|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
10/01/2009 02:00:01 AM · #1 |
I am a baby in the photography world and I'd love any advice you can send my way. I have always loved photography and got my first DSLR 8 months ago. I took a class right away and I've been practicing, practicing, practicing like crazy ever since. I've come a long way and I'm loving it! Now I'm working on getting a portfolio together and would love to start my own part-time business. I'm just not quite sure where to start or where to spend most of the initial money. I know it will be a big investment off the top, but hopefully down the road I will have a successful business.
I have about $1500 to spend right now. I already have the camera (Canon 40D) and 2 lenses (50 mm/1.4 and 28-135mm/3.5-5.6). I\'ve been using Photoshop Elements 7 (I just know the basics, but it runs VERY slow with Vista and is driving me crazy)!! Here is what I'm debating:
1) Do I buy the Canon 28-70mm/2.8 lens (I feel very limited with just the 2 lenses i have now, the 28-135 is my kit lens and I only use it when my 50mm won't cut it)
2) Buy a new computer and photoshop CS4 (my dad was diagnosed with cancer and I spend a lot of time traveling back and forth, a laptop would be nice, so would Photoshop)
3) Purchase a website template and save the rest of the $$ for the other options in a few months.
Or am I missing something entirely? Thanks so much!
Jill
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 02:03:32 AM · #2 |
| what do you want to shoot for a living? |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 02:21:54 AM · #3 |
| I want to photograph kids, families, couples, babies, maternity, and maybe weddings eventually. |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 03:40:24 AM · #4 |
Hi Jill and welcome to the site.
"What should my 1st steps be to start a business??"
Oh wow, that's certainly a question with a hundred different answers from a hundred different people. I think initially you need to ask yourself - are your photos good enough to start charging people for?
These days a good DSLR and lens kit can be picked up relatively cheaply - so lots of people out there buy one and think "wow this could be a great (easy) way to make money!" and they call themselves a photographer - but in a lot of cases the sad fact of the matter is that they are not really that good at taking photos. You know, you may have some nice shots in your portfolio, but how many did you have to take to get one or two really nice shots? 10, 20, 400? 1000? When you are charging people you have to be consistant, you have to understand lighting & composition you can't just `wing it` when you are charging someone for your time.
Many times on this site I have seen people come along and say "I charged someone $$$ for this portrait shoot, let me hear your comments!" and the stuff they have posted is absolutely appalling - then it always makes me laugh to watch others on this site critique the shots by saying `nice` things like
"They look really happy"
"It looks like they had a lot of fun"
etc. without actually saying if the work is anygood or not. So I tell you what, post some of your work or link to some of your work in here and I will give you a honest critique on what I see and from that you can decide if you are ready or not. Post TEN of your best images in the style you have mentioned above (kids, families, maternitys etc.).
I will pull no punches.
Good luck!
Message edited by author 2009-10-01 03:41:17. |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 04:35:42 AM · #5 |
Simms is right, he won't pull punches - he will be honest and robust, and it would be well worth taking up the critique offer. I am just a keen amateur with no aspirations to make money from my photography (simply not good enough) so perhaps not the sort of person you were wanting a response from, but I did note that the one thing you don't mention is any lighting setup. If you are wanting to make money from portraits that is an absolute must; but it is not just having the equipment, but understanding how to use it to get specific effects. As a pro, I would imagine you would want to spend as little time as possible post-processing, and you will need to get it right in camera.
Hope you stick around DPC - there is a lot of advice to be found. |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 07:10:03 AM · #6 |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 07:29:13 AM · #7 |
Hi Jill, and welcome!
Your first step should probably be to wrote a business plan. I know this doesn't soun exciting, but a business is like a journey. You would not start a journey without a road map, and you should not start a business that way either - that is, not if you want to get where you're going anyway. Writing a business plan will help you prioritize things like equipment, advertising and so forth and help you allocate your resources wisely.
If you don't know how to write a business plan, most likely a community college or other college near you has a small business development center where you can get help with that kind of thing completely free of charge. Also, I know the library in the city I border on has a small business library at their main branch: you might want to call your library and see if they know of something nearby.
~Terry
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 10:21:04 AM · #8 |
Thank you all for your quick responses. I'm so glad I found this site!
Simms - I truly appreciate your honesty! I know I have a LOT to learn and I don't plan to start charging for quite some time. I'm the first to admit, as I did in my intro, that I'm a baby to the world of photography. So I will definitely take you up on your offer to critique my pics. I'm still working on my portfolio and I have my first maternity pics on 10/11 (I'll post some after that). I plan to practice LOTS more (I have a wide variety of friends willing to let me practice on them and their kids). I'm also signed up for 2 more workshops (1 in Nov. and 1 in Dec). I think I have a talent for capturing kids in front of the camera - they tend to gravitate to me, and I'm good with them. I'm not saying I'm the best "photographer" but I think my other skills, will help my succeed in that arena.
