How to Start a Successful Photography Business

If you are a talented photographer, you might wish to start your own company. You're not the only one who wants to turn your creative outlet into a business. Right now, photography is a common job and pastime—and that's the issue. Everyone is a photographer now that cameras are more widely available, more consumer-friendly, and practically all smartphones come equipped with excellent cameras.

But that doesn't mean you should give up on your ambitions of starting a photography company. It simply implies that you might need to put in a bit more effort if you want to stand out from the crowd of novice shooters.

We asked three seasoned photographers who had launched their own firms to provide their advice so that you may establish your photographic career.

The planning stages

Before you buy a camera and create a website, you’ll want to do a little prep work.

1. Write a photography business plan

Peggy Farren, a wedding and event photographer, advises having a business strategy as a starting point. Any professional businessperson will advise you to put your ideas on paper in order. This thorough document acts as your road map, outlining the nature of your company and how it will make money. It deconstructs elements like cash flow, costs, ownership, and rivalry.

“Photography is one of the most competitive businesses out there,”

Farren says. “You need to be a very good business person to make a decent living. If you get off to the right start, you'll arrive far more swiftly. If you have the correct tools, writing a business plan doesn't have to be a difficult effort. Check out this sample photography business that can be downloaded for free.

2. Assess your photography business startup costs

You must evaluate your beginning costs as part of the planning process for your business. What necessities must you have in order to successfully establish your business?

According to Farren, the cost of the camera alone can be upwards of $10,000. A website, business insurance, business permits, and accounting programs like QuickBooks or Xero are additional requirements.

What about a studio?

Do you intend to begin working from a dedicated studio location or from home? If you require office space, you should look into commercial rental properties and include the monthly rental fee and utility costs in your budget.

3. Secure startup funds

You might not need to borrow money if you have enough in your bank account to launch your firm, but many business owners need. Many people who are beginning a business for the first time wind up relying on support from family or friends or continuing to work their regular jobs until their enterprise becomes self-sufficient.

A business plan that details how you'll use the money and when or how you'll repay your lenders is necessary whether you seek friends and family for financial support or request for a bank loan.

4. Figure out your personal finances

If your business is just getting started, be aware that it probably won't become lucrative right away. Farren's company didn't break even and start making enough money to pay the expenses for 18 months. You might need to take on a second job like Farren did until your business starts bringing in enough money to cover your expenses.

5. Get professional experience

You'll need to demonstrate your abilities to potential clients, and working with a pro photographer is a terrific approach to get expertise and begin developing a portfolio. Farren started her own company while working as a photographer's assistant.

Utilizing that knowledge to set together a photography portfolio that showcases your abilities is equally crucial. Build the portfolio with your audience in mind, taking into account what they want to see. Maintain it so that new potential clients can view the most recent and pertinent work.

6. Buy camera gear

Farren advises using two cameras, two high-quality lenses, two flashes, as well as Photoshop and Lightroom to edit the photos. Why use two cameras? You require back-up tools. According to Farren, new equipment can malfunction.

Everything may be purchased used for around $5,000, but according to Farren, $10,000 is a more reasonable price. Naturally, you can always enhance your equipment as you go.

7. Come up with a pricing plan

What will the cost of your services be? Every photographer finds it challenging, especially when they are first starting out. Determine the value of a single hour of your time. Let's say an hour of your time is worth $50.

You'll spend roughly three hours editing for every hour you spend shooting. That needs to be considered while setting your price. Therefore, according to this equation, a one-hour photo session would cost $200. It goes without saying that your price structure is unique; this is only a place to start.

8. Make a great website investment.

You'll require a website once you've chosen a name for your photography business. Although there are free website themes available, your website acts as a virtual marketplace. Consider whether hiring an expert to develop your website would make it more impressive. Of course, your work should be displayed on your website. Your customers will want to see that. Organize your website by categorizing your gallery sections. Include a headshot and a page outlining your education and experience.

Additionally necessary is contact information. List at least some of your prices; it's a smart idea. This prevents people from attempting to haggle for a cheaper price and helps control client expectations. This is the pricing chart that Farren employs on her website.

Okay, now that everything is set up, you can begin taking photos. How do you now attract customers?

9. Create your own brand

For their photography business, Jason and JoAnne Marino have developed a distinctive brand.

According to Jason and Joanne Marino, a husband and wife photography team, you must differentiate yourself from the competition. The couple is the proprietors of Imagine Photography, a business that draws couples seeking out non-traditional altar photographs and other types of wedding photography.

Jason Marino says, "You can't be everything to everyone or you'll fail horribly." You need to have a brand and a look if you want to draw in customers.

Determine your target market first. Do you favor taking maternity pictures? Newborns? Senior pictures for students in high school?

Discover your distinctive qualities as a photographer, and use them to market your company.

10. Make time to network

You need to network like crazy if you're a photographer and a new business owner, according to Marino. "You can be the best photographer in the world, but it won't help you unless people know about you," he claims. Join forums, groups, clubs, and collectives if you can. You'll receive recommendations if you make sure that these folks are aware of you and appreciate you.

