§1What this business is
A self-employed lead photographer with one assistant covers weddings (including destination weddings and pre-wedding shoots), corporate events, birthdays and anniversaries, festivals, portraits, maternity and newborn shoots, and event videography. A small rented studio with lighting is used for portraits; editing is done on an in-house computer.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A skilled photographer with a portfolio who wants to run his or her own studio.
Who it is not for
A beginner without a portfolio — clients book on the strength of past work.
Advantages
- Low investment under ₹7 lakh
- Weddings and destination weddings in Uttarakhand give steady demand
- Skill-based business that grows by word of mouth
- Videography and packages raise income per event
Drawbacks
- Many photographers compete in every town
- Wedding work is seasonal
- Camera gear needs regular upgrades
- Long irregular hours on event days
Skills you need
- Event and portrait photography
- Video shooting and editing
- Lighting
- Social media marketing
Why difficulty 2/5: Low investment; success depends on photography skill and reputation.
§3Market
Who buys
- Families holding weddings, birthdays and anniversaries
- Couples planning destination weddings in Uttarakhand
- Companies (conferences, launches)
- Festival and event organisers
How it sells
- Studio walk-ins and referrals
- Social media portfolio
- Tie-ups with wedding planners and venues
Good to know
- Profile sales mix: weddings 25%, corporate events 25%, event packages 15%, birthdays 15%, festivals 10%, portraits 5%, videography 5%.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Computer with hardware and Windows installed | 1 | ₹0.40 lakh |
| Cameras | 2 | ₹0.50 lakh each |
| Lenses | 4 | ₹0.10 lakh each |
| External hard drives | 2 | ₹0.07 lakh each |
| Tripods and monopods | 1 | ₹0.10 lakh |
| Studio set-up | 1 | ₹0.80 lakh |
| Lighting equipment | 5 | ₹0.05 lakh each |
From: Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana (Uttarakhand DUY) project profile — Event Photography
- Consumables (prints, albums, storage media)raw materials ₹0.25 L a year in the profile
From: Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana (Uttarakhand DUY) project profile — Event Photography
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST (if turnover crosses the limit)
- Shops and establishments registration
- Drone registration on DGCA Digital Sky and Remote Pilot Certificate (if drone shots are offered)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
A ₹6.98 L unit fits MUDRA (Kishore) or PMEGP; CGTMSE covers collateral-free loans; Stand-Up India suits SC/ST and women promoters.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Building (rented) ₹0.25 L + plant and machinery ₹1.94 L + equipment and furniture ₹1.17 L + misc. fixed assets ₹0.02 L + preliminary ₹0.13 L + working capital ₹3.47 L = ₹6.98 L. Finance: promoter ₹2.79 L, bank ₹4.19 L.
Working capital: Working capital ₹3.47 L in the project cost.
Year not printed on the DUY profile — check current prices.
§8Export potential
A local service; it has no goods to export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Price competition
- Data loss of event photos
- Equipment theft or damage
- Client disputes over delivery
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working event photography and videography unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST (if turnover crosses the limit)), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Event Photography and Videography?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.