Photography as Business: The Wild Ride of a Young Entrepreneur in His New Venture

Abstract

Aaron, a young entrepreneur, was striving to establish a self-funded business that combined his love of photography with the ability to earn a living while doing what he enjoyed. Aaron’s journey was filled with many high points, low points, and major detours as he simultaneously navigated starting a business, earning an undergraduate degree, and marrying a Chinese woman whose visa was about to expire. Aaron’s experience illustrated the many challenges young entrepreneurs may encounter and must then conquer. Covering a decade of Aaron’s life, from age 19 to 29, his story particularly focused on the opportunities as well as the challenges that arose along the way. Aaron’s experiences exemplified the need for entrepreneurial risk-taking, creativity, and ability to bounce back when adversity struck. Concluding with several possible paths along which his journey may take him in the future, the case sets the stage for readers to evaluate the options and decide what they think Aaron should do.