Starting up a small Business - So where do I go from here ...
Feb 21, 2013 16:15:59 #
Wow Taximom, aint there some negative *****!!! out there. With advice like some of this its a wonder there are so many 'proffessionals'.
rule one of being in business: you are the boss and it works how you want it, when you want it for as long as you want it. period - otherwise you would work for someone else true?
rule two - if works for you..do it!then try to stop everyone else from doing it too - hey guess where the negativity came from....!
Rule three - you pay for your mistakes ---so they are yours use them....don't let others use them against you THEY didn't pay for them.
rule 4 - don't re-invent the wheel, don't fix what aint broke and use what ever shortcuts work for you.
Rule 5 - when you asked for a hand up any more than five rules is finger pointing....:-)
don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something YOUR way. Quote genetics we are all unique..
rule one of being in business: you are the boss and it works how you want it, when you want it for as long as you want it. period - otherwise you would work for someone else true?
rule two - if works for you..do it!then try to stop everyone else from doing it too - hey guess where the negativity came from....!
Rule three - you pay for your mistakes ---so they are yours use them....don't let others use them against you THEY didn't pay for them.
rule 4 - don't re-invent the wheel, don't fix what aint broke and use what ever shortcuts work for you.
Rule 5 - when you asked for a hand up any more than five rules is finger pointing....:-)
don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something YOUR way. Quote genetics we are all unique..
Feb 21, 2013 16:24:20 #
TaxiMom wrote:
ok heres more on my background --- br br I took a... (show quote)
It sounds as if you doing fine. You've made plenty of preparations and plans. As some of the pros have mentioned, you do need to get a more involved 'editor', unless you plan to hire someone else for that job. I may have missed it, but haven't noticed if you are handling RAW? If you feel you MUST have Photoshop, (and like many of us, can't afford it), might I suggest a totally FREE program that stands 'toe to toe' with Photoshop in most aspects? It's GIMP. Free, open source and very, very good. Happy shooting! Now get busy:o)
P.S. I'm not a pro any more, and I find Photoshop ELEMENTS ample for my use.
Feb 21, 2013 16:45:02 #
CaptainC wrote:
FB can be a very effective marketing tool. I prefer referrals myself as they tend to come pre-qualified, but I know many use it with great success
Mogul wrote:
Facebook - NO!
FB can be a very effective marketing tool. I prefer referrals myself as they tend to come pre-qualified, but I know many use it with great success
Thank you...I have a business page on Facebook, and I consider the business I get from there referrals because they see photos I have taken of their friends' weddings and then contact me...you cannot believe how many pro photographers are on facebook...and the connection throughout the U.S. that I have made with many of them...like UHH, they have been very helpful in my own business that I started 3 years ago...I love what I do and so do my repeat customers...some of the comments here begin to intimidate me...and make me think that my business is a joke until I get the praises of my clients. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED!!! You have to start somewhere...baby steps....
Feb 21, 2013 17:05:10 #
Photo One wrote:
I think you need to read what the Capt. has said s... (show quote)
Yes...but the Capt. started somewhere...years make a difference, but she is trying to get started...and from what I remember, she is wanting to do mostly outdoor shooting right now, not needing a studio. I do not have a studio and go to locations either outside or use natural lighting inside their own home or location of their choice....I use fill flash when necessary. I have not had a complaint and have many repeat customers...I am not at the Capt.'s caliber, but I have many happy clients...it's all baby steps. And yes, having a gift to "see" is one of the most important things to start....then learning to use the equipment comes next. I, too, have seen those with big cameras not do as well as someone I know with a Canon T3 (a friend of mine who is not a pro, but is better than some of the stuff I have seen on pro websites!!).
Feb 21, 2013 17:11:29 #
I'm glad you aren't listening to people discouraging you. It appears you've put a lot of thought into what you want to accomplish with your photography. I don't know about not for profits and how they work so I won't comment on that.
I do wonder if you're shooting raw. I can't stress the importance of shooting raw and knowing Photoshop (Elements is fine). IF you don't know these two things, I am wondering how you are correcting skin tone mishaps such as color casts - especially reflective ones. I'm not trying to be nit picky, but I am just wondering if your free program can handle those kinds of things, because they will come up. Or, is that what you're paying your lab to do for you right now?
