10 Best Things To Have Before Starting a Photography Business

If you have an eye for creativity and a healthy imagination, you may think that a photography business will help you pursue your love of art and your passion for making money. However, just like any entrepreneurial enterprise, starting your own photography studio doesn't come without its share of expenses. Before you try to raise the capital to launch your business, it will be helpful to determine what expenses you'll face.

1. A High Quality Camera with Lenses

It goes without saying that you can't start a photography business without a camera, but that doesn't mean any camera will do. Research the latest makes and models of cameras and choose one that has a reputation for taking high quality photographs. The camera will come with a lens of its own, but you should buy a couple high-quality lenses to give you a broader range of options. This will help you provide rich and beautiful photographs that will earn the respect of your customers.

2. Photo Editing Software

While you may prefer to work with film, digital photography is popular due to the editing that can be done. This requires investing in a digital camera, but you will also have to have the computer software that will enable you to touch up your photos. Adobe Lightroom 3 and Apple Aperture come highly recommended, but you will have to compare programs to find out which ones offer you the features you'll most often use. In addition to editing your photos, the application you choose should let you catalogue your photos and create slideshows.

3. PPA Membership

The Professional Photographers of America is more than just a trade union for photographers. There are some worthwhile perks to maintaining your PPA membership in addition to engendering trust with your customers. You can also get substantial discounts on equipment and supplies, which is already enough to pay for the cost of membership. Additionally, the PPA provides sample contracts that you can use with your customers and information on copyrighting your images.

4. External Hard Drives

An external hard drive will pay for itself many times over. Computers crash and they can do so unexpectedly, so it's important to save your work in several different places. Even if you maintain a cloud storage account, saving your work on an external hard drive can also be helpful. This provides you with access to your work whenever you need it, while protecting against data breaches.

5. A Business Logo

As soon as you open your business, you'll have to start marketing your photography services. Today, building your brand image relies on making a positive and memorable impact. Just look at studios like Porfyri Photography to see how having the right logo can help you reach potential customers. While it may represent an additional expense, hiring a digital artist to help you craft a quality logo will be an investment that will help you grow your photography business.

 

6. Invest in Business Cards

Once you have a logo, you should buy a supply of business cards. While digital marketing is one way to promote your business, you'll also want to connect with locals. There are plenty of businesses that will let you leave a business card to help promote your photography studio. Additionally, you can pass out business cards at events, conventions, and anywhere that you meet new people. A business card should be included with every elevator pitch.

7. Launch Your Website

It has become common knowledge that every business needs a website to serve as the online gateway to their business. For photographers, managing a website with a blog is essential, because it provides a secure forum for you to display your work. Posting examples of your photography skills, while also writing blog posts about photography will help you establish yourself as an authority. This will also drive more traffic to your site, because users will want to see what you post next.

8. Don't Forget the Insurance

One expense that every business owner must face is insurance and you really can't move forward without it. As a photographer, you'll need several types of insurance, starting with coverage on your photography equipment. General liability can cover you in the event that a customer gets injured in an on-set accident, as well as covering you from other types of lawsuits that may arise. Errors & Omissions coverage will protect you in terms of publishing photos that the subject later claims weren't approved.

9. Social Media is a Necessity

Even though you already have a website and blog, you'll need to help drive traffic to your site. This is best done by engaging social media users. As you begin, you can open accounts on the major social media websites and post links to your blog entries on each of the sites. Over time, you'll notice that you get more engagement on certain sites, which will help you determine which sites deserve more attention. The accounts on the less active sites can be canceled.

10. Hire a Lawyer

A business lawyer can help you in a number of ways. As you start your business, your attorney can help you obtain your business license and can ensure you're complying with all applicable laws. Your lawyer can also ensure you have the necessary insurance coverage and other protections. Finally, your lawyer can also help ensure you're considering all of your tax obligations, so you won't be surprised at the end of the year. It can be helpful to retain one business law firm, so you can continually work with legal advocates who are familiar with your business.

As you start out, you should only equip your photography business with the basics. As with any business, it will take time to develop a steady flow of customers. Once you do, you can invest in more equipment, supplies, and other resources. In the meantime, buy just what you need to meet the demands of your customers.