Starting Your Photography Business: Get On The Right Track
Starting any business can be overwhelming. It’s easy to get preoccupied with a lot of things and to overlook certain things that are crucial to the success of the business. This is very true when starting a photography business. You need to do the right things at the right time.
The photography business is not easy one. It could make you or break you. There was the Sanders study positing that the industry has a turnover rate of 85% or with only 15 % of commercial photographers making it to their third year in business. Aside from having the talent, skills, and the right equipment, a budding commercial photographer also needs to have the right marketing strategies to succeed in the business.
Commercial photography is not only about the art of photography but also about sound business principles and stratagems. So before embarking into business photography, there are certain things that a photographer needs to do ask himself:
Do I have the passion for it? Without passion, you will find it very difficult to create breathtaking photographs. Without passion, a photographer can only produce mediocre photos. If you can only produce this kind of photographs, you may not be able to sustain the demands of the industry and of your clients.
A photographer’s passion for his art and craft can be mirrored in the photographs he created, on whatever subject they may be. Your portfolio of photographs can speak for you.
Passion and talent are necessary ingredients in putting together a portfolio and in making it in the photography business. An impressive portfolio, in turn, can make an impact on prospective clients and this is good for business.
Have I done my research? In any business undertaking, research is very important. The research must be comprehensive and must include a feasibility study. You have to know your target market in and out. Know what makes them tick.
You need to know the available business and the competition. Do you need to have a studio and do you have the right location and the resources to realize it? See whether you have got what it takes to carve your own niche in the market. You can maximize the resources available online in conducting your research.
Do I have a business plan? A business plan is a must for any business. Determine whether to what extent of your resources you are willing to put in into your commercial photography business and devise your business plan within these parameters. Know what you need to do, when to do it, and how to do it right.
There are many things that must be included in your business plan. Most importantly, you must have a clear and precise plan on how to establish your business and how to make it grow. You must also have a plan how to build your client base, maintain it, and increase it. Also, some advertising campaigns might also help for people to be aware of your photography business and to help bring in business.
Do I have what I need? This depends mostly on the kind of commercial photography business that you are planning to go into. You need to have the right equipments and gears for the kind of photography you are going to provide your clients. In a nutshell, what kinds of photos do you want to take and do you have the right apparatus for it?
You would need various photography equipments like camera, lenses, lighting equipments, tripod, and the like, that are of good quality and make. You also need to have a dependable software for photo editing like Corel Paint Shop or Adobe Photoshop.
Expect birth pains when starting out with your photography business. It’s not easy nor is it simple. You need to be patient, attend to important details of your business, and practice utmost professionalism. More often than not, taking small but sure steps is the best way to do it.
I always include my course at the bottom of these articles via this link so you can get underway with your own photography customers when you’re ready.
