usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Hello fellow shooters. I have the age old question:
How can I make money on my photography start up biz.

CLICK...Your Life In Pictures
That's my business name. I have been in love with photography for a very long time. Friends and family have been telling me I should start a business. So I am trying.

I have many young families around me and I have been doing photo shoots for practice. The parents go wild with appreciation. They love my work. I am pretty good with children and I always get great candid shots with natural lighting.

I have had a few family reunion shoots where I did get paid but only $100 for 3 hours work. Then many more hours on the post processing.

As of now I do not own any advanced cameras. I use my Nikon D5100.

Problem is only a few will pay me but yet they love the photos enough to print the and I see many of my photos being used.

How can I overcome this problem of not being viewed as a professional who would get paid?

brh009 Loc: Oklahoma

I don't shoot for money, but here's this. Don't under-price yourself. When people pay $ they see you as the professional you are. Would you hire a $20/hr lawyer or a $100/hr lawyer. Who would you trust to do the better job?

If you aren't hard up for $, this is especially true. "This is what I charge - take it or leave it." Also, biz cards are cheap. Have some printed up - you will be seen as more professional and deserving of getting paid.

At some point you may also look into setting up a simple website or FB page for your services.

Just venting a few thoughts...best success to you...brh

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

This is just my opinion of course. First thing is you must get a better camera. ( you won't take better pictures ) as you must look like a pro. A full frame would be the best bet. You did not mention which lenses you have. You will need a normal (50mm) lens and a portrait lens (85 or 100mm) as well as a 80-200mm. I just set you back about 5 or 6 grand, but consider it as an investment in your new business. Add a good tripod and lighting. Another grand. If on the other hand all you want to do is to make a few bucks on the side, you don't need to get anything. Just charge a reasonable price for your work and put the money aside to buy new gear. Warning- (old joke-but true) If you want to make a small fortune as a pro photographer, start by having a large fortune.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

"If you want to be a business act like a business." S-

You may also want to contact the
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/offices/district/fl/miami/about-us

and your local
Small Business Development Center
http://sbdctampabay.com

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Exactly!

Making money from photography has virtually nothing to do with photography, with pictures, or with cameras! It's a matter of how to run a successful business and how to market the photographs you have.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Do you mind my asking, what have you changed since you asked the same thing three years ago?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-33862-1.html

Go back and reread your old thread. Nothing has changed much.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I don't think a more advanced camera will necessarily make you appear more professional. For the average person (which will be the vast majority of clients if you are doing family reunions, etc.), all black DSLRs look alike and come across as a professional cameras. Act like an experienced photographer, don't show frustration when something's not going quite as planned, arrive well-prepared, and clients will not doubt your professionalism. You can always cover up the model number on the camera with black electrical tape if you are still worried the camera does not look professional enough.

However, if you feel you need features of the advanced camera, or the advanced camera simply gives you more confidence on the job, then get one. To make money in the photography business, you need to be wise about your expenditures and avoid unnecessary equipment purchases.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

The answer I hear most often is "Sell your equipment."

jcboy3

It sounds to me like you took/delivered way too many pictures for the $100. And you spent way too much time doing PP. If you are using PS or PSE; you should stop. Use Lightroom, don't PP so much (except for closeup portraits, then keep it to a couple of minutes). Only do a dozen pictures or less; offer more for more money if you want. And learn to ask for more money. And don't think of it as a business.

If you want to make a business, then you need a business plan, more equipment, insurance, business cards, advertising, tax accountant (or some tax knowledge), model releases, contracts, copyright releases, and so on (and on and on).

And join a professional association (such as PPA).

First step is the business plan; figure out what you need, where you'll do business, what everything costs, how much business you need to do, how you will get it, how much to charge so you make a profit (and whether that charge is reasonable for where you live and what you know).

So many people get a camera and a couple of lenses and figure they can become a professional (hey, how hard can it be; it's easy to take pictures!). Well, the business part (the hustle, the sale, the customer relations, the record keeping) is really hard, and so is the photography part (posing, lighting, interacting, composing,...). Both require experience and knowledge to become a professional.

