Thai traditional costume rental and styling for ID-card photos in Thailand

The idea

In Thailand, a new trend has people wearing "chut thai", traditional Thai dress, for their ID-card photo instead of ordinary clothes. The source says the trend has drawn a lot of attention and that a well-known actress, Sririta Jensen, followed it with a gold Siwalai-style outfit decorated with sequins and crystals. Most people do not own such a costume, and that is the gap this business fills.

You rent out costumes and style the customer on the spot: dress, hair, simple accessories, then a clean photo taken against a plain backdrop. You earn from a styling-and-rental fee, and optionally from the photo itself and small extras such as hair pins or a quick touch-up.

Who it fits

This suits someone with an eye for dressing people and basic photography skills. A spare room corner, a garage or a weekend pop-up near a district office or a shopping area is enough. It works beside a job if you open by appointment on weekends. Similar ideas could work wherever national dress is a point of pride, for example for passport, graduation or visa photos, but check local photo rules first.

Costs and revenue

The figures below are my estimates, not from the source. Expect roughly $600 to $2,500 to start: a used camera or good phone, a tripod, a backdrop and light, a clothing rack, a mirror, a steamer and a first set of 10 to 20 costumes, which you can buy second-hand or have sewn locally. Charging about $8 to $25 per session is typical for a small studio; with 3 to 6 customers a day on busy days, a realistic range is $300 to $1,500 a month part-time, more if you add festival and graduation seasons.

Risks and pitfalls

• Photo rules: official ID photos may have requirements on clothing, background and framing. Confirm what the issuing office accepts so customers are not turned away.
• Fashion cycles: a trend can fade. Also offer costumes for graduations, weddings and festivals.
• Hygiene and wear: costumes touch many people. Use liners, steam and clean after each use, and keep a repair kit.
• Sizing: stock a range of sizes and adjustable pieces.
• Competition: photo shops can copy you, so make styling and costume quality your edge.