Planning a plan

I am entering into the world of a true small business- research and business plans and possible finance options.  I am worried about taking on too much as to not stress myself out and worry about bills and such.  Right now I have almost zero overhead, so I have no pressure to sell huge.  I print what I sell and nothing else.  It costs me some small listing fees but that is within my household budget so again no stress.  This is what has allowed me to do giveaways.  I want more though.  I want my work to sell so I can contribute to my family's budget instead of depleting it. 

However, I have come to realize I might sell more prints if I offered different sizes- especially the larger ones like 16x20's or 20x30's.  Sure right now I can print those but they will look like junk.  Out of focus and pixilated.  Not exactly the quality I want to be known for.  So for now until I can afford the camera that will take big enough files to allow me to blow up that big, I am staying with small 8x10 and 8x12's.  It makes me feel like such an amateur.  I need a new lens as well, but again that isn't in the budget until I start selling more.  This is the fun part- the shopping.  Just not as fun as it could be as it's only window shopping and a lot of drooling..

Another issue- what is going to sell?  How do I find out what people want and will buy?  How much is a fair market price that will entice customers to  buy again and a again?  How do I find the answers to these questions?  I am going to the Small Business Development Center, the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and any other organization that has free counseling and mentoring on starting a new business.  I am not to hot on the idea of taking out a loan for the money I need, as I would have no way to pay it back without putting undo stress on myself.

I am thinking of branching out to senior portraits in a outdoor setting and hope that would build the business end more.  I wouldn't need a studio for outdoor work, as I can't afford a studio space and don't know anyone willing to rent out their spaces.  Once I was bringing in money with seniors I would look into getting a space.  I have had people mention weddings and frankly I do not want that stress.  I did one wedding solo and it was hell.  I worked 14 hours, got paid $250 because the bride and groom stiffed me the amount after I sent the disc.  I would never do this again as this was a favor to a family friend and admittedly I didn't have all the equipment needed and the pictures weren't to my liking.  Poor planning and travel and it was a disaster- so much so I have vowed to never do that again.  I will happily shoot as a 2nd camera at a wedding but not the main one.

I think I may be asking too much, a thriving business with little to no stress.  Hey a girl can dream a little dream, right?

Huge Ice Storm

Means some interesting shooting opportunities.  I went out and bruised my body (my legs are scary) and just explored my yard.  The freezing rain just coated everything so beautifully during the first wave- the second it got too heavy and clumsy looking.  Plus it was too heavy to easily break and walk through and well breaking my body wasn't in my plans for what didn't appeal to my eye. 

I liked and enjoyed finding the delicate ice.  The roads were yucky but it was awesome being stuck home for one day while the weather raged around me.  Hearing the sound the ice made as it cracked was eery but very cool.  A sound you rarely hear.  When you do it usually isn't good but it was still cool.