Looking to start home-based photography business?

Question

I'm thinking I may want to start a home-based photography business in the next couple years - weddings, senior pictures, things like that. I was wondering if anyone had any advice/recommendations. I know I'll need a professional quality digital camera, an office in my home, good photo editing software, and maybe some set ups for pictures. I'm kind of confused, when you use a digital camera, and edit online, where do you get the prints from? Do you order them online? Do you order them from a photolab? Any advice/recommendations will be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Some of you can be VERY condescending. I am planning on taking some photography classes when I get the time. I know I'm not a professional. I just wanted some information on it. And people telling me that I have a lot to learn turns out to not be so helpful. Some people are so snotty....By the way I live in a small midwestern town, I am by no means intending on becoming a "professional".

Answer 1

I actually do this. I set up a website advertising my services and for the first two months, I did free portrait sessions for people- to build up a solid portfolio and get my name out.

I never have appointments in my home unless my husband is here and I only do away portraits in public places like parks, etc. Too dangerous these days.

I use Adobe Photoshop CS to do minor touch ups. I have a professional quality Konica Minolta.

It's a fun business, but the business fluctuates. I get a lot of people around Christmas and senior portrait time- the rest of the year, it's pretty slow. Not a good idea for a way to pay bills, but it definitely pays off for "extra" or "fun" money.

I do my prints through PE Photos online. THey have software you can download to your computer that will allow you to put together a package and then order prints and they're CHEAP- between $0.06 and $10.00 a print up to a 20x30, which is the largest anyone ever orders, depending on the size.



Good luck!

Answer 2

Digital has revolutionized the wedding/portrait business by allowing the photographer to complete the shoot, polish up the pics, and upload to an online printing agency. You simply e-mail the client w/the album info and password, they pick the ones they want and order them from the printer. So in theory, after you complete the shoot and editing, your involvement ends.
Keep in mind, you should try several online printing services, I like snapfish, but there are several out there. Upload several copies of the same photo, with different color profiles assigned to see what file produces the best results.You will need not only a quality Dcam, but a fast internet connection, and a firm grasp of color calibration/management if your going to achieve consistent results. Study online or take a class in digital to get the basics down, there is more to it than most people think. I would also recommend you research wedding photography, contracts, think about an assistant for the day of the shoot, and you will want to have at least 1 second camera body and flash set up in case...
So as you can see there is quite a bit to think about, let alone a substantial monetary investment to be made if your going to do it right.
G'Luck...

Answer 3

You won't be able to find a professional quality camera that cheap. I'd like to say that it's not the camera- it's the photograher that makes good photos, but that's only half true. You have to be good at what you do and your camera has to be good at what it does. Save your money and get a more expensive professional quality camera- it's worth it. As far as the home-based photography business goes,I actually do this. I set up a website advertising my services and for the first two months, I did free portrait sessions for people- to build up a solid portfolio and get my name out. I never have appointments in my home unless my husband is here and I only do away portraits in public places like parks, etc. Too dangerous these days. I use Adobe Photoshop CS to do minor touch ups. I have a professional quality Konica Minolta. It's a fun business, but the business fluctuates. I get a lot of people around Christmas and senior portrait time- the rest of the year, it's pretty slow. Not a good idea for a way to pay bills, but it definitely pays off for "extra" or "fun" money. I do my prints through PE Photos online. THey have software you can download to your computer that will allow you to put together a package and then order prints and they're CHEAP- between $0.06 and $10.00 a print up to a 20x30, which is the largest anyone ever orders, depending on the size.

Answer 4

A woman I work with her husband is a professional photographer and when I chatted with her she said that the industry is flooded with people who get decent digital cameras and think they are professional photographers. They take pics at a wedding or whatever, download them to a CD and give them to the person. That's not a professional photographer. I am thinking the same thing as you, I'd like to have the same sort of business. I will tell you what I am doing. I bought myself a really good camera that I know is semi-professional/professional quality and I am doing everything I can do right now to learn how to take good pictures. I look at all kinds of sites on the internet, camera websites, photographers websites, I have signed up for tons of newsletters...anything and everything that will help me learn how to take pictures. I am starting to read my way through a ton of photography books and magazines. In the new year I will be enrolling in a photography course. I have got a photoshop program and books for that as well so I can learn how to edit my pictures and I may end up taking a course on that as well. Also I will probably take a course on small businesses, I believe the average is 1 in 3 photography businesses are out of business in the first year. There is a ton of work involved but I think in the long run it will pay off with a successful business.

Answer 5

First, enroll in a photography class. Use a manual 35mm film camera so you'll understand f-stops and shutter speeds and ISO and light and composition. Learn about using studio lights.

Take some business classes.

Learn if you need to incorporate the business. If your personal assets aren't separated from your business assets you could ruin your credit or, worst case, lose your home if the business were to file bankruptcy.

Learn about business insurance. What if you shoot a wedding and somehow lose all the images. More than likely the couple will be calling their lawyer even if you offer a full refund. Did you see the story about the bride who is suing her florist for $400,000?

Ask your insurance agent about any special coverage you'll need to add to your home owner's policy. Suppose a client falls off your posing stool or trips on your stairs. Does your insurance cover their injuries? Or do you pay out of pocket?

There is much more involved in starting a business than most people realize.

Answer 6

Great idea.

Get some books on the subject or google it to learn how to frame pictures and how to take interesting pictures.

Then start taking pictures. Lots of them. Keep the ones you like in an album so you can show prospective clients.

If I wanted to get started in this business, I might make the rounds at the local kids sports events. Take pictures, and bring them to the next game and see if you can sell some.

With the good digital cameras, you can take a movies and extract the best pictures from the movies.

I have an Olympus SP550UZ for this. It's about $450 at Walmart. It will take about an hour of video at the highest quality or about 10,000 pictures with a 1 gig memory chip.

You could also open a myspace account and post your best pictures there. Then you have someplace to refer people who might want to use you.

It sounds like an exciting opportunity. Hope it works out well for you.

You can order prints online or you can just take them to Walgreen's. I think you can order online and pick them up from your local Walgreens.

Answer 7

You will want to BE a professional before you start offering professional services. This means that you need to know the ins and outs of what it takes to make a great photograph, both technically and asthetically. From the way that you asked the question, I can tell that you have a ways to go in your photography education.

Before even thinking about starting a business, you should have all these details figured out.

As others before me have stated, take some photography courses or teach yourself, learn under(apprentice) an established photographer before getting yourself into this kind of thing.

Answer 8

my advise is goto photography school, if you want to compete with seasoned pros, photography school grads and "keen" amateurs you better know lighting and photography

cameras are tools, its the operator makes the difference

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Answer 9

i think it is a great idea. my aunt used to do that. i will answer your question later.