1. Shoot everything and practice, practice, practice so you can build that portfolio!
When you’re first starting out, you want to shoot anything and everything. Always carry your camera with you! I used to take mine literally everywhere when I was first starting out and as a Photographer that was almost completely self taught, I am a firm believer that the only way you get better is to keep practicing. The more you shoot, the more you'll learn, and the more confident you’ll be around your clients!
I totally get that manual mode and lighting can be intimidating but practicing will help you get more comfortable with it. If you are totally new to photography be sure to check out my free guide, Photography 101 for Mamas. This guide goes over the basics like lighting, composition, Perspective and some best practices you'll want to know and learn when you are first getting started! You can also check out my eBook, Learning your Camera Settings that will help a ton if you are new to shooting in Manual Mode! Shooting all the things will also help you figure out what you truly enjoy shooting. It can take some time to find your true passion behind the lens and that, ok!
Most importantly, remember that no one is an overnight success, no matter how it looks on Social Media. You have to put in the work to reap the benefits! You've got this!!
2. Make it legal!
We definitely want you to have all your legal ducks in a row before you start offering your services so you’re fully protected. So come up with a business name (I always recommend using your name if you can) and get to legalizing! Not only does it make your new venture legit, but it also serves as an extra layer of accountability for you. Now it’s an investment that you have to make work and you’ll be more motivated than ever to make it happen!
Here are some resources to help you get started:
1. Top 9 Legal Tips for your Photography Business2. Top 7 Tips For Protecting Your Photography Business3. Invest in Your Education
As someone who is pretty much 100% self taught because yes, you can find anything and everything you need to know and learn about anything on google (which is amazing) but if you want to see greater success faster, I highly recommend investing in your education if you can! When you commit to something to further your education it will propel you in the direction that you want to go in so much faster! Find a mentor, sign up for a workshop, buy a course from a photographer you love to follow or join a Facebook group. When I first started I joined a few photographer Facebook groups and it was so much better to learn and grow with a community of likeminded people interested in the same thing! I also took a darkroom class at a local collage and, omg, it was so much fun and I learned so much. Something about developing film in an actual darkroom is just, in my opinion, one of the best ways to learn. Highly recommend taking a class like this if it's available to you! You'll never regret investing in yourself and your future!
4. Set up all your marketing
Don’t overwhelm yourself but definitely start with the basics. You want to create a website, start sharing your business on your favorite social media platform and have some basic marketing materials put together. Your website and social media will act as your portfolio & your voice and will give people a place to send referrals to you. Marketing materials are essential to having a good work flow and will make you look so much more professional!
Ok, so let's break down these things a little and I'll share with you my personal favorites!
As far as websites go, in the last 15 years, I have honestly tried them all. I have even spent thousands of dollars to have, not one, but two, professional websites built for me by well know web designers. Honestly, I didn’t like that I had to always go to my web designer to help me make any changes and it was just so so costly. I wanted to have more control and I wanted something that was user friendly, affordable and that I could easily make changes to myself. About a year ago I discovered Photobiz and it is by far the best website I have found for photographers and I’ll never look back. It is insanely user friendly, super affordable and literally has everything you could ever need as an entrepreneur all in one place! I honestly can not recommend them enough.
When we start talking about things like social media, that is definitely more of a personal preference. Where does your ideal client hang out? (this is also typically where you hang out, so if you're unsure, start there!) Social media, if used correctly, can be a huge opportunity to grow your network and build a really successful business and brand. My personal preference as far as social media goes is instagram and recently, also TikTok!
As far as Marketing Materials go, when starting a photography business, there are a variety of marketing materials and templates that can help you reach your target audience and promote your services. These may include (and are not limited to) things like professional business cards, custom invoice templates, Photography pricing guides, social media templates, gift certificate templates and the list goes on and on... and you can find all of these templates (and more) in our SHOP!
Be sure to check out my Blog Post all about "The Essential Marketing Templates you REALLY need in your Photography Business."
With the right marketing materials and a strategic approach, you can be well on your way to launching a very successful photography business.
If you didn't already know, I love to create create easy-to-edit, time saving professional templates for Photographers and Content Creators! You can also visit My Etsy Shop at TSurjanDesigns for a larger selection of templates for your Photography Business. I want to make the job of marketing your business as seamless and efficient as possible and with my templates you can create timeless and polished marketing materials for print or web with ease! I’m a perfectionist so my templates are designed with impeccable attention to detail and are made to be effortlessly customizable. They don't have to be complicated, you just want to have the basics to get you started!
5. Tell everyone you know that you’re a photographer… and do it with confidence!
I know how hard it can be but as a photographer word of mouth marketing is honestly EVERYTHING! My entire business was built on word of mouth and the best thing you can do for your photography business is to get out there and own it! You've got this!