Too many green (newbie) photographers rush in believing that being a generalist photographer is where the money is. The truth is you'll do better if you specialize in a mode of photography you enjoy:
- wedding photography
- pet photography
- portrait photography
- fashion photography
- advertising photography
- newspaper photography
The choice is endless. Identify your photography category passion. This is a good start to knowing what photography mode to slip into. Here are some things to think about:
- What do you enjoy photographing the most?
- What are you good at?
- Where will the money come from?
While thinking about this here are a few tips that will help you make good choices in your photography business.
Planning your Business Strategies
Think of it this way. If you are going on holiday you do not just turn up at the airport to catch the first flight out. You can plan where the destination will be, your starting point, and any stops along the way.
Too many photographers think it is as simple as printing business cards and building a website. It is not. These are great ways to showcase your work and start being recognised but they may not bring in many paying clients.
Sit down and write a business plan include your goals and a plan to achieve them. Include a marketing plan, your financial information, and strategies for the everyday running of your photography business. Your goals should be evident in your business plan so that someone can read it and see what you're planning to do, how you'll do it, medium and long term.
If you find writing a business plan too daunting then there are plenty of people around who can help - seminars, workshops, and consultants.
Get Professional Help
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Don't force yourself to attempt the weak areas yourself, think carefully about hiring someone. Maybe you just cannot get your head around the accounts - then hire an accountant. Sure it will cost you more but how much will it cost you if you get it wrong? If you are worried about a lack of skills in any one area, get a 'subby' (sub-contractor).
You can always learn the skills yourself, but it may not be worth it for the cost of hiring someone on a project basis. And, in the new age of the Internet, there is always the option of virtual assistants who can do all manner of tasks to help ease the burden of running a photography business.
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