Sarah Latour

Usually, on starting a photography business, people work on a freelance basis or part time until they are able to build up enough reputation to open a studio of their own. Usually people wait till they have done sufficiently well before opening up their own studio. You can always opt to set up a photography studio at your home, if you have the space, which will save you money, or you can rent a space for setting up the studio. It really depends on the budget you have assigned and also on your own personal preferences. If you livesomewhere in the boonies, you will probably want to rent a space nearer to the town so that people don’t have to drive too far to see your work and meet you. Your studio should reflect your own personal style and you should strive to make it look like that.

Regardless of the type of photography you do, there are three basic areas you need to include and look into while setting up your studio.

Your photography studio requires an office space, a work area and an equipment storage area. The office area will be used for storing paperwork relating to business, expenses, bills, invoices etc. Ensure your desk is of suitable size, as you will be signing contracts, doing your billing and performing many otherimportant activities here. You require a phone in order to be contacted by customers, a printer and fax machine along with your computer, and a storage filing cabinet for storing everything. You can also use this space to maintain and create your portfolio. You could store the photos that you will use for your portfolio or future projects, here.

In the storage area, all your photography equipment will be kept. For this you need to first install some shelving units that can hold heavy and fragile items. This means they need to be strong and durable. You need to be organized when it comes to storage, as you will need your things to be in easy access and conveniently placed so that you can quickly take it. It is extremely frustrating to misplace an item just because you are not organized. Very often you end up buying it again and this can cost you time and money. Also ensure that the shelves are nailed at appropriate heights as you do not want to exert all your energy in just removing an item from the shelf.

The work area is the most important part of the photography studio. This area should be allotted maximum space. The room’s lighting needs to be paid special attention as it impacts the quality of photos. You will need different types of lightings that you can move around for creating effects in your photographs. You also need to provide provisions for natural light. Skylights and plenty of windows would be suitable for this. Different photo backdrops will add to the atmosphere and you shouldn’t forget to allocate space for waiting parents and customers. Also include a space where the customers can change their clothing in. Often customers want photos in various dresses, so it is important to provide them a space to change in. Also they might want some privacy to make up and get ready for the photo shoot.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/photography-articles/photography-studio-things-you-need-to-keep-in-mind-739834.html

Photography is a passion for many of us. Many of us are interested in wildlife photography, while some of us are interested in still photography. Seldom do we think of concerting this passion of us into a profession. The thought may have struck us many times but we never pursued it. The reasons can be many. We may have second thoughts of leaving our cushy jobs and going out on our own. Secondly we may not have enough ideas to how to go about it. We have tried to elaborate in brief about photography business.

For starting any business you need to have a proper business plan, which should include your objective, your choice of photography and even the revenues that you are expecting. Next you need to make your business a legal entity with a proper registration, bank accounts and insurance. Now you have done it all, so how do you go about getting customers. The best way to get customers is by getting in touch with people who are professionally associated with the business and have an existing network. They can be friends or acquaintances who are associated with photography. If you are interested in still photography you need to develop a studio where you can have your photo shoots done. If it is an outdoor shoot you need to pack your photography kits and move to the location where the shoot is scheduled to take place.
Setting up a photo studio at the first instance may be overkill. We suggest that you use the infrastructure of an existing studio by paying an hourly rate for the initial period of your business. When your revenue stream becomes constant then you can go about and set-up your own studio.

There is another very important aspect of photography business. If you have decided that photography is what you want to pursue as your profession, you need to have a tie-up with a professional photography lab to process your photographs. To get a true finish to a photograph it is very important that they are processed by hardened professionals.

Since you are new you may not be aware of how much you should price your services. Check out the current photography service rates for different genres and price your service accordingly. Try offering discounts for long shoots which will benefit your customers. It is imperative that you always add value to your customers when offering services. Suggest locations for outdoor shoots, dress for the models and give other ideas which will benefit your customers. Always use your creativity to give a product that your clients have never experienced before at a price which they will appreciate.

