Bay. She loves photography but struggles to find affordable and professional photo services. A budget-friendly mobile photography service would be perfect for her. By knowing your ideal customer, you can create better ads and products that are catered to what they like.

Try making a customer persona for your business!

[michaelariganello]

[michaelariganello]

Strengths and Weaknesses

When it comes to employability and entrepreneurial skills, everyone has areas where they are thrive and others where they need growth. One of my greatest strengths is time management when balancing school assignments, and projects, I am typically very good at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines effectively. For example, during my studies at Confederation College, I managed a marketing project while also staying on top of my 6 other courses and a full time job. Another strength is communication skills. I’ve had to write research papers, such as one on Shoppers Drug Mart, and during this I had to present my findings clearly to my peers and professors. These experiences have helped me with how I express ideas. A key area I consider a weekeness is selling or premoting my ideas as I sometimes struggle with pitching ideas or advocating strongly for my perspective, especially in group discussions. To improve, I plan to practice these skills in class projects. Another area I struggle with in is financial planning. While I can budget my personal expenses, I’m less confident in applying these skills to entrepreneurial settings. I will try my best to build this by taking more confidence in what I feel is correct and using supporting knowledge to ensure i am educated about these ideas.

Note: I am so sorry this is being completed late, i did not see this assingment. This will not happen again.