Secrets to Starting a Photography Business Revealed with Ankit Shandilya | From Corporate to Startup

[00:00:00] This is a category of photography. It's evolving a lot.

[00:00:02] These trends change very quickly.

[00:00:04] We need to keep learning and exploring new trends.

[00:00:07] People make it so easy.

[00:00:09] Pre-wedding for people is inspirational.

[00:00:12] 40 days to go, 39 days to go.

[00:00:14] People are so proactive on social media.

[00:00:17] So even mobile photographers.

[00:00:18] And they are making real time reels for them.

[00:00:20] In India market, you need to treat Indian customers in the Indian way.

[00:00:25] Hello everyone.

[00:00:26] Namaskar.

[00:00:27] Welcome back to Wisdom Whispers with Abhishek Mittal.

[00:00:30] Over the past 3-4 months, we have discussed with many founders, startup owners,

[00:00:37] a lot of discussions about their business,

[00:00:39] what their vision is, what they think,

[00:00:42] what are the tips for young entrepreneurs.

[00:00:45] So today, we have Ankit Shandilya with us.

[00:00:48] He wants to revolutionize a photography industry.

[00:00:52] So we will learn from him what he is doing.

[00:00:54] His company's name is Anytime Shoot.

[00:00:56] So let's welcome Ankit to the show.

[00:00:58] Hi Ankit, welcome to the show.

[00:00:59] Hi Abhishek, thank you so much for inviting me over the show.

[00:01:02] So Ankit, thanks a lot for agreeing to it.

[00:01:05] It feels good to have a startup founder sitting in front of me

[00:01:10] who is thinking about a new industry,

[00:01:13] who is thinking to revolutionize it.

[00:01:15] So you started the corporate, right?

[00:01:18] So how did you think that he does something about it while staying in the corporate?

[00:01:23] Actually Abhishek, his story is very old.

[00:01:26] It's not like I thought about it after coming into the corporate.

[00:01:30] Like from my childhood, I was passionate about photography

[00:01:33] and my background in academics was also in the media industry.

[00:01:37] And I wish to continue that photography is very difficult to find photographers today.

[00:01:43] It's very difficult to find photographers.

[00:01:45] Really?

[00:01:46] I mean everyone is a photographer though.

[00:01:48] It's very easy that you can do photography with your mobile phone

[00:01:51] and anyone can do it.

[00:01:53] But the real photographer has some skills because he will click the picture.

[00:01:59] It will speak itself.

[00:02:00] Mobile says, I don't say that it's bad.

[00:02:03] It's very good.

[00:02:04] But you need certain skills, refinement and the post-production thing

[00:02:08] which is like without that I believe photography is incomplete.

[00:02:12] So our journey started here a long time ago actually.

[00:02:16] If I go back a lot, when I was in school, my father went to France once.

[00:02:22] So from there he gifted me a digital camera.

[00:02:25] So I started shooting with that camera.

[00:02:28] I married my family members and weddings.

[00:02:32] I used to go and shoot their fairies, everything I used to cover.

[00:02:35] And then I used to edit it and give them as a compliment gift

[00:02:39] that before your photographer will give you the final data.

[00:02:43] I am giving this from my day.

[00:02:44] I used to add songs.

[00:02:46] Now what is happening is manually with a very basic software, Windows Movie Maker

[00:02:50] which is like default of any Windows laptop.

[00:02:54] At that time it was computer.

[00:02:55] So yeah, I used to invest a lot of time but still I used to do a lot of.

[00:03:00] Then it came to earn money.

[00:03:03] Because now a small kid doesn't have much money.

[00:03:06] Obviously it won't look good.

[00:03:08] So I thought let's make some good videos mixes like

[00:03:11] give different sources of videos to friends.

[00:03:14] I used to provide DVDs and CDs so that I can earn something during my school days.

[00:03:19] So I was like I have to earn money if I am doing something.

[00:03:22] No matter it's creative, non-creative.

[00:03:25] Then gradually I came to college and learned more tools like Photoshop, After Effects

[00:03:31] I learned a lot of VFX.

[00:03:33] So from there I got an idea that this can be, I mean the content industry is very big.

[00:03:40] It's not just photography.

[00:03:41] It's cinematography is different, freelancing people are doing it.

[00:03:45] So I found that there is something to do.

[00:03:47] Even though they are doing a job or doing it in media,

[00:03:51] somehow I will do something bigger in way where we can revolutionize the traditional way of booking.

[00:03:57] In today's time if I tell you that I need a photographer,

[00:04:01] it's very difficult to finalize for you.

[00:04:04] I mean if you find on Google the traditional way or your referrals.

[00:04:09] There are shops here.

[00:04:10] Regular, it's not easy that they give you a trust, a credibility

[00:04:14] that yes, I will be working and the main thing is your post production.

