Everybody wants great photographs of important days or everyday memories. If you have a basic understanding of photography and want to expand your skills, starting a photography business could be the perfect way to develop your creative skill set and launch a profitable hustle. Read our simple guide on how to start a photography business so you can develop your creative skillset while making a side income or launching a full-time career.
Before You Begin: Set up a Business Entity
Define Your Business Entity
When starting a photography business, you’ll want to determine how large you want to start out and how to scale. If you’re initially going to be your only employee, you can start out a sole proprietorship or LLC. This is ideal if you want to start as a side hustle and see if you can grow from there.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
If you want to immediately hire employees such as other photographers, web designers or marketing professionals, you may consider registering your business as an LLC or S-corp. Both are good options but have different tax implications.
Register Your Business Name
When you pick a name for your business, you might need both a business name and a trade name (or a DBA; “doing business as…”). Before picking a name, you’ll have to make sure that the name you want to use isn’t taken. If the business name is going to be something other than your legal name, you’ll want to still pick something simple and easily recognizable.
Steps to Starting a Photography Business
Step 1. Purchase the Right Equipment
In order to set yourself up as a competitor in the photography industry, you’ll need the best equipment possible. A professional studio will need not just a camera, but also lights, reflectors and backgrounds. Wedding photographers or nature photographers will need to invest in very high-quality cameras and accessories due to the more spontaneous nature of their subjects.
A top-notch camera can cost several thousand dollars, while individual lenses can cost up to $1,000 depending on their niche use. You’ll also need memory cards and potentially external backup drives to safely store images, which can easily cost about $100 each. Making a list of everything you need and pricing them out is important to get started.
In addition to the camera, you’ll need to purchase a license for photo editing software. Adobe Photoshop is the most well-known, so that’s what most people start with. You’ll also need a computer with high bandwidth and storage space because photo files can be quite large. Being able to store, edit and process all of these photographs is important for sending them to clients.
If you’re a film photographer, you’ll need a whole other set of equipment, including access to a darkroom. Before going on a spending spree, research the materials you will need and price out what will best suit your needs for the initial stages of growth for your business.
Step 2. Consider Your Niche
At the same time as you purchase your equipment, you’ll want to figure out your niche. If you’re offering a full-service photography studio, it’s still necessary to know who your ideal client is. If you want to take headshots exclusively, you’ll need to set up your space and equipment in a way that serves that niche.
High-quality wedding photographers are also always in high demand. If you’re marketing to engaged couples, it would be a good idea to reach out to well-established wedding services brands like Zola or The Knot and apply to be featured on their vendor lists. Follow the companies that serve the audiences you want to capture.
There are many talented photographers, but you can create an edge in your photography business by providing services that other businesses might not. For example, if you’re running a headshot studio, it would be a good idea to partner with a makeup artist who can provide touch-ups to your clients getting their portraits done.
Step 3. Conduct Market Research
Before you start taking on clients, determine your rates and how to charge customers. If you want to charge hourly, make sure you’re being compensated fairly for your time. Offering flat rates is good for customers as well; you can offer a variety of packages to clients so they’ll know exactly what they’re getting and you’ll know exactly what work is expected of you.
To know your competition in the photography business space, you have to research their offerings and see what’s missing. Filling a gap in the market is always a possibility for new businesses. If you’re very talented at editing or have a great studio space compared to other photographers, or even specialize in action shots, you can choose to charge a premium for these services.
Photography businesses should also set rates for when customers request additional edits. Your time is at a premium, especially with photo editing because it takes a long time, and you should make it clear to customers that they should respect the time and attention you devote to this creative work.
Step 4. Establish an Online Presence
Before anyone hires you, they’re going to want to see examples of your work. Use a portfolio website builder to showcase the images that best display your skills and make sure your contact information and prices are clearly displayed. Photography is obviously a visual industry, so having a professional website is crucial to give potential clients a positive impression before you ever even meet.
If you want to allow clients to contact you through the website, make sure you find a compatible customer relationship management (CRM) software that will make it easy to stay in touch with them through each step of the process. Some are also compatible with digital invoicing software that will help ensure you get paid on time.
Bottom Line
Photography businesses can have a high startup cost, but if you have a strong vision and a unique niche, it’s a great place to nurture both creativity and business skills. Being the owner of a photography business can also be really rewarding because you might end up photographing the best day of someone’s life. If you’re working on headshots, that could also create a big change or success for your client. Nature photographers also capture some of the most beautiful moments in the world. Even with all of the startup costs, a photography business creates and memorializes priceless moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an LLC for my photography business?
It depends on how large you want your business to be, but it may be a good idea to form an LLC. This prevents disgruntled clients from being able to sue you for personal assets, and you can claim all of your photography equipment as business expenses on your taxes.
Do you need a license to be a photographer?
No, you do not. If you’re taking photos in private businesses, you’ll likely need their permission or an agreement of some kind. However, these are easy to put in place with a simple phone call.
How much does it cost to start a photography business?
Between business registration, computer equipment, software, cameras, lenses, backdrops and more, the startup costs for a photography business can add up quickly. While the total budget will vary depending on your unique situation, you should expect to spend at least $10,000 to get started.
Do I need to specialize in a certain type of photography?
While you can provide general photography and not specialize in a specific type or style of photography, becoming a specialist will help get your name out better and provide word-of-mouth opportunities from previous clients. There are several photography services that you can provide, including wedding photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, business photography, sports photography, wildlife photography, food photography, boudoir photography, photojournalism, travel photography and fine art photography. Specializing in one or more of these styles can help get your name out to the general public faster and also result in larger paydays if you have good skills.
