Master Photography and post-processing to a professional standard. Develop a professional level of expertise with studio and natural lighting, posing individuals and groups, composition, etc. Learn to see light and read the lighting in other people's photos.
If you're planning to shoot weddings or other events, apprentice with an experienced wedding/event photographer as a second shooter.
Develop a portfolio. Have it critiqued by established professional photographers. Heed their advice. Be your own harshest critic.
Make sure you have at least one back-up body and lens. Ask yourself what you would do if any given piece of equipment died without warning in the middle of a job.
From there it is the same as starting any other small business. Contact your local Small Business Development Center for help -- this is a free service sponsored by the Small Business Administration. Take advantage of it! Your local public library should also be able to provide many resources for starting your own business.
Draft a business plan. Research your competition. Develop advertising materials and a marketing strategy. Create a budget. Work on your people and sales skills. Read every book about photography and running a business you can get your hands on.
Get a business license for your state, county, and/or municipality. Get an EIN from the IRS. If your state has sales tax, get a tax ID and file the appropriate paperwork. Open a bank account in the name of your business. Keep your business finances separate from your personal finances. Document everything.
Consult with a lawyer to draft contracts and other business documents. Consider forming an LLC or S-Corporation. Consult with an accountant to set up your books and make sure you comply with all the tax laws and take all the deductions you are entitled to.
Get professional liability insurance. Many venues will not let you shoot there unless you provide proof of insurance. Insuring your key equipment against theft and accidental damage is a very good idea - most homeowners/renters policies will not cover professional tools and have very low limits on photography equipment.
Keep reading, learning, and improving your skills. Network like crazy.
Photography is an extremely competitive field. If you intend to survive, you need to have competent technical/artistic ability as well as excellent people and sales skills.
photography
Get a digital camera. Upload your pictures. Burn CD's for your friends and customers.
A photographer is the highest paying job associated with photography and business.
Vik Orenstein has written: 'The photographer's market guide to building you photography business' -- subject(s): Business methods, Marketing, Photography 'Creative Techniques for Photographing Children' -- subject(s): Photography of children 'The photographer's market guide to building you photography business' -- subject(s): Business methods, Marketing, Photography
Richard Weisgrau has written: 'The pocket small business owner's guide to negotiating' -- subject(s): Negotiation in business, Management, Business planning, Small business 'Licensing photography' -- subject(s): Business methods, Copyright licenses, License agreements, Photography 'Selling your photography' -- subject(s): OverDrive, Nonfiction, Photography 'Formalizing agreements' 'The pocket small business owner's guide to negotiating' -- subject(s): Negotiation in business, Management, Business planning, Small business 'The Real Business of Photography'
You may be really good at photography and you have a huge collection of cameras, lenses and other accessories, but then for some reasons you decide to start your own business, a business as photographer. In this case, it may be hard for you to think of a name for your new business and you start thinking that you are not very clever and maybe you do not have a clever mind. Do not worry, maybe it is not something you were born with, but there is a solution for that.
Don Feltner has written: 'How to become world famous in photography' -- subject(s): Photography, Business methods 'M.A.P., a photographers' roadmap to success' -- subject(s): Business methods, Photography 'Build your own portrait park' -- subject(s): Portrait photography, Business methods, Photography, Home-based businesses 'A half million $$$ a year in full time photography' -- subject(s): Business methods, Commercial photography, Photography, Advertising, Photographers 'Successful advertising strategies to the year 2000' -- subject(s): Photographers, Advertising, Strategic planning
There are many places that one can contact about business photography. One can contact popular sources such as ShootZilla and the Young Photographer's Alliance.
Jon Sievert has written: 'Concert photography' -- subject(s): Business methods, Stage photography, Musicians, Portrait photography, Portraits, Photography, Handbooks, manuals
Totally. That business is a great photography company. Definitely a good choice.
photography was discovered around 1839 so it would have not been long after that.
1869