Photography As A Business

My Story…

I’ve always been interested in photography or photographs taken by others, but it wasn't till 2013 that I got my first real camera which was the Sony A65, I did look at Canon and Nikon, but like others I had set myself a budget and the idea of being able to use other manufactured lenses was the appeal for me and I just liked the A65.

Within a few months I had purchase a few lenses and research YouTube for ideas on how to use the camera and take photos. YouTube is an enormous library that can supply awesome words of advice and step by step ways of doing things.

Facebook is a social network I've used for a long time, I have in the past set up pages and groups to do with a target shooting sport I use to do, but now I’m retired. I did try setting up a group for intermediate or people new to photography to share their images and ideas, but it was slow to take off and I don't like the way Facebook messes with the images when you post them.

Then Google was plugging its Google Plus and I found communities and photographers of all stages in their work, in one place and the layout seemed great. 

It’s a bit nervous posting your own images in a world where people are much better than you at taking images and have a good eye for an image. But my experience with the site has been positive as everyone is willing to give you positive feedback on what you’re posting. For me, that what's important so to progress in my work to get better results. Seeing others work, not only makes me envious in some way but gives food for thought on what maybe I can do based on the technique that they've used.

Over the first part of 2013, I got more into what I was doing and getting better at the understanding of images and the post editing side of things. I had used up my budget and wanted to progress further, but to do that I needed to get a better understanding of photography, so I embarked on signing up for a 3 year degree in professional photography that is part of a Plymouth University degree, but done at City of Bristol College.

Right now I've done my first year and soon to start my second year, I’ve invested in a new camera body which is the Sony A99 so all my lenses would work with it, bought gear to make a small studio at home and built a website so to promote myself and to show my work in galleries that I've set up. Now I feel ready to start doing paid work, but where does one start?

Photography Business…

So I’ve done the friends and family bit and promoted on social networks and even entered competitions, but what more can be done to get one’s self out there?

I’ve decided that I won’t stick to one area of photography like Weddings and made the point in my site and in advertising that I'm freelance. Being freelance gives me a wider audience to approach, it also allows me to decide what’s possible or not in my ability physically to do jobs that come my way.

Photography is no different from other businesses in that you have others offering the same service, I don't believe in looking to lower pricing to tender for jobs out of being desperate, your work and social skills should talk volumes for them to pay the going rate and get what they pay for and leave being not just happy but to express to others how good you are as a photographer to put your name forward.

Working for yourself isn't easy and it takes drive and looking all the time at what’s around you that might bring you work, networking with social media is good but needs to be fresh and updated, just like your website and the images you’ve put there to be viewed and to tell others that there is new items to view.

I’m just starting out and would be grateful for ideas on what can be done or improved to bring clients to see me as a potential photographer they might use. There are many on Google Plus that are Professional Photographers that have been in the business for a while, your thoughts would be so welcomed to this blog feature, even though I know it’s a big ask to make a comment and share your experiences with me and those that are reading this. 

Maybe there are pitfalls to take into account when setting yourself up that you know of or affected you when you started out, anything that you can comment on would be welcomed.

If you are just starting out like me, then maybe you have views on what works and doesn’t and happy to share in this blog.

We all have a love for photography and some decide to do it as a business while others do it as a hobby and maybe feel taking it to that level as a business is too much to take on or even see it as binge a risky thing to do, maybe you can explain why feel that way.

Thanks to everyone that's taken the time to read this and to say thank you in advance if you do decide to comment.

AndyD

What makes a good image?

This isn't about an image for a client or for promotional purposes.

Any image can look good as long as whatever you're trying to capture is in focus, then you have something to work with. When I did my self-portrait project, it was difficult to work out the shot, in reference on where to sit how to sit and what lighting to use. But before then, I thought about how I was going to manipulate the image, as that’s what we do when we load the image into an editing software, even if you're adjusting the exposure or white balance, you're manipulating the image from what’s its original state was.

I had mentioned that the self-portrait was based around photographer Lee Jeffries work, and how he produces a certain look to his images that draws you into his and the models world. It’s one of many look's that could have been given to an image, and for the audience, they either like it or don't. The audience are the ones that you're showing the images to, and trying to gain acceptance from to like your work. Working with RAW files gives you the ability to enhance the image into something that is far from the look of the original, the original image can work without enhancement, and it just depends on your audience if they like this kind of work.

