For New Photographers

Starting a photography business can be both exciting and overwhelming, but with the right resources, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re new to photography or ready to take your side hustle full-time, here’s how to get started and set yourself up for success.

One of the first things you'll need to do is set up your LLC or chosen entity for your photography business. I highly recommend working with Big Picture CPA to get this done. They specialize in working with photographers and can guide you through the whole process. I personally use them in my business. You can check them out here.

Naming your business is something many people get stuck on. Some opt to name their business after their kids or other important things in their lives. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I suggest including your city or area in the name for better SEO (Search Engine Optimization). For example, “Charleston Portrait Pro” or “SC Portrait Pro” are good options.

Another strategy is to use your own name. This works especially well on social media, where people are more likely to remember and tag your name vs your business name. If they follow your business page, as soon as they start to tag your name, your business name will also pop up as well.

Photography is an expensive career field, so make sure it’s something you’re passionate about before diving in. Start with a crop-frame DSLR camera, which you can usually find at electronics stores like Best Buy. My first camera was a Nikon D3500. It came with a kit lens, and later, I added a zoom lens I purchased from a fellow photographer/friend.

While you can find gear anywhere, I recommend purchasing used gear from B&H Photo or my personal favorite, LensRentals.com. You can also rent equipment from LensRentals which is great if you're not sure which brand or type of camera you want to go with starting out. Everything they carry is refurbished, in great condition, plus you get it for a better price vs buying something brand new. If you aren't sure which lenses are compatible with which camera body or what lighting equipment is compatible with whatever gear you already have, their customer service is amazing! Give them a call and talk to a real person or you can just utilize their website and order/rent whatever you need!

Keep in mind: You don’t need to buy a lot of equipment to start. I’ve always only carried two lenses at a time. A good laptop, SD cards, external hard drive, and a Mac adapter (if you’re using a Mac) are essentials. I recommend a MacBook Pro because it’s reliable and durable—I've been using the same one for five years.

Believe it or not, I started getting paid clients just with my iPhone. I used editing apps to give my photos a unique touch. My first paid client gave me $100 to take pictures of her daughter using my phone, and she even told me she felt like she underpaid me! That was the moment I knew it was time to invest in a camera. But if you're not there yet, you can still build your skills and clientele with just your phone.

Once you purchase your laptop, I recommend investing in subscriptions to both Lightroom Classic (not Lightroom CC) and Photoshop. I learned how to edit by watching free tutorials on YouTube and paid tutorials from photographers whose style I admired. Here are some of my favorite editing mentors:

Jackie Jean Photography (Her Website)

Michael Sasser for boudoir photography (His Website)

But Natural Photography (Her Website)

It’s also a good idea to join photography Facebook groups where you can learn and network. Some local groups include:

Charleston Photographers

Summerville Photography Group

Flowertown Photography Club

Get in there and learn, but beware of local photography drama. As hard as so many of us try to lift one another up and create a welcoming and fair community, there will always be some who will not have the best of intentions or may not share the same morale. Separate yourself from those types of folks once you recognize anything that doesn't align with your values or what you would consider reputable conduct.

Contracts are a must for every session—no exceptions. You’ll also need a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to organize your client communication, invoices, and contracts. Popular CRM systems for photographers include:

17hats

HoneyBook

Dubsado

Go High Level (or some other white label version of it. This is what I personally use.)

Aftershoot

Sprout Studio

If your CRM doesn’t have a built-in gallery delivery system, you’ll need to purchase one separately. I personally use Cloud Spot and love it, but there are other options such as the ones listed below and many more:

Pixieset

ShootProof

Zenfolio

It’s crucial to become a member of PPA (Professional Photographers of America). They offer affordable gear and liability insurance, which I also purchase through them. It’s vital to have these insurances to protect your equipment and yourself. PPA also provides numerous benefits, like access to educational resources, legal guidance, and a supportive community.

Marketing your business is crucial, and social media can be your best tool for getting the word out. One of my favorite strategies is:

Post photos on both your personal and business Facebook pages.Tag clients or models in your posts for added visibility.Send friend requests to everyone who likes or interacts with your post on Facebook. This keeps the interaction going and increases your visibility.

