i want to start my own home-based photography business?

Question

i want to start taking professional photos. i'm already a videographer, and have had previous experience with photography. so i decided maybe i should start doing photography professionally so i could have more to offer with this home-based business i want to start. i have good editing software and everything. i just need someone to let me know what is a good quality camera that's under $300. or even $200. haha. i just want it to have that professional quality and look good.

Answer 1

You'll be lucky to find a professional camera for under $1000. You can't even buy a decent lens for under $200. Go to www.dpreview.com and see what professional cameras are selling for. Have you thought of other things you might need? Lights, backgrounds, props, just to name a few things off the top of my head. I have the same idea, I'd like to be a professional photographer as well and I bought a decent camera to get started with practicing and learning about photography. I wish it was that easy to buy a professional camera and go from there but it isn't.

Answer 2

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 3

If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you
can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent
photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and
publish your IWeb webpage(s).

Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card
by selecting from their many templates a suitable one
that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of
your website along with a telephone answering device.
Do not place your home address or anything personal
such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when
you receive the finished business card, pass it around
to various churches, temples and the like to solicit
business.

When you receive a major photography assignment, visit
your local professional camera store and "rent" the
necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.
When starting out, you don't want to tie your money up
with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever
changing technology "becomes obsolete." Remember, that
90% of professional photographer are not "buying"
camera equipment continually which can easily become
outdated; instead, they merely "rent or lease" the
camera equipment for set period of time; thereby
keeping their money for other expenses. Even though
you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you
may have to give up that concept for the moment, since
digital photography offers the most economic method of
photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on
a computer and the print quality is often far superior
to regular film-generated prints.

You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which
has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then
consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning
with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image
stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image
stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take
telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the
go and you don't have to drag along a tripod to steady
your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have
chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices
into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back
to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit
consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal
lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650
at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs
circles around the D40 Nikon!

For digital print processing, find a private
professional film processing lab who can handle all
your client's print orders. And with a resale license,
you will be qualified for considerable "professional"
discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and
Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with
various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a
photography studio and get a dealer's pricing for any
number of albums, guest books, etc.

Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at
local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to
the client's residence or office to set up a photo
shooting environment which consists of a set of
lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 4

At a minimum, I'd make sure that you have an SLR or DSLR and a good array of lenses.

You can get a nice film SLR for $300 or under, digital will cost you more.
Nothing wrong with film, but you'll have a longer workflow than someone who shoots straight digital. However, if film is the way to go for you, then have at it.
The entry level Nikons(D40x/D80) and Canon (Digital Rebel XTi or 30D) offerings are a good place to start. If budget is THAT big of an issue, then you might want to look at the Pentax digitals SLRs(K100D).

You'll want to get lenses that match the type of photography you will be doing(50mm, 100-150mm for portraits, etc) any kind of accessories(flash units, backdrop, lighting, tripods).

Answer 5

Unless you are willing to invest $1500 to $2000 in a DSLR and a couple of lenses forget about taking "professional photos". You could easily get by for less if you used a film SLR since they are cheap on ebay.

You'll also need lighting (hot or flash; hot lights are cheaper) and backdrops and props to use with portraits. Outdoors you'll need reflectors and maybe a portable flash system.

Answer 6

Bahhh, if you have image editing software, who cares if it even works, just as long as you look good holding it right ?
Does Abercrombie make camera's?
Spend you 300 on a class...it's a much better investment !!

Answer 7

haha, a $200 camera, surely you are joking, if you know film then sure even a $100 cam will do it, but really unless you know lighting no amount of "editing" will save you

check out my snapshots they 90% are from a $100 film camera

http://flickr.com/photos/martini2005/

seriously get a DSLR and learn lighting

a

Answer 8

I'm not sure if you need a business licenses i would call what ever that city bi law phone number what every that is were you live and ask.

Answer 9

Can't really answer this question without knowing what you're going to be shooting.