Your Step By Step Guide to Starting a Photography Business (2024)

Thinking of turning your passion for photography into a career and starting your own business?

A growing number of hobbyists and entrepreneurs want to try their hand at photography amid the availability of sophisticated cameras of today's smartphones and good quality equipment in the second-hand market.

Moreover, offering photography services on a project basis attracts people who prefer more flexible working hours and creative freedom.

If photography sounds like the business idea for you, learn how to get started in this guide.

A business plan not only solidifies your goal but also formally presents your objective to potential funding partners. A business plan contains the following parts: 

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How to start a photography business

Follow these nine steps get your photography business of the ground.

1. Define your niche and unique selling proposition

Your specialization might no longer be a question if your background includes several years of taking photos as a hobby or being on staff at an ad agency, fashion house, publication, government office, or academic organization.

A photographer in the mud shooting a photo. Pexels

However, if you are still unsure of your area of focus, choose one or two genres. Asking yourself where your interests lie and what you want to be known for can help you name your specialty.

Today's most in-demand niches include:

• Real estate and property

• Products

• Portraiture

• Corporate events

• Weddings

• Food

• Travel, wildlife, and landscape

• Newborns

• Stock photos (unidentified or no-label subjects)

Reaching out to established businesses in your niche is also a good way to connect with your target audiences. Memberships to groups such as the Professional Photographers of America may also help with resources, education, and advice.

For your unique selling point, decide how you can offer something different compared to other providers in your niche. What services do your competitors provide? Is there something missing or a need that your business can fill?

2. Calculate your initial costs

Your marketability will not depend on having the latest gear—it's how well you use what you have. If you've been into photography for some time now, chances are, you have some of this equipment. You will just need to upgrade your "kit."

You will need to invest in the following:

• Equipment: A professional camera, camera lenses, backup camera, camera accessories (extension cords, adaptors, batteries, power banks), memory cards, tripod, camera bag, flashes and lighting, reflectors backdrops, props, laptop or computer, editing software, and external drives

• Operational tools: Business license, insurance, accounting software, payment system, scheduling software, and client contracts (template software or hiring someone to make one for you)

• Marketing tools: Website hosting, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and email marketing software

3. Formulate your business plan

A business plan not only solidifies your goal but also formally presents your objective to potential funding partners. A business plan contains the following parts:

• Executive summary: Details your mission statement, company structure, location, and growth plans

• Company description: Further explains what problems your brand aims to solve, your intended client base, and your competitive advantage

• Market analysis: Shows findings about your competitors, target market, and prices as well as how you plan to do better than current players in your field

• Service details: Describe the details of your service including equipment, facilities, and other processes

• Marketing plan: Outlines the marketing ideas you have in mind for branding, customer acquisition, and retention.

• Financial plan: Presents a forecast of your budget and expenditures in the immediate future

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4. Fulfill your legal requirements

Whether you’re doing this full-time or as a side hustle, you’ll need to establish your business as a legal entity. Here’s how it works:

Register your business

The two most common business structures for individuals and small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited liability companies (LLCs).

Sole proprietors are responsible for all the debts and financial obligations of their business—there's no separation between your business and personal assets and expenses. This structure is the typical option for beginners until they have better credit and higher income to hire staff.

Meanwhile, LLCs have their own legal identity that is separate from their owners. Thus, if your business goes bankrupt or incurs debt, creditors or employees cannot go after your assets, such as your home, vehicle, and savings. LLCs can also be eligible for state or tax benefits, business loans, and liability insurance.

When you register your business, you have to choose a business name. If you use a company name to distinguish your service from your personal activities, you will need a "doing business as" name registration. To ensure that you have a unique business name, visit the Trademark Electronic Search System of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, if you need some help with your business name, you can connect with a Fiverr expert who will help you come up with a business name and slogan.

Get a business license and permit

Check your state licensing board and local city hall to determine what they require from photographers in your area. A license can help you secure tax exemptions and prevent tax officers from shutting down your business.

Obtain insurance

Buying insurance for your equipment, vehicle, and business will serve as a financial safety net in case of accidents or injuries, including possible lawsuits from disgruntled customers.

Set up your employer identification number (EIN)

You need to get an employer identification number (EIN) or federal tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service website.

Open a business bank account and business credit card account

A separate account for your photography service will ensure keeping track of business-related earnings and expenses. The business bank account will also make bookkeeping easier for filing tax returns.

5. Decide on your pricing

Research how much photographers within your niche charge clients in your area. Even if you're a beginner, do not lower your prices too much to avoid lowering the perceived value of your product.

