3 Tips Before You Start a Photography Business
Written 9 months ago by Lee Milthorpe
If you could make a living doing something you love to do, life would be pretty sweet! With photography, the opportunity to live that dream is already there. There are thousands of people with cameras making good money by taking snaps of things like weddings, pets and bands.
I called them “people with cameras” there because for every professional photographer, there are probably a hundred amateurs all selling their “photography” services. Poor reputations are hard to recover from!
Tip #1: Be amazing
If you’ve only just started out in photography and only know the basics, do yourself and potential clients a favour and learn your trade first. Know your gear inside out! Don’t just be good. Be amazing!
Tip #2: Be a people person
Unless you plan to make your living from landscape photography or “arty” photography then you’re going to need good people skills. Sometimes photographers can be quite shy and would rather be behind than in front of a camera but don’t let shyness stop you. People warm to that and if you make friends with your clients, there’s far more chance they’ll tell their friends and you’ll have work coming in without really having to sell yourself at all.
Tip #3: Be prepared
Do you know what your niche is going to be? Are you going to be a sole trader or a registered company? Any idea where to start selling your services? Being an incredible photographer with great people skills is a start but if you don’t know business, making a living out of photography is going to be a much tougher challenge!
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Comments
very nice tips… the best thing i think we need to “rise” in photography business is to be patient :)
Good tips for beginners. I think at least some photographers suffer from ‘shyness’ which causes them very adversely and losing some really amazing shots. I’ve also suffered such problems when I started as an amateur. I really used to feel very shy to get involved in the situation when there are a lot of spectators, mostly in the local market. When you got to distant places you won’t feel such problems and will slowly build confidence. All the best for all beginners. Good article. Thank you for that.
Have you ever thought about selling your photos at stock agencies? I am just hobbyist photographer, but I sell my photos at stock agencies. I mention it here because it is really interesting opportunity for anyone who wants to try how is photography business going.
Although I am still just hobbyist I learned (and still learn) a LOT through selling my photos at stock agencies. Especially technical requirements and rules behind photography, photography licenses, legal stuff, (model releases, property releases, etc.) and lot about photography business as such.
Maybe you have been wondering how to start your first photography business. The stock photography and stock agencies maybe the right answer for you…
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