Starting up Photography Business on Budget

10/02/2007 11:21:05 AM · #1

I'm finally going to do it and start up a small photography side-business. I shoot a Canon Rebel XT and currently have just the kit lens and the little 50mm f1.8II "plastic fantastic." I'm trying to invest about $750 in extra equipment to get started in advertising for Senior Photos and Family Portraits (Mostly outdoors). Now, please keep in mind that I am a married college student, so truly, I'm trying to keep to the $750 range with maybe +- $50. The equipment I have listed is what I have. Here's what I have been thinking about getting:

1. Canon Speedlite 430 EX for about $250
2. Canon 85mm f1.8 for about $350
3. Softbox?
4. Reflector?

What do all of you think. I know most people don't generally do portraits with a zoom, but I'd like to (for several reasons) if possible, if you had to shoot portraits with a zoom lens (considering the above budget/situation) what would you get. Your help is greatly appreciated my good fellow DPCers!

Matthew Dykman (aka goinskiing who has returned!)

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/02/2007 11:27:15 AM · #2

I'll be honest, get more upto speed on photography technique first, if you dont know what equipment you will need then, in my opinion, you are not ready to start charging for your services.. offer them for free and put any tips from punters into a camera fund. the experience gained will be worth more though. so many people who buy a DSLR these days think they can just start a business up because they can `take pictures`.. nail the photography side of things first..

also, why not take a portrait with a zoom lens?? my 70-200 is fantastic for portraits, the wide (f2.8) aperature coupled with zooming into 150-200mm creates a gorgeous bokeh that seperate the subject from the background. Saying that, a 2nd hand 85mm f1.8 would probably suit your budget and create gorgeous portraits.

My top tip for getting `business` and experience.. go offer your services out for free to local bands/groups/singers etc.. all these people would love a free portfolio and will be more than happy to do more `arty` stuff. loads of experience, doesnt cost you a penny, builds up the experience and gets your name out there.. everyone is a winner!! when people start approaching you, then its time to charge!

Message edited by author 2007-10-02 11:31:41.

10/02/2007 11:49:23 AM · #3

I have actually started with a few people already with borrowed equipment and have been working on the technique for quite some time now. I don't have anything to post at the moment, but I am very familiar with DPC and photography, just have a limited budget. I haven't been on DPC for a while now, but I'm finally back after a long break. I have been shooting for free for a good while now and am starting out very cheap (very cheap) to get good word of mouth and such. Personally, I would LOVE a 70-200 when the budget allows.

10/02/2007 12:36:05 PM · #4

I'm pretty set now on getting the 85 f1.8. I am also thinking getting the 430 EX Speedlite with OmniBounce. The other thing I have considered is a reflector. Anything else to consider?

Message edited by author 2007-10-02 12:39:06.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/02/2007 12:45:34 PM · #5

Skip the omnibounce, you want to get the flash off camera and bounce off a wall or use an umbrella.

If your technique is good and you can be picky about the time of day and location you shoot, a simple one light setup with a stand and umbrella is inexpensive and amazingly versatile. A reflector would also me an excellent addition. The strobist has some great advice on how to use this setup.

Also, don't forget about existing light and a simple reflector. A little planning to work around the right time of day can leave you needing no additional lights.

10/02/2007 01:23:41 PM · #6

How does the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM fare as a portrait lens?

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/02/2007 01:28:35 PM · #7

A big YES to the reflector!! The one I use has silver, white, gold and silver/gold mix sides and the diffuser panel has been a life saver during difficult bright sunlit times. They're not too expensive and are very useful.

Best of luck with the new business! Glad to see you back. :)

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

10/02/2007 01:36:43 PM · #8

Originally posted by goinskiing:

I'm actually with Simms on this one. Keep it casual until you have a portfolio and some experience. I totally understand about not having much recent stuff on DPC (I opted to not post from either of my summer wedding shots due to privacy concerns for the parties involved), but from what I read here, I don't think you are really there yet.

You say that you are going to do some seniors portraits and family portraits. Does this mean studio?

What have you got for your studio location? Have you got backgrounds? flat backgrounds in white, black, grey, blue or green for BG removal/substitution?

What have you got for lights? A friend and I have a team-up mobile mini-studio with 3 Sigma 500DG supers (2 off-camera and one on-camera, flash off) and a 4th off-camera dumb slave. I'd not consider this at all extravagant and could conceive of situations where I would consider it limiting if my subjects were more than a single individual.

Do you know how to manage your lights without a light meter?

A lot can be done with a window and a reflector or two, but you will need more hands or stands. It's NOT just about lenses. You need light. Less light means getting more creative with the light. aka reflectors. aka stands and things to hold the reflectors or assistants...

To be honest, with a couple of decent lights, there isn't much you would need to do that the 50mm f/1.8 can't handle. It's VERY sharp if you can get it focused accurately. The AF mechanism is a bit sloppy for my tastes, but with portraits, it's not too hard to use manual focus.

Use light to bring your aperture up to around f/5 and you will probably have a perfectly usable lens/camera combination for an indoor studio. What you really need is light. Big ones. The Canon 430EX is pretty nice, but might get a little underpowered if you want to throw a big softbox around it. Those lights that they have the big softboxes around are pretty beefy strobes.

Plenty of info out there to be learned. I'm always happy to lend what I can from my little experience and moderate amounts of reading.

PS, the 28-135 has IS which would be pointless on a studio lens. Additionally, it's fairly slow, which limits your depth of field variability. Optimal sharpness will be around f/8 which is really going to need a lot of light.