SaraR - I don't spend a lot of time post-processing. That's quite boring to me and time consuming, but I love that funky look sometimes with different textures (another thing I want to learn more about). So yes, I'm learning to take my time, shoot in M mode and get it right in the camera. Running after litte kids and trying to get the shot makes that all the more challenging! I'm taking a class on lighting in November (although I prefer natural light settings, but that's not always possible, especially with newborns and weddings). I seem to learn best by taking a class and then practicing like crazy on my own. =)
I just wanted to know what would be my best investment now (or maybe I just really want that new lense and I was hoping someone would justify it for me). =)
Jill
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 10:54:21 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by jmlknight:
...(or maybe I just really want that new lense and I was hoping someone would justify it for me). =)
Jill |
Hey, Jill - go get that new lens ;¬P |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 11:36:41 AM · #10 |
Hi there,
When I decided I wanted to start my business, (I started with headshots) I put up a sign in the restaurant I used to work in and said I'd do a week of free headshots. This was, of course, to build my portfolio. I then used those shots to create a website. Online presence is of UTMOST importance nowadays. I went with Smugmug Pro account and though I nearly went insane the two full days it took to build my site, I did it all by myself and have yet to change. Eventually, I'd like a custom site but for now it works for me. There are companies out there that have all sorts of pretty flash templates and such that you can buy, but honestly, I've gotten tons of great response on my site because it WASN'T flash based. Oh, and NO MUSIC ON YOUR WEBSITE! It drives me (and I'm sure tons of people) crazy. START A BLOG. It's pretty much an industry standard now. It's a way to advertise yourself and your personality as well as your most recent work. These are things you can do that cost very little money but are so so important. When I switched over to wedding photography, I started to stalk Jasmine Star's blog. She is a smart, sweet, talented lady who started about 3-4 years ago having no digital camera knowledge at all! There is a whole "posse" of so-cal wedding photographers that are really taking the industry by storm. If you follow one blog, it'll lead you to another and another and you'll see why being online (twitter, facebook, blog, etc) is so vital.
As far as camera gear, the 50 1.4 is the perfect starter lens for portraits. Also, it gets you involved with your subject because you have to move around. A less expensive but quality alternative to the canon 28-70 is the Tamron 28-75. For lighting, other than a 580 ex, and a small umbrella set up (which I've yet to use) I use exclusively natural light. This limits you if you live anywhere where the weather gets crappy (like nyc!), but it's not entirely impossible. You have to decide the style of photography you'd like to do. It sounds like you'd prefer to do natural, slice of life type stuff, so don't worry about lighting rigs just yet.
I personally would spend money on a new (FAST) computer and CS3 or 4 (this is your darkroom after all, it needs to be in good working order. I would freak my freak if I had to deal with a slow computer. Also really practice photoshop. Seriously. Good quality editing can go a long way and bad editing can ruin a good photo. Actions and textures are fun, but start with just classic editing that'll stand the test of time. All these quirky effects are cool now, but what will people think in a couple years....
First and foremost find out what makes you different and special. What sets you apart from the others. Practice, practice (like you already have). Research other photography blogs, but don't copy. Get inspiration and knowledge.
Don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough to charge money, but do give yourself time. You have to start somewhere, right? Yes, what  Simms said is true. Nowadays, anyone with a DSLR fancies themselves a photographer....but, in a way, that was me 2 years ago, so I'm hardly one to judge. With experience and a true talent, eventually you'll be able to start charging people. Be realistic and honest with yourself.
It sounds like you're on the right track. Best of luck to you!
Message edited by author 2009-10-01 17:40:55. |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 12:18:28 PM · #11 |
If I may be so bold as to respond.
I would first suggest looking into contracts. A contract is basically an agreement between you and your customer. It spells out:
What's going to happen
Who gets what
When they get it
What can be done with the photos
MOST IMPORTANT: what happens when things go wrong
This places everything on the table so there's no suprises. For instance, what will happen if later you start to use the headshots you've taken online and the person in the picture calls you and says, "Hey, I don't want you to show my face online." You can gently remind them, "The reason I took your pictures for free is because I wanted something to put online. Please refer to the contract you signed."
If there's not contract, you have nothing to stand on.
After you get into it, you should take some business classes. Ask anyone PRO here, a photography business has little to do with photography.
Of course, you can always find a job to pay for your hobby. That way it stays fun. Otherwise, there's a reason it's called a job.
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 01:32:29 PM · #12 |
Okay......the resident nutball's gonna weigh in now.....8>)
There is a lot to take in when you consider doing photography as a money generating thing.
Like it or not, your skill level does matter.....you may be able to get business with a good business plan, but you may not be able to get referral and return business if you do not offer a quality job.
Return and referral work *IS* what you want.
You'll also want to decide what it is you want to do.....sports, portraits, weddings, fine art, because if you try to do it all, you'll probably go crazy, broke, or both....not to mention that you'll most likely not excel at any of them.
