Benjamin Kwesi Ahialorxo, Focus Lens Photography, is located in the Ashaiman Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Focus Lens provides photography services for graduates, weddings, family portraits, business headshots, and neighborhood school photos and Birthday Parties. I am very flexible when being booked by clients. I am able to travel to any destination for an outdoor portrait, schools, and weekend wedding photography sessions. Focus Lens will be the premier destination for any photography service in Ashaiman. I started taking photos in the year 2019 and I currently work for someone else, but would like to start my own business.
Watch Benjamin’s pitch video below.
Describe your best customers (age, gender, income, where they live, occupation, education level, interests)*
I will focus on the middle aged from 18 to 40 years. They love to party, they are the ones who love pictures, they need good pictures to post on social media to get more likes. Couples who need their once in a lifetime moment to be captured on their wedding day to make it memorable. I will also focus on elementary, middle, and high schools in the area to be able to provide school portraits for student graduations, Birthdays and Parties in the schools. Best Customers Age: The middle aged from 18 to 40 years Gender: Both Male and Females. Where they live: I am targeting those in the greater Accra Region of Ghana, Tema and Ashaiman. I am targeting these areas because a lot of parties, weddings, programs, conferences and festivals go on here. Occupation: Most people in these areas are into entertainment and other businesses so they need good quality pictures to promote their brands online and that is where my services are needed. These people are rich because of the businesses they do, they throw lots of big birthday parties and extravagant weddings. Educational Level: Most of my target market are university graduates. Degrees and masters. Interests: They love to party, they are the ones who love pictures, they need good pictures to post on social media to get more likes. They are also interested in experiencing new things, trying new things. They are also very adventurous.
What is the problem your product or service solves for your customer?*
The problem is people in my area find it difficult to connect to their past, they easily forget people, experiences and beautiful moments. My services will play an important role in their lives. My services connect my clients to their past, it reminds them of people, places, feelings, and stories. It also helps them know who they are. Photographs are a tangible link to the past, to their lost childhood. Photographs are mediums people use to share some experiences with others.
Work Sample
Why do your customers do business with you rather than the competition?
My biggest competitive advantage is making a personal connection with my clients. By using Facebook and Instagram, I keep clients updated on what I am doing. I also try to get to know my clients. By photographing children in schools and birthday parties at church and in our area, I reach every family with children ages three to 18 with positive direct marketing and start building lifelong relationships with clients for future weddings, baby and family sessions. Focus Lens offer the following advantages over other competitors:
- Professional and friendly photography services at affordable prices.
- Effective communication with clients to understand what they really want.
- Quick delivery of pictures on fresh pen drives.
- Digital software to enhance the beauty and style of each picture.
The following are the list of services that Focus Lens Photography will offer:
- Birthday photoshoots
- Conferences Photographs at churches
- Birthday parties and graduations ceremonies at schools
- Family photographs
- Weddings and engagement video and photography services
- Indoor and Outdoor Birthday Party Photographs
What price does the customer pay for each of these products?
- Birthday photoshoots $100
- Conferences Photographs at churches $150
- Birthday parties and graduations ceremonies at schools $100
- Family photographs $70
- Weddings and engagement video and photography services $200
- Indoor and Outdoor Birthday Party Photographs $100
How much does it cost you to provide each of these products?
Transportation of equipment $20, Photo Editing $30, Rentals $50
How do your customers pay you? Mobile Money and Cash
How many regular customers do you currently have? 50+
How do your current customers know you exist? *
Promotion Strategy Making a personal connection with my clients. By using Facebook and Instagram, I keep clients updated on what I am doing. I also try to get to know my clients. Focus Lens will utilize traditional marketing concepts with modern promotions in order to reach a greater audience. Cold Calling and Door-to-Door Business Sales Calls I will be visiting schools and small businesses to introduce my business and describe the photography services I offer. I will also go to graduation ceremonies and capture the moment without charging anything, edit the pictures perfectly at home and send them one copy, they will then fall in love with the photos which I will charge for the rest. Referral Program and Word-of-Mouth. I will also implement a referral program that will reward an existing client with a discounted photography service if they recommend a fellow business or household for any photography service. Festivals. I will participate in advertising in bridal shows and festivals that are held annually and semi-annually in the greater Accra Region. I will be going to those festivals and meeting those who would not want to miss that moment, give them a good shot and get paid. Website & social media. I will have a professionally designed website, where new and potential clients will be able to view a list of the services, pricing menu, and ability to schedule a photography session. The website will also include client testimonials and a gallery of photos with the clients’ permission.
Why did you choose this business?*
I chose this business because of the love and passion I have for camera and photography. Handling a camera and taking a good shot is something I can do all day whether I get paid or not. Turning it into business to make profit makes it better. I have been helping a photographer in my stake to cover conferences and devotionals voluntarily. It is my own way of rendering service to the church and also have the opportunity to get my hands on the job to improve my skills.
If I am fortunate to get a grant I will love to start small by purchasing the following starter equipment:
- Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera: $1,199.00
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens: $125
- Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens: $199.00
- Godox VING V860IIC TTL Li-Ion Flash Kit for Canon Cameras: $179.00
- Angler FastBox 24″ Octagonal Softbox Kit with Fabric Grid & Profoto A1 Adapter: $159.95
Name your top 3 ways to find new customers*
1. Cold Calling and Door-to-Door Business Sales Calls. 2. Referral Program and Word-of-Mouth. 3. Website & social media.
My business is brand new and has not been started yet
My business is a part time job right now, but if I receive a grant I will quit my other job and focus on this full time.
What is the most common sale you make?
The most common sales I make are birthday party photo shoots. People visit the studio for birthday photo shoots and for portraits they would use to promote their brands on social media on a daily basis. I also get weddings and engagement bookings at the same time which I charge double. We have different customers coming in daily, some come to book for wedding shoots, some book for outdoor birthday party shoots and others for brand promotional photoshoots. With the service I render new customers keep coming everyday because of referrals. I normally make $3,000+ in a year from customer referrals.
How much revenue have you made from taking photos in the past year? $7,000
How many competitors do you have? There are no competitors at my current location.
I am from a family of seven, three girls and four boys. Two of my older brothers passed away. I am the seventh born and the last born. All seven of us are from the same mom and same dad, unfortunately my dad passed away in the year 2021. I came from a small village called Weta in the Volta region of Ghana. Though I am the last born, my family depends on me for survival.