Video Notes:
Can you get a camera and go straight into business? Yes and no. Can you start a business as a beginner? Yes and no.
Thinking about business is the very first step of starting one. If you were to get a camera tomorrow purely for the purpose of going into business, then just thinking about business is the first step.
Some trades/careers where people go into the trade purely for the purpose of business:
- Bricklayer
- Physicians
- Filmmakers
You may be in the thinking stage of starting your business for years before ever beginning to shoot for money. And again, unless you have consistency in your work, you're not ready to start taking people's money.
In this video, I'm going to talk to you about 5 things you need to start working on to get your feet on the path to starting your business:
1. Get serious about your education. Eat, sleep and breathe photography. Make learning your full time job or part time job if you have to. Take classes online, join a club, go on photo walks, start discovering what you really love shooting. Hone in on your specialty.
2. Get a mentor. Find someone locally or someone online who can help teach you the ways of photography and business. Find a photographer who will allow you to second-shoot or be an apprentice. I think it's time for us to stop being so tightly guarded with our secrets.
3. Practice practice practice. If you want to be a photographer, start taking pictures.
4. Start learning about business. Study marketing, learn how people think. Read the blog Psychology for Photographers. I love this new blog and I never miss a post.
5. Get critique. Have your work looked at and critiqued by other photographers who you admire and respect. One way to receive real, honest critique is through a Professional Photographer. Don't ask for critique from your friends. They're going to tell you what you want to hear and unless they're also professional photographers, they won't have the critical eye needed for giving you advice that will help you grow in your craft.
So remember...you have to start thinking about your business as the first step to going into business. Don't hurry that stage!
6 Comments
Thank you for this video. Thank you for sharing.
I must say I sleep, breathe, and eat photography each day. I started out in Event Photography by mistake. I carried my point & shoot camera, printer, and a photo cart to every outdoor function in my town. I didn’t charge people until I realized the request and demand was so high. I was way too young and I had a long line of people (and their dog) waiting for a photo.
So, I decided to purchase my first Canon Rebel XT back in 2006 for $355 (great deal value $800). I started charging people and loving to see their expression once they received their images in their hand (4 to 6 minutes later).
It took nights of reading everything about photography, how your images should look, what’s acceptable, what the client wants, what they will pay (in your local area), and who is your competitor.
It took me 6 years to finally realize my love, my passion, and desire is to master headshots, portraits, and lighting. However, I still don’t consider myself to be a professional photographer. I am a self-taught photographer and have tons of learning to do (learning my style, marketing, and the business).
Posted by Jackie S on May 25, 2012
I bet your coffee got cold :)
Posted by Kora K on May 09, 2012
[…] http://www.lightroompresets.com/2012/05/08/part-3-of-10-starting-your-business-5-things-to-consider/ […]
Posted by Can you buy a camera and start a photography business? : Peter DeMott Photography on May 11, 2012
Great advice! Everything you have pointed out is something I have come to the realization of since I seriously started thinking about the thought that I might be able to have a business as a photographer someday. It’s only been about a year since I started eating, breathing and living in the world of photography. Some days I do get discouraged because I want everything to happen faster. I have improved with my skills a lot in the past year but I also know that I have a lot to learn. Which I’m striving to learn more and more each day. Since I am a wife & mother of 3 that works fulltime outside of the home, finding the spare time to devote to photography is very rare but I am devoting myself to it because I love all aspects of it so much. I’m trying to be patient about it. I have to learn everything from the ground up. I may have a problem with trying to learn too many things all at once and maybe that is why I feel the progress is so slow. I agree that having a mentor could go a long way. Thanks so much for these very helpful videos. I am so thankful for people like you and many others that are trying to help us beginning and aspiring photographers. Without people like you we would be lost as how to get started. Thanks again from this loyal fan of yours.
Posted by Trenna Sonnenschein on May 16, 2012
Great Blog!
I agree you can buy a pro. grade camera with the intention of eventually going into business, or at least aspire to do so.
Education is key, know your camera inside out! And that corresponds with 3 practice, but practice with your camera on manual!! Don’t allow your camera to make decisions for you!
I think I may actually go to the chic critique site myself. In the school I attended(the Art Institute) you are forced to critique other students, and they are forced to critique you. I appreciate my instructors critiques, but it was so easy to get frustrated when other students would critique my work!
Anyways, thanks for the information you are putting out there, I am definitely going to head over to your blog and poke around a bit!
Posted by Drena on May 08, 2012
Great video – looking forward to the next instalment. Time to start putting this info into action. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Bron on May 09, 2012