I am ready to turn my photography "hobby" into a business. Any recommendations on how to do this? Cameras?

Question

I am ready to turn my photography "hobby" into a business. Any recommendations on how to do this? Cameras?

Answer 1

Sorry to be so blunt about this but..... If you don't know what camera you need, then you have no right starting a business. You should have all this stuff planned out BEFORE starting a business. You could get a digital SLR from Nikon or Pentax with a 50mm f/1.8 prime that would work great for portraits for around or a bit over $500...but that's pushing the limits. There is more to taking a good protrait than just putting someone in front of a backdrop, setting the camera on auto and snapping away. There is lighting, and exposure issues to deal with as well as posing.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

For photographing movement, ie. sports events or restless subjects such as children, Nikon are peerless. Nikon tend to aim towards the 'photojournalist' end of the market, where speedy autofocus and easy access to in-camera adjustments are important. Canon cameras don't slouch either, but their high end 'full frame' DSLRs, the EOS 5D and the 21 megapixel EOS 1Ds MkIII rule for considered photography, where resolution is king. Nikon's flagship DSLR, the D3, only shoots at 12MP, but its lack of noise at high ISO ratings and low light shooting abilities are without equal. The D3 and D300 are very solidly built, popular with photojournalists and music gig photographers for their ability to take knocks. If you're terrified of damaging your camera outdoors, you may consider that. But Canon and Nikon cameras have VERY different operating systems and both feel very different in the hand (Nikons are renowned for their ergonomics, and I find them beautifully comfortable to hold); try them out, don't jump in blind! If the camera store wants your money they can work for it and indulge you.



Another camera well worth consideration is Fujifilm's underrated and very inexpensive S5 Pro. It has an unusually wide dynamic range, handling the troublesome exposure scenario of bride in white/ groom in black with ease. Its reputation amongst wedding photographers is legendary. It shoots 6MP images in RAW (a format you MUST use if you want to edit the image heavily in Photoshop or the like), 12MP in JPEG. Because people don't know how good a print you can get from a 6MP file, the S5 Pro is often ignored by amateurs and it costs less than half of its launch price. It's a seriously good camera and it has a Nikon lens mount! It's also based around Nikon's D200 body, so it's fantastic to hold and operate. Be warned, it's a fairly slow shooter with a small buffer, so if you fire off shots like an AK47 it won't be for you. If you prefer to consider each shot, aiming for a beautifully composed image, it's great. The range of tones is so rich that sometimes I'd swear I was looking at a film scan rather than a digital camera shot (I have the previous Fuji model, the S3).



One great site for camera reviews is hosted by Ken Rockwell. He takes the 'real world' useability of a camera into consideration, and his reviews are BS-free. Click on 'search' there and you'll find reviews of almost all current Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm models.



http://www.kenrockwell.com

Answer 4

If you have used both, which do you prefer? I shoot Nikon because I like the way Nikon bodies feel. The new D300 has very good high ISO performance. You will need two bodies, but you could start with a D80 or D200 as your backup. Two SB800 flashes. At least two fast f/2.8 zooms, a WA and a tele, and a couple of fast primes. Are you setting up a studio? Then add the backdrops and lighting equipment.



Craigslist is a good place to start. Network with area vendors. Leave your card at the bakery and rental places. Contact establishes area photographers and offer to assist or second shoot to get started.



Are you planning to turn down indoor venues? Just wondering where the 30% figure came from. It is hard to market for outdoor only wedding photography. And outdoors is not really that much easier to shoot, it depends on the location and light among other factors.



Good luck, you are entering a difficult market, what with all the newbie photographers already competing with the professionals. If your work is very good, and you practice good business management, your venture may be successful. Best wishes.

Answer 5

Canon or Nikon. Don't quit the day job. It takes many years, much effort, and some luck to make it as a pro.

Answer 6

let me get this straight...you're going into business as a professional photographer and you don't even own a camera? you may be jumping into this a little early.

Answer 7

If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you

can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent

photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and

publish your IWeb webpage(s).



Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card

by selecting from their many templates a suitable one

that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of

your website along with a telephone answering device.

Do not place your home address or anything personal

such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when

you receive the finished business card, pass it around

to various churches, temples and the like to solicit

business.



When you receive a major photography assignment, visit

your local professional camera store and "rent" the

necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.

When starting out, you don't want to tie your money up

with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever

changing technology "becomes obsolete." Remember, that

90% of professional photographer are not "buying"

camera equipment continually which can easily become

outdated; instead, they merely "rent or lease" the

camera equipment for set period of time; thereby

keeping their money for other expenses. Even though

you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you

may have to give up that concept for the moment, since

digital photography offers the most economic method of

photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on

a computer and the print quality is often far superior

to regular film-generated prints.



You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which

has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then

consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning

with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image

stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image

stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take

telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the

go and you don't have to drag along a tripod to steady

your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have

chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices

into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back

to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit

consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal

lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650

at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs

circles around the D40 Nikon!



For digital print processing, find a private

professional film processing lab who can handle all

your client's print orders. And with a resale license,

you will be qualified for considerable "professional"

discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and

Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with

various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a

photography studio and get a dealer's pricing for any

number of albums, guest books, etc.



Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at

local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to

the client's residence or office to set up a photo

shooting environment which consists of a set of

lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.



Good luck!