If my last Factoid spurred you on rather than scared you off, then it is time to get to the nitty gritty of starting a photography business. It is not just about going to exciting locations and meeting fun people–although that is part of it. The photography business is extremely competitive and there are so many areas that you could go into and specialise in. However, with a variety of players out there from the part-time freelancer to the ‘experts’ who can command hefty fees, it can seem a very difficult industry to break into. Nevertheless, with hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and well- developed interpersonal skills, there is no reason why you cannot make a good living from this.
If you are based at home, you can choose to work on a particular area or have a mix of specialities, just beware of the ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’ syndrome. If you start with one area and become great at it, and it naturally leads to something else, go for it. So what can I do to get started? I hear you ask. Well here are some tips to help you get your foot on the road from partime to fulltime "work(?)".
Well, the first thing to do is go to your local phonebook. Look up photographers, especially those who specialise in the type of photography that you want to engage in and then ask them for a part time job. If this seems like a pain the butt, think of the benefits. You will not only get valuable experience and contacts in the business but may get a little money in your pocket to help set your business up. If you have the passion, decent equipment and photographs, then the likelihood is that they will be happy to take you on. I know that nothing is guaranteed, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained" definitely holds credence here. The best time to make the approach is during the summer, because that is when most of the big events happen – the biggest being weddings. Photographers may need all the help they can get and you could be exactly what they are looking for.
The rest is something that I have mentioned before in my factoids but I am going to use them here within the context of starting a photography business. So here goes…
Get a business plan done as soon as possible. Yes, even the ‘arty’ type businesses need a business plan. This will help you to manage and grow your business as well helping to assess whether your business will work or not. It will help you to determine who your clients are going to be, how you will market your services and how you will decide what fees to charge. Most importantly, it will be a barometer to tell you whether things are going well or not.
Decide what your business ID is – if you are working from home then sole proprietorship is definitely the way you should go. Make sure you speak to the relevant authorities about registering your business. In the United Kingdom, it is fairly simple. You have register with HMRC (the UK equivalent of the IRS).
If you are setting up at home, then unlike some businesses that require minimal setup (with regards to space and costs), setting up a photography business in your home requires a little more. First do your research and see what works. You will need at least an office space and somewhere to store your equipment. If you are developing pictures in your own home, then you will need a space to do that. So here are some tips for a home based photography business.
–If you are single (or live with understanding partners/family/roommates), you could use the bathroom as a dark room – preferably when they are not using it!
–Using your bedroom as an office to do all the admin stuff
–Using your garage/shed as storage for your equipment (make sure it is not damp or accessible by vermin or pets)
–When setting up at home, consider the tax implications, you can only get relief on a specific place in the home used to run your business. Doing so on your porch or kitchen, won’t cut it with the tax man.
–Get your finances sorted. Open a separate account for your business (PayPal is good but it needs to be linked to a bank account and/or credit card). If you prefer credit cards, get a separate one for the business. It will make finances and cashflow easier to track.
–Check with the neighbours. If you have clients coming to your house, they may not appreciate the extra noise and inconvenience. So have a nice chat with them first (I find that muffins and a nice chat does the trick) and then check the relevant authorities to ensure your (and their) rights.
–Get your equipment. Get the right equipment. Make a list of what you need to get started, at least for the first year of trading. It does not have to be super expensive but it does need to be good quality so it lasts. The core elements of a photography business are cameras (of course!), tripods, filters, lenses, flash units etc. For the administration, you will need a phone, fax machine, computer and possibly a good scanner. So make room in your budget for that.
–Now that you have your office set up and your fancy equipment in place, the last thing you want to happen is for it to break–or, worse, have it stolen. So that is why you need to have adequate insurance in place. If you are working from home, check that your home and contents insurance covers business use in the house. Some other forms of insurance you may need is:
Liability insurance – this is crucial if people come to your house or studio
Insurance specifically for your equipment – that should go without saying
Personal Insurance in case you get sick and cannot continue working.
–Start building relationships – with suppliers (cameras, photo labs, processing), with your local chamber of commerce, clients, and professional organisations. This is the best way to network, collaborate, possibly find new customers and explore new ideas and ways of doing things. You may even find someone who is willing to invest in the business. So don’t be shy. As they say here, “shy bairns get nowt” (said with a broad Yorkshire accent . . . if you are from the UK, you will SO get this.)
If you know what makes a good photograph and have the right equipment, skills and (most importantly) the passion, then you are well on the road to making a success out of your photography business. Do not forget, though, that you need to have some business acumen and self control. Make budgets and plans and, as much as possible, stick to them. If you get the basics right, then there is no reason why the rest should not follow.
Take care and God bless readers. . . .
