I have noticed on the relative internet sites the number of people thinking about starting a photographic business. Having owned a business maybe this will give food for thought
This can apply to any startup business really
Ok so you want to start a photographic business, before anything else I would suggest researching local competition. Not point if there are a lot of others locally doing the same thing and well established.
Next is deciding what to specialise in, ie weddings- portraits- animals -products etc.
Ok so next stage is what equipment needed and the cost. Not only say a single camera and lens, having a backup camera is a must and a good range of lenses to choose from. Then there is lighting- stands (tripods) possible a studio to hire .
ok research done -equipment bought -some where to work from so what next as all this is the easy bit.
Now down to the unseen business side of things
who is going to do the editing and printing if your out taking pictures? what about photo albums to give to clients, how many photos do you offer at different rates.
what about backup photo storage if a client asks for a photo taken a year ago.
then there is costs such as travelling- material-time -holiday stand in- sickness - income tax- client contracts - pension - book keeping- insurance (third party and equipment)-the list is endless.
All this and more needs to be thought about before embarging on any business venture really. No I don’t envy anyone wanting to go through all this with no financial return to make it worth while
One of the problems as I see it is everyone has a means of taking photos so to do it on a business basis is even harder. aerial photography via drones is very common now as is videography which really should be part of a photographes arsonal and even a second shooter as it is impossible to take two different angles at the same time such as a wedding.
Makes you think doesn’t it. Even the business we were in so many are now closing or have closed down due to economic climate ie Covid for one
@realspeed - certainly food for thought there, realspeed. I had a business for a short while - gave it up because the ‘public liability’ insurance premiums were extortionate!
My son owns a Wedding Fayre company, they organise twelve shows in various places across the country every year
They are choosy about their exhibitors and make sure there is a balance of different things
And there are always far more wedding photographers than anything else trying to get a place. They only allow in two per Fayre and have a long waiting list, most of whom won’t ever get there
Starting new business if the field you’re in is already overcrowded is always going to be risky. You’d either have to undercut your rivals prices or be much, much better than them
I think you are probably chucking somebody in at the deep end realspeed…
Starting such a business would probably arise from a lifelong passion of photography, so much of the knowledge and equipment would already be in place. Perhaps doing it as a hobby in the past and running it beside a day job, gradually increasing the time and effort until it can be self sustaining, or at least a realistic view of what is necessary to continue and be successful.
You may well be right, however many do have thoughts about how easy it is to start up your own business until the facts are laid out before them. Having a life long interest in photography is no basis on which to run a business let alone being successful.
One of the big issues I had was seperating clients from friends, something one must do. You can and should present a friendly face to a client but not let them into your personal life, business is business just that.
We were lucky really we had excellent staff that carried us at the outset until we found our way about so to speak. Even then to get known in your own right as a good business owner can still take a few years to get really established.
Even taking over a business is risky if the previous owner had a bad reputation, makes things twice as hard
