New start-up offers photo editing services

DESPITE the availability of photo editing software, founders of a newly-opened startup that provides photo editing services believe there is a market that they can serve.

Though they opened just three weeks ago, PhotoUp co-founder Kristian Pettyjohn pointed out that they already have nine sign-ups and 13 orders--all this without any marketing efforts yet.

PhotoUp offers editing services for real estate photography.

PhotoUp was among the start-ups that offered a peek into their services during the Demo Day in Cebu organized by TechTalks.ph and supported by IdeaSpace, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc.

Pettyjohn admitted photographers can do the jobs themselves. “They’re not paying us for that. They’re paying us for time,” he said.

Hours of work

He explained that overseas, like in the US where he is from, real estate photographers
shoot between three and five homes a day, taking six to eight hours per shoot. He said it’s a full time job and that editing these photos adds another four hours to the work.

PhotoUp charges $1.50 per photo but the charge could drop depending on the number of orders made.

He admits that locally, he does not expect the service to pick up. But for real estate brokers in the US, there is much importance placed on photos, as most house buyers check for photos online before deciding to go look at the actual unit. He said those with high quality photos have a 61 percent better chance of being viewed.

Pettyjohn should know what he is talking about. Before coming to the Philippines, he used to work as a real estate broker. His co-founder Dave Davies also works in the industry.

Their background and contacts make them confident they can pull this new venture off.

He said they chose to do business in the Philippines because it was cheaper. He felt that it was too expensive in the US.

Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Pettyjohn came to the Philippines to visit family and friends he’d made online. He was in Iligan when they thought of putting up the business.

Eventually, he said they moved to Cebu because of better infrastructure and access to more talent. He is “impressed” with the abilities of his workers.

If things go well, they plan to branch out by offering photo masking and editing wedding photos within the year.

They currently have 10 in the team working in Cebu and two in the US. Though he does not think they will be encouraging locals to get their services, he said they will accept any orders made wherever they are from.