Tips for a Successful Photography Business

A good deal of money can be earned with photographs but you should have a plan. You must love photography and have a reasonable understanding of some fundamental techniques.

Here are some of the guidelines that will help a long way toward building a successful photography business.

*Research so that you understand the pros and cons involved. Subscribe to a good magazine related to the photographic industry such as Professional Photographer, Camera Arts, Photo District News, PopPhoto or Shutterbug. The internet is the biggest source of information and can provide you with an abundance of career opportunities and more information on starting a photography business.


*It is very important to decide what kind of photography business you want so that the relevant requirements and finance can be muscled up.


*You will need to consider carefully your main tool - the camera, either digital or film. You must also consider a reliable, high-quality PC and good relevant photo software. If the business is being undertaken on a massive scale then maybe a developing lab needs to be planned and established.



*Start with the photography field you enjoy the most and diversify later. Become known as a master photograper in that field such as weddings, photojournalist or portraiture.

*Your portfolio must contain a collection of pertinent photographic work your best work. Your portfolio must be able to impress the client in the very first meeting. There are rarely any second chance.

*Keep your only your best work.

*Showcase spontaneous photos that you believe are of good quality. You’d be surprised how many people respond favorably to peoples expressions when they are good shots.

*Backgrounds. A navy, black or white, canvas background of at minimum 7-9 foot and good quality strobes.

*Photo-editing software such as Photoshop; Photoshop Light room, iPhoto, i View Multimedia, MediaPro, ACDSee, Corel and Picasa.

*Create backups of all images to CD, DVDs or an online agency such as Smugmug.

*Constantly upgrade and maintain your website so that each time people come across your website, they will find fine something new and interesting.

*Copyright your photographs

*Business cards. A clever impressive graphic or a picture of yourself with your equipment is best. Your contact number or email must be easy to read. Make your phone number the largest thing on the card - that’s what most people will use it for.
You can upload and design your own business cards at Zazzle or PrintBusinessCards.

*Craft Fairs and Art shows are the perfect platform from where your creativity and work will be really appreciated because at such places you will find some niche customers that have a sharp eye for real talent. Do a Google search for “photography art show".

*At first do not don’t charge high amounts. Tread slowly. Research other photographers to get an idea of what they are charging and base your prices accordingly.

*Market your work. Search for suitable local markets and get the snaps printed in a local journal or newspaper and always display your contact number prominently.

*Develop a website to promote your photography business. Include a testimonial section and gauge the response of the people visiting your website. Let them make comments.


There are many more jobs also related to photography than there ever were previously and because of the diversity and flexibility of digital photography

Part-Time Photography

When someone asks what you do for a living, can you see their
eyes glaze over with boredom by your response?

Do YOUR eyes glaze over with boredom by your response?

Do your kids invite YOU to speak at career day in school?
Or do they wish they hadn't?

When you talk about your work - are people excited to learn
more? Or do they try to get away?

When you call someone - do they pick up? Or do you end up talking
to a lot of answering machines?

Try this instead... Become a photographer.

When you tell someone you're a photographer, their eyes light
up and they excitedly start asking you questions!

The conversation almost always ends with them saying something
along the lines of, "You must really love your work! I sure wish I
could do something I loved and get paid for it!"

The only difference between wishing you were a photographer and
actually being one; is knowing where and how to easily find
clients eager to spend their money WITH YOU.

It really isn't hard.

Click Here!

How much do you spend on your "photography hobby"?

Are you one of those lucky ones that has the cash to buy all
the latest gadgets? Do you have hundreds or even thousands of
dollars worth of filters and lenses that you never even
bother to use?

Or, is money a little tight?

Is there a lens you're dying to have - but just can't afford?

Want to switch from film to digital but you just can't swing
the cost of a good camera?

Think it would be nice to own a set of studio lights... but once
your spouse found out you bought them, you'd end up sleeping
on the sofa?

Wouldn't it be nice if someone ELSE paid for all your equipment?

They will - if you have your own part time photography business.

If you have a part time photography business operating out of your
home, you can deduct your photo equipment as a business expense!

Let Uncle Sam (if you are in the United States) pay for a part of
your gear through tax write offs! Plus you can deduct car expenses
and mileage associated with your business, your home office and
tons of other goodies!

And that's just the tax benefits. (Check with your CPA)

On the income side, you will have income from your customers that
will pay for all your new equipment, new cars, college for
the kids, etc.

Long term, you will be building an asset (your business) that can
be sold for a substantial chunk of change when the time comes to
retire. Or, you can leave it to your kids so they don't have to be
a slave to a weekly paycheck their whole lives.

You can dump some of your earnings into various tax free retirement
programs, have money to invest, FINALLY have the Christmas you've
always wanted but couldn't afford. And on... and on.



All is possible - for YOU. You just need to get started.

