Dear Newbie Photographer . . .

The other day I received a phone call from a newbie photographer who wanted help with her photography business. She asked to spend time with me while I was shooting, have me tell her everything I knew and give her my client list (no joke). I was caught off-guard and politely extricated myself from the conversation. But after I got off the phone with her, my brain was stewing and I came up with so many things I wish I’d said to her! I am about to celebrate my TENTH year in business and I realized that I do actually have a lot of wisdom to share:

Dear Newbie Photographer,

Congratulations on your newfound passion for photography! Whether you received a new camera as a gift, just had a new baby and want to document every waking moment of his or her life or just want to learn a new skill or delve into your creative side, I am SO excited for you! Photography is also, clearly, a passion of mine and a pursuit that brings me so much joy.

We ALL started at the beginning. With a camera in our hands we didn’t completely understand. With a desire to capture moments and maybe even to create art. Over the years I’ve been blessed to have many mentors and talented people help me along my way. But I sorely wish that I had someone sit me down from the very start and have this frank conversation. These are a few things that you really need to consider.

Are you starting a business or do you want a hobby?

Dear newbie photographer, either one is a great choice! And you can always change your mind down the road. However, it is something you need to decide now that you plan to post your work on social media and put it out into the world. People are likely going to start asking to hire you, and you need to know what to tell them. I am in AWE of so many fabulously talented hobbyist photographers . . . Doing this as a hobby doesn’t mean that you’re unskilled! It simply means that you are doing this for love, not to put food on your table. There is a vast distinction between the two because . . .

If you’re going to charge for photography, there are steps you need to take to become a proper business.

In the beginning, when I got my first DSLR camera, I posted photos of my kids on Facebook (that I thought were amazing). I got lots of oohs and ahhs and folks started asking me to photograph their kids. Absolutely flattered, I said yes and I just kind of jumped into it. I love what I do, and people want to PAY me?? Sign. Me. Up.

It was over a year before a kind friend with a small business of her own was asking me some questions about filing taxes and business licenses . . . and I looked at her blankly and said “HUH??”

The truth is, dear newbie photographer, that in order to run a legitimate business (that charges people money) there are some steps you’ll need to take. These are just the bare minimum:

1. Find an attorney and an accountant/bookkeeper. They can help you set up your business properly from the get-go. Their advice is priceless and will save you many headaches down the line. Yes, it is an up-front investment in your business, but EVERY successful business has start-up costs, and this is no place to skimp!! Get started on the right foot.
2. You’ll need to apply to your state’s Department of Revenue for a retail license – you MUST pay taxes on your revenue (monthly, quarterly or yearly, depending on how much you bring in)! Each state has different tax laws, so the advice of a accountant/bookkeeper is invaluable here.
3. You need a business license to operate. Personally, I must hold a business license not only in the town where I live (my office is based in my home), but also in EACH municipality where I shoot. Again, every area is different, so do your research.
4. You need to have liability insurance. Period. It is not only for your clients’ protection, but also your own. What happens when a child gets a bee sting during a session and is rushed to the hospital in anaphylactic shock? That hospital bill might come to you and you need to be prepared. Don’t forget to also cover your equipment from damage – many a photographer I know have had an unexpected dip in the ocean with their gear . . . when it’s gone, you can’t work. Insure it.
5. Operate with a contract. Your attorney can help you draft it, or there are some great ones to be found on the LawTog website (a fantastic legal resource for photographers). Also, make sure your client signs a model release if you want to share any of their photographs ANYWHERE (print, social media, signage, brochures, etc.).

You need to take an honest look about the costs to run a business.

Dear newbie photographer, starting a business isn’t free. There are start-up costs and fixed monthly expenses that you’ll have to pay whether you have any clients or not. You may have gotten that camera as a gift, but there are a few other things that you’ll need to pay for on the regular:

• a computer to upload your images to for editing
• multiple memory cards for your camera
• external hard drives to store all of your files
• editing software, such a Adobe Creative Cloud
• insurance
• web hosting & website design
• gallery hosting
• logo & branding design
• professional services: graphic designer, attorney and accountant/bookkeeper
• new equipment
• packaging for products: bags, stickers, boxes, etc.
• marketing and advertising
• Client Management software
• continuing education
• mileage & travel expenses (wear and tear on your vehicle)
• office supplies, and on and on and on!!

You need to charge what you’re worth.