Facebook Pages, Groups, and your personal Facebook Page- market in all 3! Treat your personal page as a "business lite" version of your professional Facebook page. You still want it to be your personal page that shows who you are, but don't forget to include your business as a part of that as well and regularly invite people to join your private Facebook Group and to you follow your public facing Facebook Page.

Instagram: If you're able to, I recommend subscribing to a membership from an Instagram Professional such as Social Club Community to help you learn how to utilize Instagram for business.

When you’re just starting out, I recommend keeping your rates lower until you build a portfolio.Advertise on social media that you need models and offer a few edited digital images for free (5 or less). If they want more images, you can charge around $10-$20 per additional image. This helps you gain experience without underpaying yourself while you’re still building your portfolio and skills.

You'll want to continue to raise prices as you learn and grow more. Once you have your footing and have built a solid portfolio, you need to find a mentor whose business model and work aligns with what you aspire to have or be and invest in education from them if they offer it.

Another consideration is building a website. I personally use Zenfolio for mine, but other template-based platforms include but not limited to Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress, Squarespace, or ShowIt. You can also hire a professional to create a custom website when you're ready.

Having a business mentor is crucial. The photography industry is full of educators who can help you run a successful business. Yes, many courses are pricey (thousands of dollars), but they’ve been game changers for me. Some of my favorite mentors include:

Megan DiPiero (Join Her Private Facebook Group Here)

Alex Loveland (Join Her Private Facebook Group Here)

Kelli Marie O'Connor (Join Her Private Facebook Group Here)

Kierra Josette (Add her on Facebook Here)

Michael Sasser (Join His Private Facebook Group Here)

Some genres like newborn or wedding photography require more training. Never put a newborn at risk by doing a session without proper training on posing or infant safety. Likewise, wedding photography requires more experience. Start by second shooting for an experienced photographer or shooting small elopements. Learning how to use strobes and OCF (Off Camera Flash) is also important. Make sure you shoot on two cards simultaneously, have backup gear, and practice, practice, practice! You will also want to make sure you carry liability insurance. I highly recommend going through PPA (Professional Photographers of America) for this as mentioned above.

There are two main business models in photography:

1. Shoot and Burn: This model refers to taking photos, editing them, and delivering only digital images to clients. While the term originally referred to burning images onto a disk, there’s a joke that it also refers to burning out! It’s important to price yourself properly even if you only sell digital images.

3. IPS (In-Person Sales): In this model, you meet with clients to showcase their images and help them choose products (digitals or physical) or prints to purchase. This can be more profitable but requires more time and effort upfront.I started with a shoot-and-burn model like many photographers do. Eventually, I transitioned to IPS, which allowed me to price myself in a way that was profitable. Once you’ve built a solid portfolio, sit down and assess your Cost of Doing Business (CODB) to figure out what to charge. I highly recommend reading Profit First (insert link to book) to help you shift your mindset on profitability.

Starting to notice you are consistently booked and you're beginning to feel the heavy load of working for someone else full time and running your business?

Congrats! This is harder than anyone around you knows and I'm proud of you! It takes a lot of work just to get to this point so give yourself a pat on the back!

Now, does this mean you're ready to go full time? Not necessarily. Take some time to answer some of the questions below to see if you're ready to make the switch.

1. Have you looked at your CODB (Cost of Doing Business)? What is your profit margin? Is it lower than 50% (you want to aim for 70% or more profit margin but 50% is still considered profitable)? Be sure to include all subscriptions, insurance, vendor/independent contractor costs, print costs (if applicable), your time and personal paycheck, taxes, etc.

3. Do you have enough money in your savings to survive for 3-6 months if you don't get a single client or can't work within that time frame?

3. What systems do you have in place to continue running your business effectively while also still bringing in clients?

If you feel confident answering the questions above and have a stable plan in place, you might be ready to make the jump! If those questions made your head spin, you will need to go back to the drawing board and create plans to get there before taking the plunge into full time self employment.