Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Develop a niche. Even within portrait photography there are numerous niches to occupy. They generally fall into two main categories: consumer and commercial. Consumer photography often comprises taking portraits of family, children and high school seniors while commercial portraits can range from advertisements to editorial clients.
Develop a style. Show clients how you stand out from the crowd -- avoid the average eye-level snapshot perspective using common props and backgrounds. Know your equipment intimately to be able to adapt for clients and capture the emotions and expressions of your subject.
Construct a budget to develop a financial forecast and goals for your business in the next year. This can be done with budgeting software, a spreadsheet in a program like Microsoft Excel or paper and pencil. The budget should contain numbers involving projected revenue and cost of operation (including administrative, operative and marketing costs) with high, medium and low estimates for each. Review your budget after each month of operation to help stay on task and reach your goals.
Attend seminars and take classes to sharpen your photographic skills. Explore classes in the business world as well; success in the photography market includes both stunning images and business-savvy management.
Find a partner. A business partner can balance your style and personality. Taryn Kaiser, on starting her own portrait photography business, relates, "in the business world, you need not only a dreamer but a doer. You need practicality to balance vision." A partner can help keep your business viable while adding another style and way to connect with your clients.
Contact friends, family, former co-workers and anyone else you know to let them know you are a entering the business of portrait photography. People generally will employ someone they know instead of large and faceless companies if they know they will get a similarly high-quality product. Post your services on the Internet (create a web page) and in any coffee house or restaurant possible.
Listen to your potential clients to determine what needs they have. Be sure your skills are a good fit for the job. Go the extra mile and spend the extra expense to achieve a satisfied customer -- word of mouth marketing is the most effective form of marketing.