Hello Rodinhooders,
I’m Sudeep G. Samanta, a Third year Chemistry student, Web developer and a Student entrepreneur.
I have founded a web based photo-sharing platform “Photodilse” which allows anyone from an amateur using a point and shoot camera to a professional using full frame, high end models to share their work.
So now, you might think that how a chemistry student develops a website which is related to photography and become an entrepreneur, Total confusion!
Well the story dates back to a time when both of us(me and my co-founder, Shailesh Lad) couldn’t even spell the word ‘Entrepreneur’ correctly. After our standard ten exams both of us got involved in a particular network marketing company which sold online computer courses. A struggle of 6 months did not turn out to be financially useful; however it changed our perspective of entrepreneurship forever. I become more interested in web designing and developed few websites in my initial days. The importance of owing a brand of our own was soon realized and thereafter we worked on several projects but Photodilse has been the most successful one.
Photography is a hobby that both of us practiced since a few years. This hobby later turned out to be the founding stone of Photodilse
Beginning of Photodilse (refers to a picture straight from the heart…!!!)
The beginning of Photodilse was not a result of a ‘Eureka Moment’. It was a casual thought which came to our mind while having a casual conversation in our college canteen. It was a mere thought and had to be refined several times. Once we believed that the idea had enough potential we placed it in front of several photographer friends. Initially, they all loved the concept and agreed to contribute with their photographs. However, the agreement didn’t last long and most of them bailed out at the last moment leading to the delay in launch of Photodilse. Then we decided to start it from scratch once again and finally the founding stone of Photodilse was laid. The actual website went online on 25th May, 2013 and has received a fabulous response ever since.
Talking of our team, photographers from all over the globe are a part of our team who contribute with their photoart. Photodilse takes this opportunity to thank them and their efforts.
So how Photodilse is different from others?
Photodilse is one of its kind website in several ways. Unlike other websites it doesn’t just feature top photographers but we believe in sharing the work of amateurs. Most photography websites would reject the work of amateurs saying it wouldn’t meet their standards. We however, publish the art of enthusiastic and deserving photographers thus providing them an exclusive platform to share their talent at the international level.
Photodilse become so famous across the globe because we do not follow a dedicated marketing strategy. We use the social network to spread our website.
Our only way to market our product is through what we term as ‘Auto-marketing’. We feature the work of others thereby helping them spread their wings and they in turn help us to spread our website. Each time a person shares the link of his images or interview he or she is indirectly marketing our website. In this way we turn people into ’Stars’ and they turn us into ‘Superstars’.
A lot of our readers are solely because of the fabulous art displayed on Photodilse.com.
Some Milestones:
Photodilse since its inception has been able to publish photographs of more than 100 photoartists from all over the globe. Our club of photoartists’ include from amateurs to those who are renowned all over the world for their work. Some of the elite photographers on Photodilse are Mr. Sudhir Shivram (Wildlife), Mr. Shikhei Goh (Macro), Mr. Ginetom Gomes (Fashion), Mr. Rohan Reilly (Monochrome), Mr. Caras Ionut (Fine Art), Ms. Elena Kallis (Underwater), Mr. Osman Ghani (Wedding) and many more.
Photodilse has amassed over 5,000 photographs, 25k visitors, and 100k page views in just over 2 months.
Apart from the figures, the fact that we are creating a club of photographers is what gives us utmost pleasure. A community where a German photographer is mentoring and guiding a Delhi based amateur artist and an artist from Israel is sharing his work and gaining fans and followers from India and Indonesia.
Revenue model:
When we started Photodilse, one of our aims was to create a stock Website for selling photographs however very soon we realized that the task at hand was not easy without any prior experience and lack of legal knowledge and the ides was scrapped. We decided to publish photographs and interviews without charging a penny. However, now after the success Photodilse has achieved we have been recommended by several renowned artists to transform Photodilse in to a Stock-Photo Website. We are working on a creative model that will incorporate various changes into the website making it a Photo publisher and seller!
Lesson Learnt:
If someone rejects you, instead of thinking they don’t like you
Say to yourself: ‘How can I change my approach to get what I want?’
Please share your views, suggestions and comments about my venture
asha chaudhry
hey sudeep,
how is photodilse doing? we’d love to hear more about your journey…