Turning Your Photography Hobby Into Something More
Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
If you have the passion for photography and a dream to do something exclusive, and you are thinking about making your hobby into more than just an outlet for your creativity, you are already on your first step to finding a way to make a career path as a professional photographer.
You need to be determined and willing to learn, so you can put your creative mind to use and establish your vision. Here are some things that you should have in mind.
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Know and establish yourself as a photographer
Before taking the plunge into the world of photography business, you need to get to know yourself first.
Think about whether you are the kind of person that can run a business, live with an unsteady income and look for work on a daily basis, while constantly marketing yourself? Freelancing isn’t for everyone, so you need to be prepared for the stress that comes with the territory of an unsteady job.
If you decide that you are up for the task, the next step is to establish yourself as a photographer. People don’t just buy the art that you create, but your credentials as well. So to say, they are buying what you represent.
Factors like your past collaborations, where you have been published, how long have you been in the job and where you have travelled, matter to your career. So keep in mind that it takes time to establish your reputation.
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Consider taking up an internship
There are various advantages to working with other professionals as an intern.
Not only will you have a chance to expand your knowledge and become more experienced with the tricks of the trade, but this will also help you gain credentials through your association with well-known photographers, and therefore help you build your reputation.
Try to intern under some of the most well-known and respected photographers that you know of.
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Build a portfolio
Ask yourself what kind of a photographer you want to be. Do you want to take picture of people, landscapes, or visit the wilderness and take pictures of wild animals?
After you have figured out your genre, you need to create a body of work that you can show off.
If your portfolio is intended for a job interview, it might require a presentation of different skills and techniques.
If you are making a collection for an exhibition, your portfolio will require a unifying theme that can be presented with the gallery’s setting in mind.
You need to make it stand above the rest by paying special attention to the even the smallest of details, such as the paper it’s printed on, the font, your themes, picture sizes, descriptions, layout, and the like.
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Do your research
Whatever your interest in photography may be: stock photos, weddings or wildlife photography, you should learn as much you can about what the best practices are for these businesses.
Do a research of your home market: how much do other local photographers charge for the services you have to offer and what does your photography have to offer that theirs doesn’t.
Get yourself acquainted with the latest technologies and techniques in your field.
Take some time to expose yourself to areas that you might have not considered interesting before. Broaden your horizons and explore yourself, in order to improve your work and learn what you are capable of.
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Start small
For starts, don’t quit your day job. Build your business and portfolio gradually, until you are in a better position to decide whether you are cut out for doing this as a full-time job.
Visit a camera store and pick some lenses, but decide to get more expensive equipment once you have earned enough money through photography.
Outline your services and how much you are willing to charge.
Build a good website, since it is probably the first place your client will visit to see what your work is like. Your website should show off the kind of work you do and what kind of clients it should attract. And of course, be patient, because it will take time until you have enough jobs to make it full-time.
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Set up your business
Come up with a good name for yourself. Then file for DBA (doing business as) to establish yourself as a business, as well as for Federal Taxpayer ID so you can get a bank account in your business name.
Research the tax laws in your state in order to find out whether you need to charge tax sales for all your services or just for your prints.
This is highly dependent on where you live. Consult an accountant on choosing accounting software and knowing how often you have to file.
Think ahead and take business insurance into consideration, so you save yourself from any future inconveniences, and protect your gear if it gets stolen. Finally, look over the legal rights and forms and set up a contract template.
These tips will help you be on your way to becoming a successful photographer. In the end, you should keep in mind that the success of your business depends on your relationship with your clients as well as other photographers. Make sure that you show support to others, and to let the people that like your work know how much it means to you.
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