From my own perspective, I'm in semi-professional photographer Hell. I'm not willing to devote the time to market & build a business, so I have to rely purely on my photography skills to create fine art images. I'm okay.....people like my work, BUT....I have a family, and a life, so I'm not willing to do the Arts & Crafts show circuit because I want to have weekends with my family, nor am I interested in tying up thousands of dollars in inventory and show essentials(Tents, racks, tables, framing, etc.) so that's another major source of revenue unavailable to me.
I'm not gifted as a portrait photographer, nor am I intuitive and structured, so weddings are out, and again, the weekends with my family thing. Nor do I have the time, money, and inclination to build a studio.
That said, I have a few pieces in some local galleries; got a show opening tomorrow night; and having some inventory available to do so does enrich the experience of photography for me, I'm getting some recognition in my local area, and I have sold a few pieces......my current body has been paid for by the proceeds. I'm happy with that relative to the amount of time and effort I put into it. It's opened some doors that wouldn't have opened otherwise, and I have new friends and places to go that I never had before. So I can't say that my efforts haven't been rewarded.
The bottom line is......yeah, I'd like to call myself a professional, but what I am is a photographer....I want to go out and shoot, see new things, go new places, and meet new people. If I get the odd job shooting something for someone, or I get invited to bring my camera to a friend's wedding to shoot random candids, then I get to be a photographer, and get a couple bucks for my efforts.
Were I to decide to try to make a go of it, I would certainly take it slowly, plan carefully, and seriously tap the resouces here for the experience that some of the folks have who have made it.
Just as a funny aside....I shot a wedding two weekedns ago, and I have absolutely, unequivocally determined that I am *NOT* a wedding photographer, at least not a first camera, take charge of the event, kind, and I have a tremendous newfound respect for anyone who has the skills and intestinal fortitude to do weddings.
You can HAVE them! LOL!!!
So.....I hope that outlining the reasons why I'm a happy, content, failure gives you some insight as to what you have to do if you want to make it as a professional photographer.
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 02:05:54 PM · #13 |
I suggest spending up to 10% of those funds for books on running a business, tax, copyright, etc. from Nolo Press -- they have packages of stuff for people in just your situation. Some libraries carry these publications, so check there first before you buy.
Consider incorporating as an LLC, and get some liability insurance ($1 million or so) regardless of the business structure.
Expect to spend up to half your time "running the business" (filing, billing, bookkeeping, etc.) at the expense of your creative efforts ... :-( |
|
|
|
10/01/2009 04:54:04 PM · #14 |
A lot of great advice in here so far, so I'll just add one more perspective to think about.
Is the business something you can build gradually (your already employed or wealthy) or something you need to depend on for a living now? From what you have described so far, I'm assuming this is something you want to build up over time.
If people photography is your thing, start with portraits rather than wedding because the pace is much slower and you can shoot something over if necessary. I shot with a 40D, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm primes for a long time and only invested in a zoom when I encountered a wedding where I would not have the luxury of time to change lenses. This simple kit delivers amazing quality and costs less then one professional grade prime.
Every bit of work I received this past year came through word of mouth or from my web site. Work with patient people, family and friends, to build a very nice portfolio that shows the kind of work you want to do and that you can deliver on. When people start coming to you to ask for portraits you'll know you are ready to charge some money. Accept only the requests where you know you can deliver a quality product. If you exceed expectations people will send more work your way. I started with the same prices as local department stores and built up from there.
When you look at the margins on print prices it seems like an easy way to make money, but when you look at the time you'll invest it's surprisingly hard to make a profit. Be patient and don't spend a lot of money on equipment or software that isn't necessary.
|
|
|
|
10/01/2009 05:29:22 PM · #15 |
Taking pictures is the easy part of running a business.
The backend stuff- taxes, client management, contracts, advertising, marketing etc etc will take up more of your time than the actual shoots.
I'm just starting a photo business here in MT. I spent a lot getting the equipment I think I need as I want to move into the weddings/seniors market myself. First thing I did was buy a book about wedding photography- not a 'take this shot, take that shot' kinda book but one that covers what I need to know with regards to legal stuff, ideas for packages etc etc.
I can shoot all day long and wow people, but having the business acumen to get people to call me is a different matter.
Also, I wouldn't think of doing a shoot without a backup camera. I had my 400d fail on me during a shoot and I looked like a dick. Now I have a 40d and a 5d2 so I'm covered because if someone is paying you to be there, and your equipment fails then where do you go? Hide in a bathroom and cry? Or... you could pull out your backup.
It might be a good idea to do a few shoots for free, or join a site like Model Mayhem or whatever so you at least get some working shots in your website/portfolio. Shoot friends, family, events, whatever just so you can put the best stuff on your portfolio. Get a nice website. Not a crappy one. Get some business cards (same rule applies), please don't print stuff on photo paper and cut them out- this looks so incredibly lame I can't begin to explain. Hand out said cards to people, hopefully people will see your website, like your work and give you a call.
You gotta start somewhere! There's tons of people here whose job is photography so track em down :) |
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 08/06/2025 07:19:43 AM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/06/2025 07:19:43 AM EDT.
|
