Launching Your Photography Business: Tried and Tested Tips for Camera Pros

When you’re launching a photography business, one of the last things you want to do is spend a lot of money making mistakes. True, lots of amateurs-turned-pro do this, but if you’re short on time and money, here are a few shortcuts from the pros that will make your life easier.

The One Thing That Will Set You Apart From Amateurs

Get a formal education in photography. This will set you apart from 99 percent of the startups out there. Why? Because most new startups are amateurs-turned-pro.

The classical photographer almost doesn’t exist anymore thanks in part to digital photography. It’s no longer as much a technical skill as it used to be. Sure, you still need to know a lot about the equipment, but a lot of the cameras made today are digital, and they’re really good with autofocusing and error correction.

Unfortunately, it also means that many amateurs can pick up a DSLR and pretend that they’re a pro. It dilutes the image of a professional photographer.

Fortunately, having a pro camera doesn’t make you a pro, even with all of the “point and shoot” technology built into today’s digital cameras.

A classical education in photography will give you the fundamentals, and grounding, you need, to set yourself apart from everyone else.

If you don’t want to go back to school, you could enter an apprenticeship – contact local photographers who do have a formal education in photography, and ask to work underneath them as an assistant.

Getting The Best Equipment Without Buying It

You don’t have to buy all of the latest and greatest gadgets. Companies, like Resolution Rentals offer lens rental and can lease equipment to you, which is a great idea. Most startups are strapped for cash – you need clients and you need them now. At the same time, you need the pro-level equipment to get the best gigs. It’s a “chicken and egg” problem. Gear rental is the solution.

Try out some fancy new piece of equipment before you plunk down a lot of cash for it. It will do two things for you:

• You’ll become more familiar with various types of gear, and get a feel for what works best for you and;
• You won’t waste money on gear that you can’t really afford to buy and don’t need for more than a handful of shoots.

How To Not Waste Money On Junk

Buy the best gear that you can afford, when you do buy gear. Get the basics:

• A good camera body.
• A spectacular lens (this is even more important than a camera body).
• Good accessory gear to protect your lenses.
• Lighting and staging equipment.

Do This To Avoid Looking Like A Startup

Build up a portfolio. That’s going to mean doing low-cost or free shoots for people, charity events, and just shooting on your own with volunteers for fun.

You need to build up a portfolio so that you have something to sell to clients. While there are many photographers that like to play with price points, ad copy, and get fancy with “selling” their services, you should keep it simple. Let your photography sell you as an artist.

If you’re doing a good job on shoots, you won’t need any sales gimmicks or ancillary services.

How To Get Your Name Out There

Marketing is probably the hardest thing for new photographers to nail down. But, even without a large budget, you can still get your name out there. Social media is a powerful tool (think Instagram), but your own personal network of friends, family, and associates will help you get established. Print up business cards that showcase your photography skills.

Incorporate samples into any marketing piece you mail out. Do charity and local events and attend trade shows.

How Not To Get Crushed In A Lawsuit

Most startup photographers don’t think about the legal side of things, but it’s a very real issue. The first shoot you do that the customer isn’t happy, expect some kind of threat. If it’s a bridezilla, expect a lawsuit or at least the threat of one.

You can protect yourself by setting up a corporation, and getting all of your business licenses in order. Don’t forget business liability insurance. Yes, these are expenses, but they’re necessary ones.

Corporations, for example, shield your personal assets so that, if you are sued, you won’t lose your house or personal belongings. Yeah, you could lose your photography business, but you shouldn’t lose everything you own because someone thought that you didn’t capture them in “the perfect light.”

Comprehensive liability coverage covers bodily injury and property damage. This is usually a good idea for photographers to have, since many clients will expect you to do a shoot and never make a mistake. It happens.

Business property insurance will protect your expensive cameras from damage or theft (hey, that happens too).

Finally, your business license ensures that you’re not caught without proper licensing. It’s rare for clients to ask about business licenses, but it might come up. It’s a small risk, but if the government finds out you’re doing business without one, it could be catastrophic.

Rachel Marie Smith is a graduate from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Film/Video. Some recent achievements include, magazine publications, and features in art galleries and film festivals. She is well versed in all areas of filmmaking, but has a particular joy for producing and camera operation. Rachel loves to look at the world through the viewpoint of the lens. It’s the things around her that are inspirations for her personal work, as well as the people in her life. Rachel is currently the Head of Film Marketing and Graphic Design at Resolution Rentals and is currently in post production for her first feature film, Normandy: A World Apart