If you have the skills and a talent for taking a great picture, you might have considered turning your hobby into a business. Being a professional photographer can be a rewarding career and also lucrative. However, it can be daunting when you are starting a business from scratch as there is so much to learn. If you are ready to become your own boss and start your own photography business, this guide has the know-how.
Create a Portfolio
In order to be hired as a photographer, you need to showcase your work. Having a business website where you can display your best work is essential. You also want your website to reflect the quality of your work, so make sure it is well-designed, secure, and includes your contact details, including a telephone number. If you are running your business from a studio location, adding your address to Google maps will help customers find you.
Equipment
If you are going to be taking photos as a business, then you need to invest in more equipment than if it is a hobby. For example, if you want to take portraits, you are likely to need props and backgrounds, as well as lighting. Specialist lenses might also be needed, especially if you are getting into photojournalism or want to sell wildlife photos. A website such as Choosist can help you to find the right camera equipment for the job.
Day-to-Day Running
Make use of technology and apps to get your business processes running smoothly. For example, you could automatically save your images onto a cloud as well as a hard drive, to give you peace of mind that you can still retrieve your photos if damage occurs to your computer or you wipe a folder by accident. When you are starting a photography business, to keep costs low, you can make use of open source software for keeping your accounts as well as managing projects.
Make Friends
Find other photographers to be social with, as you never know when you might need some help. You can often use social media to find groups or look at photography forums online. Networking also gives you the opportunity to meet other photographers and potential clients. Even if you are knowledgeable in your industry, you should aim to always learn new things, keep up to date, and listen to the advice of those who are already in business.
Insurance
All that expensive equipment you use could be a target for thieves, or can be damaged by accident. Make sure you have the right insurance to cover you, otherwise you could find that you don’t have the money to replace it.
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If you want to wake up every morning raring to go to work and do what you love doing, then now is the perfect time to turn your love of photography into a business venture. All you need is the expertise to take a great picture, a few basic business skills, and the rest you can figure out as you go along.
