Starting up a photography tour business?

4 years 7 months ago #653817 by MM Images
I'm on the fence about this as it's only an idea someone gave me.  Recently we have been doing some traveling and attended a couple photography workshops.  My wifes friend brought up something I have never considered.  That is starting up a photography tour business.  After all tours seem to be big, I know certain areas very well.  But what else should be considered?  I'm not 100% on this yet.  Just considering from a distance and factoring in all 'to do's', 'would be nice' and 'legally obligated'.  

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  


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4 years 7 months ago #653829 by garyrhook
You want to:
  1. join Ugo Cei's The Travelling Image Maker's Corner group on Facebook
  2. follow Ralph Velasco's travel photography podcast
  3. attend one of his free introductory webcasts on starting a photo tour business
IMHO, of course.


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4 years 7 months ago #653833 by icepics
Have you ever been the one who's responsible for anything at all like this? I've been a day camp/overnight camp program director, etc. ANYTHING that happens on the tour will be your responsibility.

You'd have to think about having a first aid kit with you, and if you haven't already, get first aid/CPR training. It may never happen, and thankfully I never had any serious emergencies, but what if it does? What if somebody becomes ill, is injured, etc. - what will be your plan to get them any medical help as needed and continue with the tour. What if somebody can't get their credit card to work, can't pay for meals on the tour (unless it's local and doesn't include meals/hotels, etc.).

Besides insurance coverage, there's a lot to think about.

Sharon
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4 years 7 months ago #653835 by icepics
It looks like the Photo Enrichment tours are actually provided thru local tour operators and 'partners' so the guy doing the blog/website isn't actually leading the tours himself.

Guess that would have to be something else to consider if you wouldn't be the one personally responsible for conducting the tours but would have some responsibility as a business owner running the tours that are provided by someone else. Not sure how liablility comes into that.

Sharon
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4 years 7 months ago - 4 years 7 months ago #653839 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day MM

I had this idea / plan a decade ago for small groups of motorhome / caravan people to do a 7-day tour to selected parts of outback Oz x 6 tours per year. All the plans seemed beaut until the Public Liability insurance raised its ugly head.  The best quote the broker came up with was $au7000 pa premium [double this for today's dollars]. The plan died at that point

edit-
I have just seen some adverts for commercial photo tours across Oz ~

a 14-day tour is offered at $us1500pp with a 21-day tour offered for $us3000pp - each requiring your own caravan or motorhome.  Included in the price offerings are 2x lunches, 2x evening meals and all happy hour nibbles to eat.  Entry to 3rd-party locations is not included in the base price


Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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4 years 7 months ago #653909 by EOS Man

garyrhook wrote: You want to:

  1. join Ugo Cei's The Travelling Image Maker's Corner group on Facebook
  2. follow Ralph Velasco's travel photography podcast
  3. attend one of his free introductory webcasts on starting a photo tour business
IMHO, of course.



+1 and check with city/area to which you want to give tours in to see what sort of permits are needed.  

5D Mark II | 50mm f/1.4 EX | 24-70mm f/2.8L | 70-200mm f/2.8L | 430EX
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4 years 7 months ago #654164 by Tristan R
Make sure you are expert in the areas that you want to run.  Too many tour companies are just showing areas they want to travel too, but don't know well.  And consumers get the short end of the stick. 


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