Message edited by author 2007-10-02 13:43:39.

10/02/2007 01:36:52 PM · #9

Thanks Jenesis! It's good to see some old friends still here. I'm getting ready to be more involved with DPC again (I have been getting some experience over the last little bit). What reflector do you use, how mcuh, and where did you get it?

kellian

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/02/2007 01:44:56 PM · #10

This is what I'm doing: I've offered my services for free to local bands, singers, actors, and even couples getting married on a budget (for engagement photos only, not weddings... yet) In the last 6 weeks since I have started this campaign I have taken over 5k photos. I have performers crawling out of the woodwork to have me photograph them. And slowly, very slowly people who I worked for free for are recommending me to their friends, and these people are paying customers. I also ran ads in craigslist for free portraits etc. I photographed an engagement couple through that ad and they referred me to friends for a paid family portrait session. Word of mouth is key, apparently.

Now, looking back I can say that I have acquired a LIFETIME worth of knowledge about shooting portraits and what not in this time period. Just looking at what I was doing in those first few weeks compared to now is shocking. I'm learning so much so fast it's remarkable.

The best thing about this plan, in my opinion, is that I've bitten off more than I can chew. I am constantly swamped with shoots and editing but I am conditioning myself to work hard and stay busy. That's good for me, personally. Now, any money that I make taking pictures is almost like found money because I'd be spending all my time doing this anyways, just for free.

I've even signed on to take my first wedding photos. It's just me, the bride, the groom and the minister on the beach. $150, very little pressure or expectations, perfect for a first outing in my opinion. This opportunity is also the result of a referral.

Take good pictures, network and the work will come (even without the extra gear... I have EXACTLY what you have now, nothing extra... and I'm starting to make money)

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

10/02/2007 01:49:31 PM · #11

Originally posted by goinskiing:

Reflectors come in many types, shapes and sizes.

The best ones for value include:

the silver reflective windshield screen that you can get at your local dollar store for cheap (about 4 bucks USD here), easy to carry and store as they fold nicely.

A simple piece of white foam core or 'poster board' (is that right?) or corrugated plastic. I like the corrugated plastic as it too can be cut along the corrugations and folded.

The same coated with tinfoil on one side.

The same spray painted with gold on one side. (if you want to get fancy, throw a bit of screen over the thing to be painted and it will give a much lighter coverage of paint for a slightly less intense yellow reflection)

wireframe foldable reflectors.

the same with colored jackets for all situations...

Also useful are clips that can hold these things in place and stands that don't look too hokey... I use cheap tripods as they are light and easy to carry around and I know they will have a 1/4" -20 screw on the top...

Also, hold your pennies on that 85mm f/1.8. Unless you have a specific need that that lens is going to fill, that's a fair bit of cash that you might not need to spend. Subtle differences in the quality of bokeh aside (the 85mm f/1.8 is one of the nicest Canon lenses for Bokeh), there isn't a huge amount that you can do with it that you can't with the 50mm. Watch your focus CAREFULLY. Good news though, with elderly people, a bit of softness is usually desirable, so if you can twiddle your Photoshop, you might be able to buy a tiny bit of breathing room there. Nonetheless, f/5 or smaller is what I would say.

Message edited by author 2007-10-02 14:06:20.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/02/2007 01:54:25 PM · #12

Originally posted by kellian:

Thank you, after much thought, I think I still want to build up a better portfolio and just keep shooting free for a little while longer. I know word of mouth is by far my best bet. I already have a few workmates who have seen some of the outdoor Senior Photo work I have done (for free) and want me to do theirs (want to pay). I am by no means starting out huge or anything. I want to stay to mostly outdoor Senior Shoots with fairly simple setups until I have the resources to do more studio setups. I do know that I will need a good flash and reflector though.

wavelength

Nikon D300

10/02/2007 01:58:07 PM · #13

Check out the business of photography forums, there's a lot of info in there.

New Studio Part 1: Starting Out
New Studio Part 2: Organization
New Studio Part 3: Plotting a Course
New Studio Part 4: Financing
New Studio Part 5: Setting Up the Shop, Part 1
New Studio Part 5: Setting Up the Shop, Part 2
New Studio Part 6: Vendors
New Studio Part 7: Advertising
New Studio Part 8: Customer Service

Business of Photography - Group 1
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=325315

Business of Photography - Group 2
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=326740&page=5

Forging a photography business plan
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=258693

10/02/2007 01:58:43 PM · #14

Originally posted by wavelength:

Thank You! This is very helpful indeed!

kellian

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/02/2007 02:13:04 PM · #15

I just wanted to add that I built a 4'x 3.5' white reflector for $25. It's pvc so it's light and I don't really have a hard time with the wind or anything. It screams ghetto but dammit it gets the job done. ;)

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/02/2007 02:52:56 PM · #16

Originally posted by goinskiing:

I have this one that I got from B&H:
Impact 5-in-1 42" collapsible

A piece of white foam core would most likely work just as well and much less expensive. As it is, I mostly only use the white and silver/gold mixed sides but I have to say that the diffuser has saved my butt in more than one instance. Kind of small for full body work, but I usually keep it in close anyways. It makes for some nice catchlights too.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

10/02/2007 03:03:03 PM · #17

Try to remember that one of the first rules of being a professional is acting and looking like a professional. Being sure to have clean equipment and a well-kept appearance will go a long way toward making your rates higher than others in town.

Message edited by author 2007-10-02 15:03:30.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II