When you start out in any business, the vast majority of the time, you have to be ready to spend money as well as time. Setting up (and maintaining) a business is expensive and one has to be careful when it comes to keeping costs down and controlling spending. Despite the best preparations and budgeting, there are things, those little extras that will crop up that have to be dealt with. Almost every business needs some sort of equipment to run and this is definitely the case if you are setting up a photography business. Photography requires some pretty sophisticated and costly equipment and sometimes, your own personal money may not be able to cover everything. So do not be afraid to ask for help - you will be surprised at the support that is out there…
Not all photographers and photography businesses are the same. So that means that the equipment that is needed will not be the same either. So, before you start shopping for equipment, sit down and do some careful research (yep, there’s that word again…) and decide what kind of photography it is you will like to do. Are you going to be doing portraits? Maybe you like the fun and interaction (and possible exhaustion :)) of weddings and events? OR what about becoming a photographer for a magazine/publication? Based on what you are aiming for, make a list of the necessary equipment that you will need. Trying to keep your initial costs down will be hard work but, like any other business, it is crucial to try and do so and avoid any unnecessary expense and debt.
Having said all of this, you have to consider that the equipment you buy is the key pillar of your business. That is, without it you simply cannot carry out any work. It is better not to buy anything than buy second-rate equipment (note I did NOT say second HAND because something can be used and still be of the highest quality). If you get poor equipment, it is not only your clients that will suffer, you and your business (and your reputation) will suffer too. So, as I have said, consider costs and how to keep them down but do be prepared to invest in the outset. In addition to having the passion and the business acumen, you need to have excellent equipment to have any chance of succeeding in the photography business.
Equipment - Camera
No matter what type of photographer you are, there is some staple equipment that you will need. The most obvious and the most important is a good quality camera. In my opinion, a digital camera is the way to go. My mum uses one for her business. A lot of the photographs on her website have been taken by her using a digital. It is one of the best investments that we have made (because it did cost a pretty penny, I assure you). Why? The ease and the cost savings. With a digital camera, there are hardly any processing costs. You just take your memory card and you can upload them onto your computer. With the current economic climate, the prices of electronic equipment are falling all the time. So you can easily buy a good quality digital camera for about £600 or even less. So be on the lookout. Have a look on Amazon and EBay, you can find yourselves some good quality cameras. So go on, take a look on www.amazon.com and www.ebay.com and best of luck!
Are you ready for your close-up - What lens should I use?
Now depending on what type of photographer you are and what type of business you have, your lens choice will differ. If you are doing mainly portraits, it would not be wise to invest in a long telephoto lens. What most photographers find that 35mm is a good investment for them as it can be used repeatedly. However, no matter what type of photographer you are, it is wise to obtain a variety of lenses as different situations require different settings and focal lengths.
What about Computers and Software? Do I need it?
If you work mainly with a digital camera, then you will need to invest in a good quality computer and editing software. One of the main ones on the market is Photoshop. If you want to know more, click here. There are professional editions of this but they are very very expensive. To get you started, you can use previous versions in order to save on costs. One of the key things here is to have a computer that can handle everything that your photography business can throw at it and then some. The last thing you want is to have the best software and then everytime you do an edit, it freezes/stops working and it takes so much longer or worse, it shuts down on up. So what do I need? At least 2-3 GB of RAM (random access memory - yes I am a geek, amongst other things).
Lights, camera, action!
Another thing that you need to consider as a photographer is the type of lighting that you will need. Again, this depends on what type of photography you will be doing. If you are going to be working from a studio, then you will need to invest in a lighting that is fixed in place. There are some companies that offer movable rigs so that if you want change positions and rearrange things. If you are going to be covering events, then you will of course need lighting rigs - portable ones that is…
As you can see, the initial outlay for equipment in this business is quite considerable. It is very important to get this right as it is core to your business. Now before I leave you, it is crucial I point something out. There is no point in having all this equipment without protecting it. Make sure you that you store everything correctly and ensure you have sufficient insurance in place - to protect your equipment, to protect your clients and mostly to protect you…
Take care and God bless readers and budding entrepreneurs…
