I was reading a blog entry the other day and it got me thinking…. so you want to be a photographer? What does it take? Here are a few insights you might want to consider.
Buy an email address:
Did you notice I said buy and not get? As with any business, an initial investment is always required and I’m not just talking about making that dSLR purchase. First of all, if you are thinking of advertising your services, first impressions are always very critical. There’s nothing worse than having a potential client ask you how they could reach you and you tell them, “I could be reached at myname@gmail.com”. Using a free email service lets your potential clients know that you’re not fully committed to your services. There should be no reason why you don’t have your own domain even if it means you’re simply using it for an email address. Domains are relatively inexpensive, go out and get one.
Get a website:
Much like a free email address, if you show your clients your website that uses a free service, you’re not giving them the confidence that you are serious with your services. Your website is the face of your business online. Do yourself a favor and purchase a hosting account. Once again, hosting accounts aren’t that expensive. For $60/year, there shouldn’t be any reason why you shouldn’t have one for your business. Along the same lines, you should also expect to either spend or learn how to create your own site content.
For my business, I have two domains. One handles the everyday traffic and the other handles the client proof galleries and the prints (SmugMug). My Pro account for SmugMug, which allows me to customize the features of the layout runs about $149/year.
Get the gear:
Just because you’ve purchased your dSLR doesn’t mean you’re ready to take on the challenges of a photo shoot. What about lenses? Do you have the necessary lenses for a given photo shoot? Make your investment on the lenses because that’s what your investment will depend on. I always advise enthusiasts who are thinking of promoting photography as a business that dSLR camera bodies are considered disposable items as technology changes every day. Your lenses will never fade with technology.
It might come as a shock when you shop for that first good lens. There is a reason why you pay $1400 for a Canon 35mm f1.4L compared to a Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 selling for $400. The more expensive lenses have better glass and build quality and most of them are weather sealed which are best suited for pros.
Get an external flash. No one uses a camera’s built-in flash. The light is extremely harsh and unflattering most specially in portraits. And while you’re at it, grab a diffuser as well. The idea here is to create a soft light by spreading the light from the flash.
These are simply the basic things you should have in your bag. When you’ve had enough money saved, you can start thinking about strobes, lighting, tripods, etc. Don’t worry, it’s simply a matter of time before you start acquiring these things.
Build your portfolio:
No one likes to commission someone’s services without samples of your work. Bear in mind that your client will be spending money in the hopes that they get the photos they want. If you don’t have a portfolio, I suggest you start building one. During the early part of my photography, I learned to give almost everything for free. I would offer my friends free prints if they came out and “modeled” for me. If they had kids, I would offer to photograph their kids for free. While it might defeat the purpose of building your profit, it actually helps you build your portfolio.
Apply for a business license:
This is fairly self-explanatory. We all have to pay taxes. Are you a Sole Proprietorship or a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?
Hand it to me straight:
Just because you have the camera and take photos doesn’t classify you as a good photographer. There are more things to photography than just your equipment. You can have two photographers take a shot of the same subject yet one will be better than the other. It’s what I refer to as having an eye for composition. Your images need to tell a story. It’s one thing to take a shot. It’s another to compose the shot.
So why did I preface this as “hand it to me straight” you might ask? It’s easy for our family and close friends to tell us we are great photographers. For one thing, they are biased in their opinions. If you would really like to see how others perceive your work, join a photography club. There are many of them online. Of all the photo sites out there, Digital Photography Challenge is the best one. They have members who are always willing to give you an honest critique of your work. Remember that you should always ask for honest and brutal critiques. You will only learn from your mistakes and sometimes, the people closest to you can’t really tell it to you straight to your face. Be prepared for whatever the reviews may be – good or bad.
So there you go. Hopefully this helped you even just a little bit. Think about it and let me know your thoughts – good or bad. Thanks all!
Ciao!
P.S. Here’s a last tip – treat all of this as an enjoyable endeavor. Don’t treat it like it would be your last hurrah! With patience and persistence comes results. Work on the basics and it’ll pay off in the end.
P.P.S. I love pearl drinks with the tapioca balls. Yum!
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