QC Family Focus: October 2014

Education
Evin Ersan
Junior Reporter for QC Family Focus Magazine
This summer I learned how to
mow the lawn from my dad. At first
I was not that excited about the idea,
partially because it was cutting into
my free time, which I do not feel like
I have very much of, and also because
I know my dad is kind of picky about
stuff and he would want it to be a
certain way which would probably
take FOREVER….However, once I
got through my “Lawn Mowing Training” and proved
to my dad I could do it, I received something I was
not expecting…. CASH! …. and I liked it! That got
me thinking about making more money. I do not think
mowing lawns is really the way I want to go. I would
like to do something a little different, maybe start my
own business, so I turned to my cousin Grant Whitty
who started his own photography business and seems
to be doing great. Grant is 17 years old and goes to
Bettendorf High School.
Here is my interview with Grant Whitty about his
company which is called, Altitude Fotografy.
EVIN: When did you first start this business?
GRANT: In 2011 when I was 13
EVIN: Grant, when did you start getting interested in
photography?
GRANT: I first got interested in photography when I
was in middle school. I had a video camera, but over
time found much more interest in photography the more
I worked with the camera.
EVIN: Did you start off knowing you wanted to make a
business out of this?
GRANT: No. I really just loved working with cameras.
EVIN: How did your business get started?
GRANT: I always had a camera in my hands as a kid.
Then I taught myself how to use all the manual settings
of the camera and it just kind of took off from there. I
came up with the name Altitude, started getting hired,
got on social media, shot some photos for a local skiing
and snowboarding event, and everything just began to
snowball from there.
EVIN: How do you decide what to charge someone?
GRANT: It really depends what I am hired for and how
long the whole process takes.
EVIN: How long does it take to take the pictures?
16 October 2014 - QC Family Focus
GRANT: A typical project, for example, senior portraits,
the photo session will typically be a few hours, and then
I try to knock out editing and have photos to the clients
in one to two weeks.
EVIN: What are your favorite things to shoot?
GRANT: It would be a tie between landscape
photography and action sports/sports photography.
I love shooting the stars, the Milky Way, etc. and for
sports it would have to be skiing and snowboarding.
EVIN: How did you get the word out about your
business so people would know about you?
GRANT: Well at first, word of mouth. After things got
rolling, I put Altitude on social media (@AltitudeFoto)
and I also got some stickers and sweatshirts made with
the Altitude logo. I am planning on developing some
more clothing this fall!
EVIN: You’re going to college next year, what do you
plan to major in?
GRANT: I plan on majoring either in Photography or
Business at Colorado State University, whichever one I
don’t major in, I will probably minor in.
EVIN: What advice would you give another kid who
would like to start their own business?
GRANT: Do not give up on your dreams, do what
makes you happy, and be nice to people.
Check out Grant Whitty’s company: Altitude
Fotografy at www.AltitudeFotografy.com @
AltitudeFoto // #AltitudeFoto
Also check out these great sites for more ideas
about starting your own business!
http://builderslab.org/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/204124
http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/50-side-businessesyou-can-start-on-your-own/
To watch Evin’s video
report, scan the QR code
or go to this link! http://
vimeo.com/105985738