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In today’s world, starting your own business and doing what you love is easier than ever. However, the intricacies of running a business still scare many people off. Do not let this fear of the numbers or legalities stop you from being a boss and doing not only what you love but also what you are best at.
Starting your own photography business can be challenging. Nevertheless, it is worth every single trial and step. There are plenty of resources to help people who want to start their own business, including the following article about must-have pages for small business websites.
To help you get started on your own, here are some of the first and most essential steps you have to take to create your own photography business.
What Every Photography Business Needs
First, sit down and compile a business plan and goals. What do you want to accomplish with your business? Do you wish to get your work out there and let people know what you do? Are you looking to grow your business and start getting hired for gigs? Do you want to focus more on artistic pictures or photographing events like parties or weddings?
Do not let yourself get overwhelmed or deterred; this is honestly the first step in starting your business. No one can deny that standing on that ledge and looking at the milestone of taking your dream into your own hands is scary. More than ever before, there is assistance at every turn for you.
No matter what, you can find a source, online at least, that will give you a glimpse into what others have done in your place and guide you on the path to opening your business for clients.
Here’s what you need to think of before starting your photography business:
- Business name
- Photography business cards
- Photography portfolio
- Photography website
Establishing Your Business
Now, let’s dive further into the four essentials for any photography business.
Pick a Name
The first step in starting a photography business is picking a catchy business name. The name is one of the first things potential clients pay attention to. It can give them a little insight into what you do as a photographer.
Not everyone is excellent at picking the right name, and if you find yourself to be in that boat, you can find help everywhere, including online resources. One great site to help you out is called Cole’s Classroom and has excellent information on picking out your business name and helping you begin to identify your business brand.
Create Business Cards
Believe it or not, one of the most effective ways to get your name in front of people is still old school, but you can put your kind of spin on it, and that is the business card. Though many may think that there is no use for a business card in today’s digital marketing world, that is not true.
Many people are still inclined to call someone who has taken the time to create and hand out business cards instead of responding to a blast email.
The business card also gives you the chance to show off a bit more of your personality and creativity, allowing people to see what you may be able to do for them with your photography.
Begin Your Portfolio
You should start building a photography portfolio, and the sooner you do it, the better. As with any art form, when people are considering hiring you, they will want to see your examples of work.
Take every opportunity to take different kinds of pictures in different tones and lighting to give people a better idea of what you can do.
Next, decide how you want to design your portfolio, as this is going to act as your resume of sorts. Are you going to separate them by topic or genre? Will they be individual shots, or will you be making collages? A great resource to help you figure out how to design your portfolio is at Adorama.
Take Your Portfolio Digital
Though it is a good idea to have a physical portfolio, you should also take your portfolio online. An online presence in today’s world is necessary for any business to succeed. Starting a photography website is one of the most basic ways to do this, and there are great online resources for this, including Boxmode, JournoPortfolio, and WordPress.
Final Thoughts
Following these steps, you can start your photography business quickly. The feeling you will get when you get your first job as a self-employed photographer will be unrivaled. Go out, shoot with purpose, and focus on the goal of getting your own business going within the year. With discipline, dedication, and commitment, failure is nearly impossible!
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This content is brought to you by Hannah Madison.
Photo: Shutterstock