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June, 2025

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Crowdsourcing

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Bmo.
Posts: 4908 - Karma: 2,674
This idea popped into my head late last night. I really want to get into the portrait game this summer and I am trying to come up with a good way of getting it going. Then I thought about Indiegogo and crowdsourcing. Do you think it would be a good idea if i did a campaign for myself, like "I want to raise $2000 for studio equipment," and then have the donation packages be like this:
$25- free photo shoot, you buy prints through me
$250- i give you digital files and you print yourself

good idea? realistic? got any other prize suggestions? I really only need about $800 to complete a studio setup with an Einstein, ab800, PCB PLM, and some backgrounds. Anything above that is profit and would line up work for this summer. what do you guys think?
12 years ago
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cydwhit
Posts: 5079 - Karma: 43,075
this has some interesting info, hope it helps. https://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/308/dont-worry-we-took-notes-crowdfunding-secrets-at-doc-nyc
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
There's a thing on kickstarter that says like "no funding for personal gains" or something, like just for the sake of you making money.
12 years ago
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Bmo.
Posts: 4908 - Karma: 2,674
i was leaning more towards indiegogo, because even if you dont reach your goal you keep the money raised. Ive had 2 friends do similar things and both were very successful. One wanted to record an EP and only needed $5000 but actually raised 6000

I think i'll be fine as long as my reason is to invest in equipment
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
one of the examples was "help me buy a new camera" or something hahap
12 years ago
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jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
I think it would work out well. I have been considering something along the same lines to get more equipment but have not come up with a great idea yet. I'm in a hypothetical business plan competition right now and we are running a large portion of our startup funds through kickstarter. The benefit of your plan is that you get money from them and then they also pay for the prints (assuming they go with the $25 option). It sounds like it could work and be very profitable. My only advice would be to research the exact rules of kickstarter or indiegogo.
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
I would say you want to go bigger if you are going to try and do this. I would say 2 einsteins, b400, speedlights, modifiers (large softboxes, beauty dish, etc), VML, nice backgrounds and hanger, studio space, etc.
12 years ago
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Bmo.
Posts: 4908 - Karma: 2,674
ya good call. alright i'll look into the rules a bit more a go from there
12 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
the only issue you may run into is location. Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but usually crowd sourcing reaches all over the world, and it may be problematic for people from thousands of miles away to do a studio session with you. You could try including something like a photo book if you have a decent portfolio or something to reach a larger audience
12 years ago
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Bmo.
Posts: 4908 - Karma: 2,674
That's a really good idea, thanks man! I could put one together from my travels in Europe last semester
12 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
ya, thats great,
12 years ago
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