The audience or viewers are the ones that you're showing your image to, they are the ones that will repeatedly come back to look at your work as you progress. In today’s world of photography, we are much more likely to find an audience than those that did photography 20 odd years ago, they needed word and mouth, or exhibit their work in a gallery. Some sadly have not been recognised until they have passed away, and that is some respect is only down today’s technology and social networking that they are getting the audience that they deserve to have for their work to be seen and shared.

Sharing your work with the audience.

When you first start out in the social media scene, it can be a bit scary; you don't know if your image will have an impact that will draw and audience to your work, as that’s what you're looking for, recognition in a positive way at first. Social media is a great tool as people will click in icons that are likes and +'s and the more you get, tells you how well it's being reviewed, but is that enough for you to establish what it is about the image they like? Sadly not, as it’s limited to a yes only which you can't take any more information from.

If you’re just starting out, you want feedback as what it is they like about the image. Is it just the composition, light, colour, detail or the way you've post edited the image. I know with my own work that when the audience post's a message about the image that I get so much more from that than just the click on the icon. Good or bad critique is a good thing as it helps you to improve on what you're trying to create and it’s something that any photographer starting has to look at. On the other hand, if you’re well established, you have the ability to move the audience towards new ideas or projects that they've not seen you cover before, with that you will get some that will not agree with the move, but then a new audience is formed from that move.

Why are you doing photography?

Photography for most starts out as a hobby that soon becomes expensive as you find you need equipment to manage your images and to take them to a new level. This could be equipment like a tripod or a flash and then software to post edit your images. Some join local photography groups where you can see equipment and the end results that have helped make that image, photography is no different from any other hobby, the more you want to be able to do then the money starts to get spent.

I guess you have to look at what it is you want to get out of photography, before things get too expensive, because you can make great images that are just for your own personal viewing with the minimal amount of gear, but soon as you begin to advertise in social networks, things can begin to spiral if you don't have a hold on what you're doing photography for. Many will look at others images and have that wanting to reproduce the same technique, but then to get that kind of image, you may have to purchase equipment to help produce that kind of image.

There can be a point with all the feedback from viewers that include friends, that a time will come when you think of maybe earning a few bob from your photography, this journey needs for you to sit down and think hard on how you intend to do that. Some do it as a second job to their main job and helps to pay for the photography equipment and upgrades as a starting point.

Photography as a profession or as a second job does mean that you have to have certain things in place like Public Liability and Indemnity Insurance plus cover on your equipment, why, well if you're doing a job for someone and there’s and accident or failure on you memory card as an example, you need cover against being taken to court, and replacing your broken equipment can be expensive or put an end to your dream. Then you need to pay your taxes as you're making an earning from your photography as you are charging people and invoicing them for your work. If you don't do these things then you are leaving yourself open to a knock on the door. One thing to take into account that soon as your start earning or setting yourself up, is that any VAT you pay on purchases for your photography can be offset from the tax you pay. So the Inland Revenue will take the VAT off your income before you pay tax and there is a starting point on how much you can earn before you get taxed, so is worth finding this out and keep all those receipts safe so that you can show them to the tax man.

Promoting Yourself.

One of the main things in this day and age is having a website, this doesn't have to be expensive but it helps to exhibit your work and give information to viewers on the type of work you cover in your photography. You may well be just doing weddings or baby photography and you can build your website round that, but if you have set area, then you can show yourself as a freelance photographer. To be freelance allows you to make choices on jobs that come your way and being diverse can be a good thing and bring exciting ventures that maybe you hadn't thought of before.

Joining groups or social networks that are all based around photography is also a way to find work and get you out there. Entering competitions is another source of making a name for yourself if your image gets exhibited. And if you have the know how you could make digital photo books that then can be sold on-line, there are always new ways of getting yourself out there, but you have to think clearly before doing anything like this as it will be a case of putting money into setting all of this up, so it’s worth working out how much you are willing to invest in yourself for the first year or two.

The first gaol should be that the business as that’s what it is, is paying for itself, so you may not see a profit in your first year, but if it levels out then that’s a good thing as you've lost nothing, but you have to work hard and that means putting in un-social able hours which can have a grind on the family life at times. But if you can make something that you enjoy doing work and pay for it and even make a profit, then that’s a dream job situation. But you have to keep your feet on the ground as making it to the big time is something that only works for the few, but there is nothing wrong with having a dream and being able to work towards that.

Thanks for reading and hope you found it informal, AndyD