Need tips on how to start a photography business

Hi All,

I'm currently working on a 'tips to start your own photography business' article and would love to hear suggestions for inclusion. So far I've covered mastering your camera, deciding which genre to work in, doing research to price services right, considering working part-time first, learning the 'biz' side of photography (seeing an accountant etc.), presenting yourself as a professional, including providing good quality prints to clients, and managing time.

Any more ideas?

Warm wishes

Tags: a, business, photography, starting

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on January 14, 2010 at 1:47pm

Consult an attorney to make sure you're in conformation with all applicable laws and regulations and engage the services of a CPA to make sure your books are done right. Next, be a student of your local market. If you're in an area that is over saturated with photographers (mine is) you won't succeed unless you are markedly different than others in your market. Photography is a very difficult profession to make a good living in. Some do, the great majority only dilute the market and in the end don't succeed. In the end, succeeding has much less to do with making great photographs than it does with being a smart business person.

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Permalink Reply by Mia Rose on January 14, 2010 at 2:06pm

Good advice... thanks Nathan. :)

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Permalink Reply by Sean on January 14, 2010 at 7:11pm

Learn as much as you can about marketing. Some of the crappiest photographers I know make money...ok one crappy photographer I know. For some strange reason he makes money but his images are so so at best. But the guy is really good at marketing and presenting himself that people think of him first when they need a photographer.

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on January 15, 2010 at 11:05am

Amen to that. I have often said that the most difficult ask I face isn't making a good photograph. Honestly, I think it's almost intuitive (making a good photograph). Marketing is by far the most difficult task we face, followed closely by management. I think it may go to that whole left brain right brain thing. There are really good marketing people out there that we could use but most of the time they are completely in-accessible because of cost.