[00:04:19] Which is the biggest failure in photography industry.

[00:04:22] All the customers who are unsatisfied with you, they are not satisfied with work.

[00:04:27] They get it because of being delayed.

[00:04:29] Because of being delayed.

[00:04:30] There is one more thing, post production.

[00:04:33] Some people make it so jezzy that they think it's not my function.

[00:04:39] It's not my wedding function or party function.

[00:04:42] This is something else.

[00:04:43] And now and 10 years ago these trends change very quickly.

[00:04:48] Like in terms of cinematography, there are slow-mo's, videos, effects, multiple effects.

[00:04:54] So obviously these things are not consistent.

[00:04:57] We need to keep learning and exploring new trends that are going on.

[00:05:01] That is very important of post production.

[00:05:03] It's good. The journey is great because it was started since childhood.

[00:05:06] Absolutely.

[00:05:07] But what is your app right now?

[00:05:10] What problem does this particular app try to solve?

[00:05:13] So basically there are so many problems.

[00:05:15] It's not just solving the customer problem, it is also solving the partner's problem.

[00:05:20] So when Urban Company started, they started with multiple categories.

[00:05:26] One of the category was photography.

[00:05:28] But due to this is very highly customised thing.

[00:05:30] Every customer have a different need when it comes to wedding, when it comes to baby shoot, baby shower.

[00:05:35] There are so many categories, birthdays.

[00:05:38] So problems start from there.

[00:05:40] Because when a company like Urban Company can't continue this thing

[00:05:45] because of too much customisation, it means it needs to be handled separately

[00:05:50] as a wholesome one product rather than mixing with other categories

[00:05:54] like cleaning, painting, disc art.

[00:05:58] You don't know about the category.

[00:05:59] Even the photographers' pain point is they don't compare themselves as a car painter or a plumber.

[00:06:05] We cannot say that there is no credibility.

[00:06:07] They think that if these are low paying jobs, they are very high paying jobs

[00:06:11] and I am sitting on the same platform, then this won't work.

[00:06:14] Being myself as an photographer, I thought we should have a platform

[00:06:19] where we can track everything.

[00:06:22] We know how much potential we can earn.

[00:06:26] Even if I am into wedding, pre-wedding or birthday

[00:06:30] or any other category like product or food photography.

[00:06:34] So I will know if I go into this career as a photographer

[00:06:37] so what options I have in the market being a photographer.

[00:06:41] To be honest it's very messed up world

[00:06:45] and someday you will get a lead from a food photography project

[00:06:49] or maybe some any other kind of project

[00:06:52] but there is no consistency to be honest.

[00:06:55] But on our platform because we are offering free onboarding for the photographers

[00:07:00] there is a pain over there as well

[00:07:02] because there are other platforms which are charging a lot of fee to onboard as an photographer

[00:07:06] but we are solving this problem here.

[00:07:09] One step is clear, you are free to onboard

[00:07:12] and now it's your talent, it's your work

[00:07:14] you will showcase, create your portfolio

[00:07:17] and then start selling your services.

[00:07:19] So the consistency of lead generation

[00:07:23] that is the biggest pain for wedding photographers

[00:07:25] because it is seasonal.

[00:07:27] But this can be converted like this

[00:07:30] because generally we are giving offers in a way

[00:07:34] where shoots can be done in advance like pre-wedding.

[00:07:37] So obviously the wedding photographers

[00:07:39] generally do pre-wedding together.

[00:07:43] So we have broken down this

[00:07:45] we have also merged it somewhere

[00:07:46] so we have done a lot of work around

[00:07:49] small things in terms of pre-wedding

[00:07:52] new categories are added

[00:07:54] which will increase the business in a way

[00:07:57] otherwise the already existing demand will not be the same

[00:08:01] but you need to create certain new categories

[00:08:03] like influencers

[00:08:04] like this podcast also requires a video recording

[00:08:07] and the camera things

[00:08:09] So yeah, this can be also solved

[00:08:11] if someone wants to begin as a freelance photographer

[00:08:15] and have a platform to go and shoot

[00:08:17] and getting bookings

[00:08:18] so it's good for the photographer side

[00:08:20] but what about the customer?