Dear newbie photographer, I can’t possibly know what your financial situation is – we’re all different. But I’m going to guess that IF you’ve decided to start and run a legitimate business you’d like to help support your family, put food on the table, pay for your kids’ lessons, send them to school, maybe even go on that amazing vacation you’ve been dreaming of for a long time . . . in order to make a profit you need to A) know EXACTLY what all of your expenses are and B) charge more than that.

Do you need to be an award-winning photographer with decades under your belt to charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars? Nope. You honestly can’t even look to see what the other photographers in your area are charging (ahem, “market research”) to determine whether or not you can be profitable. In my opinion, you simply need to be competent and consistent in your work in order to charge.

I cannot imagine a scenario in which a day of $25 mini sessions is going to bring in the money you’re hoping for. While it sounds appealing to the masses and may bring lots of clients to you in a short period of time, you will likely kill yourself with the rigors of trying to juggle it all for very little money at the end of the day.

Spend the time. Know all your costs. Take into account that your TIME is also valuable. Need more help? Take a Pricing-for-Profit course on this very thing (I recommend this one from Amanda Holloway) – time and money well-spent.

You need to continue to learn, always.

Maybe you’ve seen the pie chart, but taking photos is honestly only a very small chunk of time that you’ll be spending on your photography business.

You need to figure out how to edit your photographs, how to market your business, spend time communicating with clients via email and over the phone, decide which products you love and what print labs suit you best, blog your sessions and share on social media, network in order to gain more clients . . . the list goes on and on and on.

Let me be blunt: I got a fancy camera. I left it on Auto. It took some decent photos. I had a fun hobby.

Then I took a course on how to use Lightroom and how to use my camera in Manual mode at the Charleston Center for Photography. I took creative courses on storytelling through Click Photo School. I took business courses on marketing from Business Success Academy. I attended Imaging USA several times, took lighting courses, posing courses, editing courses, in-person workshops, online workshops, watched YouTube videos, read dozens and dozens of books . . . and every day I am still learning something new.

Ten years later I have a thriving business with a roster of thrilled clients, my work has been published and featured in international magazines, and I have won merits in image competitions. It took a lot of time, money, hard work, sleepless nights, dedication, and an obscene amount of coffee. But I’ll never, ever be done learning new things, trying new things, pushing myself to the next level.

Don’t expect things for free.

Dear newbie photographer, I want to circle back to the phone call at the beginning of this post. I think what struck me most about it was that this woman seemed to be asking for help getting her photography business going but wanted me to hand it to her on a silver platter.

Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE helping other photographers navigate their way through this industry. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge. I am in accountability groups and support groups and brainstorming groups with loads of other photographers. We help one another succeed, and it’s a beautiful thing.

HOWEVER, we have invested time and money in our education and our businesses. We have spent thousands and thousands of dollars and countless hours to better our businesses, to hone our technical skills, to build our client lists. We are in business to make a profit and we’re not going to simply hand over that hard-won expertise.

Nothing worthwhile is easy and nothing in life is free. You MUST INVEST in yourself, in your education, in cultivating relationships, in creating a business that is uniquely YOU. I have so many amazing resources to help you get started and not all are expensive (hey, I’ll fully admit to learning many a Photoshop hack on YouTube!):

• starting a photography business from the ground up with Revive
• learning marketing, sales & business skills with Business Success Academy
• learning how to stand out in your industry with Professional Photographers of America
• all things entrepreneurship with Mike Michalowicz
• clarifying your messaging with Storybrand
• Photoshop education with Phlearn

You need to find your tribe.

The truth is, dear newbie photographer, that being a solopreneur can be a lonely and isolating experience. No one will love and care for your business the way you do, and no one else “gets it” like another business owner. That’s why it is SO important to find a group of other like-minded folks to help you along your way.

Whether that be joining Facebook groups, joining networking groups like The Rising Tide Society or your local Chamber of Commerce or BNI group, or finding a mentor it’s important not to go at this alone.

Do you need help? Guidance? A shoulder to cry on? An encouraging word? I’d love to be there for you! And while I can’t hand over my client list or take my brain and dump it into your head, I promise to point you in the right direction so that you can start to create your very own masterpiece of a business for yourself.

Dear Newbie Photographer, don’t be discouraged! Growth will come, but not overnight . . .

Dear newbie, want to see more fun before and afters on my ten-year business journey? People honestly wanted to pay me when they saw the beginning set of images, so don’t cringe too hard. I can laugh at myself now, too 😉