Starting out in photography ?

Question

Hi everyone, I've started another thread about what to call my photography business, but I also wanted to ask what people thought the first steps were in starting out in the world of photography?

I have a degree and all of the equipment but I now need to actually have a business! Does anyone have any starting out tips? Good ways of marketing other than the obvious ones etc?

Answer 1

Research your states SBA(small business association) and look into what it would take to start a sole proprietorship or single member LLC(if your state offers this - not all do).



Then, buy or read this book:

How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business, 5th (Home-Based Business Series) (Paperback)

by Kenn Oberrecht (Author)



Figure out your niche in the market.

Get all your business documentation together.

Get some accounting software(Quicken has free small business accounting software that is really good).

Figure out what gear you still need and how much operating capital you will need.

Advertising?

Have all your samples and portfolios ready.

Get your pricing and product schedules together.

Have all your contracts thought out and given the once over by a lawyer.

Do you have a web presence? How will people contact you?



Also read "The legal handbook for photographers" by Bert Krages.



There is a lot involved with running a business, even one where you are the only employee.



There is more to running a business than just taking photos and running them through photoshop.



You'll need to meet with clients, be able to sell you, your skill set and your products.



Make sure that if you commit to a project that you provide a quality product that meets or exceeds the clients expectations and is on time or early.



Word of mouth will be your biggest boon or killer to your business.



Good luck with figuring out your business name and on your new venture.

Answer 2

Good luck. SCORE is an excellent resource. The tough part is you are going to have to ask yourself how bad you want to succeed in photography because right now you will be required the most sacrifices to make it work.



Don't be too proud to deliver some pizzas, toss boxes at UPS at night or some grunt job to make ends meet for a short time. This will get some cash flow going while your business plan takes shape and bares fruit. But if photography is your love, like it is mine, the sacrifice is very worth it.



The Guerilla Marketing series of books are fantastic resources for running a start-up small business of any sort. Here are the books:



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=guerilla+marketing&x=0&y=0

Answer 3

The problems with Photography degrees is that they don't make you take business courses. Either find a course to take or look up a local SCORE group who will help you write a business plan and guide you through things such as taxes and insurance.

Answer 4

Got a website yet? Heaps of free and commercial tools that can assist there...



http://www.onlinegalleries.com.au/

http://www.carbonmade.com/



etc