[00:08:22] So we will say that customer is a king

[00:08:24] customer is definitely a king for our platform

[00:08:27] but the photographer is also king on our platform

[00:08:30] So we are taking care of both the parties equally

[00:08:33] So there is no such thing

[00:08:34] that we are favoring any particular party

[00:08:38] So all the policies are designed in that way

[00:08:40] that nobody should be affected

[00:08:41] or it's a win-win situation for photographers

[00:08:44] and the customers

[00:08:44] as well as any time shoot

[00:08:46] Great

[00:08:47] Uncle, the current category of photography

[00:08:50] has evolved a lot

[00:08:52] like you said we are adding new categories

[00:08:54] Now this has become an aspirational

[00:08:57] Pre-wedding for people

[00:09:00] which was not even heard 10 years ago

[00:09:04] because there was a taboo

[00:09:05] that I am getting arranged before marriage

[00:09:09] so before marriage

[00:09:09] a husband and wife are going together

[00:09:13] shooting

[00:09:14] and taking close pictures of photos

[00:09:17] but now this is aspirational

[00:09:18] It is a mandatory part

[00:09:21] If you are getting wedding, pre-wedding

[00:09:23] then before that you will start coming

[00:09:25] That is true

[00:09:26] That doesn't start with photos

[00:09:27] 40 days to go

[00:09:28] 39 days to go

[00:09:31] and this is how they do it

[00:09:32] So we will start this so many days ago

[00:09:33] 40 photos should be there

[00:09:35] 40 new themes should be there

[00:09:37] So this is becoming an aspirational

[00:09:39] and I am saying this for T1, T2 cities

[00:09:43] I am saying T3, T4

[00:09:44] It's coming from there too

[00:09:47] It's a very far away thing

[00:09:49] There is more money in T1, T2

[00:09:50] I know there is a lot of money in T3

[00:09:52] because the expenses of those people are very limited

[00:09:55] We have a lot of expenses

[00:09:57] in T1, T2 and Shoshabhaji

[00:09:58] so it doesn't happen there

[00:09:59] But our inspiration is becoming so much

[00:10:03] Is your platform

[00:10:05] taking its cost

[00:10:08] cost, there are different packages

[00:10:09] If you have so much budget

[00:10:11] then you will get pre-wedding

[00:10:13] and all post-wedding and honeymoon

[00:10:15] whatever you want to shoot it

[00:10:17] and if the budget is going on then this is it

[00:10:18] There will be packages for everyone

[00:10:19] This is a very interesting question

[00:10:22] in terms of pricing because

[00:10:24] everyone knows that India is a very price sensitive marketing

[00:10:27] Everyone wants discounts

[00:10:28] We are taking care of those things also

[00:10:32] to be honest and what we have done

[00:10:34] we are not charging for now from our customers

[00:10:36] We are charging from our partners

[00:10:37] So the cost for the customer side

[00:10:40] it has been reduced a lot

[00:10:42] Plus we have

[00:10:44] not just one particular photography team

[00:10:46] we have good number of photographers

[00:10:48] around pre-wedding

[00:10:49] Everyone is having a different offering

[00:10:51] in terms of package

[00:10:54] All the details you can see over the app

[00:10:56] It's very transparent to understand

[00:10:58] Even I tested my app

[00:11:00] with some seniors

[00:11:02] Elders

[00:11:02] even my father and a few grandfathers

[00:11:05] I understood

[00:11:09] what they will be getting

[00:11:11] if they are booking a package

[00:11:12] I think that is very important

[00:11:15] to know the customers

[00:11:16] that ultimately it has been shoot

[00:11:17] and what they will get

[00:11:19] whether it's raw images

[00:11:22] whether it's a wedding teaser

[00:11:24] highlights or the album

[00:11:27] Even reels

[00:11:29] are very popular these days

[00:11:30] Everyone for their weddings

[00:11:31] they need reels to put on Instagram

[00:11:33] So we are focusing on those things

[00:11:36] that all the customers

[00:11:38] they get what they want

[00:11:40] but additionally E cards

[00:11:42] E invites we put it from our side

[00:11:44] even if our photographers are not providing them

[00:11:46] post wedding is also running

[00:11:48] post wedding means

[00:11:50] first day of a newly wed

[00:11:53] in their house

[00:11:54] second day to one month

[00:11:56] a lot is going on

[00:11:58] there is no limitation

[00:12:01] absolutely

[00:12:01] there is no limit to celebrate a moment

[00:12:04] and there is no reason

[00:12:06] because this is only the life you have

[00:12:08] and memories

[00:12:10] are really important to capture

[00:12:12] and now we have good devices

[00:12:14] good camera, good equipment

[00:12:15] and everything is a strobe is world

[00:12:18] so why not click and capture

[00:12:19] I am different in this

[00:12:22] because when I go with my wife

