I have been doing a self-assigned project 'One Life, One Passion' since June 2014 thru which I tell stories of passionate individuals/entrepreneurs by combining my photography with a written narrative and other visual media. I have made visual stories on social & creative entrepreneurs, artists, adventurers etc.some of which have appeared in online media portals. I am trying to create a niche and help social startups and brands tell visual stories. How do go about monetizing this into a biz venture?
Coming from the fashion industry and being connected with so many photographers I know that can be tough! There's no reason you can't make this work. I'd love to hear more about your market and would refer you to Lauren Devon (photography consultant) on monetizing your photography niche. One of my favorite sayings: "niche until it hurts"
Sounds like an interesting and meaningful media project. I believe that stories have the power to change lives, which is why I built Count Me In into a transmedia storytelling machine, rather than simply following the old school business plan model. The tricky part was finding a way to ensure that our 'storytelling machine' was also a 'fundraising machine.' I found that the easiest way to monetize our media projects was through sponsorship. Basically, the more people that see your work, the more valuable it is for a company to have their brand associated with your project. In addition to corporate partners and sponsorship revenue, finding a way to turn web traffic into an engaged contact list will also prove invaluable on your journey of making 'One Life, One Passion' profitable AND sustainable. This can be a lot to take in, especially in written form. I'd be happy to jump on a quick call to answer your question in greater detail. I would also be happy to share how I have personally developed a long-lasting relationship with a particular corporate sponsor by meticulously crafting a story that I knew would resonate with their brand...and that proposal resulted in a multi year 6-figure sponsorship.
Best of luck with your venture!
Shane
Hi! Great question and I love your 'passion'. I think you can benefit from a stronger message that speaks more clearly about who your audience is and what's in it for them.
You may benefit from a Seth Godin marketing class or book (This is Marketing) or also reading Building a Story Brand book as a start. They walk you through proven ways to identify who is your most viable selling audience and how to test and hone the services/products that they value.
Let me know if you'd like more help! Good luck too!