There are other points that you should keep in mind. Take assignments which you think you can handle within your bandwidth. Keep to your commitments as it is important in photography business. Your delay can cost your customers on their model fees, location hire charges, lights etc. As a photographer always try to use the best equipment which goes a long way in producing that perfect picture.

Corie Cornwell
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/photography-passion-to-business-124938.html

Sometimes a regular job may become monotonous and we may like to do something outside our job that may give a little extra income and a allow us to follow our interests. You may like to do something for which you may have a passion. It may be arts, photography, music or anything else.

If you are one of those, interested in starting a photography business we can have a tete-a-tete on how things can be taken forward. Photography can also have its own genres and it depends on what your interest lies in. Are you interested in fashion photography or you feel you would like to do erotic photography, Fine art photography or Forensic Photography?

Oh! You want to become paparazzi clicking photographs of those celebrities on their private beaches and become rich overnight by selling them to the tabloids. Well the options are too many. Look at it simply and we will find that our interest will narrow down to one particular genre. As a start we may be interested in still photography doing objects and may like to look into fashion.

When we have decided that we want to start off, there are a few points that we would like to understand about the photography business basics. Before you start you should have a good instrument which may not be the best in its class but among the good ones available in the business. An instrument helps us go a long way to click classy photographs.

Second important point is that you should know a few people who are already in the business and let them help you in the initial stages. It may help you if you decide to accompany them in their shoots and try to understand the critical factors that help them to click those brilliant pictures.

Take a note of the finer points and ask questions to clarify any doubts you may have. Once you are confident that you can handle things on your own go ahead and make your first move. The first shoot that you undertake is critical and you must give your best shot at it. This will lead you to more references and if the client is satisfied may give you more business in the future.

You must tie-up with a very good processing lab because they can help you go a long way in getting the best quality photograph. If you feel that your indoor shoots will be more frequent than outdoor shoots you need to either have a studio of your own or tie-up with a studio where you can conduct your shoots. If it is outdoor photography session ensure that you have your logistics correct.

When you have started on your own and making good money, make it a point that you pay up your taxes. The last thing that you want is the tax authorities calling you up for non-payment. Hence, starting a photography business is a prospect with endless opportunities and earning potential.

Corie Cornwell
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/start-a-photography-business-today-131625.html

Starting a photography business always comes with some planning. An important part of that planning is what kind of photography should you specialize in?:

– wedding photography
– pet photography
– portrait photography
– fashion photography
– advertising photography
– newspaper photography

The choice is endless. Identify your photography category passion. This is a good start to knowing what photography mode to slip into. Here are some things to think about:

– What do you enjoy photographing the most?
– What are you good at?
– Where will the money come from?

Making some good choices in photography might be enhanced with thes few tips.

Planning your Business Strategies

Think of it this way. You never go to the airport when you want top go on a vacation and say sned me somewhere for my holiday. You can plan where the destination will be, your starting point, and any stops along the way.

Too many photographers think it is as simple as printing business cards and building a website. It is not. Focusing too much on displaying your work may not (in the end) bring in the quality and quantity of customers you need.

Sit down and write a business plan include your goals and a plan to achieve them. You photogoraphy business plan should include your financials, your marketing intentions, and any direct selling strategies. Your goals should be evident in your business plan so that someone can read it and see what you’re planning to do, how you’ll do it, medium and long term.

There are even specialists who can help with a business plan. Notice I said specialists – seminars, workshops, and consultants.

Get Professional Help

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t force yoourself to attempt the weak areas yourself, think carefully about hiring someone. If you can’t come to grips with the financials for instance – then hire an accountant. Sure it will cost you more but how much will it cost you if you get it wrong? If you are worried about a lack of skills in any one arear, get a ‘subby’ (sub-contractor).

You can always learn the skills yourself, but it may not be worth it for the cost of hiring someone on a project basis. And, in the new age of the Internet, there is always the option of virtual assistants who can do all manner of tasks to help ease the burden of running a photography business.

Billy Baker