You want it, then go for it. Just realize that the business part could just as easily kill your interest in the photography part.

canon Lee

No doubt people will love your work if it is free. To make money doing photography you need to make it a business! You need to decide on what kind of photography you will zero in on. Weddings are now a days unprofitable unless you have high scale clientele. There is almost no call for family portraits. Corporate portraits can earn you some money but only if you have lots of companies. I don't want to discourage you, but most of the good shoots are gone, (weddings, parties, sweet 16, prom), due to anyone that can buy a camera and do it for free or cheap. Cheap will not support you full time!! By all means do photography for money, but with the understanding it is just a supplement to your income.
So you ask, how then can I "start a business"? I strongly suggest that you work for a professional photographer to learn the business! Acquire the right equipment. I have a full time business that is doing well. I built it up over 10 years. I do picture day for youth sports clubs. I worked for 5 years for a company before going out on my own. You seem to be a "people person" so I don't think doing product photography in a studio will be gratifying for you, as this would be a good income once you got clients. Approach banks or corporate law offices to get portrait business. Keep your day job! It takes years to make your hobby into a business.
Good luck and keep trying.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Hi usaellie

It doesn't sound, to me, that you are quite ready to start a business, yet.

No one is going to buy your pics or pay you a proper fee for your services until you hang out your shingle, advertise and start selling your ability.
These days, anyone with a point and shoot on auto can take 'good' photos.
You need to be able to capture excellent photos and process them to a very high standard, in all sorts of conditions.

Then you need to become committed to starting a business.
Set a budget that you are prepared to spend, until you either become a successful profitable enterprise, or fail.

Along the way, get better proper professional equipment. Including a backup camera.
A priority is to learn to sell. Every business wins or losses on its ability to market the services or product it has available.
Learn your trade. Look at the websites that professionals (some on UHH) have. Is your work as good as theirs?
Having a D5100 and the desire to be a professional is not enough to be judged a professional by potential customers, clients.
Perhaps, while doing free work for experience, get permission to use the very best prints as samples of your work in a portfolio. And get these 'clients' to give you a letter saying how pleased they are with your work.
When selling your service, show your portfolio.

There is much to learn about being a successful business person and even more to learn about being a successful commercial photographer.
Study the most successful in your town and learn from them.
Maybe offer your services to an existing studio in your area to gain 'work experience.
None of the foregoing is in any particular order of priority and I could go on, and on.

Finally tho, if you are really determined, don't give up!
The road to becoming successful, in any new venture, is littered with them that didn't persevere.

To end on a positive note.
Go for it. Developed a plan and then work to it. If the plan is good and you are as good a photographer as others say, you will succeed.
Good luck.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

sign up for the New York Institute of Photagraphy correspondence course. Not only will it improve your photography skills but will teach you the business side as well. Not to be a downer but everyone and his cousin wants to make money with photography. Find your niche something unique about your style. Also friends and family are ALWAYS going to say your photos are wonderfull you should start a business. that is why they are friends and family. No one is going to say bob your photos suck even if they are thinking it.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

You cannot run a successful business on the cheap. How much do you want to make per hour (including post processing) of work? Are you really good or are your friends being nice? There's lots of information on youtube and places like Lynda.com and kelbyone.com. Being in love with photography and running a photography business are different animals. The best advise I can give you is to go to work as a second shooter for an established professional. Someone in your area might give you a chance. You may have a local chapter of PPA in your area that will allow you to attend meetings where you can gain input. Photography business in Pyote, Texas is different than San Francisco, California. Sometimes, a wedding photographer will mentor second shooters. Frankly, it's a tough business. Good luck.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Interesting!!!

bobfitz Loc: Kendall-Miami, Florida

Right off the bat, you sound like someone who knows nothing about running a business. It also sounds like you have no understanding of lighting. It also sounds like you have no lighting equipment, backup camera, business plan or any sense of just how difficult it is to make a good living with photography. There are countless books and videos on youtube that can help you.