[00:12:24] I really don't like

[00:12:26] to take a lot of photos

[00:12:27] because spending time

[00:12:30] enjoying that moment

[00:12:32] otherwise what we see

[00:12:34] where it is happening

[00:12:36] that here with the smile

[00:12:38] after that it is being scolded

[00:12:40] that what you did to America

[00:12:41] America is not that

[00:12:43] because it is

[00:12:44] and for me

[00:12:47] enjoying that moment

[00:12:48] naturally I need some photos

[00:12:50] just not for social media

[00:12:52] but for me as well

[00:12:54] and for events

[00:12:56] if you are celebrating your birthday

[00:12:58] party, 50th anniversary

[00:13:00] or 50th birthday

[00:13:01] whatever you are doing

[00:13:02] naturally you need some photographs around it

[00:13:05] still if people have phones

[00:13:08] these days

[00:13:08] then they click

[00:13:09] even in my family

[00:13:13] there is an uncle

[00:13:14] he don't like clicking pictures at all

[00:13:16] but now he has started

[00:13:18] clicking selfies

[00:13:20] so that is a change

[00:13:21] even in our older generation

[00:13:23] because it is very easy

[00:13:26] phone ran, it used to be real

[00:13:28] it was printed out

[00:13:30] so that thing is over

[00:13:32] but as it says

[00:13:34] the transition is happening and good cameras are coming up

[00:13:36] and very light weight cameras are also coming up

[00:13:39] so it is making much more

[00:13:40] life easier of a photographer as well as vloggers

[00:13:43] the content creators

[00:13:44] good

[00:13:46] so as of today

[00:13:48] the next generation

[00:13:50] we said

[00:13:51] everyone has good phones

[00:13:53] camera phones, now digital cameras

[00:13:56] are out of the market

[00:13:57] in terms of normal people

[00:13:59] photographers have good digital cameras

[00:14:02] but I am saying

[00:14:03] you used to use digital cameras

[00:14:06] but if you have a good mobile

[00:14:09] then you don't need it

[00:14:11] absolutely

[00:14:12] these people

[00:14:13] who are the next generation

[00:14:15] they do everything with their phones

[00:14:16] so why will they come to you

[00:14:19] so we are onboarding mobile photographers also

[00:14:23] in a way we are not just focusing

[00:14:26] on people who are carrying big cameras

[00:14:27] or DSLR, we are welcoming everyone

[00:14:29] who knows photography no matter which device

[00:14:32] they are using to click

[00:14:32] the only thing matter is the good result

[00:14:35] and the customer satisfaction

[00:14:36] but where is the customer for that

[00:14:38] I am trying to understand

[00:14:41] when the customer

[00:14:43] is a photographer

[00:14:44] because let's say I have a niece

[00:14:46] she has an apple phone

[00:14:48] so she keeps on using it

[00:14:49] she has Google

[00:14:51] she has learned everything

[00:14:52] she teaches a lot of things on Instagram

[00:14:54] so now when my small house

[00:14:58] function was there

[00:14:59] even for the first small house

[00:15:00] it was cheaper because the real camera

[00:15:04] people used to come

[00:15:05] it was cheaper

[00:15:05] it was in 1000-2000 rupees

[00:15:07] she made 2-3 albums for you

[00:15:10] now everyone uses phones

[00:15:11] so the market

[00:15:14] has it expanded or shrink

[00:15:18] it is both ways

[00:15:20] but

[00:15:20] as you said

[00:15:22] let's do it ourselves

[00:15:24] let me give you an example

[00:15:25] recently few years back my father retired

[00:15:29] so we thought

[00:15:30] that we don't function much

[00:15:31] we used to do a small family

[00:15:32] because retirement money is going

[00:15:34] now it won't come

[00:15:36] but in India

[00:15:38] my father told

[00:15:41] booker photographer

[00:15:42] I said I will do

[00:15:44] I have good iPhone

[00:15:45] I can edit it also

[00:15:46] but when I went there

[00:15:50] I felt weird

[00:15:51] why am clicking

[00:15:52] because I need to meet so many people

[00:15:54] then someone was telling me

[00:15:57] click picture

[00:15:58] I was getting angry

[00:16:00] call everyone

[00:16:00] I am not clicking

[00:16:03] then I felt

[00:16:05] if at this point

[00:16:06] I can book a photographer

[00:16:09] I might have booked

[00:16:12] because I was

[00:16:13] a little worried

[00:16:15] how to cover all the guests

[00:16:19] unexpected

[00:16:19] if there was an app

[00:16:23] that I shoot from mobile

[00:16:25] I am ok with that

[00:16:27] because quality will be better

[00:16:28] and we can cover that

[00:16:30] but there is no such thing

[00:16:32] problem is there

[00:16:33] but solution is not there

[00:16:35] so this can be my problem

[00:16:36] but it is like

[00:16:38] where we get together

[00:16:43] people love to connect

[00:16:44] phone is just a part of communication

[00:16:47] some mode of communication

