Challenges with business write-up

[Curtis Cunningham]

I just became a member of my local Chamber of Commerce and one of the benefits of joining is that the Chamber will pay for a 1/4 page ad in the local paper. So now I have to provide some imagery and a short write-up which describes my business. And that is where I'm having some difficulty, deciding what to write.

I know what I want to say, but can't seem to get the right words. So I'll write what I have now and ask for your advice on what I should consider including, or what I should change/delete. Here goes:
"Based in Smithers, Curtis Cunningham Photistry provides wedding, portrait, commercial and product photography as well as graphic design services. To arrange for a free one-hour consultation for photographic or design services, either call 250.877.6940 or send an email to <info@photistry.com>. Please visit <www.photistry.com> to view photography and design portfolios."

Questions:

1. Is it better to write it in third-person, or first-person?
2. Since this ad is essentially a letter of introduction to the paper's readership, and not specifically targeting a group of people, should I include some sort of a call to action (other than or in place of the consultation ask)? If so, what would you suggest?

[michaelnotar]

sounded pretty good to me. definitely use 3rd person. and i would really reccomend using a professional, give them the points you want to make about the studio/special features/services and let them do it. ran about $200-300 for my webpage home page text and bibliography. Shutterworks Photography

[Curtis Cunningham]

Thanks Michael. There's a couple people I know here in town I can ask about this sort of thing.

Did you find it difficult as you were starting out to find a singular message that you wanted to focus on? I imagine that challenge is to know exactly what it is you want to do as a business before you go ahead with something like this. I'm challenged by the fact that being up here in Smithers it seems like I have to be diverse in what I do because there is such a lack of photography professionals. But maybe that would be a strength I could play off of...I don't know for sure. All I do know is that I'm trying right now to do as many different things as I can, in hopes that in time I can see what it is exactly that I want to focus on.

As an aside...I really like the image on your home page of what I assume to be your studio's lobby looking into the actual studio itself. I find it very appealing.

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