PHOTOFANATIC FRIDAY: STARTING A PHOTO BIZ

SOOOOO, you’re pretty sure you want to start a photography business, huh?! That’s AWESOME…and a BIG step! Even if you’re excited about learning new skills and aren’t certain about when you’ll make the leap, here are a few things I’ve learned over the last couple of years as I’ve developed MY own business, which I hope will be helpful to you!

Learning your camera is critical. In the age of the digital camera, anyone can take and print a great photo, however, shooting in auto is only taking your Porche for a drive in first gear. If you’re already on top of this and are practicing on friends and family alike and they’re starting to get annoyed with your camera in their faces, even better! You’re on your way.

As you are coming up with names for your burgeoning business and planning your business cards, here are a few things to keep in mind!

Find Your Niche

Just because you CAN shoot everything well, from babies to adults/couples/engagements to pets, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Ever heard of the old adage mile wide and an inch deep? It’s awfully hard to become an expert in more than one area, and isn’t that who YOU want to hire? This is something that I learned a little late. And I’m not going to lie…it’s a process. When I started shooting, I was inspired by all 14 of the weddings I’ve been in. I love weddings and have enjoyed helping friends plan their special days, especially finding the dress and the photographer. I assumed that my love for weddings would translate into a love for wedding photography. BUT IT DIDN’T. I’ve shot families, engagements, and weddings and when I look at my work, I always find something lacking. Sure the shot may be nice, but the heart just isn’t there.

I’ve learned that my passion is in boudoir photography. There’s something amazing about helping a woman to feel beautiful and confident and I feel it’s my gift. And my work is better for it.

Look at what you love to shoot and compare your passion to your work…this is how you’ll find your niche!

Establish a Portfolio

So next up, after finding that elusive niche is to build your portfolio! In the beginning, it’s perfectly find to shoot your family and friends for free! However, I’d encourage you to do a true “shoot.” Don’t just include photos you’ve randomly grabbed around the house. Practice scheduling a time and running a shoot from beginning to end.

My first official shoot was my best friends’ maternity session. I cringe at the images now, but I do remember what a great learning experience it was. We scheduled a time, met at her house and did a few shots, then walked down to a nearby park. I practiced finding the right light and dealing with tricky situations, too! Not long after, I shot some other friends, and even grabbed shots of my parents and a couple from church. I didn’t charge these “clients,” but rather asked them to refer me to their friends and family! Having VARIETY is huge. Don’t just have shots of your children or family. You need to look legit! And soon enough those shots will translate to paying clients!

Market Yourself

Get yourself a website or blog. There are SO many free or low cost options for displaying your work online! I’d encourage you NOT to include .blogspot in your address, but instead purchase a domain. It looks more professional and like you are a true business. Again, show variety of work, but just as importantly, show who YOU are. Over the last two years at every conference or seminar I’ve attended I’ve heard over and over again that clients don’t hire your work, they hire you. Show them who you are and what your experience will be like. They need to believe that not only will they have beautiful images, but a fun and non-stressful experience!

Branding is also important. Try to be unique, but also YOU. Avoid trends like Comic Sans and flashy colors that can steal the attention away from your work. Naming your business something catching is one thing, but naming your business after yourself is one sure way to eliminate any confusion when clients are hiring you.

Utilize Helfpul Resources

I’m a member of WPPI, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International association (and will soon be joining PPA – Professional Photographers of America). I’ve attended the annual trade show and a local seminar that they recently put on. Likewise, I’ve attended other local conferences that have been educational. These are fantastic opportunities for networking and learning. Check out Smug Mug User Groups or Pictage User Groups in your area for monthly meetups. Annual trade shows will rock your world with knowledge. I spent four days at WPPI in Vegas last year and I spent most of my time in seminars and just walking the trade show floor. I met vendors, touched and felt products and gleamed every pinch of learning that I could.

There are also AMAZING workshops out there put on by some of your favorite and inspiring photographers. But be warned…there are also a lot of terrible workshops out there, too. It’s sad, but true, that there are some photographers who see others making money off of workshops and so they decide to hold them, too, and sometimes they’re just not ready to be teaching or charging those high prices. If you’re in CA and are curious about good beginning or even advanced workshops, shoot me an email and I’ll let you know some of my thoughts!

If you’re not ready to spend the kind of money that a workshop costs, look for shootout groups on Facebook or twitter! They usually have nominal fees to pay for models and/or locations.

Get Down with the Legal Mumbojumbo

You’re not a real business until you’ve filed a Fictitious Business Name with your county and applied for a Business License from your city. And let’s not forget the all important income taxes and sales taxes. Getting a resellers permit is important and paying Caesar what Caesar is owed is good karma. Plus, the IRS will eventually track you down, so you might as well get started off on the right foot!

So there you have it. Just a few thoughts and pieces of encouragement for those of you who are considering a photography business. If you’re looking for more encouragement, read through my previous PhotoFANatic Friday posts. You’ll find information on lenses, etc, and also several interviews with amazing photographers like Jasmine Star, David Jay, Contemporary Portraits, Love Me Do, and more!