How to Start a Photography Business

If you want to take the first steps toward starting your own photography business, conducting market research will be a key activity. When done right, it will help you to learn about your competition, potential clients and overall business plan. 

You should find out more about the competition by examining what other photography businesses in your area offer, charge and how they advertise their services. You can do this online, or by reaching out over the phone or in person. To learn more about your potential customers, get in contact with people who have hired photographers before and ask questions about their experience. Did the customer get what they wanted? How much did they have to pay? What could have made the experience more satisfactory? How did they find the photographer they ended up hiring?

These questions will help you to understand how the photography business works and give you ideas about how to make your project stand out from the competition.

Remember to keep in mind these questions:

1. Is there demand for my photography business?
2. What kind of customers am I targeting?

If there is enough demand for your services and you understand your customer base, you should be well-equipped to build a viable business. At this point, it’s also worth considering what kind of photography business you would like to start. Some options include:

• Weddings: Taking pictures of a couple’s big day can be a lucrative business for photographers with the right sense of style and communication.
• Studio: If you want to take photographs in your own controlled space, studio photography may be right for you. Setting up your workspace can be expensive and you may also need to decide what area of studio photography you want to specialise in, from portraits to fashion or food. 
• Travel: If you want to travel the world taking photographs of breathtaking views, stunning scenery and exciting cultures, this could be perfect for you. Start-up costs can be high though, as you will likely have to build a portfolio before making any money.
• Sport: For those obsessed with sport, photographing professional athletes can be a dream come true. Get credentials at local stadiums and sporting events, so you can start snapping away and improving your skills, before contacting publications to sell your photos.
• Photojournalism: If you want to cover news, head to events like protests, festivals, religious holidays and ceremonies with any appropriate credentials. As with sports photography, you will then need to sell your photos to news publications.

Following your market research, putting together a business plan and budget is the next important step in starting a photography business. This will set out how much money you need to fund your business, as well as monthly costs, key objectives and overall viability. It’s not just worth doing this for your own piece of mind – most lenders will require you to supply a business plan if you apply for a business loan. 

You can learn more about how to put one of these important documents together in our article about how to write a business plan.

You will also need to create a budget, which should include start-up and regular costs. For a photography business, some key elements of your budget may include:

• Equipment: This will likely be one of your most significant start-up costs. You may just need a camera that can take pictures of a high quality. However, most photographers will also require tripods, camera bags, a laptop or computer, lenses, memory cards and more.
• Transport: This cost will vary depending on how far you plan to travel for work. Travel photographers could rack up thousands of pounds in costs as they jet off to exotic locations, but those who operate more locally will still need to consider the cost of a car or van, petrol, vehicle maintenance and public transport where necessary.
• Utilities: Bills are essential to keep track of – especially if you have your own studio space where heating and electricity costs can pile up.
• Software: Professional photographers will usually use editing software to touch up their images, or artfully edit them into collages. This can be a significant cost, with Adobe Creative Cloud costing £56.98 per month. You may also want to pay for subscriptions related to maintaining an online presence for your business, such as portfolio sites like Wix or Pixpa.
• Qualifications: While you do not need formal qualifications to become a photographer, it is essential to understand that it is a nuanced art that requires great skill. University degrees, college courses or apprenticeships can provide great opportunities to hone your skills before you start out on your own.
• Insurance: Photographers rely on a great deal of expensive equipment, so insurance is an essential way to protect against loss, theft and damage. 

For a detailed guide, explore our five-step guide to creating a small business budget.

Registering your business and establishing its structure is another key step in getting up and running. While there are several different options to choose from, registering as a sole trader is a good way to keep things simple if you plan on running your photography business yourself. Even so, other options like starting a limited company or partnership are available, so you might want to read our guide to picking a company structure.

» MORE: Should I register as a sole trader or limited company?

You will not need any specific kind of licence to run a photography business, but you may need credentials to attend certain events and functions.

With a business plan, company structure and budget in place, establishing a source (or sources) of funding should be your next objective.

You might be able to get started using your own personal savings, particularly if you already have some photography equipment. However, business loans, business grants and other options are available options. NerdWallet’s guide to small business funding can give you all the information you need to make the best decision about getting the funds your photography business needs.

When establishing a source of funding, you will likely need to open a business bank account so you have somewhere to put your money and manage your transactions. Sole traders can continue to use a personal account if their bank permits it, but limited companies and partnerships are generally required to have a business bank account.

The final step of starting a photography business is starting to make money. Considering the wide range of photography businesses, there is no one-size-fits-all way for your photography business to earn money. However, here are some useful tips to get started:

• Spread the word: Regardless of whether you are offering wedding photography or fashion shoots, you are more likely to be commissioned if more people know about your business. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, so tell friends, family, neighbours and whoever else you can think of about your new venture.
• Build a portfolio: Construct an online catalogue of relevant work to showcase your work to prospective clients. Using a portfolio builder website is a quick and easy way to do this that allows you to display your work online.
• Cultivate relationships: Is there a business nearby that hires event photographers for their annual conference? Are there wedding planners in your area who frequently book photographers for the day? Does your local newspaper buy images directly from photojournalists? No matter what business you are in, some people are useful to know. Make sure to find out who they are and reach out.
• Use social media: If your pictures are eye-catching and distinct enough, you may be able to build a following on social media channels by posting regularly. Some photographers have amassed millions of followers and even gone on to gain sponsorships or partnership deals with major companies.
• Sell or license your images: As long as you own the copyright and are not restricted by the terms of a contract, you can make money by selling or licensing your photos through online image libraries, such as Shutterstock or Unsplash, or by selling physical prints through sites like Shootproof.