[00:16:48] it is usable for clicking

[00:16:51] self pictures

[00:16:51] or certain

[00:16:52] capturing your memories

[00:16:54] but obviously when it comes to

[00:16:56] capturing a large group of people

[00:16:58] I believe then someone outsider is good

[00:17:00] to capture those memories for that particular family

[00:17:03] so it gets eased

[00:17:04] even now in weddings

[00:17:06] what people are new trend is coming up

[00:17:09] that they put

[00:17:11] new mobile photographers

[00:17:13] they will login on their Instagram

[00:17:14] and they will post their wedding pictures live

[00:17:17] on the same time

[00:17:19] what is going on now

[00:17:21] new things

[00:17:23] even they post on Facebook

[00:17:26] on their behalf

[00:17:27] that they are already rich

[00:17:29] so these are the things

[00:17:30] people are so proactive on social media

[00:17:33] so they need photographers

[00:17:34] even mobile photographers

[00:17:35] and they are making real time reels

[00:17:37] also posting live

[00:17:39] so it is a very huge market

[00:17:43] and also in south

[00:17:44] they need people to

[00:17:46] make their wedding live

[00:17:48] this is also the part of photography

[00:17:50] so we present their video

[00:17:52] live in different countries

[00:17:54] by providing them some link

[00:17:56] because in south

[00:17:57] maximum people are abroad

[00:17:59] so they need good

[00:18:02] telecast which is very stable

[00:18:04] just like our studio

[00:18:06] so they have a special broadcast

[00:18:09] so people need ease

[00:18:11] people need comfort

[00:18:12] people need everything

[00:18:14] when it comes to buying a service

[00:18:16] or a product

[00:18:16] so we are focusing on every and smallest part

[00:18:20] if you see Blinkit now

[00:18:22] with Dhania they are starting

[00:18:24] so yeah

[00:18:25] in India market

[00:18:26] you need to treat Indian customers

[00:18:29] in the Indian way

[00:18:30] you can't treat them like a US company

[00:18:33] so your personal right

[00:18:35] I want to go like this

[00:18:37] because this next generation

[00:18:39] is coming, there is a lot of money

[00:18:40] and they don't have anything

[00:18:42] even then

[00:18:43] their aspirational is so much

[00:18:45] that they are taking a loan

[00:18:46] and taking photos

[00:18:48] I think this is going to be good

[00:18:50] I think we shouldn't take a loan

[00:18:53] in terms of

[00:18:55] I am saying that

[00:18:56] I don't have budget

[00:18:58] but still

[00:18:59] as you said I want to go live on social media

[00:19:01] and I need to update on social media

[00:19:03] so I have a lot of peer pressure

[00:19:05] so let's say

[00:19:06] we are friends

[00:19:09] so Ankit had

[00:19:10] run a drone in his wedding

[00:19:13] I think

[00:19:14] I think

[00:19:15] our audience

[00:19:18] it is not just

[00:19:20] they need actually

[00:19:22] good videography and good

[00:19:25] pictures in terms of

[00:19:26] creating memories

[00:19:27] it's not just that they need to show others

[00:19:29] their personal interest

[00:19:32] they need a good quality

[00:19:34] video output

[00:19:36] should be very cinematic

[00:19:38] style

[00:19:39] and it comes from inside

[00:19:41] it's not that I saw someone else

[00:19:43] I feel good

[00:19:44] I think

[00:19:47] those who are interested in photography

[00:19:49] they deserve it

[00:19:52] if they want it

[00:19:54] there is no platform to judge

[00:19:56] and compare things

[00:19:57] we are solving that problem in that way also

[00:20:00] and when

[00:20:01] I am talking about 15-20 years ago

[00:20:04] when the moment pop

[00:20:06] there were many shops

[00:20:07] of photography

[00:20:08] and they have reduced

[00:20:10] so why did you study

[00:20:13] that why is it happening

[00:20:15] that digital labs

[00:20:16] are shrinking

[00:20:18] why are they closing

[00:20:20] I think the only answer is mobile phone industry

[00:20:23] so there are so many things

[00:20:25] which has been affected because of mobile thing

[00:20:27] not just calculators

[00:20:29] but calculations are also there

[00:20:32] similarly photography

[00:20:33] it's not that

[00:20:34] if it's done with mobile

[00:20:36] DSLR will be over

[00:20:37] but it's

[00:20:41] a little easy

[00:20:41] to get certain things where you have to call the photographer

[00:20:46] you can cover

[00:20:48] with mobile

[00:20:49] as I said

[00:20:50] in my family function

[00:20:52] I shot it myself

[00:20:53] but

[00:20:54] when you want

[00:20:56] you don't have to do that

[00:20:58] and you need that person

[00:20:59] just like booking a cab

[00:21:01] it's so easy now

[00:21:02] earlier

[00:21:02] booking a cab was a hassle

[00:21:04] but Uber is

[00:21:06] there is a shop in some corner

[00:21:08] who has a number