Click Here!

Home or Studio?

Starting a Photography Business - Home Based vs. Studio Space


When deciding on a place to run your successful photography business, there are a few options:

Home Based Photography Studio
. This has several advantages:
* Low overhead - no rent
* No commuting time
* Your work space is tax deductible
* Great if you have kids at home
* Family oriented and relaxed

Disadvantages of a home studio include:
* Lack of sufficient space
* You have to keep your house clean at all times!
* Having strangers in your home
* Some people may view a home studio as not being a "real" business

Buying / Renting a Photography Studio
Advantages of renting or buying a studio space include:
* More exposure for your business (window displays, foot traffic, drive by traffic)
* More adequate space for your equipment and props
* More adequate space for parking
* Some may view you as having a "real" photography business
* Your work life and home life can be kept separate

Disadvantages include:
* Higher overhead (rent or mortgage) eats your profits
* Commute time
* High prices may keep you out of more desirable neighborhoods or shopping centers
* A less desirable location may mean that you have to lower your prices

Other options
Many photographers choose to shoot "on location" only. This means that they either go to the client's home or shoot mainly at outdoor locations. This can work nicely because it allows you to avoid renting a space and keeps clients out of your home.
Other photographers may choose to temporarily rent a studio space for a day or more. Some photo studios rent out their space on an hourly basis, but if this isn't available in your town, consider renting a small conference room at a local hotel (this would be good for a portrait event where you will be photographing numerous families).



Start your photography business today!
Pay the rent with your camera--this month!

Where is your camera?

If you aren't taking your camera with you everywhere you go, then you are most certainly missing out on great photo opportunities. Why not take it and use it everywhere? The key, by the way, is to use the camera -- not just take it with you. Bring it with you and use it so often that the camera becomes an extension of you.
Soon it will feel strange when you are without your beloved sidekick.


Do you ever think you're running out of picture ideas? When you always have your camera by your side, ideas are all around. Driving by the fire or police station? Why not stop in and take a few pictures? Are you taking the kids to the carnival this year? How about the park? A camera is a "must have" in these situations. Have you taken your camera to the office yet? Co-workers might just make good models. Need something to keep you occupied at the Laundromat? How about when you get your oil changed?


Don't forget to take along a few model releases in case your mechanic doesn't have one of his own.



Always remember that the right time to take that great picture is now. If you wait until later, the lighting will surely be different and waiting until tomorrow easily turns into never.


The moral of the story is this: if you see a great subject, take the picture then. A few minutes out of your busy schedule won't matter much in the long run and the rewards of the perfect image will last forever.

Make your own muslin backdrop

To make a simple backdrop you will need:
· About 4-5 yards (12 to 15 feet) of natural or white muslin. Buy the widest width you can find. (Try to find one that is at least 108 inches.)
· A roll or two of no-sew fusible tape.
· An iron and ironing board.
· A pair of scissors, a pencil, and straight-edge.

One of the best materials to make a professional looking backdrop is out of a material called muslin. This is an inexpensive cotton cloth that can be found in almost any fabric store. Muslin commonly comes in either white or natural (off-white) and in a variety of widths.
When you get your fabric home, throw it in the washing machine for a quick wash. After drying the fabric, spread it out on the floor and trim up the ends so that they are as straight as possible.
Use a long straight edge, make a mark with some chalk or a pencil, and then cut the fabric to be as exact as possible. Now use the double-sided fusible tape and run it along the cut edges.
Fold the fabric over to create a sharp edge. Following the tape instructions, iron the fabric where you've inserted the tape. Now you've finished your simple, professional backdrop. It's that simple! The tape, once ironed, creates a good bond that requires absolutely no sewing. The backdrop can be gently washed when needed, the the finished edges won't fray.
If you are handy with the sewing machine and enjoy this type of work, by all means, you can sew a 1/4 or 1/2 inch seam on the ends, instead of the no-sew tape, to finish the back drop.
If you have a very ample piece of fabric, you can simply toss it over a back drop pole or even tack it up to a wall. If you have a smaller size of fabric, or want a more professional look, there is another step you can add to the process.

On one of the ends that you've ironed, fold the fabric over another 4 to 5 inches, tack that end down again with the double sided tape, and iron it again. This will create a hole running along the width of the muslin that you can easily fit a backdrop pole through.
Is a natural or white backdrop a little too boring for you? Adding color to your backdrop is easy.
Back at the fabric store you can find fabric dyes in a multitude of colors. I prefer to use the liquid dyes to the powder ones. Powder dyes are more difficult to mix completely and can leave little spots on your fabric.

