| Starting a photography business always comes with | | | | customers you need. |
| some planning. An important part of that planning is | | | | Sit down and write a business plan include your goals |
| what kind of photography should you specialize in?: | | | | and a plan to achieve them. You photogoraphy |
| - wedding photography | | | | business plan should include your financials, your |
| - pet photography | | | | marketing intentions, and any direct selling strategies. |
| - portrait photography | | | | Your goals should be evident in your business plan so |
| - fashion photography | | | | that someone can read it and see what you're |
| - advertising photography | | | | planning to do, how you'll do it, medium and long |
| - newspaper photography | | | | term. |
| The choice is endless. Identify your photography | | | | There are even specialists who can help with a |
| category passion. This is a good start to knowing | | | | business plan. Notice I said specialists - seminars, |
| what photography mode to slip into. Here are some | | | | workshops, and consultants. |
| things to think about: | | | | Get Professional Help |
| - What do you enjoy photographing the most? | | | | Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Don't force |
| - What are you good at? | | | | yoourself to attempt the weak areas yourself, think |
| - Where will the money come from? | | | | carefully about hiring someone. If you can't come to |
| Making some good choices in photography might be | | | | grips with the financials for instance - then hire an |
| enhanced with thes few tips. | | | | accountant. Sure it will cost you more but how much |
| Planning your Business Strategies | | | | will it cost you if you get it wrong? If you are |
| Think of it this way. You never go to the airport | | | | worried about a lack of skills in any one arear, get a |
| when you want top go on a vacation and say sned | | | | 'subby' (sub-contractor). |
| me somewhere for my holiday. You can plan where | | | | You can always learn the skills yourself, but it may |
| the destination will be, your starting point, and any | | | | not be worth it for the cost of hiring someone on a |
| stops along the way. | | | | project basis. And, in the new age of the Internet, |
| Too many photographers think it is as simple as | | | | there is always the option of virtual assistants who |
| printing business cards and building a website. It is not. | | | | can do all manner of tasks to help ease the burden |
| Focusing too much on displaying your work may not | | | | of running a photography business. |
| (in the end) bring in the quality and quantity of | | | | |