with each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.
- mark victor hansen
so you love taking pictures, you take great pictures and you’re thinking about starting a photography business? well i have some things to share with you. 
i’ve been talking to my friends for a long time about doing a post like this, as i feel that it’s one thing that’s not readily available in our industry. there’s a ton of workshops on editing, inspiration, etc. but i don’t feel that a lot is discussed regarding what is necessary in getting prepared for and taking the steps of starting a photography business.
in starting a photography business, or any small business for that matter, it’s so easy to get in over your head, especially when not doing things right. what do i mean? well, loving to take pictures and taking great pictures does not make a successful photography business. and starting a business takes lots of preparation, dedication, knowledge and hard work.
by no means am i saying i’ve done everything right or that i have all the answers. i’m also not saying my way is the exact way you should do things; however, i am saying there are certain things you should at least investigate and think about, when considering starting a photography business. trust me…i’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. and i don’t want you to make the same mistakes i did.
so if you take great pictures and you’re contemplating starting a photography business, here’s some things to think about and get prepared for with the launch of your business.
after getting started writing this, i realized i had much more to share than i originally thought so…i will be breaking this up into a series of posts. today, i’ll be talking a bit about personal skill assessment and later move on to such things as equipment, small business preparation, packaging, etc. if, after reading, you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask. in the end, i hope this will get to and help some aspiring photographers out there.
PERSONAL SKILL ASSESSMENT
do you fully understand your camera?
do you understand and can you shoot in various lighting conditions?
do you understand what the varying lighting conditions can do to and for your subject?
do you completely understand individually and the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO?
do you consistently get things right in camera versus trying to fix things later, while editing, e.g. exposure, highlights, focus (are you technically proficient)?
do you understand about composition and what makes a well composed photograph?
have you invested in the appropriate editing software?
do you understand editing basics (and not just actions!!) and what they can do for your image, i.e. levels, curves, etc?
have you had someone else (i.e. a professional photographer) evaluate your photographs and potential portfolio images?
do you have a mentor?
have you considered going on a shoot with a professional photographer (can’t hurt to ask)?
have you begun networking with other photographers in your area?
have you ever printed your own photographs?
are you using a professional print lab?
is your monitor calibrated?
have you thought about who and what inspires you, in life…and photography?
have you thought about your style (do you even have a style)?
photography skills are only the beginning. please, please, please…don’t feel like you need run out and start your photography business right away. take the time to really learn your equipment and master taking great photographs right out of camera. and when you are ready to take that next step of starting a photography business, make sure you do it right and in it’s entirety. remember that once you start your business, that’s exactly what it is–a small business. it’s no longer just the love of taking great photographs; it’s also appropriately managing a small business, in order to make that business a successful one.
personally, looking back, i jumped into the business too fast. even though i thought i was ready, i wasn’t nearly as knowledgeable or prepared as i should have been. there were so many things that i didn’t know and had to end up learning the hard way, along the way (some lessons tougher than others)…and i don’t want you to make the same mistake(s) i did.
i share this photo with you because it was one of my first clients, back in summer 2006. light was low and i ended up using artificial lighting. what? not that artificial light is bad at all, but…i really had no clue what i was doing with that alien bee at the time. i basically got lucky. really lucky…that’s all. i should never have gotten that light out in the first place because a) i didn’t really know how to use it correctly and b) i should have known how to make the existing light work.
and as the quote above says, remember…
you will grow stronger
you will get more skilled
and you will get more confident.
it just all takes time
a ton of practice
and lots of patience.
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love this.
you are SO AWESOME. such a giving person.
This couldn’t come at a better time for me! THanks so much for being so giving of your knowledge.
Well Deb, I’m not going to say how “cool” you are for posting this… cuz.. you’ll no doubt get a million of those comments… (rightfully so) But I will say thank you. I think it’s great that you are willing to do this. I’m sure you kinda have me figured out and know that I struggle with the business side of photography. Since first talking to you, I have really decided on pulling back a little (ok, maybe a lot) and just work on PREPARING myself for this big journey. Thanks for posting this. It comes at the perfect time. I have been soul searching a TON these last few weeks and I really am learning a lot about myself… as well as what it takes to run a successful business.
Thanks again,
wow!!! thank you so much for this post. I am so glad you wrote it!!
I am just beginning and learning… so this is a lot to think about.
I do feel like I totally understand my camera, I am sure I can always learn more.
I love studying it daily! and experimenting. I hope to always learn.
I feel like where I am lacking is in more of the marketing, sales, area….
any advice on that one.
I am inspired by you.
thank you.
so much to think about…it can all be so overwhelming. i love that you have started to share what you’ve learned. you’ve been such a good student (straight A’s if they were giving out grades!) of photography, i love seeing you evolve into a teacher. big hugs…wish you were closer~
This is a great assessment. I think it is great for people to look at and have a starting point. Please, please, don’t forget to encourage people to start their business. For some, (not all) the learning happens best in the heat of the fire.
Looking forward to soaking up your advice. lovely quote.
Deb, thank you for this post. The personal skill assessment posed some great questions. I know I struggle weekly with the question(s), “Am I a good photographer. Do I have what it takes.” I feel that I am but I definitely have days where I doubt myself. I look forward to seeing additional posts on this topic. Thanks again!
Deb, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences to help others. It is very much appreciated!
just came across your blog this is great advice. it is so easy to “jump” in. thank you for thinking of others.
thank you for this! this is so timely! and can I say that you look FABULOUS for just having a baby in that photo! wow! Let it be known that I will definately not be taking a pic of myself like that when this baby comes!
I appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge! I will keep checking back to continue to soak it up! This is exactly what I need! I am right in the middle of decided what to do with my photography. Thanks again!
very cool
xxoo
thaaank you so much for this, Deb! I’m looking forward to the other parts.
this comes so right!
here in austria it’s really hard to get into the business. you have to do a lot of paper work and have to have special exams (which are very expensive).
I also recognised that all english speaking photographers I know (or most of them) are so willing to tell a few of their secrets. as said before, here in my country it’s hard – every photographer is keeping their work and how they did it to themselves. they’re not willing to say anything.
so I’m even more thankful for your honesty.
I have many questions, but I’ll wait for your next posts.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post all of this … like many artists, self-doubt is a difficult thing to hurdle. Your self assessment questions are a wonderful place to start.
I do have a question for you if that’s ok
It has to do with mentoring.
My education/career is in business (accountant with an mba in small business finance), mentoring is an important part of growing/networking/succeeding in the finance world … but I’ve just not been able to find the same opportunities within the photography industry … could it be me? of course! … hence the artistic self-doubt and tendency to be a lurker
Do you find someone in your area? (Which is one of your questions.) Do you find someone online? Do you pay (classes, workshops, forums … all of which I’ve done and got a lot out of but not a mentor) or do you find someone who simply wants a friend with a common interest? And, how do you ask? … it’s a lot to ask of someone! … kind of like me asking you all of these questions after all that you’ve already shared
Thank you again for sharing!
Kasandra
Thank you so much, I been in my journey for almost 2 years and I could not I agree with you more. Some people jump into it and do not realize how much they hurt the business aspect of it. I now feel confident enough to start to start a portfolio and this is just a wonderful confirmation that I’m on the right path.