Starting A Photo Business
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If you've always loved photography, why not give thought to starting a photo business? A freelance or home photography business can take you from dabbling in a hobby to establishing yourself as a professional with a great full or part time salary. Photography is both an art and a science. In addition to understanding how to compose interesting pictures, manipulate all of the options on your camera and process your pictures, you also need to know what aspects are intriguing to your audience. While you do not need a license to be a photographer, the more you know about your business, the better off you'll be. Check out local community colleges and photography schools to find out their course offerings. Next, take pictures. Lots of pictures. Read books and try different techniques. Look at pictures in photography magazines to find out how they were constructed. Find out if any photography studios in your area need assistance. You can learn a great deal from an experienced photographer, especially one working with live subjects. Starting A Photo BusinessFreelance photography is a perfect career for a home business because you can have flexible hours and focus on a specialty you enjoy. If you enjoy weddings, maybe you will want to create a wedding photography business. Or, perhaps you enjoy photographing nature throughout the seasons. If so, you may want to set up a nature photography business. You may enjoy the craftsmanship invested in Victorian homes, and start a real estate photography business. Opportunities are available in a variety of specialties such as fashion, pets and children when starting a photo business. Another opportunity for starting a photo business that has more recently developed is web photography. Companies that put photographs of their products on the web need experienced photographers to create attractive photos. Photographers may take on assignments, i.e. a client hires you to photograph his family, or make and sell stock photos—which are general photos (say of scenery or landmarks) that a client may buy. EquipmentYour first decision, of course, will be to decide what type of camera or cameras you'll need. If you will be using a digital camera, you'll need a good quality computer and photo developing software. Otherwise, will you be developing your own film?
Then you'll need a dark room (which could be any windowless room) and associated equipment. Regardless of your camera type, you'll need lots of storage space for film or disks. Will you be photographing in your home? If so, you'll need a studio area as well for starting a photo business. Marketing Your Photography BusinessPeople will want to see how good a photographer you are, so you'll need to have samples for them. Prepare a portfolio of your best work to have available. Contact your local chamber of commerce to find out upcoming events in your area. Call the event sponsor and find out if they would be interested in having photos taken of the festivities. You may need to offer to do this free, or at-cost until your reputation is established. Contact people related to your niche. See if a pet groomer wants to offer “after” pictures for his clients. A wedding planner might like to offer a photographic timeline of the days leading up to the wedding. With a creative eye toward your craft as well as toward your marketing, you can find success in a photography business. |