Candids Wed to Digital
Ryan Hudson
YouShoot
www.youshoot.com
Cambridge, Mass.
Founded: 2003
Age: 25
When Hudson got married two years ago, he and his bride decided against decking out the tables with disposable cameras. People they knew who had wed recently told the couple the photos never turned out well and guests complained taking pictures was a chore. And of course, there's the cost of all that developing without knowing what you're getting.
But after the wedding, Hudson and his wife felt they had missed out on fun casual shots. So he started YouShoot.com. He sends couples digital cameras, and their guests take pictures and mail the cameras back in prepaid envelopes. Uploaded to a Web site, the photos are available for purchase.
The self-funded company is launching its first national ad campaign in major bridal magazines this year. Hudson wants the company to get big fast -- before a competitor with deep pockets has the same idea.
Lesson learned:
"You just have to do it sometimes, and you'll figure it out later. We have a whole bunch of problems we file under, 'Problems that will be nice to have someday.'"
Read The Story: The Startup Bug Strikes Earlier
Special Report: Young Entrepreneurs of Tech