B&B Photography New Forest

[skywatcher]

I think it's a great idea. I'd definitely come down to the NF if I thought there was a reliable place to stay with somebody who knew about the area from a wildlife/photography point of view.

Do let us all know if you go ahead with this.
Rosie

[acherontia]

It would be an even better idea if you could lay on a photographer and offer wildlife photography opportunities.

Individuals with cameras are very often keen on wildlife (like all the camera buffs here) and may be willing to learn and visit opportunistic areas with a view to capturing shots accompanied with a knowledgeable 'wildie' as a guide.

There are lots of holidays organised around wildlife photographic opportunities - just look at the photo area on this site.

People are 'gaggin' f'r'it' as they say in Manchester.

Acher

[acherontia]

Originally Posted by acherontia

It would be an even better idea if you could lay on a photographer and offer wildlife photography opportunities.

Individuals with cameras are very often keen on wildlife (like all the camera buffs here) and may be willing to learn and visit opportunistic areas with a view to capturing shots accompanied with a knowledgeable 'wildie' as a guide.

There are lots of holidays organised around wildlife photographic opportunities - just look at the photo area on this site.

People are 'gaggin' f'r'it' as they say in Manchester.

Acher

Please see PM which recognises that you should be the wildie guide. DOH Get someone else to do the cooking!!!!

Acher

[Tringa]

Sounds a great idea Monkey. Though as already said just running a B&B is hard work without any extras. But in providing wildlife guidance you are making good use of your knowledge.

You mention taking visitors to places depending on what they want to see.

I think you would need to manage that carefully or you could be run off you feet.

Also if you are doing the driving I think you will need a change to insurance cover you have.

Another option, perhaps as a way of getting started, would be to use your detailed knowledge of your area to tell visitors places to see wildlife.

Although September is probably not the best time to start a B&B, but you may be able to use the coming months to prepare it.

I also suggest you consider getting a website. They are not expensive and your ISP may provide you with space. It would allow you to set out what you offer and let potential visitor see what is in the local area.

[WendyRydzynski]

It sounds like a great idea. i dont think any other B&Bs in the area offer anything like that so it would be a really good selling point for you. This season was a bit slower than hoped but the economy didnt help much! hopefully that will resolve itself soon!

Try getting in touch with your local Business Link as they will be able to offer lots of advice, often for free.

good luck - i think you'll do a roaring trade from this forum alone!

[eeyore]

its a good idea though not totally without competition

Autumn In the New Forest for example

one point tho is you cant do everything yourself - if you are the tour guide then who is going to be making up the beds , cleaning the rooms, and cooking dinner, people who come on this type of trip will expect all that to be done while they are out.

If your knowledge is up to it , personally i'd outsource the accomodation aspect and just run wildlife tours (which also has the potential for running day tours and thus picking up people who are staying elsewhere.)

one other point of note is the income from this will be intermittent and therefore you need to find a way of supporting your self and family in quiet periods

[Elean0r]

I'm not far from Southampton and know there are businesses that offer expensive "photographic experiences" in the Forest that don't come up to scratch. Not the one that Eeyore mentioned I hasten to add. I have absolutely no knowledge of them or what they offer.

A couple of years ago I went on a day's course and persuaded a friend to join me. It was advertised as being something quite special and had attracted people from all over the country. There was meant to be the opportunity to try out some equipment too, which didn't materialise. "Lunch", was prepacked supermarket sandwiches, which wasn't what was advertised. All in all the organisation was dreadful and they hadn't bothered to check the sites in the few days before the course, which proved crucial. Everybody got refunds because it was so awful.

Yours is a brilliant idea though, and it was because of the bad experience that I thought about teaming up with a friend who does B+B to do the same sort of thing, but I bottled out. I have, though, met up with people from a photography site and been their guide for the day which has been both fun and successful - at least that's what they said at the time.

So I think your idea could work although but possibly not as money-making as you might hope, unless you're able to offer more than an "opportunity" to photograph wildlife because, for example, the RSPB, Hants Wildlife Trust and New Forest keepers do guided walks quite cheaply, and plenty of photographers go on them and take wonderful pictures.