Four years ago, I decided to quit my job to take a leap of faith to wait tables, so I could go back to school to take photography classes in hopes of opening a business one day. I had no idea where I was even going to start with opening a business. How does one start a business? How “good” enough do I have to be to start a business? When is the time right? I was seriously all over the place and I dove in to tons of hands-on in person classes, online classes and workshops, mentoring with established photographers, portfolio building and learning EVERYTHING there was. It was never easy. I had a full-time workload at school, worked part time to help make ends meet, had a baby not even one years old yet and a typical toddler boy at home, plus a husband I never saw except in passing. We don’t have any family in the area (or state for that matter) and we didn’t have any help in that sense. I look back to those days and wonder how we made it all work. My husband is pretty amazing and I am lucky he sometimes has a normal work schedule and has always been hands on with parenting. I remember those days because I was NEVER home at night. I was either at school or work. Nights when I was home, I had no idea how to put the kids to bed, what they wanted or needed. My husband always knew. Those times made me so sad. I felt like a crappy mom, lost in a big world that I was in my 30s and didn’t have a “career” going for me because what I had of one, I left. I was wondering if this photography “thing” was even for me. Was this all worth it? But I wanted it SO bad. Staying up until 2:30 in the morning playing in Photoshop and talking in photography forums was fun and the more I learned, the more motivated I became.
For anyone just starting out and has a passion for this business, it IS and CAN be for you. It is such an up and coming market. There are some Debbie Downers in the industry who do not like the newcomers and perhaps feel threatened, but there are some really amazing people in this industry who build people up, help in any way they can and can help guide you in the right direction. So to help out a bit for those wondering, here are 5 tips in getting started on your way to a fulfilling, not always easy but, amazing journey.
1) Learn the trade and your camera.
I can’t express this enough and it’s that simple. Learn the art of photography and how to use your equipment properly. Having the best camera doesn’t make you the best photographer. You need to learn the ins and outs of photography and how to use your camera correctly. Get out of auto and SHOOT IN MANUAL. It’s scary, and overwhelming, but once you are there, OMG, hey gorgeous pictures you couldn’t get before. I can not express that enough. If you are a hobbyist thinking about opening a business, you need to learn everything from the exposure triangle to white balance and where to find it all on your camera. What makes that “blurry” background? How come the child running is “blurry” but the background is not? Photography requires an eye, there is no doubt about that, but learning the trade and the equipment given is crucial. Would you hire a hairstylist who didn’t know how to use a scissor, but would hope the “scissor” can guess how your hair should look?
2) Find a photographer you love and mentor with them.
Mentoring, interning, whatever you want to call it, is so super helpful when you are on the verge of opening a photography business. Photographers who mentor are those who have been in the industry for a bit and can help guide you in the right direction. They can answer questions about business, in camera stuff, post processing, workflow, etc. Tag along on shoots with them to see how sessions play out, help carry bags at a wedding to see how it works, ask questions and do anything you can to help them and in return it will help you. I promise. I have mentored with 3 different photographers whom I have loved and I learned something different from each one and am so grateful for that.
3) Learn post processing.
This is important I feel. I do honestly think that SOOC (straight out of camera) images are great, but everything needs a tweak before you deliver it to a client, even if its something as simple as sizing and sharpening. Post processing in Lightroom or Photoshop lets you add your own little creative twist to things.
4) Get a business license, insurance and PAY TAXES.
If you are running a legitimate business you need to have your business registered, you need insurance and you MUST PAY TAXES on income. It is 100% illegal to accept money for a “business” and not pay taxes on it and it can and will catch up to you. Plus, it is only fair to those photographers out there (clears throat) that are paying taxes on their income as they are supposed to, that you do the same. Is it fun? No. But this is your job, just like the person who goes to a 9-5 and every week Uncle Sam takes money out of their check, this is no different. I could go on and on and on about this topic, but I think you get the picture : )
5) Don’t give up!!!
With an up and coming market like photography, there is competition everywhere. Or so you think. It doesn’t have to be competition. I actually have a ton of photography friends and we all chat and talk about business and network, it’s actually really great and super helpful. Especially those days you are feeling down and not good enough, because those days will happen. Maybe you haven’t had an inquiry all week, or every inquiry you have had, not one person booked. It is discouraging, but it just means there is another client that is YOUR ideal client and those ones, are not. I have a hard time with this myself and I am REALLY hard on myself all the time. It’s totally normal to feel that way, but sometimes you need to just step back, breathe and remember your passion for this business and think back to where you started and where you are going. Remember things do not happen overnight. Rome wasn’t built in a day. And things don’t happen by sitting back and not doing anything. With any business, you do have to work your business.
I know I am nowhere near where I want to be in my business. I have SO much I want to accomplish and so much I am working towards and I feel like this super small guppy in this huge big ocean of amazing seasoned photographers. But then I have to stop, sit back and reflect on where I came from and how far I have come. You will get there, I promise, it does happen.
Wishing you so much success on your venture.
For more information on my “One on One Mentoring” or about my group DSLR or Post Processing classes, please email me at jessica@nicellaphotography.com
love. xo.
Image By : Christina Barnum Photography
