If you're interested in making a career or part-time job out of photography, it's easier than you may think. Portrait photography is needed in almost every city and it doesn't require a lot to have a working home studio. The best thing about starting in portraiture is that you can begin with the bare essentials and add equipment as your business grows. Here's how to take the first steps:
Set Up Your Photo Studio
There are a few things that you should pick up before attempting professional portrait photography. Obviously you will need a camera (preferably digital as it's easier for inexpensive photo editing) but you will also need a tripod, a basic light setup and some sort of light reflector. Much of this equipment can be purchased either used or at low cost for entry level quality or you can improvise if you're short on cash. It would also be a good idea to buy a laptop and equip it with some photo editing tools - the portability of a laptop will make your work run much more quickly.
Additionally, you'll need some working space. An extra room, living room or even garage can often fit everything you need. Windows can provide natural light, white walls can act as natural reflectors and different colors of bed sheets can act as backgrounds.
Setting Up the Business
If you are really serious about starting a portrait photography business, you'll need to treat it as a serious business. Make sure you have small business software such as QuickBooks for your invoicing and payment tracking before you bring in your first client. It is absolutely critical that you track your income, both for eventual taxes and so that you can spot possible issues with your pricing structure.
It is also a good idea to have a business website with your online photo portfolio available for browsing. With so many people using the internet to locate professional services, an online presence is a powerful way to bring in new business. You can build a simple site or hire the work out through a freelancing website such as Elance. Make sure it has your contact information!
Finally, think of ways to set your portrait photography studio apart from the rest. If you want to get a competitive edge, try focusing on a specific photography niche. For instance, people are willing to pay more for photographs of their pets or children, and if you specialize in one of those fields you'll have less competition to contend with.
Once you have the studio up and running, the cash flow handled and have the strategy of the business down, you should be ready for taking the plunge into professional portrait photography. If you use effective word of mouth marketing and some other forms of advertising, there is no measuring the potential a small studio could have. And don't worry because if you provide excellent photographs to your clients, no one will ever remember you used bed sheets as backdrops!
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves picture frames. Shop online and see our selection of 8 x 10 picture frames and many other sizes by visiting our online picture frame store or calling 1-800-780-0699.