Starting out advice!

[Callielee]

Hi there! I have been photographing people and landscapes for years now and am getting more and more in to people. I have been photographing friends and friends of friends for a while and I guess I just need to know at what point do u give yourself or photography "business" or what ever it is that im doing a name and start advertising with business cards and putting the name on the photos and what not. By no means am I calling myself a professional yet but I am working towards that. Anyone have any thought?

 

[Trever1t]

When you are making prints and need compensation to overcome costs or when it isn't for fun and demanding your time......then.

 

[tirediron]

Not before you get to the point where total strangers compliment your work! Once you can consistenantly produce images which inspire praise from people who don't know you, you're getting close. Of course along with that, you should have a solid understanding of the technical side of photography, but, at the end of the day, the real answer is, "Whenever the heck you feel like it". Photography is not an accredited profession, so all you need to go into business is a camera, lens, and enough capitol to print your business cards and buy the necessary licenses.

 

[CCericola]

When you purchase a business license and register with your state. Really, photographers don't need anything special to go into business like a doctor or a lawyer. Whether or not you make money at it depends on the quality of your product and the willingness of people to pay you for it.

 

[imagemaker46]

There are no conditions, if you feel that you are good enough to become a photographic business, register your business, pay taxes on the extra income and hand out business cards. You have start to generate interest from other people outside of family and friends, they don't really count as family and friends aren't always truthful about the photos they see. Try it and see where you go.

 

[Big Mike]

When you start to take compensation (money/trade) for your photography...then it's probably required that you register...or at least pay tax on the compensation that you get.

 

[andynrach]

If someone wants to compensate you for your ability, then why not make a business out of it? I say, if you think you are ready, then you are there. Just remember that your name or the name of your business begins making a reputation the minute you take your first shot, so be SURE you're ready. Even if you don't consider yourself a "pro," people that hire you are not going to be considering semantics. If you have any doubts, get opinions from people who have no personal investment in you. Tirediron has a good point. Bottom line, if you have the drive, the know how, and the guts to go after it, then do.

 

[imagemaker46]

It's a easy business to become discouraged in, especially just starting out as freelancer, if you understand that there will be more down days than up days, getting alot of doors closed and not hearing the phone ringing all the time, then you are ahead of the game. Likes like anything else, takes time to be noticed, and you will ask youself more than once if it's worth it, or can I make it.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Photography is not an accredited profession, so all you need to go into business is a camera, lens, and enough capitol to print your business cards and buy the necessary licenses.

You forgot the logo!

 

[kundalini]

[You forgot the logo!

.... and obnoxious watermark. They go hand-in-hand.