Startup Valley News
START UP VALLEY NEWS
Julia Rosa Reis, ShootShare Founder.
Introduce yourself and the startup ShootShare briefly to our readers!
We are ShootShare, a Bavarian software startup for worldwide B2B photo productions. "Go Global, Shoot Local." is our motto, as we assist clients in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors with our production tool to independently book and conduct shootings worldwide online. During the pandemic, our clients cannot travel abroad for shootings or fly teams around the globe. Also, the climate crisis advocates for new sustainable approaches in advertising image production - hence, ShootShare is particularly interesting for brands aiming to save budget while not compromising on high-quality campaign images for their collections and product ranges. "Save your budget and the planet." is our creed. We've digitized the entire production process for our clients, opening doors for small and large brands to achieve more efficient, transparent, and sustainable photo and video productions.
Why did you decide to start a company?
I'm a passionate entrepreneur in the creative and production industry, deeply interested in efficiency, sustainability, and fairness. I was fortunate to grow up in the innovative field of robotics. Working later as a producer and photographer for international advertising clients, I encountered the same recurring problems faced by my clients. This inspired me to establish ShootShare. With ShootShare, we've succeeded in making the industry's production standards fairer for customers and creatives while resolving the common issues faced by both.
What was the biggest challenge in founding ShootShare?
Digitizing the individual steps of the elaborate production processes was a demanding task, resulting in a delicate interplay in our algorithm. Timing is, as often, crucial—ShootShare has been in development since 2016. With the changed travel conditions and the acknowledgment of the climate emergency, we can now offer customers a good alternative in times of crisis. Had we launched too early, the general understanding of the software might not have been as widespread.
Can one start with an idea if everything isn't perfect yet?
It's necessary to do so. Perfection can sometimes be seen as the enemy of creativity. While timing is one aspect, the state of "perfect" can only serve as food for thought in a dynamic company like ShootShare. We're constantly evolving as we engage with our customers daily. It's crucial to listen because that's the only way we recognize if we're truly doing everything to provide our customers with the best possible solution. If one has passion for their idea, they should pursue it further - following the well-known saying by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn: "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late."
What is the vision behind ShootShare?
The vision of ShootShare is to make fair, transparent, and sustainable shootings the new standard in the industry. Therefore, our priority is to simplify production processes for customers and creative professionals, making them clearer and fairer overall. With ShootShare, brands always know exactly where their budget is going. Moreover, we actively advocate for fair payment and treatment of creatives. By exclusively working with local professionals and following our "ShootShare Sustainable Production Plan," we actively contribute to reducing environmental damage. Over six years, a strong network has developed in Europe, South Africa, and the USA, which continues to grow. I aim to create an environment for creatives and clients that nurtures creativity and brings both sides to eye level. There's a good chance that we'll have a lasting positive influence on the industry sustainably.
Who is the target audience of ShootShare?
Our target audience comprises brands and companies that care about the environment and resource conservation. We've specialized, especially, in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands in Europe, the UK, and the USA. We offer them the opportunity to produce simply, sustainably, and globally. They have the freedom to create any shooting they desire in our modern and clearly structured ShootShare online tool. From photographers to models to various buy-out options (the photo rights for models and photographers), everything can be tailored individually to their business needs at ShootShare.
Brands can register online and discover ShootShare: whether in Cape Town, Venice Beach, or Rome, we offer numerous destinations worldwide, providing each brand new possibilities with transparent pricing. Our software assembles the appropriate team for implementation. On-site, we exclusively collaborate with local experts who conduct the shooting based on the online briefing created. Throughout the entire production process, we guide customers with our software—from briefing and mood boards to feedback and post-production of images. Customers don't need to leave their home office for the shoot. If everything meets the customers' desires perfectly, brands can finally download the images from the platform.
What sets you apart from other providers?
ShootShare is the first platform where brands can book and produce photo shoots online. We globally facilitate the placement of the entire production team locally and don't leave the customer hanging when it comes to the production part. Other companies in our market establish contact with creatives but don't assist customers in the actual production process. We've made this our core business and meticulously planned the path from briefing to downloading the visual material efficiently and transparently. ShootShare also offers 100% transparency in pricing, as our shooting packages include everything customers need for successful execution—crew, models, equipment, creatives, locations, and buy-outs. Furthermore, the prices are visible before the briefing begins.
Moreover, we're designed for sustainability in production and fairness in collaboration with creative professionals. Through our remote production concept, we actively support climate crisis mitigation and foster local creativity by exclusively working with talents on-site. Additionally, with our fair pricing, we actively combat the romanticization of the creative industry. Fair payment is the first and most important foundation, followed by diversity and inclusion in the selection of creatives and models.
ShootShare, where is the path leading? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Our goal is to positively and sustainably change production conditions for customers and creatives. We're constantly in communication with our community. Our economic aim is to cover 2% of the global market for photo production in the lifestyle and fashion sector in 5 years and to be the best-practice example for fair and sustainable productions. To achieve these goals, we're always on the lookout for strong partners and customers who share our vision of a fair, green, and transparent future for our industry. Anyone looking to grow in the field of "sustainable remote production" is welcome to join us.
Finally, what 3 tips would you give to aspiring female founders?
Always remember your WHY - the moment you had your idea, you'll never forget. When tough times come, and they will, remembering your why helps. Why did the idea fascinate you back then? Where did the spark ignite? What vision did you have? The answers to these questions motivate you through rough patches until the next WIN.
Don't lose sight of your target audience - talk to many people in the industry, collectively explore your ideas, and discover potential problems you can solve. This way, you develop a product/service with relevance and sustainably build a network of like-minded individuals who share and promote your vision.
Take time for a few startup-free hours - We all work too much, and socially, it's trendy to be "busy." However, not taking a weekend off for five months is not the right path because burnout follows. Mental health is simply part of our company culture. So, take a break - the best ideas are famously born in the shower or while jogging.