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4 Tips to Starting Your Own Photography Business

I started my own photography business this summer and here's how you can too.

Amber Beltz

Sep 17, 2019

West Virginia University

4 Tips to Starting Your Own Photography Business

Unsplash.com

Are you good with a camera or interested in photography, and think that you would like to make money from it? Then you've come to the right article! Here are a few tips to get you started and help you create your very own photography business:

Gathering Equipment and Supplies

You can't start a photography business without a camera, right? I started with a Sony a6000 and a multipurpose lens, and as I progressed I started to buy more lenses specializing in what I wanted to photograph, for example, portraits or landscapes. You may also consider purchasing a tripod, a camera strap, a camera bag, SD cards, maybe some extra batteries, and other accessories if you feel it necessary.

Find your Niche

There are numerous different types of photography, and the question is, what do you want to photograph? People need photographers for weddings, senior portraits, family portraits, sports action photos, advertising, and much more. And once you decide what you want to specialize in, to go along with the first point, you should buy camera lenses based off of your area of photography, it's silly to buy a lens you wouldn't need or use.

Practice

Seems simple right? But this step is crucial. If you want people to pay you for your services, you need to show them some example photos so they can trust you; no one will pay you if they have never seen any of the photos you have taken. Offer free services to your friends and family, although it is free they are still helping with your portfolio and for your advertising. I specialize in portrait photography, so I started asking my sister, some of my friends, and even some of my sister's friends if I could take their photos for free, and in that way if they posted those photos onto social media and mentioned me in them, I also generated free advertising from that. The photo above is a picture I have taken as a practice senior portrait session.

Marketing and Social Media

With today's day and age, word of mouth is not always the best form of advertising. Sure, word of mouth is great; try and mention to everyone you talk to that you are a photographer, and then people will spread the word that way. However, social media is the best way to promote your business. Instagram is great for photography, as people can go to your page and see all of the photos you have taken and contact you that way. Facebook is great too, and some people even create their own website. I will leave the link to my own website down below:

https://amberbeltz.wixsite.com/mysite

And that's basically it! There is more to it than that, this is a simplified version and some basic tips to help you get started. You will make mistakes, I made plenty, but that's the beauty of it, that's what makes it fun! You will still need to figure out how you want to price, and how to edit your photos and that good stuff, but you'll get there!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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4 Tips to Starting Your Own Photography Business

I started my own photography business this summer and here's how you can too.

Gathering Equipment and Supplies

Find your Niche

Practice

Marketing and Social Media

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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