How To Start A Photography Business
The rise of the digital camera and the internet have seemingly made it easier for professional photographers to develop and promote their photography business than ever before, but these advancements have also lead to a drastic increase in competition.
Try as you might to get your work and name out there, without a proper plan it will be seemingly impossible for you to achieve your breakthrough.
In this guide, we will give you some tips on developing your professional photography business and help you make photography your career.
Draft Your Photography Business Plan


Without a proper photography business plan, it is very difficult to achieve your goals or even to keep track of what your goals are. How do you plan your photography business? You can start by writing things down and keeping track of your progress to make sure that your business is tracking in the right direction. It also allows you to celebrate every little victory and achievement along the way!
Your business plan is specific to you, but it should include the following basics:
Your business summary and your key objectives, key points that will help you to reach these goals, and your financial details (including expenses and assets.)
Looking at other Business plan examples is a good place to start when drafting your own. This one we found HERE is detailed and relates specifically to a Photography business.
Understand Your Customers
The purpose of starting your photography business is to make money. While underneath it all there is a great artist waiting to bust out and change the world, it is important to understand the needs and expectations of the client and produce your product accordingly. That’s if you want to keep paying your rent!
Listening to your customer’s expectations and trying your best to deliver is the one true way to make sure that your customer will walk away pleased, and go on to tell all of their friends and family about their positive experience.


Not everyone has the same tastes and style, and there will be times when you and your client have differing opinions, but at the end of the day, your life will be a lot easier if you are flexible and accommodating.
Use Social Media to your advantage


You wouldn’t be starting a photography business if you weren’t competitive, but consistently comparing your own success to that of others can be a slippery slope.
By all means, head to Instagram for inspiration occasionally, but don’t pay too much attention to the seemingly glorious lives of your peers. Everyone has their off days, but if you stick to your plan there’s no reason you won’t be seeing the rewards in the near future.
It is important to develop your business within the realms of the modern world. This means harnessing the power of social media and using it to your advantage. It is the perfect option if you are mulling over where to advertise your photography business. Never before has it been easier for you to easily promote your best work to folks from all over the globe, so you’d be a fool not to do so!
Once you have the proper permissions from your clientele, you can share your best shots with your followers online, taking time to follow the lead of your peers and utilise popular Hashtags etc.
Build a Photography Business Website
Facebook and Instagram are great because they have a broad reach and they are incredibly simple to use but to develop a more professional brand it is important to have your own website. This website should have all of your relevant contact details and it should showcase your best work in an eye-catching and easy to navigate manner.
If you have the funds you can pay someone else to set up your site for you, but there are loads of other ways to build it that won’t cost a fortune, such as WordPress and Squarespace.


Use the best Photography equipment


Ted’s Cameras is pleased to supply photography businesses in Australia with an extensive range of high-quality cameras and equipment that are essential for you producing your best quality work and presenting your blossoming business in the best light.
There are some items that every photographer needs in their kit to be ready to shoot under any situation and never be caught off guard. Please be aware that the gear that you choose/need should be tailored to your style and your chosen field of photography.
Here is a list of all of the essential camera gear that Ted's cameras can help you out with when you are starting a photography business in Australia. As well as a huge range of stock at competitive prices, our staff are experts at providing knowledgable advice and pairing you up with the perfect camera equipment for photographers as individuals.
As well as equipment, Ted's also offers customised after sales support for businesses and professionals, through our Ted's Pro Department.
Photography Business Tips & Tricks
So you have your ideal equipment and honed your photography skills; congratulations, that's half the battle won! Are you still wondering how to get started in photography? Here is a checklist of steps you can follow while you are getting off the ground.
- Help all areas of your business run smoothly, by implementing a photography workflow, which is a series of steps you follow each time you pick up a camera.
- Consider brand identity: Catch the eye's of perpsective clients with a memorable photography business name or stylish logo, which you can apply as a watermark to safeguard your images, as well as make them recognisable as your work.
- Get photography business insurance: All businesses should have insurance. With photography insurance, you can be covered for your camera gear that you have invested in, as well as for any image recovery and other issues that can arise.


It isn't going to be easy but with hard work and persistence, your photography business can make you money. Ted's camera stores will be with you every step of the way, providing gear advice as you put together your best photography kit, and hints and tips for mastering all types of photography. For the latest news and offers join ClubTed today.
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