Robert Karp is all about capturing the moment ? both literally and figuratively.
A former teacher at several area schools, Karp decided he wanted a change in his life, and took a leap of faith and started his own photography business. In March, Karp began meeting with The Sports Section Photography, a national company emphasizing youth and community shoots. He has expanded his new business since then, and already has several schools lined up for their picture day.
For the 36-year-old Owings Mills resident, an administrator with the College of Health Professions at Towson University, starting his own home-based business has been a learning experience.
“I have been an amateur [photographer] my whole life,” Karp said. “I started in elementary school and won a photo contest and I got to middle school and high school and took photography courses and I got to a point in my life where I can sit in front of a desk forever, or I can do something I really love, and that?s what I?m going for right now.”
A former teacher at both the Park School and Free State Montessori School, Karp wanted to find a way to combine his love of photography with his love ofworking with children. Following extensive searches, Karp decided to start his own home-based business with TSS. Recently, home-based businesses have enjoyed a substantial level of success, generating annual revenues of more than $425 million and maintaining a 70 percent success rate, Entrepreneur Magazine reported.
“Home-based businesses are more attractive because your overhead is under control,” said Joe Lindenmayer, president of TSS Photography. “So your primary revenues can go to growing your business and positive revenue-generating activities, like marketing.”
“Right now, we have over 230 franchise locations throughout the country in 42 states and 85 percent are home-based. The typical franchise owner is someone who has been in some sort of management capacity, is willing to work hard and is outgoing and committed to charitable organizations ? which is part of our culture,” he said.
For Karp, the work will be worth the reward.
“I?d like to get to the point where I am really running things and have some photographers underneath me and I am overseeing things,” Karp said. “I want to take it as far as I can take it.”
More information
» TSS Photography of Baltimore
888-877-0010
