rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I ran across this video on youtube. She makes a lot of great points, and reasons for those points.

Simply search for Zdenka Darula and the video titled, "Mistakes I WOULD NEVER MAKE AGAIN growing my photography business in 2022".
--Bob

tramsey Loc: Texas

Thanks for the tip - My grand daughter is seriously thinking of it. She is in early twenties does weddings, seniors corporate photos. She wants to organize and get things going. Years ago she asked me for a camera and I gave her a phone for her birthday. She thought that was 'cool.' About a year later for her next birthday she asked for a 'real' camera. I gave her a Nikon d3000, a field quide and a couple of Bryan Peterson's books. I can't remember if it was her tenth or eleventh. Grandpa got hugs and kisses on that one. She's moved up and recently bought a d850 and a couple of umbrellas with her own money from photography. The kid is way beyond what I ever did. Composition comes naturally to her.

I will definitley send this 'What Not To Do,' to her. Thanks again

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

You're very welcome. There are some very cool tips provided. I especially liked the section on calculating expenses when figuring prices to charge. Secondly, the legal aspect of who's photos are those?
--Bob

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The easiest way to make money as a photographer is to sell your equipment.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

But, even then, the money one makes will be less than they spent in the first place.
--Bob

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Best way to make a small fortune as a professional photographer is to start with a large fortune. Here is a sobering fact. 95% of new businesses fail. All jokes aside, perhaps she can use photography as a side line from her "real" job for extra income. If she she gets more and more successful as a photographer and if income from her "sideline" earn more money than her "real" job then make the jump, Professional

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The better way is to not buy equipment, and not become a photographer in the first place.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

So sad too bad! Here we go agon with fols making disparaging remarks about professional photography. Every topic arises it seems that knocking the biz as a hobby or some kind of serious avocation with some folks. Perhaps some have had a bad experience, have become disgruntled, or packed it in for any number of reasons. Some folks just want to keep photography as a hobby or personal expressive art- that is perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with remaining an amateur, there are some amateurs that have more talent than some pros. I don't even like photographers the word "amateurish" because just because some do not do their craft for living does not mean they are incompetent or inexpert.

So for y'all who keep professing that one can not earn a living in photography, either cut it out or qualify it and say YOU can't earn money from photography. Y'all should not discourage folks but tell the truth. So here's the truth:

In most geographic locations professional photography is usually not a 9 to 5 job. There are not many brick-and-mortar neighbourhoods portrait and wedding studios still in operation. The big commercial outfits that hire staff photographers, assistants and lab personnel are mostly in the big urban centers and that is dwindling in some cities. Many large industries no long have in-house photo departments. The government may have some. Much of the aforementioned work is handled by individual contractors, photographers who work out of their homes or industrial park kinda setting. Magazines and news publications are not hiring staff lately- they too outsource their work to freelancers and contractors. Te big studios used to hire apprentices and assistants who could avail themselves of on-the-job training and work their way up in the organization- nowadas that would be rare if not completely non-existent.

This all sound like all kinds of doom and gloom, but if y'all noticed, there are still lots of high-quality professional photograph all around us- in all the publication that we read, all the advertising that we see, one all the food and another packaging we buy, and peop still have professional portraits, headshots, family photographs made and the still celebrate graduations, births, weddings, religious events and they hire professional photographers. Thereis still a good high-end market for this kind of work.

So...what do I tell you or even older folk that wanna go pro. I start off by telling them that, based on what I have just written, they are gonna be in business for themselves. They will be marketing and selling their own services and products so they better be prepared to produce high-quality work on a consistent basis and at a level far above what folks can do by themselves. This applies to every specialization in photography. Nobody is gonna pay a substantial fee for a professional portrait if they can do just as well with a cell phone and a selfie-stick. Even a corporate account is not gonna hire a pro and pay ther fee if "Sheldon for accounting" can knock the shot off with a new mirrorless camera!. An ad agency is not gonna hire you unless you have an impressive portfolio and a good track record.

If one is really serious about becoming a professional photographer, one should seek out some solid education on the areas they aspire to.

So let's assume a person is completely qualified in photography, artistically, and creatively and has mastered all the necessary techniques- NOW let's talk business! There are many great shooters who fail in business. They enter the marketplace workout a well thought out financial and marketing plans. Theyy do not do market research and find out if their location can support the kind of business they are planning. They may have to relocate. The thing that many folks do not realize is that these basics apply to ALL businesses. If you are making, marketing and selling ANYTHING, or any service, even the ones everyone uses, if you go in without all the strategies in place, you are planning your newborn business's funeral in the delivery room! Professional photography is not a necessity so any luxury business requires even more precise planning. A perfectly good fledgling business with all the great potential can die of undercapitalization at the onset. Business volume and cash flow will not materialize overnight.

Photography is not a business for everyone. Business, in general, is not for everyone. Nobody is perfect! Even the savviest businesspeople and photographers make mistakes. miscalculate, do something impulsively, mess up somewhere, some or some time. You just have to minimize that and learn from the mistakes.

No business will enjoy longevity without a good product and service. Time and tastes change so you have to be flexible and keep up with the markets. You may consider diversity in your services so you do not suffer off-seasons.

NO, you will not profit from selling your gear, especially nowadas when it is kinda obsolete as soon as you take it out the dealer's door.

MDI Mainer

stillkickin Loc: Coastal Bend of Texas

👍

JimmyTB

Well said sir. Any business takes much more than talent in the chosen area. My business focuses on serving cabinet makers with their tooling needs. I've seen extremely talented cabinet makers try to go into business for themselves and fail miserably. Obviously not for lock of talent, but lack of business acumen. As for me, I don't have the talent or knowledge of many on this site and have no desire to do photography as a business but wish well to any who desire to do it full time for profit.

tcthome Loc: NJ

tcthome Loc: NJ

ELNikkor

I looked at being a photographer as a business, and had the benefit of looking around at friends who did, then at my own approach to photography, as well as being able to dabble in the business-end before marriage/kids. Decided my other love, (teaching elementary) was best for being a family man. Wouldn't you know? As a teacher in International schools in Asia, I had all the "business" I wanted as a school photographer; proverbial "best of both worlds"! No regrets...

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

LOL