To dye your fabric you will need,
· a large plastic or metal tub or bucket
· rubber gloves
· dye color of your choice
· hot water

Do this process outside or somewhere where it doesn't matter if you spill a little. Dunking such a big piece of fabric usually produces some splashes. Follow the dye instructions, add the bottle of dye into the bucket of hot water, and dunk your muslin into the bucket. To make sure the color is solid and even throughout the muslin, put on your rubber gloves and swish the fabric around a lot so that every part of it gets well soaked by the dye. If you would like to have a slightly mottled, tie-dye effect, scrunch up the fabric and gently submerge it into the solution, without much movement. Either hold it there or gently let go without moving the fabric around much. If you pull out the fabric and don't like the mottled effect, simply put it back in the dye and swish it around until all the fabric is infused with the dye. Viola! Your fabric is dyed!
When your fabric has the desired amount of color, remove it from the dye solution and rinse it in warm, then cool water.

A few tips for dying the muslin:

Before dying the fabric, wash it in the washing machine.
Don't dry it, but place it pre-wetted in the dye solution.
After you've dyed and rinsed the fabric, you can send it through the washing machine one more time to get any last residue from the dye out.

Let the fabric dry on a line, rather than the dryer, for the least amount of shrinkage.
A final note about muslin is that it looks great either ironed or wrinkled up.

Making your own backdrop is an inexpensive and quick process, and in no time you have a great addition to your photography equipment. You'll find that the muslin creates a simple, lightweight background good for photographing people or objects without any other distracting elements.

Caring for Muslin Backdrops

A successful photography studio must be able to offer its clients a variety of backgrounds. Although seamless paper backdrops are very effective and commonly used in commercial studios, I prefer to use muslin backdrops in my studio.

Muslin backdrops are significantly more expensive than seamless paper and require more storage space and care. However, they provide interesting textures and more realistic backgrounds for more sophisticated studio work. Muslin backdrops vary from very simple, single color backgrounds to complicated, hand-painted works of art. Likewise, they range in price from $30 to upwards of $400 per backdrop. Thus, if you decide to invest in muslin backdrops, you certainly need to know how to care for them properly.

Here are a few tips I have found helpful in caring for muslin backdrops:

Washing - I have purchased a variety of muslins from various manufacturers. Some will indicate that muslins can be hand or machine-washed. Others vehemently instruct you NOT to wash them. I have found through experience that washing muslins will quickly degrade their quality and hasten your need to replace them. I would avoid washing muslins unless absolutely necessary.

Stains or Soil - If your muslin backdrop becomes stained or soiled, try to spot treat using a scrub brush and mild soap and warm water. NEVER use bleach or harsh, abrasive detergents. If the stain resists spot treatment, you may need to soak the area in a warm water and mild soap solution overnight. You can drape the backdrop over a tub, strategically placing the spot over the tub and placing a smooth but heavy object on the spot to hold it in the solution. If this course of action fails to remove the stain, you may have no choice but to use a more powerful detergent or, perhaps, OxyClean. Keep in mind, however, that you may damage the backdrop and have to incorporate the damaged area into your photo background, shift it out of your camera’s view, or simply place your subject(s) in front of the stain.

Creases and Folds – Your muslin backdrop will arrive heavily folded, as there is simply no other way to ship a heavy, bulky muslin backdrop. If you know you will not need to use the backdrop for several days, simply hang it on your backdrop support and allow gravity to work for you. If you cannot wait several days to use the backdrop or if the creases and folds are still visible, use a hand-held fabric steamer. I use a Conair compact fabric steamer (model GS4, est. retail $30.00) with great results. Follow the instructions included with the steamer and be careful not to rub the muslin with the steam head. In the absence of a fabric steamer, you can (if you are brave) allow your backdrop to lay outstretched on a clean, no-traffic portion of your yard overnight. The natural dew will help to remove most of the wrinkles and folds.

Ironing – JUST DON'T DO IT! Ironing your muslins will create noticeable, shiny hotspots in your backdrop and ruin the material.

Dust and Hair – Muslin backdrops, like everything else in your home or studio, will attract dust and hair. To remove dust, simply shake the muslin as you would any other linen. To remove clingy pet or human hair, use a large lint roller (est. retail $4.00). They work fantastic and won’t break the bank.

Storage – It’s best to roll your muslin backdrops into a ball when storing them. Natural wrinkles, not patterned folds and creases, can actually enhance your backdrop and create even more texture, which adds to the realism of your backdrops. Many photographers like working with wavy, naturally wrinkled backdrops. If your photo shoot is casual, then you can certainly get by with using one. If, however, you will be doing formal, more serious work, I would highly recommend removing as many of the wrinkles as you can before the shoot. I like to store my muslin backdrops, rolled in balls, in large plastic tubs. This helps to eliminate excessive dust from collecting on them and makes it easier and faster for me to simply shake and hang them when needed.

Muslin backdrops, when properly cared for, can last a number of years. They represent a significant investment in your photography business. I hope these tips will help you to better preserve the quality and integrity of your muslin backdrops.