Arabella Design Studio | Application Preview
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 81-5150982
Location: Eliot, ME, United States
Length of Operation: 6-10
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
For this grant I am looking to purchase digital cameras, photography memory cards, and printed materials for campers. I am also looking to pay for additional staff to be a part of this camp experience. The purchases made for the camp will be used for educational purposes, and provide campers with the tools they will need during their session. This will allow all campers that want to be a part of this camp to be able to sign up without being limited by needing to provide their own photography equipment.
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Business Plan
My small business is nearing its 8th year. Since opening in 2016 it has grown slowly and steadily. I have found that my background in education has taken me on this new path which adds a new dimension to my small business. Starting a photography summer camp for children aged 8-12 merges my passion for photography with my background in education. I hope to continue to grow Camp Arabella for more children, and even opening up classes to community members that may like to learn about photography. In the next 5 years I would like to see my business grow by adding additional staff to support the growth that I expect to come, as well as adding camp and education experiences throughout the year. I started my small business in 2016, a photography studio specializing in baby, child and family portraits. My passion for working with children has been lifelong, prior to opening my studio I was an early childhood educator. I taught kindergarten for 11 years in the United States and Singapore. In 2015 when my daughter was born I left my teaching career to be home to raise her. At that time I knew how quickly her early years would go by. I spent my time documenting our days through photographs and realized how important photography was when it came to capturing fleeting moments. My studio was born and has grown steadily over the last 7 years and as my daughter has grown I have found ways to evolve my business to meet my needs and the needs of my clients. Last year when looking for summer camps I found that the need for camps for children was high but so many places were struggling to find staff. Parents were looking for camps that would engage their child, that maybe sparked a new interest. I went home and started to create a curriculum for a photography camp that would serve children ages 8-12. This summer I will be launching Camp Arabella, as I start this endeavor I am seeking ways to make this camp accessible for children who are interested in learning the art of photography but not being held back by a need to make a large purchase such as photography equipment to begin. I would like to provide photography equipment for my campers to access during their sessions. My hope is this camp will spark a passion for photography, teach them the basic skills needed to take risks and learn more, and instill a sense of responsibility as they learn to care for the equipment. I hope this program grows and I can provide advanced camps for returning campers in the future.
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Self Identified Competition
In the field of photography, it can often be described as a saturated market. That being said there are photographers for different styles, budgets and genres. I have found that when working as a photographer separating myself and differentiating my brand has brought me clients, and business that other photographers may not serve. Setting myself apart as a brand, while staying consistent has made me explore unique opportunities such as starting a summer camp. I feel that I am set apart from other photographers based on my background as an early childhood educator. My ability to create lasting relationships with children has allowed me to have clients for years, and now many of those children are growing up and gaining an interest in the field of photography and would benefit from a camp experience like this. I feel like adding the educational aspect to my photography studio business sets me apart from other photographers in the field.
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Contact Applicant
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