How To Start A Professional Photography Business, With Or Without A Degree

One of many businesses that require passion and love for the craft is photography. Today, a lot of photographers have emerged as a result of the “freelance” culture. So you don’t need a studio, a team, extravagant equipment or a degree in photography. All you need is a camera and perseverance.

It won’t hurt to invest in necessary equipment the longer you are in business. Growing your business will be a great investment since you’ll be able to provide more. Plus this will give you a fighting chance against competitors.

To give you the upper hand, here are things you need to know more about the photography business:

Why Is Photography A Good Business?

This is because photography is a ‘to each man is his own’ kind of business. So photographers have their own style and vision. You get to be fully in charge of your creativity. This allows you to pursue your passions and run your business any way you see fit. So it won’t matter if your competitors have better equipment or have been around longer. What will attract customers is your work.

Plus photographers are becoming an essential part of any celebration or event. People these days love capturing special moments whenever they can. May it be birthdays, weddings, graduation parties, anniversaries, gender reveals and so much more. So not only is your line of work in demand, but you also get to be in full control over it.

What Type Of Photography Is In Demand?

Among the various kinds of photography, portraits and family photos are requested the most. If any of the two is not your niche, you can still try to learn either two, to broaden your service. Plus you’ll always be booked if you offer more than one kind of service.

But if this is already your specialty, then you’re in luck! Once you get clients, try to create a good relationship with them. Who knows they might refer you or even get you as their go-to photographer.

How Do I Sell My Photographs?

If you don’t work for commission and simply want to sell your photographs, good news, you can! There are tons of places you can do so, hard copy or soft copy. Here’s a list of places to consider:

• During town fairs
• Etsy
• Getty Images
• Stocksy
• Shutterstock

Do I Need To Copyright My Photos?

As an independent photographer, yes, you should. But if you’re part of a work-for-hire arrangement, most of the time all your photos will be owned by your owner unless they say otherwise. Getting your photos copyrighted allows you to sue anyone who claims or uses your photos without permission.

Should I Watermark My Photos?

It actually depends. If you plan to sell your photos to Shutterstock, Getty Images and so on, you benefit more if you don’t. But if it’s photos from an event such as a wedding, you can. It’s really more of a ‘you can’ than ‘you should’.

Adding a watermark to your photos means you’re marking ownership of it. It becomes harder to sell and use. Technically, adding a watermark does more harm than good. So before adding a watermark to any of your work, check to see if the situations call for it.

Do You Need A Logo As A Photographer?

Having a logo for your business gives it branding and a personality. So if you want to, you can. There are tons of places where you can get a logo. You can use a logo generator online or inquire with an animation specialist.

When creating your logo make sure to showcase you’re in the photography business. May it be through the name of the icon. For example, a good name would be MySnaps or Dream Shoots. Anything that shows what business you offer. You can also do this with your icon, you can either make your icon a camera, a flash, a polaroid and so on.

How Do I Protect My Business?

As a business owner, a practical and efficient way is by getting insurance. Whether you own a small or medium-sized business it’s still essential to consider. If anything, you’ll need it more than ever.

This is because during the starting stage of any business you can’t afford financial setbacks. And that’s what insurance can reassure you with since this will act as a financial safety net to catch you when you fall.

Getting coverage for your business can protect you from legal, financial and actual damages. So before starting your business get business insurance to relieve you of any worries. Plus having insurance can impress any clients you might have, making your business more credible.