How to Be a Freelance Photographer
Freelance photography jobs abound for today's hobbyists and entrepreneurs, who want to showcase their talents on a local, national or global level, as well as increase their shutterbug expertise with each new assignment. All you have to do is open your eyes to the wealth of commercial possibilities.
Things You'll Need
- Excellent photography skills
- A high-end camera
- Photo editing software
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Website
- Portfolio
- Business cards
- A business license
- Imagination
- Tenacity
Instructions
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1
Identify what type of photography assignments you'd most like to specialize in. Whether your interest is in portraitures, architecture, landscapes, advertising design, theatrical productions or, even, book covers, it's important that you start collecting examples for your portfolio so that you will have something to show to prospective clients.
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2
Assemble the images that you want to include in your portfolio. If you're not sure which pictures really show off your best work as a photographer, recruit friends and associates to help you. Offer to take pictures for free for family members, friends and coworkers to supplement your sample package. Practice makes perfect!
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3
Determine whether you want your portfolio to be in a print format or accessible on-line. The advantage of a print format (i.e., a brochure, a folder, or a mini album) is that you'll have something to take to meetings, pop into the mail, or drop off to prospective clients. The advantage of a website that showcases your work is that it's less expensive, is available 24/7 and can also include a component for processing orders (i.e., custom packages of photo greeting cards) and scheduling appointments.
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4
Decide how much time you realistically have available to devote to freelance work. If you're currently working full- or part-time for an employer, this will impact the amount of flexibility you're going to have to set up appointments, take pictures, maintain records, and develop a clientele. While some opportunities can be scheduled at your own leisure, other events, such as weddings or covering community news for the local media, will be on someone elses clock
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Determine how much money you'd like to make as a freelance photographer. Unless you plan to work out of a studio, your overhead will be fairly low. A good starting point is to decide how much you want to make per month and divide it by the number of hours per month you're able to commit to freelancing. This gives you an hourly rate, which can then be multiplied out, depending on the complexity of each individual project. In concert with the money coming in, you also need to take into consideration the amount of money you will be spending on your equipment, supplies, transportation, and promotional materials. Research what freelance photographers in your region are charging for their services so that you don't price yourself out of potential opportunities.
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Acquire a business license pursuant to the rules of the city/state in which you reside. If you are going to be freelancing under a name other than your own, you will also need to register your fictitious business name with the Secretary of State's office and take out notices in appropriate publications. (And don't forget to talk with a professional tax consultant about paying self-employment taxes on the money you're going to be earning, as well as taking deductions for your business related expenses.)
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Set up an efficient filing and record keeping system. One of the easiest methods is to affix a copy of each individual photo (with tape or rubber cement) to the outside of a 5x7 or 8x10 envelope. Across the top of the envelope, identify the photo by its working title along with the # of the negative or what disk it's located on. Inside the envelope, you'll keep the negative or slide along with(1) details on when/where the shot was taken; (2) photo releases if the shots contain people or commercial property; and (3) the sales history of where/how the shot was used.
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Enroll in a college or community outreach class in small business management. Learn about public relations practices and advertising, as well as familiarize yourself with trade magazines, direct marketing agencies, and the resources of the Small Business Administration in helping to get your photography business off to a solid start.
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Take continuing education photography classes and subscribe to photography publications. There's always something new that you can learn to improve your skills behind the camera.
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Tips & Warnings
Many freelance photographers are combining the best of both worlds in their promotional materials by putting their sample images on a CD that can be mailed or dropped off along with a business card and rate sheet. Always carry your business cards with you and don't be shy about distributing them.
If you keep all of your images and client/sales info in a computer file, always maintain both a backup copy and a hard copy. Always keep your receipts for tax purposes.
