Starting A Photography Business 101

Starting a photography business is something that every ambitious young photographer has thought about. If you are considering it, then there's no time like now to venture forth into this business. After all, as pictures in magazines and newspapers will tell you, a lot of trash gets printed nowadays and I you believe that you can do a better job then go right ahead!

Getting Funding

Whether your business is a home based business or if you are thinking along larger lines, you will need to draw up a business plan for it. After you have a good business plan, you will need to obtain funding for your business. Angel investors, private investors and venture capitalists will always be willing to invest in you, provided you give them a good enough reason to do so.

In order to obtain funding, you should draw up a finance plan, which will include a break-even analysis, sales projections, projected cash flow and profit and loss and also expenses. You should also consider including an expense timeline - which will include expenses for the next couple of years or more, sales timelines, which will project sales for the near future etc. This collection of data is very important if you want to start your own business and get a good amount of funding.

Equipment and Insurance

Then, with your newly acquired cash, you should proceed to buy your photography equipment. One thing is for sure, whether your business is a one man show or whether you intend to set up a photography lab with lots of employees, you will need lots of equipment and the kind of equipment required for starting a photography business never does come cheap.

This is the basic reason why you will need funding, because it isn't possible for someone who belongs to a middle class home to buy all of that! A lot of smart young photographers take the easy way out by renting expensive pieces of equipment if they require it occasionally.

Another important thing for every aspiring photographer to keep in mind is insurance. Did you know that most photographers benefit a great deal from liability insurance? This is especially true, if you have clients who visit your studio - your centre of operations!- from time to time. This category of insurance is really important because of all the hi-tech equipment you'll be having. If, for example, your client accidentally knocks over an expensive lens, then you don't have to bother your head over it, because you'll be having insurance!

Lastly, every new photographer would do well to study their competitors. Check out photographers and photography businesses in your region which produces more or less similar pictures to what you plan on producing. Do not be cowed down by people who have a larger list of qualifications than you. You can overcome your shortcomings by being creative and bringing something new to your offering platter. Starting a photography business is not an easy task, but if you love taking pictures, then this is your field of expertise!