10 Steps to Starting a Photography Business
Are you thinking of starting up a photography business, may be turning your long term hobby into something you love that can earn you money?
Here are 10 steps to starting a photography business
#1 Get into the right mindset to start a business
Getting into the right mindset to start any business is essential. Many new businesses, especially creatives like photographers suffer with confidence issues, imposter syndrome and money blocks, to name but a few.
Your mindset drives the way you think and how you react to things, and can mean make or break in any situation.
Most new business owners have never thought about their mindset or the power of it until they start a business, and therefore have no idea that this is a major element in growing their business. To start clearing mindset blocks, it’s always a good idea to get coaching to help you through. Once mindset blocks are managed, it makes everything else so much easier when trying to build a business.
#2 Figure out your Niche
Many photographers start out shooting any and everything in the hope to build a business around as many types of photography as possible. The truth is, this can be confusing for anyone observing your business in your online space. For example, an excited bride-to-be who’s looking for a wedding photographer will want to see all things weddings when she’s searching online. Therefore having all types of photography in your business profile could be off putting.
It’s great to have the skill to shoot many kinds of photography, but take the time to figure out your favourite and build your business around that. Fear not, this doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on other types of photography.
#3 Identify your Ideal Client
After you’ve figured out your photography niche, take the time to identify exactly who you want to shoot for. Building an ideal client profile will present your business in a much clearer way, and online visitors will have a clear idea of exactly what you do and for whom. For example, if you decide that wedding photography is your best and favourite work, you could think about the types of weddings and couples you want to shoot for. Are you wanting high end weddings, micro registry office weddings, same sex couples, local couples, etc.
Thinking about and profiling your ideal client will help to attract the right people into your business.
#4 Get the appropriate Photography Kit & Equipment
The hobby of photography is said to be one of the most popular and most expensive in the world. It’s common to buy a lot of kit (more than needed) because as a hobby, it’s great to trial and test to see what works for us. However, once you’ve decided your niche and ideal client, take the time to review your equipment. Cameras and lenses you no longer need - sell them! And make sure you have the essentials that suit the types of shoots you want to do.
It can be expensive fully equipping yourself with the right kit, so it’s a good idea to think about getting second hand, refurbished equipment, and then upgrade once you start earning money.
#5 Start your Portfolio
To help you start your business and attract clients, a portfolio and gallery of work would benefit you enormously.
Right in the beginning, you might in the catch-22 situation where you don’t have a portfolio to attract clients, or you don’t have clients to create a portfolio. This is where your friends and family will be useful to help you start.
Begin by doing shoots for them, and once you’ve created a starter portfolio for yourself you’re good to go!
#6 Start your Brand Identity
As you’re starting out and creating your images for your business, it’s time to be thinking about your brand identity. This is more than colour pallets and logos, although it would be good to have these. You’ll need to think about your shooting style and your editing style. Think about your customer experience for example, how are they onboarded, communicated with and off boarded.
Your brand is essentially the look and feel of your business, and it’s what people would say about your business when you’re not in the room. Your brand will also be what appeals to your ideal client, and this can be visual (the look and feel of your photography), and your values.
This is an element that is side stepped by many photographers, but it’s essential and shouldn’t be missed.
#7 Identify the Business Tools & Tech Needed
Tech is the part that scares many photographers, but it doesn’t have to be so terrifying. Have a plan for what you might need, which might include:
website design
accounting software
banking
online payments if necessary
design and editing software
social media accounts
social media scheduling if necessary
business diary
hardware (computer, laptop, etc)
emailing software
etc
Take the time to learn about and deal with each of your business tools and tech one at a time. Also research people you know, there might be someone who has skill in tech. You might be able to swap skills, i.e. a shoot for a tech favour.
#8 Create your Online Presence
This is super exciting, it’s like pressing ‘go’! As well as your website (don’t feel pressurised to have one immediately), knowing your ideal client will give you an idea of which social media platform(s) to position yourself and your work on.
When creating social media presence, you’ll need business accounts in addition to any personal accounts you have. Always remember to invite your friends and family to follow you.
#9 Market and Attract your Ideal Client
Now that you’re online, it’s time to create meaningful content to attract your ideal client and start getting bookings into your business.
You can pick up my tried and tested CPR Content Creation™️ webinar to give you a kickstart, because creating content can be a long and arduous journey for many new business owners.
The idea of marketing often scares new business owners, but it’s not that bad. Marketing isn’t the act of selling. You don’t have to be a salesperson to get your business breathing. Marketing is literally the process of promoting your business, which can be simply done by clear communication directly to your ideal client.
#10 Keep up your Learning
Just because you’re setting up a business, it’s still important to keep learning and keep developing. (See blog post - Reasons Not to Run your Business on Your Own).
It’s time to invest in your business to help you avoid mistakes that others have made and. Be sure to keep learning in your photography and get as much business support as you can, possibly with business coaching.
The more you commit to your business growth, the more it will grow.
Dee xx
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