For many photographers, having the ability to turn their passion into a business is a dream come true. As with most industries, competition can be fierce. But with the right gear, the necessary skills, and determination, that dream can soon become a reality.
The photography industry is notoriously expensive, with camera gear often carrying high price tags requiring costly investments. If you are just starting out, it is not necessary to purchase the most expensive model on the market. Instead, turn to the experts at your local camera store, like C.R. Kennedy Photo Imaging, who can guide you when purchasing the perfect model to fit your budget and photography needs. As your business continues to grow, you can start upgrading your gear as needed.
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Family Portraits
Family portraits have stable longevity in the photography industry. Families will always want photos taken of themselves or their kids, and establishing a simple but effective business plan can result in a lucrative career. The goal is to keep expenses low without compromising the quality of your work. Instead of renting out studio space, offer photoshoots at a client’s home or an open outdoor space like a local park or forest.
If you want to achieve a ‘studio look’ at home, invest in a small backdrop, key lights, and a selection of frames that can be reused again and again. Bundle the photos with a selection of edited high-res digital images, which transfers the responsibility for printing and designing albums onto the client.
Pet Photography
It is no secret that animal lovers and proud pet owners love having their furry family members photographed. If you love animals and have experience capturing live subjects, this may be the industry for you. As pets are not always easy to predict or control, you will need to think on your feet and adapt to any unexpected changes throughout the session.
Design your studio space to accommodate your clients and their pet’s needs, ensuring they feel comfortable and safe. Offer a selection of pet-sized props and outfits for owners to choose from to add whimsy and fun to the final product. You can choose to offer strictly animal-only portraits or extend your range to include owners.
Product Photography
Shooting products is a creative and enjoyable small business idea for any budding photographer hoping to expand their skills and portfolio while building a business from the comfort of their own home.
Begin by selecting items around your home that can be styled creatively to capture the beauty of the product or its unique packaging. Wine bottles, tea sets, decorative tins, and perfume bottles are ideal for this. Invest in a small light tent with LED ring lights to illuminate your project.
To expand your opportunities and build a digital presence, upload your photos online, either on social media platforms or dedicated photography websites, and tag the featured brands. This networking is invaluable to freelance photographers looking for potential clients and the chance for commissioned work opportunities.
Local Business Freelancing
Whether you live in a bustling big city, a sprawling local town, or a little village off the beaten track, there will always be a local business in need of high-quality photographs to promote their products or services to the general public. Embrace your confident persona and speak to local business owners to offer your services.
Capture images of their storefronts, products, interiors, staff at work, and anything else unique to their establishment. Provide them with options to purchase the photos as prints for their walls, a common design feature in cafes or bookstores, or to use on their business websites and social media accounts.
The benefit of approaching local businesses is that it helps you establish a solid working relationship with business owners who will always need to update their content as their business grows. Becoming the go-to option for commercial photography in your local area will help to build a solid client base.
Real Estate
Homeowners and real estate agents alike need to advertise their homes, and nothing piques a potential buyer’s interest more than eye-catching photographs that highlight the home’s best features. This can be achieved through traditional photography, aerial drone footage, and edited videos.
If you have experience with architectural and interior design photography, you may be interested in starting a business that offers these services to clients on a freelancing basis. Alternatively, you can seek to establish working relationships with local real estate businesses in your area that contract you to photograph all properties as new listings join their books.
Photo Retouching
If you have perfected your skills with Photoshop or other editing programs, you can hire out your services as a photo editor or retoucher. Many professional photographers are too busy to edit their own images and often outsource these tasks to freelance editors online. You can sign up to freelancing sites like Fivver to win jobs that will help you improve your reputation and expand your presence online. Alternatively, you can turn to social media to showcase your skills and promote your work.
If this business opportunity appeals to you and your skillset, learn all you can about photo editing and retouching through your chosen software. Consider expanding your skills into video editing to expand your offers and client base. Some freelancers offer their services based on an hourly rate, while others opt for a per-completed photo rate.
