Steps to Starting a Photography Business Online

So you're interested in starting a photography business online. One look at the competition may give you the jitters for sure. You'll find there are literally thousands of photographers that appear to be doing the same thing. Never give up on your dream. There are a few important steps to starting a photography business anywhere. And online is no exception. Follow these steps and you will greatly increase your chances of success.

Everyone Has an Angle

The first step in starting any business is having a plan. Do your market research. Find out what people are buying. What are the most popular searched for terms about photography?

Then determine what your angle is. You have a unique way of taking pictures. There is something unique about you. Your goal will be to bridge that unique you with what people are looking for.

Choose the Best Method For Delivering Your Product to That Market

If you search online for the phrase "sell my photos online", you will find an unlimited supply of galleries and image hosting sites that will display and sell your images. They all will require payment of some form or another.

You want to choose one that you can live with. If you have no capital to invest in your business, then it would make sense to find a gallery that will host your work and take their commission after the sale.

You don't have to pay to host. But you do want to choose a gallery that is reputable. These options all work for selling reprints of your work.

If you prefer selling your own original photographs, you want to find a way to show them online. Even if you opt to do both reprints and original photographs, you will want to have a way to build your reputation.

Create Your Own Web Site

It is key to have your name out there as much as possible. Let people get to know you. But just building a web site is not enough.

Even if you had no competition you would still have to find a way to get the word out about you and your work. Starting a photography business online is nothing like opening a shop in a good location. Anyone can build a website or blog.

But once that site is built it will sit and gather dust unless you do a little marketing.

Market Your Self

There are many ways to get the word out about your photography. You can use auctions to draw attention back to your website. Use Social Marketing to spread the word. Write articles for non competitive sites that are reputable.

Most important of all, don't give up on your dream. Use your own unique angle and shine your light out in the world.