[00:21:09] you would book it

[00:21:11] so similar is our pattern

[00:21:15] people should be given comfort

[00:21:16] or ease

[00:21:17] in terms of choosing a photographer

[00:21:19] rather than being worried

[00:21:21] because

[00:21:23] when you go to book a photographer

[00:21:26] you will see

[00:21:28] all the ads related to photography

[00:21:30] because companies know that

[00:21:32] you are searching a photographer

[00:21:33] so if you are so worried

[00:21:37] you won't be able to take a decision

[00:21:39] which one should I book

[00:21:41] and the moment

[00:21:42] it starts with a call

[00:21:47] and you have a call

[00:21:49] you will get a call

[00:21:50] you will get an email

[00:21:52] but you won't be able to

[00:21:53] take a photo

[00:21:55] the reason would be

[00:21:56] that one is priced at 5000

[00:21:59] and the other one is charging for the same thing

[00:22:01] 120,000

[00:22:02] but this is not something

[00:22:03] that is not known by the photography industry

[00:22:07] it's the same like

[00:22:08] development

[00:22:12] so a normal person

[00:22:13] who is not belonging to the industry

[00:22:15] doesn't know what investment is

[00:22:17] so transparency is also very important

[00:22:19] so somewhere

[00:22:21] our app is solving this

[00:22:23] for people

[00:22:25] and in case

[00:22:27] you are finding out about the price

[00:22:29] you will feel that

[00:22:30] you are getting value

[00:22:32] in the end

[00:22:33] no matter what price you have

[00:22:35] and you are not getting that kind of result

[00:22:39] then it's of no use

[00:22:41] investing money on photography

[00:22:43] so we verify

[00:22:44] before onboarding our photographers

[00:22:46] that anyone

[00:22:47] can create their own account

[00:22:49] and tell the photographer

[00:22:50] and we have also thought to

[00:22:54] make this industry easier

[00:22:56] in terms of influencers

[00:22:58] even they need photographers these days

[00:23:00] you need a lot

[00:23:01] because on daily basis they have shoots

[00:23:04] it's possible to shoot from mobile

[00:23:06] but what if they need to

[00:23:09] provide better quality

[00:23:11] if you see

[00:23:12] technical gurus used to do everything

[00:23:14] when they started their youtube journey

[00:23:17] they shoot with mobile phones

[00:23:21] but now they have

[00:23:22] 4 standards

[00:23:23] amazing setup studio in Dubai

[00:23:25] so that

[00:23:27] professionalism is taking

[00:23:28] another next step

[00:23:31] but still

[00:23:32] you will get a good quality

[00:23:36] when it comes

[00:23:37] to good cameras

[00:23:39] there is a difference

[00:23:41] iPhone can be a good DSLR

[00:23:43] it is

[00:23:44] if I say DSLR

[00:23:47] will not do well and iPhone will do well

[00:23:49] in a way

[00:23:51] DSLR is still much better than lens

[00:23:54] because of the lenses

[00:23:55] overall setup

[00:23:59] lighting setup

[00:24:00] these things matter a lot

[00:24:01] till now

[00:24:03] what is the biggest challenge

[00:24:05] you have seen

[00:24:06] in running business

[00:24:20] how much tax is going to be spent

[00:24:24] all these things

[00:24:29] when it comes to running ads

[00:24:32] on social media

[00:24:33] you have to plan out

[00:24:36] that when you are going

[00:24:37] to sell a product or service

[00:24:39] in the market

[00:24:40] how many people are already selling it

[00:24:42] from there

[00:24:46] customers are not the same

[00:24:47] and then you need to be

[00:24:49] part of that particular group

[00:24:51] and now you need to sell among those competitors

[00:24:54] so I think

[00:24:54] competition is the biggest challenge

[00:24:57] for any business

[00:24:58] we have

[00:25:00] all our competitions

[00:25:02] I don't want to take big brand names

[00:25:04] because we believe we are doing something

[00:25:06] very different

[00:25:07] and our business model is also different

[00:25:10] but yeah I will take name of V-Snap you

[00:25:12] because

[00:25:13] it is quite popular with Shark Tank

[00:25:15] there are other startups

[00:25:18] Snapso and all

[00:25:19] Canvira is a very big company

[00:25:21] but they are not just focusing on photography

[00:25:24] there are like N number of services in

[00:25:25] print and other stuff

[00:25:28] but our focus is

[00:25:29] on video and production

[00:25:31] and content creation pictures

[00:25:32] and making the customers life easier

[00:25:35] when it comes to getting the pictures

[00:25:36] or content no matter the occasion

[00:25:38] but the way we are doing

[00:25:41] I think

[00:25:42] there is not as much as yet

[00:25:45] and also people say

[00:25:48] price transparency

[00:25:49] but they don't show the price upfront

[00:25:51] that is the hard reality

[00:25:52] and you just keep guessing the price of any