11. Have good people skills

According to Marino, a photographer needs to have excellent people skills in addition to their mastery of composition. You want to guarantee the customer has a wonderful experience. In addition to your customer trusting you, which leads to amazing photos, a positive experience also increases the likelihood that your client will recommend you to others.

Meet with your clients before the shoot, if appropriate. Engagement photo shoots are organized by wedding photographers as a means to get to know their customers before the big day. Make sure to sit down and speak with the customer before you begin taking photos if you do not offer wedding photography.

Talk about expectations and engage in some light conversation. Keep in mind that you're selling more than simply beautiful images; you're selling an adventure.

12. Have a friends and family rule

It's nice that some of your initial customers will likely be relatives and family. You'll be incredibly appreciative of the chance and probably want to give them a discount. There's nothing wrong with it, but keep in mind that you're also attempting to support yourself. Make a general strategy with your friends and family and follow it.

13. Use social media to promote yourself

Social media is a fantastic tool for marketing, but it's preferable to begin with one or two sites and use them regularly. Although Facebook might be a fantastic alternative, you should probably choose for a more visually appealing social media platform like Instagram. One of the most crucial aspects of keeping your chosen channel active and updated.

The Marinos provide teaser images to their Facebook page before a shoot, as seen in the example below. It's an excellent approach to highlight work and keep clients interested.

Grow your business

Now that you’ve got the wheels in motion, let’s talk about how to pick up the pace.

14. Up your marketing game

Jane Goodrich, a New York-based children’s photographer, says one of the best ways to grow your business is to invest more in marketing.

Google ads

Google advertising are a godsend to Goodrich. She spends portion of her marketing budget on keywords that drive more visitors to her website.

Team up with charities

Farren expands her business with other innovative methods. She collaborates, for instance, with charities who host expensive silent auctions. Not only do you get your name in front of wealthy individuals, but the clients typically spend considerably more than the complimentary prints that come with the package they purchased at the auction, according to her.

Generate an email list and add to it constantly

Farren has also amassed a sizable email list over the years. She uses that list to deliver her monthly newsletter to clients, which she considers to be her best form of advertising. She attributes a large portion of her recurring business to the newsletter since it helps her clients remember her company.

Set up an email sign-up form for individuals to choose to receive your newsletters whenever you are at an event.

Maintain a blog

A blog is a fantastic tool for building authority in your industry. It's a free platform where you can share your skills, advice, and viewpoints. Write about your experiences, work procedures, tools, shot-planning methods, etc. The subjects are countless!

15. Make a savings plan and pay attention to cash flow

Drawing revenues from your business takes time, and depositing a little dollars into your savings account takes even longer. But as your firm expands, conserving money should be a top focus. Whatever type of photography you undertake, you will eventually experience a sluggish month, according to Goodrich. Spend less while you're busy so you can withstand the tougher months. This has to do with keeping track of the inflow and outflow of cash in your business.

Make your payment terms explicit in light of that. Many photographers request a deposit up front and the remaining payment before providing the customer with the images. Make sure your clients are aware of your payment conditions, no matter what they are.

If you choose to invoice clients once you've completed a shoot, be sure to do so right away and to specify exactly when payment is due. Even if your firm is doing well on paper and you have plenty of business, waiting for customers to pay you can cause a cash flow problem. You cannot take care of your personal expenses unless you have cash on hand.

16. Reinvest in the business

You can start considering reinvesting it if you have at least three months' worth of income set aside. New technological advancements, like as improved editing software and lenses, can enhance your product. Make a list of the things you want in order to make informed judgments. Before you spend your hard-earned money, order the list by importance and look around for the best deals.

17. Diversify

With enough time, you'll be able to expand your company and diversify your sources of income. For instance, Goodrich expanded her list of offerings to include maternity and newborn photography. She wasn't able to make all of her money from children's shoots, but she was able to diversify and make more.

18. Keep learning

The best advice Farren thinks she can give aspiring photographers is to keep honing their craft. Keep your abilities current by enrolling in classes, watching instructional videos, or scheduling time to go shoot images of something completely unrelated to your work path.

19. Hire help

You will initially assume all roles. You'll organize photo shoots, execute the photos, edit the images, and place the print orders. When you first start out, multitasking is not an option. Nevertheless, after your company is founded, it's not a terrible idea to assign duties, even if it's only occasionally.

You must be aware of your talents and shortcomings, according to Joanne Marino, to do this. Perhaps you excel at capturing photos but not so much at editing, or you just don't like it. Find a freelancer to assist in that area if that is the case. If you don't know any freelancers, ask a coworker for recommendations or place an ad on a freelance website like Elance.

You'll encounter ups and downs as with any new business, but if you're dedicated to your craft and strive to provide each client with an excellent experience, you'll establish a strong reputation as a go-to photographer.