How to Begin a Wildlife Photography Business
Beginning a wildlife photography business requires you to be an efficient business person and experienced photographer. You must have high performance camera equipment and long range telephoto lenses. You also must have the time to drive to areas with wildlife, the energy to hike into the back-country and stalk wildlife and the skills to capture and process excellent photos. After the photos have been captured, you must learn how to market and sell the photos. Beginning the business and building a reputation is difficult and the market is competitive.
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Things You'll Need
- Camera
- Lenses
- Camera equipment
- Computer
- Photo processing software
- Photo printing resource
- Website
- Storefront
Instructions
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Building Inventory
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Take as many quality photos as possible. Find a commercial developing service to print the photos. Frame several photographs and give them to family and friends. Ask for honest feedback about the quality and desirability of the photos.
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Attend a wildlife photography workshop with a well known photographer. Take notes and ask as many questions as possible. Practice shooting photographs of animals at the nearest zoo or wildlife center. Wildlife centers often have large enclosures where animals maintain many of the characteristics they would show in the wild. Practice stalking, setting up your tripod and shooting animals without making any disturbance.
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Present your best work to coffee shops, galleries and businesses. Ask them to put the photo on the wall and place a small price tag in the corner. If the photo sells you will pay them a 10% commission.
Starting the Business
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Register your business as a sole proprietorship in the beginning. This allows you to write-off expenses and pay taxes on your business while starting. As your business grows, you will want to consider becoming a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). Buy insurance for your business to protect your work from theft and accidental damage.
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Build a website to display your work. A website should have a compilation of your best shots available for purchase. The website should be easy to navigate and have photos separated into categories of region or animal species. Build a separate website with stock photography. Stock photos in JPEG format can be sold with limited rights. This allows you to sell the photos as many times as possible.
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Design a business card with a wildlife theme. The business card should have accurate contact information and your website address.
Selling Photographs
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Open a storefront with your work on display. The store should have an open feel and be easy to navigate. Space photos far apart so they can be viewed without any distractions to the eye. Display photos in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Put the price tag under the photo and not on the frame. You can also withhold the price until the potential buyer is interested. Under each photo have a story about the capturing of the photo. The story can be used to justify the price.
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Attend art shows and craft fairs. Set up a portable tent with your work on display. Use the time at the shows to network with other photographers and find new clients.
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Host wildlife photography workshops. The workshops will allow you to share your knowledge and stories, while presenting yourself as an expert in your field.
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Contact wildlife based publications and connect editors to your work. Publishing in magazines will add value to your credentials and put your name in the marketplace.
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Tips & Warnings
Starting a wildlife photography business requires capital and a large time investment. Persistence is required to compete with the best photographers. You must gain contracts with magazines and convince clients your work is valuable.