[00:25:55] services in your brain

[00:25:57] how much they might charge for this particular

[00:25:58] so we have already shown

[00:26:01] the price upfront

[00:26:01] this is the price range for this particular package

[00:26:05] it could be go up because

[00:26:06] depends on the customer needs

[00:26:08] but yeah this is the basic price

[00:26:10] if you wish to book you can go directly

[00:26:12] buy a package without talking to the photographer

[00:26:15] so even now

[00:26:16] we are also working on instant bookings

[00:26:19] so instant booking is something

[00:26:20] where it will work

[00:26:22] same like Uber cabs

[00:26:24] but in Uber cabs

[00:26:26] driver automatically

[00:26:28] assigns it

[00:26:29] but here your photographer you need to choose

[00:26:32] who you like

[00:26:34] who matches your taste

[00:26:35] in terms of the past work

[00:26:37] what do you understand

[00:26:39] so if he is available he will come for

[00:26:42] particular shoot no matter in which location

[00:26:44] you are so you will get

[00:26:46] a lot of work in the cities

[00:26:47] our photographers for instant

[00:26:49] except of booking yeah

[00:26:50] so now you are also pretty new

[00:26:53] into this start up journey

[00:26:55] but you have to give

[00:26:57] 3-4 tips

[00:26:58] that entrepreneurs will come

[00:27:02] so one tip you told

[00:27:04] that please research and come

[00:27:05] you have a lot of resources

[00:27:07] to come and research

[00:27:10] so that you take a calculated risk

[00:27:12] you don't take an open risk

[00:27:14] but what other tips will be there

[00:27:17] for the new generation

[00:27:18] so there are a lot of tips

[00:27:20] the biggest problem

[00:27:24] is that people don't read

[00:27:26] in India

[00:27:27] they don't like reading

[00:27:28] they just seeing the visuals

[00:27:30] that's why our content industry

[00:27:32] video industry is getting too popular

[00:27:34] so

[00:27:36] reading and starting is very important

[00:27:38] no matter it is written in books

[00:27:39] or on website or any articles

[00:27:42] so when we read it

[00:27:43] we will start from there

[00:27:46] because we

[00:27:47] watch a lot of content

[00:27:50] so that's why our learning

[00:27:51] I think it is a little bit of an effect

[00:27:54] so I think

[00:27:55] they should read for this

[00:27:57] and when they read

[00:27:58] they will get to know a lot more

[00:28:00] but when it comes to start up

[00:28:03] I would like to give another pro tip

[00:28:05] that people are very confused

[00:28:08] around DPIAT certificate

[00:28:09] I need to highlight this because

[00:28:11] this was initially done with me

[00:28:13] and there are so many people

[00:28:15] who are charging a lot

[00:28:17] to get you a DPIAT certificate

[00:28:19] what is DPIAT certificate

[00:28:20] so DPIAT certificate

[00:28:23] is a self-clean certificate

[00:28:25] which you apply from the Government of India

[00:28:27] after which your start up

[00:28:29] is validated

[00:28:30] so through that you get recognition

[00:28:33] from India and you get certain benefits

[00:28:35] around it

[00:28:36] so I will talk about those benefits later

[00:28:38] but before getting it

[00:28:40] there are so many people around

[00:28:42] who will promise you

[00:28:44] they will give you this certificate

[00:28:46] so actually

[00:28:47] it doesn't have any charge

[00:28:48] it's free of cost and you just need to

[00:28:50] write everything from your

[00:28:52] about your start up in that particular

[00:28:54] and upload all the required documents

[00:28:56] and the pizza deck and all

[00:28:57] it's very easy to get it

[00:28:59] I think I would need to highlight

[00:29:01] because many people are doing business

[00:29:03] around it and it's a free thing

[00:29:05] and it's very easy to get it

[00:29:06] like people do it for the Dhar card

[00:29:07] means they have become mediators

[00:29:10] but it's not necessary that they will

[00:29:12] not be able to make you a mediator

[00:29:13] and my tip is that

[00:29:16] you don't need to invest a single rupee

[00:29:18] on getting a DPIAT certificate

[00:29:20] you will have to do your journey

[00:29:22] if you are not doing it that much

[00:29:24] then I don't think you should start up

[00:29:28] another interesting question

[00:29:29] that I still have in my mind

[00:29:29] the next generation of people

[00:29:33] in India

[00:29:33] they don't want to do part time jobs

[00:29:37] but now with everyone

[00:29:39] is so much into their phones

[00:29:41] into their cameras

[00:29:42] because they want to make reels on Insta

[00:29:44] and they are pro people nowadays

[00:29:46] they make it for making reels

[00:29:47] they don't need an editor

[00:29:49] there are many people who can do it