I believe that your SOOC's should be as perfect as you can get them and that's what we are all aiming for. Photoshop should be used to enhance a photo, not as a band-aid. But, things do happen and you may blow a channel, over or underexpose, etc. It happens, especially when you are shooting kids that move fast and sometimes to catch a moment you have to let it fly and capture it, which means extra PP later.
I do wonder if you're shooting raw. I can't stress the importance of shooting raw and knowing Photoshop (Elements is fine). IF you don't know these two things, I am wondering how you are correcting skin tone mishaps such as color casts - especially reflective ones. I'm not trying to be nit picky, but I am just wondering if your free program can handle those kinds of things, because they will come up. Or, is that what you're paying your lab to do for you right now?
I believe that your SOOC's should be as perfect as you can get them and that's what we are all aiming for. Photoshop should be used to enhance a photo, not as a band-aid. But, things do happen and you may blow a channel, over or underexpose, etc. It happens, especially when you are shooting kids that move fast and sometimes to catch a moment you have to let it fly and capture it, which means extra PP later.
Feb 21, 2013 17:12:00 #
Pepper
Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
One truism I would throw out is that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression.
Feb 21, 2013 17:12:32 #
SeaChelle wrote:
quote=Photo One I think you need to read what the... (show quote)
but are you legal, as in have a business license, Tax ID, business permit, etc?
What do you charge per session? Please tell me you are charging more than $50 a session and slapping all the images on a disk. That is NOT going to be profitable at all and you will fail. I don't want to see anyone fail.
I have sent TaxiMom a PM and offered to share with her the lessons I learned going from hobbyiest to where I currently am. I'll gladdly share those lessons with anyone who wantst to learn and move forward (which TaxiMom seems too), but I won't waste my time posting it to the masses to get poo-poo'd on.
Feb 21, 2013 17:15:27 #
Feb 21, 2013 17:17:18 #
Feb 21, 2013 17:19:46 #
SeaChelle wrote:
Yes, I am an official business with a license.
are you charging $50 (or less) for session and giving away the images? Please tell me you aren't, believe me (I've been there). At $50 a session you are never going to be a profitable business, if you think you are you are fooling yourself, your family and your clients.
Feb 21, 2013 17:19:50 #
Papa Joe wrote:
quote=TaxiMom dba registered as Captured Mileston... (show quote)
Exactly, PapaJoe...
Feb 21, 2013 17:21:50 #
Annie_Girl wrote:
are you charging $50 (or less) for session and giving away the images? Please tell me you aren't, believe me (I've been there). At $50 a session you are never going to be a profitable business, if you think you are you are fooling yourself, your family and your clients.
SeaChelle wrote:
Yes, I am an official business with a license.
are you charging $50 (or less) for session and giving away the images? Please tell me you aren't, believe me (I've been there). At $50 a session you are never going to be a profitable business, if you think you are you are fooling yourself, your family and your clients.
I already answered this...anywhere from $150 to $250 per session...depends on what it is and time....and charge for gas for any traveling over 25 miles one way....
Feb 21, 2013 17:25:17 #
You have been informed upon very different formats, and the path that you take is yours. and yours alone. If you make what-ever you think might have been a wrong choice during your search figure it out and move onto a higher level. You can and will do it. The real key is observation. The part that sux for newbies is how to observe everything relevant to the image that they are trying to capture. Take the image that you love, and ask questions after you have studied the images you have taken, then ask yourself if you are happy/content with the image. Good-luck. 8-)
Feb 21, 2013 18:32:25 #
My story is very similar to debbi's I have found out the hard way that attracting paying clients is much harder than I thought. I went into this with the expectation of doing 1 paying gig a month, just to cover the loan I took out to get the equipment. That has only happened 50% of the months since opening. I thought it would just take a few nice shoots with some families and the referrals would start to trickle in. That has not happened. I believe it will happen in enough time. So I'm not hanging myself yet.
Feb 21, 2013 18:34:15 #
This is the most informative thread that I have seen in the year I have been a UHHer. All very good advice as to what has worked for them. You will find your own niche, but that will take time and it sounds like you are prepared for that. Just keep practicing and developing your particular technique that will make you unique. Keep us posted on your progress as we are all interested.
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