Step By Step Guide How To Start a Photography Business In Your First Year
I remember when I first began exploring the photography world, Ive been searching and reading blog posts on how to build a successful photography business. Spending hours browsing the internet watching photography tutorials, but most importantly; Where and how to begin as a working photographer. So as you reading this post, I'm writing it as to myself when I first started as a Photographer, to give you ideas and strategies on how to lunch a successful photography business.
1. Find a niche and Practice
I always knew I want to be a photographer, but never understood the concept of finding a niche. Everywhere I looked for information, its all came down to niches.
A niche can be Wedding, sport, portraits, journalist, wildlife Photography and more. To start a business, you need to know who are your clients, before you can start selling.
If you don't know your niche, shoot everything! Go and explore the photography world and don't get stuck on finding what style and subject you love shooting. It took me 3 years to find that my passion is in sport and fitness photography. Even in fitness, there are sub-niches such as bodybuilding, sports events, social media content creator, extreme sports, and more. So go and shoot! Don't think about what, grab your camera and you will discover what Is you niche.
2. Building a Portfolio
To sell yourself to clients; they need to see your work and your portfolio. It's your résumé that shows how good you are. Without it, your potential clients don't know what you can and can not do, or if you the right man for the job.
Building a portfolio is easy, simply collect your photos from all around and put them in once place/website.
When I decided to lunch my fitness photography business, I approached 50 personal trainers and fitness influences on Instagram with a long DM saying; if they up for a free shoot. I get the photos; they get a free photoshoot.
I played it smart because I targeted personal trainers that had there own gym or a place they can shoot, as I didn't have money to pay gym rent or hire a studio. Once I've collected my 5 men and 5 women fitness portfolio, Ive launched my website, posted on Instagram and Facebook, so the world can see what Im doing. From there, your business will pick up because of the connections you made. Same guys and girls will hire you again and will recommend you to their friends and family.
3. Marketing
Personally, I sucked with this one. Even when I had a beautiful portfolio and already spread my name in the fitness industry, marketing is the final and most crucial step to have a successful business. Here is what I did, and I hope the same strategy will work for you too.
Word to mouth - It's slow organic growth. The places you visit, the people you speak to or the clients you were shooting to build your portfolio, will recommend you when they'll have a chance. It won't happen straight away, but the more people you talk to and tell them you are doing can help them reach happen faster.
Social Media - There is a lot to trial and error on how to use social media to promote your business. Although you can use Facebook and Google ads, you need to know what you are doing and spend some money on it. However, those platforms are also free. Post your pictures frequently on Facebook and Instagram, open a Facebook page and invite all of your friends, ask your friends to invite their Friends, (why the heck not?), It's your business and go crazy about it, let everyone know that there is a new photographer in town.
Website - Your portfolio and services need to be found globally online. Creating a website is the way to be discovered, reached and hired. Once you published your website and worked the Google SEO; when people type "Wedding Photographer in London" your site will appear on the first 2 pages. SEO for Photography needs to be optimised, and you can find experts in Fiverr who can help you with that.
Skills and Expertise
It's not a secret that to make it in the photography business; you need to stand out from the crowd and be the best. Your skills and style, customer services and work ethic are what make your clients choose you over Tom, Dick and Harry. Which brings us back to square one; Practice! Keep learning and developing your photography skills. If you don't have clients, keep seeking people to shoot for free. Don't take people that approach you for a free photoshoot, unless you have something to gain from it (high Instagram follows, people that they know etc.). Take courses and workshops to learn the skills you need to be the best in your area. If you a Portrait photographer; learn lighting and composition. A wedding Photographer; learn couples poses, composition and lighting. If you a Fitness Photographer like myself; learn Lighting techniques, fitness poses, Lightroom editing, etc. You probably don't need to know a couple poses if you shoot landscape.
Spend time to watch tutorials and go outside and Practice. My recommendation; when I first started to learn about Photography, I bought courses online from CreativeLive.com or skillshare and Youtube. Go there and check out there courses and seminars.
Final Thought
There is no easy answer to how to start and build a successful photography business. However, if you take those ideas and create a business plan, it will be a massive kickstart to your business. If you ask a successful entrepreneur; "HOW did he do it", most will answer "I don't know, I did things and things happen". Quite of a disappointing answer, but the truth is that you will figure out the HOW. Go with the flow and follow your wisdom and common sense, let things to happen, your cant plan with whom you will meet and what opportunities and door will open for you. Those things happen only to those who show up every day and work on their dreams.
Best of luck my friend