Case Studies

Franchise case study
Charlotte Broster, Barrett & Coe, Wokingham

Prior to doing any courses with Barrett & Coe I worked in marketing for a PR agency but never really enjoyed it. I always felt that as I was fairly creative and good with people, that there must be something more worthwhile and fulfilling I could be doing for a living!

I had recently got engaged and one day wandered into Peter Evans’ studio, Barrett & Coe’s Colchester franchisee, to enquire about wedding photography. I took one look at Peter’s studio and thought “Yep, this is what I’d like to do!” It seemed to tick a lot of boxes for me: creativity, plenty of interaction with people, working for myself rather than someone else and training to do something completely different.

Peter pointed me in the direction of Barrett & Coe and three months later I started a Portrait course in Norwich. I had also quit my job in PR and started working for Peter. Funny how such a chance encounter changed my life completely! That same year I completed the Social photography course and then having to relocate from Colchester to Reading for my husband’s job, I took a franchise area in December 2008. Within four months of living in my new area I had a studio and a growing business!

The studio is above a big car garage, not a glamorous location, but good parking for mums, their babies and/or families and I have lots of space. It’s helped me take my business to the next level – in an incredibly short amount of time.

Brian and Andrew are always encouraging us to enter competitions and so in June 2009 I entered the SWPP monthly image competition for which I achieved a “Gold Standard”! The picture of two pedigree bull mastiffs will go forward to the annual judging after being awarded the highest standard possible.

They made a bit of a mess of the studio and weren’t quite as well behaved as well as I’d hoped, but it’s all part of having different experiences and no two days being the same! It’s been hard work but I’ve received so much help and support it’s been an absolutely wonderful experience. Best of all, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else right now.