Starting your own photography business is a great way to add a second income or main income if you work hard. Although the photography market is very competitive, many photography business owners are able to find their niche and build a sustainable career.
To build and grow your business, you need both fresh talent and marketing talent. You should be constantly working to improve your craft and develop your product and consistently work on your own brand, online marketing and people skills.
How to get started with photography
Basic business requirements
There are a few things that almost all businesses need that you should address first:
Business License: Business licenses are usually required by the governments of the state in which you operate.
Insurance: Insurance protects you from liability related to accidents, equipment damage, and more.
Legal Services: Lawyers are important to any business. Connect with legal counsel you trust and call them as needed.
Equipment
Determine the equipment you will need for the job. If you want to keep costs low, consider this list of absolute must-haves to get your first job done well:
Two cameras
More lenses
Two flashes
Multiple memory cards
Two external hard drives
A computer or laptop with sufficient memory
Digital services and software
Photography businesses will need certain digital services and software, including websites and hosting, editing software and online proof galleries:
Website: You can run a basic website for relatively cheap with services like Wix or Squarespace.
Lightroom and Photoshop Subscriptions: Subscriptions to editing software are essential to complete your photos and videos.
Other considerations when starting a photography business
Apart from equipment, software and services, there are some other important aspects to consider when starting a photography business. The following are important elements to plan for when you start trying to generate leads and take orders.
Your brand and reputation
Building a personal brand and reputation for quality work is one of the best ways to get referrals and recognition. In a business like photography, word of mouth is highly effective.
Your prices and rates
Many photographers have difficulty pricing them and determining their value. You should certainly never price a job so that it results in a loss of money or less than minimum wage, but many do. You can research your area to see what your competitors are charging, but ultimately you have to charge what you think they’re worth.
Customer expectations and contracts
Managing your clients’ expectations is critical to your success. Your clients should know exactly what they can expect from you and what is expected of them.
