Starting small business

[helen2263]

I want to start a business on colourizing vintage old black and white photos, I have been colourizing black and white photos for two years now and have put my work in various photo forums for critics to date all the critics I get are very good, I have even done some paid work for some people who wish to give me more work and a photographer whom I’ve colourized his photos want to use my colourized version for an exhibition to show vintage photos in full colour. I’ve looked at my competitors and can say my work is far better; I produce real skin tones instead of the copper colour skin tones that I see on various websites. I am not showing off it’s because I took my time to get my colourize to look as natural as possible also I use the best software money can buy. I am building a portfolio with my best work but don’t know how to go about introducing my work, I want to approach small photo outlets; I believe there is a market out there for photos colourizing what with the new technology and scans etc. If I can show my work here I would or give link to my work.


Please guys if anyone can help me or give me a few tips on how I can introduce myself in an affective way. Any reply would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance




Helen

[helen2263]

I want to start a business on colourizing vintage old black and white photos, I have been colourizing black and white photos for two years now and have put my work in various photo forums for critics to date all the critics I get are very good, I have even done some paid work for some people who wish to give me more work and a photographer whom I’ve colourized his photos want to use my colourized version for an exhibition to show vintage photos in full colour. I’ve looked at my competitors and can say my work is far better; I produce real skin tones instead of the copper colour skin tones that I see on various websites. I am not showing off it’s because I took my time to get my colourize to look as natural as possible also I use the best software money can buy. I am building a portfolio with my best work but don’t know how to go about introducing my work, I want to approach small photo outlets; I believe there is a market out there for photos colourizing what with the new technology and scans etc. If I can show my work here I would or give link to my work.


Please guys if anyone can help me or give me a few tips on how I can introduce myself in an affective way. Any reply would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance




Helen

Looks like I am going to work this one out for myself. I've already have a few points what to say but I don't want to mess it up before I even start, I just wanted a few tips of how people approach prospective clients.

thanks



helen

[virtuallysorted]

Hi Helen

I must admit it's not something I can really see a market for because I LOVE old B&W photos... Can you think about the types of people who would use this?

Um, historians - like on WWII in colour (I think this was a TV programme some years ago)? Who are your competitors marketing themselves to?

Sorry not to be more helpful!
C.

[wampit]

Hello - sounds like an interesting business. Also sounds very specialised - I think I'd start by contacting various TV companies like the BBC to see if it's something they would be interested in. Hope this helps. Adam

[helen2263]

Hi Helen

I must admit it's not something I can really see a market for because I LOVE old B&W photos... Can you think about the types of people who would use this?

Um, historians - like on WWII in colour (I think this was a TV programme some years ago)? Who are your competitors marketing themselves to?

Sorry not to be more helpful!
C.

Hi Virtual,

Thanks for your reply much appreciated, I afraid to say because YOU love black and white photos it doesn't mean their isn't a market out there, I know there is because I have already done a few colourize photos for people and they all loved it also Tesco have a Photo Restoration Services and do colourize black and white photos but theirs are copper colour skin whilst I produce real skin colour, my problems are to show my portfolio and how to put my words across. WW11 in colour this program was recent shown on TV.

Thanks for the tips on historians I shall google about and see what I come across, please I hope I don't sound harsh with my reply I am just answering asd honest as I can.

cheers



helen

[helen2263]

Hello - sounds like an interesting business. Also sounds very specialised - I think I'd start by contacting various TV companies like the BBC to see if it's something they would be interested in. Hope this helps. Adam

Hi Adam,

Thanks very much for your reply, yes it is an interesting business I have colourized a few photos for a Photographer his photos are from the late 70s era and he is putting some on my colourized photos for exhibitions next to his to see show how life looked in colour. I have lots to do.

Thanks very much.


cheers



helen

[skeeter]

Hi Helen,

I would like to follow your progress.

I love this kind of stuff...good luck. Moreover, I have two huge boxes in the loft of exactly what you describe.

[LOS Design UK]

Hi Virtual,

Thanks for your reply much appreciated, I afraid to say because YOU love black and white photos it doesn't mean their isn't a market out there, I know there is because I have already done a few colourize photos for people and they all loved it also Tesco have a Photo Restoration Services and do colourize black and white photos but theirs are copper colour skin whilst I produce real skin colour, my problems are to show my portfolio and how to put my words across. WW11 in colour this program was recent shown on TV.

helen

Wow, that told you I guess...

OK, who is the biggest player in this field and what was their turnover last year?

A few swallows does not make a summer and I too am of the opinion it may well be a constricted marketplace

JMTC

[janiforadword]

I suggest why you don't try a exhibition develop a website and put your work there announce exhibition and look at the results. I guess if you have talent and peoples likes your work they definitely try you for their personal work.
Thank

[Entro]

If you don't have one, you will definitely need a website as an electronic portfolio to show potential clients, as well as to generate business.

I'd try and target photographers on the basis that this will a) give them another profit centre, and b) not entail them actually doing the work. This would mean working on new photos which had been turned to B/W, and then recoloured by you. This could work for wedding pics, portraits and even some catalogue/ad pics, but the last are done by high end retouchers so competition will be very stiff.

I personally can't see a market above the market stall level in retouching old photos only. A lot of old photo enthusiasts will be very purist about old photos and not want them played around with, or will have in house facilities if the pictures are in established collections.

I think because programs like Lightroom and Photoshop make this recolouring quite easy, you will have to sell yourself on specialist knowledge, for instance being able to say that 'laying a blue underneath the black mimics a blah blah ink as used by Baily's printer in the 1960s' to give real value added not available on anyone's PC or at Tescos.

I might be totally wrong however, and a viable market might exist. Good luck.