Hi New to this! Needing help and advice

[tasha777]

I have always been interested in doing photography. Well, here recently I decided to start taking photos. Right now I only have a 10 mp canon powershot digital camera. So, I was thinking of doing outdoor pictures so that I would have more light. I also have an empty room in my house I could use for studio sessions. I am just starting out and would like to start earning the money that I need to get a better camera and more equipment that I need to do better. I am having trouble figuring out how to charge. I was thinking about editing the pictures and putting them on a disk and giving the customer right to print as much as the like. Maybe charge per shot. Like everytime something is changed it counts as a shot. Maybe, 5 shots for 10 dollars, 10 shots for 20 dollars, 20 shots for 30 dollars....something like that. Or is there a better way. Any advice is welcome. I just know that I want to do photography. I just dont know where to start. Thanks, Tasha

 

[EPPhoto]

Don't charge anyone to take "snap shots" with a point and shoot lol. That's just rude!

Sent from Erics iPhone! (2) Nikon D300 50mm 1.4, 17-55 2.8, 70-200 2.8VRII, 24-70 2.8, 85mm 1.4, (2) SB900

 

[Aayria]

Echo what the poster above said.....

You should also do a search on the multiple countless number of threads here about starting a buisiness under the table..without licensing, insurance, or paying correct taxes.

 

[thebutler4]

 

[tasha777]

What kind of camera do I need to be able to start?

 

[thebutler4]

Well, First off .. you cant just pick up any camera and I don't care how good the camera is .. start taking pictures of people and charge them. I have been in photography for years .. and still cant charge people to take there photos .. all be I started with landscapes ..

There is a lot more to this than you think there is. a TON to learn .. I have vested well over 5k into this hobby and yes its still a hobby .. There are people here that have vested much much more into this and still consider them self a hobbyist ...

.....

 

[shortpants]

Oh boy, you start by waiting tables to earn money for your equipment. You learn how to take a photograph before you even think about going into business. Take a class or 2. Learn. It's the same as any other job, you don't just decide one day "I'm going to be a professional chef!" and open a restaurant and cook kraft mac and cheese for people while you learn.
If funds are tight, buy a used older model SLR so you can learn the basics.

 

[480sparky67 66]

.......... I also have an empty room in my house I could use for studio sessions.............

You may even run afoul of local zoning ordinances with this.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

We should make a "starting a business" sticky thread.

 

[480sparky67 66]

We should make a "starting a business" sticky thread.

The Innernets doesn't have enough bandwidth.

 

[EPPhoto]

The Innernets doesn't have enough bandwidth.

We'll just build a new innawebs!! Haha

Sent from Erics iPhone! (2) Nikon D300 50mm 1.4, 17-55 2.8, 70-200 2.8VRII, 24-70 2.8, 85mm 1.4, (2) SB900

 

[KmH]

If people are willing to pay you, go for it. If you don't yet have any photography/lighting/posing/marketing/promotion/business - skills/knowledge you may find it tough to get a business going.

The trick is getting whatever clients you attract to use your 'service' again. It takes a lot more effort (and advertising $$$'s) to attract new customers, than to get previous customers to use you again.

The worst kind of advertising for a business is negative word-of-mouth (WOM). The best kind of advertising is positive WOM. So you have to be sure you provide a professional experience, in all respects, to your customers to foment a lot of positive WOM.

Now, about how much to charge. You need to charge enough to pay for your non-reimbursed business expenses, which includes your salary, taxes, and cost of goods sold, plus your profit margin.

A common pitfall is pricing based on what YOU would be willing to pay. That often happens becauase you perceive that your client base is your friends and acquaintances, most of whom are in the same socio-economic group that you are. Unfortunately, for your 'business' to thrive you most often need to market to a socio-economic group a couple of levels above where you are, but don't have social contacts at that level now, but will need to develope them.

The most diffcult marketing task a business can undertake, is raising their prices, because you have to develop an entirely new client base that can afford the new, higher rates.

That is why I do not recommend shooting for free to build a portfolio, or to "get your name out there". Instead, I recommend quoting market price, but offering a time-limited discount.

Most retail photography businesses fail because the business owner lacks business knowledge and skill, not because the retail photography business owner takes crappy pictures.

 

[lyonsroar]

Care to share with me?

 

[Ginu]

I've often thought if the users of TPH would actually make a new accounts and start posting questions like these just for some

 

[Netskimmer]

It's kind of a Zen thing really... if anyone could pickup a P&S and charge $10 for snapshots then no one could pickup a P&S and charge $10 for snapshots.