Starting a Digital Photography Business
If you're good with a camera and possess an entrepreneurial spirit, launching your own home-based digital photography business may click on all levels. Not only can this be accomplished with very little start-up capital, but also a large portion of your marketing can be done online.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Internet connection
- High quality digital camera
- Photo editing software
- Scanner
Instructions
-
-
1
Identify the scope of your digital photography business. Some of your options include: scanning hard-copy photos to a digital format; digitally editing or restoring damaged or vintage prints; selling stock photos to advertisers and publishers; subcontracting with commercial real estate, insurance, PR and industrial clients; freelancing for regional newspapers; photographing families, schools or sports teams; digital storage; and photo sharing and virtual photo albums.
-
2
Identify the primary clientele who would be interested in your services. This in turn will dictate the marketing strategies you'll employ to reach them through the Internet, direct mail, corporate newsletters, on the phone and in person.
-
-
3
Develop a business plan that addresses your projected expenditures, fee structure and payment mechanisms, time commitment, staffing and equipment needs (including maintenance and replacement costs). You should also research your competition and identify what distinguishes you from the digital photo services they are providing. The website of the Small Business Administration (see Resources) will walk you through the steps of becoming an official corporate entity.
-
4
Design a website that displays samples of your digital photography work, provides a bio about you, gives a breakdown of your prices and includes a mailbag feature so prospective customers can ask you questions. If, for example, your passion is to create digital memory albums, you'll want to have a sample book available online so that they can flip through the virtual pages and get an idea of what their own finished product will look like. As your business grows, ask your clients to write testimonials for inclusion on the site.
-
5
Advertise your digital photo business via postcards, brochures, online portfolios, posts on community bulletin boards, ads in local newspapers and word of mouth.
-
6
Establish yourself as an expert by penning how-to articles for photography magazines, trade journals and newsletters. Participate in chat rooms about the kinds of projects you're working on. Review photography books for Amazon. Offer to be a guest speaker for local civic organizations, and pass out business cards and brochures about your services.
-
7
Join Toastmasters to hone your speaking skills. If you can afford it, join your local chamber of commerce, too, and become part of its social networking. Keep your photography talents fresh by taking workshops and advanced classes. Subscribe to photography publications to stay abreast of the newest tools, techniques and interviews with industry pros.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always provide a link to your digital photo business website as part of your signature block. Put your portfolio on a flash drive and always carry it with you in case a casual conversation suddenly leads to a pitch session.
Routinely make backup copies of your files and store at least one of them at an offsite location.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of morguefile
