Many a bride and groom dream of the most perfect wedding day; a day where the weather is magnificent, the cake divine and the couple’s joy captured forever in still photographs.
But how does an ambitious 23-year-old convince the Mr.- and Mrs.-to-be to trust their special day to a small-business owner barely old enough to partake in a champagne toast? Ask Jared Bauman, owner of Bauman Photography.
“Some say they can’t go with us because we’re too young, but some say they like that we are young and they want us at their weddings for that reason,” Bauman said. “I think in the long run it helps us a lot because when people see our studios and the work we’ve gotten accomplished at such a young age, they think, ‘Wow, these guys know what they’re doing’ and they’re impressed.”
Last year, Bauman, who has a business degree from UC San Diego, earned $112,000 in gross revenues , double what he reported in 2004. And this year, the single San Diego native expects to nearly double his sales again, with a projected $237,000 in gross revenues.
When it comes to attracting new clients, Bauman likes to set himself apart from the competition by taking a personal approach to wedding shoots. He does it by spending as much one-on-one time with the couple before the wedding day to get a better sense of their personalities and what types of photos they want to see. Sometimes, he said, it’s just a matter of telling a certain type of joke and seeing how hard they do or don’t laugh; other times, it’s just asking questions about their backgrounds.
VITALS
Name: Jared Bauman.
Title: Owner/photographer.
Company: Bauman Photography.
Company address: 915 W. Grape St., San Diego.
Company phone: (619) 232-3020.
Year founded: 2002.
Prior business experience: None.
Average hours worked weekly: 45.
Source of startup capital: Savings.
2005 revenue: $112,000.
2004 revenue: $55,000.
Number of employees: Four.
Web site: www.jbaumanphoto.com.
BACKGROUND
Birthplace: San Diego.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, UC San Diego.
Age: 23.
Current residence: San Diego.
Family: Single.
Hobbies: Photography, traveling, hiking, backpacking, sports.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Reason for getting into business: The need for a personable approach to photography.
How I plan to grow the business: Continue expanding through networking, contacts and an increased role in the community.
Biggest plus of business ownership: Satisfaction of offering quality services to clients and creating positive jobs for employees.
Biggest drawback: Responsibility of your and others’ jobs falls on your shoulders.
Biggest business strengths: Marketing and projections.
Biggest business weakness: Softy for cutting deals with clients.
Biggest risk: Moving into our downtown studio.
Smartest business decision: Moving into our downtown studio.
Biggest business mistake: Putting money into a bad advertisement program.
Toughest career decision: Expanding to include employees other than just myself.
Biggest ongoing challenge: Managing the organizational challenges that come from increased business.
The most important part of my business: Seeing my clients ecstatic about the product they receive.
My business works best when: I can spend time interacting with my clients.
Best way to stay competitive: Always meet new people, always try new things.
How I measure success: I’m successful as long as 100 percent of my clients walk away overwhelmingly happy.
GOALS
Goals yet to be achieved: Shoot fewer weddings per year and spend more time on each one.
My five-year business plan: Expanding to Orange County, taking on associate photographers to allow for more clients to experience what we have to offer.
I would sell my business only if: I stopped enjoying what I did.
Guiding principles I will continue to follow: Trust in God first and foremost; running an ethical business is the job of every business owner.
