Starting-up a photography business doesn’t just involve having a good camera. Although it is included on the list, there are actually a lot of things to be regarded as before putting up one.
Below are 10 essentials that have to be considered before starting up a photography business.
Enroll in the Best Photography Course or Workshop
Enrolling in a workshop or photography course online is absolutely a good deal. However, keep in mind that getting only the best help is also equally important. You can only learn from the experts, people say. It may include though hours or even days of searching for one. Reading the reviews from previous students would help. As well as checking out details such as the photographer’s portfolio, or even which area a certain photographer is good at. If you wish to start-up a photography business focusing on weddings, obviously wedding photographers should be the first on the list. Learning a different skill set afterward though should be the next step.
Create an Interesting Online Portfolio
Before you even decided to open up a business, surely you already have a collection of photographs – whether they were amateur shots or taken professionally. Creating an online portfolio is also one of the important steps to do before going live with the business. There are instances that clients won’t spend time, or won’t even visit the about section, and will go straight to the gallery section. Highfalutin words could absolutely be easily added to keep the website enticing, but in reality, it’s your work against any other photographers in the world.
Invest in a Quality Camera as well as Accessories
Let’s say you’re already equipped with knowledge & skills, as well as a portfolio to prove it. Now it is time to work on the highlight of the business, and that is getting a quality camera. A quality camera ensures excellent shots, which would also lead to happy and satisfied clientele. Thus, investing in a quality camera is synonymous with maximizing the business potential.
Aside from a good camera, make sure to also get good and compatible accessories such as a camera bag, a tripod, and external hard drives. Not only these accessories will make work bearable for you, but it will also make you look more professional when meeting clients.
Good Lighting
Another accessory a photographer should also venture on is good lighting, because it could either make or break a photograph. Although natural light is the number one choice, investing in top quality studio lights could be of help for when natural light is not adequate.
Editing Software
An editing software would allow you to enhance raw shots and amaze the client with your creativity. There are a lot of editing software that is available in the market, so a thorough research would be helpful to ensure you have the one that tailor-fits what the business needs the most.
Create a Photography Blog & get your own Domain Name
One of the top marketing strategies in this time and age is making your presence online. Creating a photography blog will make it easier for you to connect with your clients in all ages and show off your latest portfolio. To make it look more professional, make sure to get your own domain name too. During your free time, you can also blog about the latest event you covered. Having a blog is like welcoming potential clients without doing too much.
Use External Hard Drives for Additional Storage
Sooner or later the business will grow, and you will be in need of extra storage for the thousands of shots you took. The memory drive from the laptop you own may not be enough for sure, thus investing in quality external hard drives could be of so much help. Aside from that, the hard drives could also help you sort out the photographs in a more organized way – especially if events are happening one after the other.
Create Unique Business Cards and an Impressive Logo
Having a business card in this modern age may not be very popular anymore, as people tend to go online if they want to have a presence globally. But if you have an impressive logo on it, it could serve as an ice-breaker in an awkward client meeting. A logo is not only a fancy trademark of the business, it actually serves as the identity of the business. It tells the history, the vision and the goal of the business in a nutshell. Aside from the logo, important information should also be included on a business card such as; your name, contact number & email, your website which would link to your online portfolio. Stick to the basic, so as not to bombard the small space provided.
Be a Member of the Professional Photographers of America
Becoming a member of the Professional Photographers of America opens a lot of doors to someone who has a budding photography business. The association provides a lot of resources and gets you connected with the right people. Not only that, because as you try to invest in more photography items, discounts are also available.
Make sure to get a Business License
After all the gadgets bought and preparations done, don’t forget to make everything legal by acquiring a business license and having it registered with either the local or state government depends on how broad you want the business to run.
It isn’t easy to start up a photography business, or any other business for that matter. That is why a lot of patience is needed and making sure that you’re equipped with all the legalities and basics of the business you wanted to venture on is vital. But one thing is for sure, soon as you land on that first customer of yours, you’ll look back and think that everything you did was worth it.
