Given the context, thaz pretty decent. You’re not running a business. Better to be known as an affordable competent casual provider than as a freebie sucker.

Also, $$ avoids that weird bit of human nature where if people pay, they tend to be satisfied and realize that they ought not get fussy about decent low $$ work. And they prefer to believe they made a good choice, cuz they paid for it.

But when the price is zero they’ll often take the attitude that a “gift” should be world class quality, customized to their exact needs. (“Could you rent a plane ? We think a bird’s eye view looks best.”)

Social media is oversaturated with "photographers" looking for clients. Having a website, a Facebook page, may help to reinforce some more direct sales activities but these are no a reliable source of ongoing business.

If you are serious about starting a professional photography business you have to make sure you have a viable product that will work in today's market. Your stuff has to be a cut above what folks can DYI it has a friendly amateur knock off for them.

You have to decide what your specializations will be and establish a TARGEt market. You need to devise a business plan, create a portfolio, and a marketing strategy that includes advertising.

As an example- you mention headshots. So- who needs "headshots"? Business people, companies requiring photographs featuring their management and personnel, for annual reports and advertising publicity portraits or actors, musicians, entertainers, models, radio and V personalities, politicians for campaigns.

Where do you find these people? How do you make contacts? You got do legwork and networking. Shoe w you work to advertising agencies, rent a boot at a trad or business show. contact musician's and actor's unions, Contact a modelling agency or modelling school, speak to your local congressperson's office- see who is running for office. Real estate agents use portrait on the ads, site signs, and advertising. If you buy print advertising select trade or professional journals or publications in your target markets. Rent a showcase in a popular mall, hotel, or popular restaurant and display your work. YES, create a website so folk can see your portfolio online but a person- to personal meetings, sales calls and participation in trade and business shows are all very powerful methods of making sales.

Yes! Referral and word-of-mouth recommendations are invaluable but FIRST, you need to have some satisfied customers.

Networking means- example- If you want to photograph weddings, speak to caterers, florists, party planners and offer them photographs of client's flowers, catering arrangements and celebrating images of clients they refer to you. If you want to shoot pets, speak to a petshop owner- offer the owner a collage of all the pet owner's pets refers to you- Display your work in his or her shop.

If you just advertise and wait for the phone to ring or an Email- that ain't gonn cut it. You got to get out there!