We receive more and more emails from photography enthusiasts that have questions about starting their own photography business. That’s why we decided to write this blog post with answers to some frequently asked questions and tips for the amateur photographer that wants to take it to the next level.
What camera do you use?
We use Canon cameras and lenses. Our main camera is the 5D mark II, and we also have a 50D and a 40D. The lenses we use are mostly L lenses. When you are choosing which camera brand to use there are basically two options: Nikon or Canon. These two are the big names in the photography industry. Of course there are others, such as Pentax, Sony and Olympus. However, Nikon and Canon are the two that are the market leaders and when you are thinking of taking your photography to a higher level than you are better of with one or the other, because it will give you access to the largest selection of equipment. We are by no means opposed to Nikon, we just happen to have chosen Canon. It is a personal choice and we think that neither one is better than the other.
(Just a side-note here: if you are hired to shoot a wedding, never show up without at least one back-up camera… You cannot run the risk of your camera breaking and not having a back-up!!)
What lenses should I buy?
When you are investing in lenses, you want to purchase the best lens you can afford. The image quality from a professional lens is simply much better than from a standard lens. Every lens will give you a completely different look, so we recommend playing around with different lenses to see what your photos look like with different lenses. Our favourite lens is the 70-200 2.8IS. It is a fantastic portrait lens! However, the price tag of $2500 might be a little steep for some. Another great Canon portrait lens is the 50 1.4; it’s a great buy for less than $500.
How can I improve my photography?
Firstly, learn to shoot in manual mode. If you are only shooting in program mode than you are not using your camera to its greatest potential. You will have SO MUCH MORE control over your images if you learn to control your exposure manually. Secondly, get some education. Yes, most photographers are self-taught and that’s great. However, we believe that understanding the fundamentals is essential. There are great photography courses available at different colleges, and if you are on Vancouver Island, there is a week long workshop called Image Explorations which takes place in Shawnigan Lake every year. It is a fantastic place to improve your photography and business skills, and to meet other photographers; it is absolutely worth checking into.
There are also lots of online forums, blogs and webinars on photography, as well as on the business of photography and they are great learning tools.
I want to start a business, how do I get started?
Nowadays everyone can create a beautiful website, add some nice photographs and call themselves a professional photographer. We do have some tips for you when you think you want to go that route. First of all, always be honest. Be honest about your experience and don’t tell people you have been a professional photographer for 6 years, when you only just started charging people for your services. Being honest about your experience is the only way to go.
Secondly, shoot, shoot, shoot. You can only improve your photography by shooting A LOT. Give yourself assignments and push yourself to be better. Before you start charging anyone, you need to be confident and get great results every time. Therefore, what we would recommend is bringing your camera everywhere you go. You can also ask your friends and family if you could photograph them to help you practice and build a portfolio.
Thirdly, a photography business is not just about being a good photographer. You need to be able to run a business too. You will need to come up with pricelists, contracts, model releases and marketing materials. You need to do your bookkeeping and pay taxes. You need to find suppliers for your products, you need to develop a logo and brand, set up and maintain a website… and so on.
Last but not least; write a business plan. The saying is so true: without a plan you are planning to fail.
Do I really need insurance?
We highly recommend getting insurance if you are taking your photography seriously, especially if you want to photograph weddings. Yes, it isn’t cheap. We pay about $1000 a year for our liability and equipment insurance. However, if something bad were to happen we are covered. Bridal fairs usually require the exhibitors to have insurance, and some wedding venues do too. You never know what might happen. Perhaps you knock over a candle and light the reception venue on fire. Or maybe someone breaks his leg by tripping over a light stand. Of course, we hope nothing will ever go wrong, but being a smart business owner means that you have to consider the risks involved.
Any last tips?
It is not too difficult to start a photography business (although it’s a lot of work), but it is NOT easy to run a profitable business and to stay in business in the long run. If you think you can make easy money, think twice, because running a photography business is not easy and it won’t make you rich.
One last tip: if you are taking yourself, your art and your customers seriously, invest in education (whatever form you choose) and charge according to the industry.
If you have other questions that you would like us to answer in a next blog post, please feel free to leave a comment, or to email us at info@orangepassion.ca. We love hearing from you!