[00:29:52] so for them

[00:29:53] on your platform

[00:29:55] you are saying

[00:29:56] there is an area where they can work

[00:29:59] yes

[00:29:59] we are focusing on those people

[00:30:03] who are very creative in making reels

[00:30:05] so they can also be onboard on our platform

[00:30:09] obviously the ticket amount

[00:30:10] ticket size of the particular amount

[00:30:12] will be lower than the whole

[00:30:14] wedding things or other stuff

[00:30:16] so based on their skills

[00:30:17] based on their work

[00:30:18] they can decide their own price

[00:30:20] how much they can work as a freelancer

[00:30:22] and yeah it's a

[00:30:23] I can say it's

[00:30:24] the app charges

[00:30:27] will be given by your processing

[00:30:28] but otherwise they are freelancers

[00:30:30] so they can onboard as a freelancer also

[00:30:32] for different content creation things

[00:30:35] we have that section also

[00:30:37] I think the best thing I asked

[00:30:39] because there are so many schools

[00:30:41] colleges and corporate people

[00:30:43] who are passionate

[00:30:44] they enjoy it

[00:30:46] they work not for money

[00:30:48] they mostly work around for

[00:30:49] showing their creativity

[00:30:50] and also they get fame

[00:30:53] once they are very popular

[00:30:55] if someone has a real deal

[00:30:56] then I made this deal

[00:30:58] and then they run a different campaign

[00:31:01] you never know in which city

[00:31:03] who is so creative

[00:31:05] with mobile phones

[00:31:06] they produce very hell good content

[00:31:10] it is possible

[00:31:10] with the help of different tools

[00:31:13] like gimbals

[00:31:14] I think the most interesting thing

[00:31:17] is that

[00:31:18] there is a opportunity

[00:31:19] for a part time job

[00:31:21] or part time freelancing

[00:31:23] along with your studies

[00:31:24] even in starting this

[00:31:26] it was also a factor that people

[00:31:28] made deals to pass time

[00:31:29] why not to convert this

[00:31:31] to earn some income

[00:31:32] so this was one too

[00:31:35] that if you are wasting time

[00:31:36] then it's better to start making some content

[00:31:39] for and get paid

[00:31:41] no no great great Ankit

[00:31:42] I think it was a very good discussion

[00:31:44] I enjoyed it so much

[00:31:45] that I got to learn so many things

[00:31:47] this is also an industry part

[00:31:49] that you are doing live

[00:31:51] on Facebook and social media

[00:31:52] so it has become such a big industry

[00:31:56] that yes, there are people who can do it

[00:32:00] for them

[00:32:00] thanks a lot Ankit, thanks for your insights

[00:32:03] thank you so much for inviting me on the show

[00:32:04] thank you

[00:32:05] start-up journey

[00:32:07] it's not easy

[00:32:09] we haven't learnt this new

[00:32:11] we have been learning it for many months

[00:32:14] and telling everyone

[00:32:15] so today

[00:32:17] two things that I had

[00:32:19] pro tips that Ankit has given

[00:32:21] I repeat

[00:32:22] whenever you are starting something new

[00:32:25] whether you are doing a job

[00:32:26] or you are doing business

[00:32:27] please study and do your job

[00:32:31] do research and research

[00:32:33] don't get stuck in the trap

[00:32:35] what Ankit has told

[00:32:36] there are many media editors

[00:32:38] who will tell you that I will make you do this

[00:32:41] if you study yourself

[00:32:44] then you will understand

[00:32:44] that I don't have a requirement

[00:32:46] I can do it myself

[00:32:48] and it's very normal

[00:32:50] so your start-up journey

[00:32:52] will become so easy

[00:32:53] if you have done research

[00:32:55] and this industry

[00:32:57] means amazed

[00:32:59] I am a podcaster

[00:33:01] so I know

[00:33:02] what is the impact of social media

[00:33:04] but what they have told

[00:33:06] that even in weddings

[00:33:08] to go live

[00:33:09] they have a package

[00:33:12] where they will manage your Insta

[00:33:15] Facebook and other social media

[00:33:16] so guys, I am amazed

[00:33:19] by even listening to it

[00:33:21] that such packages are available

[00:33:23] there is a very emerging

[00:33:25] and interesting industry

[00:33:27] where it seems that we can do many things ourselves

[00:33:28] but this is not the case

[00:33:30] we need photographers to work

[00:33:32] so if you found our episode

[00:33:35] interesting

[00:33:36] then please follow us

[00:33:39] on audio, podcast, and platforms

[00:33:41] and if you are watching on YouTube

[00:33:42] then subscribe us

[00:33:43] so that you get updates regularly

[00:33:45] about what new Abhishek is bringing

[00:33:47] any feedback you can write

[00:33:50] on Insta, LinkedIn or Gmail account

[00:33:53] so for a time being

[00:33:55] this is Abhishek Mital signing off from Wisdom Whispers