| Children's portrait photography is one of the most | | | | scary-looking lights while you try to get a fake smile |
| lucrative businesses out there. What's more, it is also | | | | from them. The results of a natural portrait session |
| one of the easiest to market to. The reason is | | | | are obvious-real smiles from happy children. |
| simple. Just look around you-almost anywhere you go | | | | Let's look at all the benefits of choosing this style of |
| you see people with children-they're everywhere! | | | | photographing children:o No rent: You automatically |
| And just about all of them want beautiful, | | | | eliminate one of the biggest drains on your |
| professional portraits of their children. They know | | | | budget-overhead, which includes rent for a studio, |
| they're kids won't be kids forever, and that the | | | | utilities and interior decorating. This leaves you |
| snapshots they take themselves are not all they | | | | significantly more money for the most important part |
| want to have to document their lives. They realize | | | | of your business-marketing.o Very little equipment |
| that by having a professional take portraits of their | | | | maintenance: The only equipment you'll need to do |
| kids, they'll have an even better record of their child's | | | | this kind of photography is a camera (and a |
| appearance and personality. Yes, there always be | | | | computer, if you are using digital), so that is all the |
| those who will be alright with only having half-focused | | | | equipment you'll need to maintain.o Work from home: |
| snapshots and still others who will settle for cheap, | | | | You'll be able to work from the comfort of your own |
| chain-store photography. But there are LOTS of | | | | home, not answering to a boss anymore. Set your |
| people out there who recognize the difference in | | | | own schedule, doing sessions only when they are |
| low-grade photography and professional | | | | convenient for you. This leads directly to my next |
| photography-that it is artistic-and that even at higher | | | | point-more time with your family.o More time with |
| prices, it is a much better value to them. | | | | your family: The flexibility of working from home and |
| It is easy to break into this market because of the | | | | setting your own schedule will allow you to be there |
| emotional relationship parents have with their children. | | | | for the important events in your family's life. You'll |
| Appeal to those emotions, convince them that they | | | | never have to miss another dance recital or soccer |
| NEED (not want) to have their child's portrait taken | | | | game-simply schedule sessions around them!o Save |
| by the best photographer in the area (YOU), and | | | | time and effort: A lot of time and energy goes in to |
| that they get what they pay for when it comes to | | | | setting up equipment, especially when you work on |
| photography, and you'll have all the clients you need. | | | | location. Natural portraiture eliminates this completely.o |
| While it might seem that there is a lot of competition | | | | Fun: Without all of the constraints of "traditional" |
| in this area, there really is enough business to go | | | | portrait photography, you'll enjoy your work! If you're |
| around for you and all of your competitors. All you | | | | like me, you'll actually end up looking forward to your |
| need to do is set yourself apart from the pack. | | | | sessions with great anticipation.o No thinking about |
| "Traditionally-trained" photographers believe you must | | | | equipment, just focus on session: You'll also enjoy |
| own a studio, belong to a professional photography | | | | being able to focus more on the artistic part of the |
| association and follow all of its rules in order to be | | | | session, since you won't be worried about whether |
| successful. This simply is not true. You can be | | | | or not your main light fired or if your subject is too |
| extremely successful as a portrait photographer with | | | | close to the backdrop lights. Just relax and snap |
| just a few simple ideas: specialize in photographing | | | | away. |
| children, photograph them in comfortable | | | | In my opinion, the easiest and least expensive |
| environment, and use natural light. Using this method, | | | | photography business to start is one that specializes |
| you will no longer require a studio, fancy lighting | | | | in natural-light photography of babies and children. |
| equipment, backdrop stand and backdrops. The | | | | Because you can get going with such a low budget |
| children you photograph will be happy because they | | | | makes it a perfect choice for those who want to |
| are not being forced to sit on a backdrop in front of | | | | work from home and make a living with photography. |