RRS Loc: Not sure

Remember, an amateur means you don't get paid but doesn't mean that you aren't good! I'm semi-retired and having more fun now not BMA every weekend trying to book more work. Only give up your day job when you are making more on this hobby but please don't work 70+ hrs a week or you'll be older than me. I enjoy reading all of your reply's.

Yeagerfamily Loc: Pa

Trust me I have no plan on quitting my day job, it'd be a pt job for me.. My day job is my guaranteed income and photography would be my play money...I have alot to learn and am very interested in doing so, photography has always been a very interest of mine and always will be 

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

so when are you planning on starting this photography business? Two years from now?

Blaster6 Loc: Central PA

You sound like you are serious so I don't see a point in throwing away money on a cheap starter camera. You will just be adding the cost of that camera to the next one you will need to purchase and it is always better to learn on the same tools you will work with. With that in mind, I would strongly recommend a 5D Mk III. It is a good all-around camera that does almost everything well. This way if you change your business plan from portraits to sports you are good to go. Of course you should have a backup body and I find a 6D fills this need quite well while saving quite a bit of money for an assortment of zoom & prime lenses. There is an additional learning curve with 2 different bodies so you may want to go with 2 of the 5Ds to keep things simple. You will need studio lights (try alien bees), a background system, tripods, props, furniture, and a bigger space to work in than what you mentioned earlier. Get a few speedlights for work outside the studio. If you plan on going outside you will need a bag or 2 to carry everything in so don't forget to pick something nice and add it to the list. There are a lot of other things you will need so just figure about $2000 for "miscellaneous accessories".
Right about now you are thinking your budget is blown--not so!
You will need a sales tax ID and FEIN (FREE!!) along with any permits or zoning variances required by your local municipality. Your homeowners policy will not cover anyone coming into your business so be sure your agent upgrades you to a commercial policy. Take all of this along with your business plan to your local bank and get a small business loan. Now you don't have to worry about your budget because you are spending the bank's money and they have a lot of it!

You are going to love this part: everything you bought is a tax write off! You will need to depriciate the camera equipment but things like your CPS membership can be deducted right off the top every year.

If you have a good business plan and follow it, you should be making a profit in no time! As soon as you are making more taking pictures than you do at your regular job it's time to quit the day job and start taking photos full time!

Don't forget as you are learning about photography to learn about marketing too. A great photographer with no marketing skills will fail while an average photographer with great marketing skills wil excell.

Someone may try to make a rude comment and tell you if you want play money, just take the money you were going to spend on photo equipment and go have a blast. Don't listen to them. They are just trying to drag you down because they are jealous of your ambition.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!


ps: I know I left some things out but got most of the big items before I ran out of time. Yes I wrote about Canon equipment but maybe someone else can translate what I wrote to Nikon or some other language for another perspective.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

I wish it were that simple.

Before you can start writing off expenses and depreciation you will need a tax ID and possibly some assistance from an accountant to form some kind of corporation or business entity. I don't think you want to get into these complications until you have accumulated some knowledge and experience so that you can convince yourself and the IRS that you are capable and serious.

Start slowly with your initial investments, learn everything you can, get better than your amateur competition (who are willing to work for free) and find out about your professional competition.

Part time as an assistant to a professional would be a worthwhile experience and you will get some good pointers on equipment, marketing, etc.

Blaster6 Loc: Central PA

Yep, I said that but called it a FEIN of Federal Employer Identification Number (tax ID). Also noted it was FREE!


Not a bad idea but not a necessity either.



Bah! Nothing is more expensive than time! Highly successful people take action.

The IRS cares not even a little if you are serious or capable. They only want their cut of the profit.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

I think many areas of professional photography are getting tougher and tougher as a profession. This has been a trend for years, driven by improvements in camera, the rise of digital, the rise of the internet, the enormous growth in stock photography, and the economy being in the sewer. Years ago I attended a seminar at the studio of one of Los Angeles' top fashion/commercial shooters. He was brilliant, far above what I ever hope to be. And he commented that he'd be better off financially if he'd managed to buy the building, put the studio out for rental, shoot for fun, and lie on Venice beach when the weather was good. I also have another friend who was a top 'test' photographer and also made money through stock photography. He was very good, but changes in the stock business trashed that part of his income and other changes trashed his income from testing and the occasional fashion or product shoot.

Mr. Brownstar Loc: Idaho

Being a people person who is genuinely compassionate, patient and has a sense of humor is just as important as the camera gear you will eventually buy. The ability to take criticism of your work is a must. You do not need to agree with the critics but you do have to know what they are talking about. IMHO start out with the best and if you feel this is something you will not be able to do long term, sell the equipment at a small loss. For starters, I would buy:

Equipment:
Canon 5DII (used)(or if you can affored MKII)
Canon 24-105 (for walk around)
Canon 70-200mm 2.8 II (for portraits/fast action sports)
Canon 50mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.8 (for low light, portrait or less depth of field pics)
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT
Lexar Media 32 GB 400x flash memory card
DAKINE Mission Photo BackPack

Post Processing
Lightroom 5

Informative books-
Understanding Exposure (Brian Peterson)

Above all, people/family/friends that do not mind you practicing portrait photography on them.

If you are still interested after all that, you will start to understand how natural light plays on all things and as you skills advance, you will be able to produce your own light - Studio. If it is a dream, make it come true.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Even though the odds are against small fry like most of us getting audited, the possibility is still there.

Finding a way to deduct the cost of what is clearly a hobby for most people without also declaring some non-photographic business expenses as well as some income to offset the deduction is a sure fire way to increase the odds of an audit.

I would not recommend trying to cheat the IRS. The penalties can be high even if the odds of getting caught are low.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

It saddens me to say this, but the next generation of adults (my kids age 16 & 18) have lowered their standards so much that their impression of a "good photo" is one taken with an iPhone, put through a photo filter app and posted on the Internet. The plethora of bad photos is flooding our society, and we (the youth in particular) are losing a sense of artistic appeal and appreciation---they don't even teach art in many school anymore. Before I get flamed for this statement, let me qualify this by saying that there are always exceptions. I've seen some pretty stunning iPhone photos, buy you get the gist of what I'm saying here.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

You're confusing casual snapshot shooters with serious photography hobbyists. There have always been snapshot shooters (at least since photo taking has been made affordable and simplified for the masses). As there have always been those more serious about photography. Although the technology has changed, things are not all that different than previous generations.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

umm have you seen http://youarenotaphotographer.com/

these are "professional" photographers, not hobbyists - they charge for this poor work.

Yeagerfamily Loc: Pa

Those photos are horrible!

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Annie, I think your advice was right on. Sometimes the truth hurts. One doesn't read Trump's "The Art of the Deal" and then tell everyone they have an MBA. Getting paid for a few 'jobs' does not make someone a professional photographer nor does the purchase of expensive equipment. Your comments should be taken seriously as you know of what you speak and the OP should be thankful instead of slamming you for trying to wise them up. She should take a look at PalePictures, Graham Smith, Captain C and others to see the type of work a "professional" creates. :thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Am I? I hope you are right. There are a lot of bad photos getting more attention than they deserve, and this concerns me because it takes absolutely no talent to produce some of them. Convenience and instant gratification is slowly replacing the 'art' of photography.