How to start a photography business

Are you passionate about photography and want to turn it into your profession? Has starting your own photography business or opening your personal studio been your lifetime dream? Do you think that digital era leaves fewer and fewer job opportunities for increasing number of photographers? Well, you’re not wrong there.

However, if you’re really good at photography, if you’re willing to improve your proficiency and develop as an artist and a businessman, you’ll be able to win the competition on quite a busy market of photography services. And, you’ll be the lucky one to earn money doing your favorite thing in the world.

So, keep reading if you want to figure out how to open a successful photography startup and which first steps have to be taken in order to develop your brand-new business.

Steps of starting a photography business and developing connections with clients

1. Think about where and how you’re going to operate. Opening a photo studio may be everything you’ve ever dreamed about. But it might be an unreasonable risk and waste of money. Especially when you haven’t built a client base yet.
   So, consider working at different outdoor locations, at people’s houses and during various events. Remodeling one room of your house into a studio might be a good idea as well.
2. Choose the spheres of photography you’d like to function in. Wedding photography is quite tricky. And, you need to have good referrals, reviews and rating to get hired for a ceremony. But it’s quite profitable as well.
   Family, event and newborn photography will keep your busy all year around. Landscape photography may be your guilty pleasure.
3. Don’t quit your current job immediately after your cut the ribbon of your modest studio. It might remain your part-time occupation/hobby till you reach significant level of income.
4. Count up how much money you’ll have to spend to compile a basic set of equipment. It might cost you anywhere from $2,5K to infinity. Supposedly, you already have a camera. If you know that it’s not any close to being good enough for taking professional photos, you’ll need to buy a new camera and lenses kit.
   Besides, you’ll need a tripod, a ballhead, a set of extra batteries, lights, screens and filters for you camera. You won’t be able to work without editing software and setup decorations for your home-based studio (if you’re planning to organize it). Find more info about equipment for beginning photography pros on Photographylife.com.
5. If you don’t have too much money to spend on that equipment, think about buying used camera and other stuff. It might take you a while to find nice equipment in a good state.
   But believe me, there’s a ton of excellent second-hand cameras, lenses, light systems and other photography bits and pieces out there. They will help you decrease your start-up budget significantly.
6. Don’t purchase all the props for your home-based studio at once. Find plain white background sheet, umbrella photography light and a high stool – and you’re all set.
   Be flexible with your props. Use your home furniture and decor. Buy a couple of setup decorations and props before your first photo shoot of a certain type.
   After some time, you’ll gather your elaborate props stash. And, you’ll be able to collect some cash in your studio remodeling and equipment upgrading piggy bank. You never get everything at once, do you?
7. Write down your business plan. Include all equipment you want to buy at the first place and your strategy on attracting customers and receiving photography orders.
   Don’t forget to include other expenses (like legal and organizational ones). Concentrate on the financial part of the planning.
   Do you need to address the bank crediting services to receive a business loan? Can your family members or friends borrow you some money? Or can you pull something out from your bank accounts?
8. Think about improving your photography skills by attending professional courses and seminars. It’s important to keep pace with the latest trends and techniques.
   It is impossible to know everything about photography, is it?
9. Don’t forget to receive a DBA license. It’s quite easy to apply for. Just go to your town hall and its officials will explain all the details to you.
   You may need a tax return license too, as you’re going to ‘sell’ your photography services to other people. Getting business insurance is quite beneficial as well.
10. Don’t forget to insure your expensive photography equipment after purchasing it. You don’t want to lose a ton of money due to one stupid dropping or steeling accident, do you?
    Make sure that the insurance company or agent you choose has a proper license. Noone wants to get fooled.
11. Work out your pricing chart. It will depend on the type of photography you’ll be engaged in and local rates. Don’t get overexcited.
    Remember that beginners aren’t the ones who get paid the most. As you operate on the market more and more and become an experienced and well-known provider, you may increase the amount of money you charge per one shoot.
12. Start gaining your first clients and compiling your portfolio. Ask people you know to let you organize a free photo shoot for them to get your first reviews and referrals, along with the portfolio material.
    Carry out photo sessions of different types and in various styles. This way you’ll be able to offer your prospective clients a wider understanding of what you can do.
13. Job hunting websites always help individual providers reach out to a wider circle of prospective clients. Digital era, remember? The easier connection between a pro and his future customers they provide the better.
    For instance, you can create your photography business profile on HireRush.com. Then, people will be able to find you through local search and call you directly from the website. The personal data protection is guaranteed.
    And, if anyone leaves a photography task (like, “a wedding photographer for 08.23.2016 in Portland needed”), we’ll immediately notify you via SMS. Create a profile now
14. Online presence and activity is an inseparable part of modern photography job. In fact, it’s a vital thing, especially for a beginner.
    Artistic and elaborate social media pages are the first things professional photographers are judged by. Having your own website or writing a photography blog is the top level of this step.
    But, setting up a website may be quite expensive. So, it’s better to stick to good old Insta, FB and blogging at first.
15. Contact other professional photographers to see if someone needs an aide for their upcoming photo task. Usually, it’s event or wedding photographers who look for additional help.
    You’ll be able to receive extra cash, ask for a referral and learn something new from a more experienced pro.
16. Offer additional services like compiling a photo album, printing photos and framing them, creating wall collages, etc. Provide discounts for the next order or 10% discount for the first one.
    Add a couple of photography bundles to your pricing chart. Those could be combinations of maternity and newborn shoots, pre-wedding and wedding, family and personal portraits, etc.
    Set more attractive prices for those photo shoot packs than for 2 individual services.
17. Reach out to your clients via email and social media to offer them new deals and to ask if they’re willing to schedule another shoot any time soon. Don’t forget to send congratulation emails on your clients’ special occasions. Include an attractive photo shoot discount.

My last and best advice to you is related to individual approach and relations with your clients. Be really helpful and kind to them. Encourage friendly communication.

Listen attentively to what people want you to shoot and how they want you to do that. As meeting the client’s expectations and giving away the final photos they’d fall in love with is your highest goal.

Of course, you may have your personal approach when it comes to photography. And being unique is amazing! But it’s your customer who’s paying you to receive the photos they’d like to have. So, be really flexible. Learn to understand your client’s personality. Look through your client’s eyes while taking a picture and you’ll do amazing job!