Lawrence Studios | Application Preview
Lawrence Studios is seeking government grants to upgrade its aging photography equipment, primarily used for high school sports photography. The owner relies on two outdated camera bodies, which struggle to capture quality images in low-light conditions, especially during fast-paced games. The current equipment is causing operational difficulties due to its weight, compounded by the owner's health issues, including osteoarthritis.
The business plans to expand its services to all sports in the Paulding County school district over the next five years, having already secured new contracts with multiple teams. The owner is motivated by a desire for financial stability, particularly to alleviate the burden on her husband, a military veteran dealing with health challenges after years of service.
Lawrence Studios differentiates itself from competitors like SMAX Photography and CADY Studios by offering transparent pricing and a quick turnaround on photo deliveries. The owner emphasizes the positive impact her photos have on youth athletes’ confidence and the community’s appreciation for her services. Despite facing competition from larger companies, Lawrence Studios operates with a personal touch and commitment to customer satisfaction, aiming to grow its client base while maintaining affordability. A grant would help ensure continued operations and the ability to meet the community's needs efficiently.
-
General Information
Business Registration Number: 18348
Location: Acworth, GA, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: YES
-
Funding Usage
The primary business I deal with is in high school sports. I shoot fast action games in low or bad lighting, team and individual images, some portraits, and some real estate. My camera bodies are at the end of their lives. The main body I shoot with is over 10 years old (Canon 5D Mark ii) and has provided well over 800,000 frames. My backup body (Canon 1D 4 mp) is over 20 years old and has taken over 1,000,000 frames. I am desperately in need of upgrading my camera body because the technology is very outdated. Neither camera handles fast action games shoot in the evening well, even when under stadium lights. The images are filled with so much noise at a high iso that they are essentially unusable. Additionally, I am also aging and have developed very painful osteoarthritis in my finger joints. The cameras weigh over 5 pounds each when my longest lens is on the body. I really need a lighter, smaller professional model so that I can continue working. If the upgrade is with a different manufacturer I would then need to change my lenses over. I currently shoot on Canon, but am considering a switch to Nikon or Sony. I would be happy to consider a government loan with very low or no interest, but due to our situation with the military, I would very much so be more interested in a grant so that I am not straining our financials even more during this process.
-
Business Plan
I hope to be working with every Paulding County school for every sport in the school district within 5 years, and I am on my way to that accomplishment! This winter season I have picked up 5 new teams between 3 of the 5 high schools in Paulding County. I also picked up a very large cheerleading program. I hope that I am able to maintain and grow more so that my husband doesn't have to continue working after giving so much of his life to others the past 20 years. The military has just riddled his body and for 40 years old, that is very hard to see. I have noticed that I am receiving new business opportunities from direct mailings to coaches and athletic directors prior to school starting, and by word of mouth from other coaches and booster club presidents. The images I take for youth athletes substantially increase their will to preform and their self-confidence. Parents rave about my transluscent business policies, and coaches love my quick turn around time. I try to keep my packages as affordable as I can without allowing being taken advantage of. My images have been used in athlete scholarship applications and team marketing.
-
Self Identified Competition
SMAX Photography is one of my competitors. Smax is owned by Jay Boatwrite and he has a substantial team who does similar work like my own since 2012. We shoot very similarly, we target the same clientele, but he has a large team helping and very good gear that allows him to grow substantially every year. I work by myself, efficiently and honestly, while shoots will take me a bit longer to do, I can still return a job in a few days due to really honing down on my processing. Jay is a great guy and we use the same platform for parents to order from. CADY Studios is a competitor. CADY has locked down every school in Paulding County into substantially tight contracts. They shoot events, they shoot school pictures, they REQUIRE parents to purchase a sitting in order for their high school seniors to be in their senior yearbooks. There are countless negative reviews about CADY monopolizing school and school event pictures but I am sure it is because the schools get quite a large distribution percentage of sales back. I have had to use CADY twice for my own children and also wasn't happy. CADY is a large corporation with stationed studios. Their equipment is mounted and stationary so they are able to hire people with no photography experience. CADY is a typical large corporation that cares very little for their clients and very much for their money. Transluscent business practices and a VERY quick turn around. I am also a one woman show doing everything on my own and at the very best of my ability. Additionally, I work a full time job and was in school full time until very recently. I earned my Bs. in Construction Management in February.
-
Contact Applicant
Subscribe to our Administrator Dashboard to gain full access to this application. Learn More