Your pricing should consider the cost of running your online business, including equipment, office space, time, labor, materials, travel, internet connectivity, software subscriptions, and taxes.

You can also base your rates according to where your images will appear (website, local newspaper, national ad campaign, billboard), the number of hours, the type of photography (merchandise, portraits, wedding, and so on), or your level of experience.

6. Build or organize your portfolio

You need a website to display your body of work. Customers want to have an idea about the level of quality they can expect when they hire a photographer. Pair off your website with CRM software to facilitate communications with your prospects and clients.

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If you're a beginner, you can develop your portfolio by working with another photographer as a "second shooter," taking pictures for organizations with causes that you care about or documenting the reunions and activities of your relatives and friends.

7. Develop a marketing plan

To market your skills and service, you need to build an online presence. Save some of your top shots and post them on your social channels. Network with Facebook groups related to your target audience. Join events and fairs that touch base with your market.

Also, claim your listing on online business directories such as Google Business, Bing Places, LinkedIn, and Yahoo Local.

Another way of promoting yourself is by selling your work on your website or popular stock photography sites such as Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Alamy, Getty Images, iStock, Etsy, and Dreamstime.

Make sure to create your own photography website, as well, so referrals have a place to find and contact you. Focus on search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to help your website come up more in search results. Sites like WordPress and Wix are perfect for building your first photography website.

Photography business startup costs

We’ve already covered some of the initial business expenses that you’ll need to save up for (i.e., equipment, operational tools, and marketing tools)—but let’s dig deeper into the actual costs you’ll face when building your own photography business.

Equipment

One of the most expensive things about starting your own photography business is the requirement of high-end photography equipment so you can do your job. Let’s walk through some of the initial equipment costs you’ll face.

• Professional DSLR camera: $1,000+ (closer to $3,000+ for even more high-quality equipment)

• Camera lens: $200+ (more if you buy multiple lenses)

• Memory cards: $50+ (depends on how many memory cards you want to have)

• Camera bag: $200+

• Laptop: $200+ (varies depending on quality

• Photo editing software: $120/year (for Lightroom or Photoshop; varies based on your preferred software)

The above lists out the bare minimum you’ll need to start your photography business. You might also choose to invest in a tripod ($100+), good lighting ($100 for a quality ring light; $300+ for studio lighting), and more.

Operational costs

Being a photography business owner is more than just finding clients and taking photos. There are a number of operational costs that can go into keeping a business running as well.

• Business license: $25-550 (depending on your state)

• Business insurance: $50+/month

• Accounting/invoicing software: $200+/year

• Scheduling software: $100+/year

There might be more tools you choose to invest in that help you run your business, but these are key for getting started. You may also want to hire an accountant, for example, to make sure your business stays compliant with the IRS.

Marketing costs

Of course, you have to market your business in order to get a steady influx of clients. And that, of course, costs money. Here are a few marketing costs to keep in mind.

• Website hosting: $10+/month

• CRM software: $10+/month

• Email marketing software: $10+/month

While each of these tools can be relatively affordable, different software can cost exponentially more depending on your needs and the number of users you need it for as you grow your business.

Considerations for starting a photography business

On top of expenses, equipment, and software, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind as you implement your photography business plan.

• Branding: You need to create a brand to represent you as a professional photographer. This includes a logo, color scheme, typography set, and more. This branding will be used on your website, social media platforms, business cards, and other marketing materials.

• Reputation: When building a new business, keeping a good reputation is key. You need to deliver on all of your promises, focus on the quality of your work, and keep all clients happy.

• Pricing: Another consideration to make is how to set your photography rates. Look at what your competitors are charging while also taking into account your own skill and experience.

• Contracts: No relationship with a potential client should begin until a contract is signed. This helps protect you as the photographer while also managing client expectations and ensuring everyone gets what they were promised.

Types of work you can get as a photographer

When you’re jumping into your photography career, it’s important to decide what type of photographer you want to be. There are several different options that you can choose from based on the amount of money you want to make, the amount of work you want to put in, and the types of work you enjoy.

• Wedding photography: Wedding photographers work long hours most weekends, but can charge a premium price for the type of work they do.

• Portrait photography: This can be an easy way for new photographers to get some experience. Take headshots and do corporate photoshoots as a portrait photographer.

• Stock photography: Consider taking a number of different types of photos and selling them on stock photography sites.

• Photojournalism: Take photos for news articles and media publications as a photojournalist.

• Sports photography: Become a photographer for a sports team and take photos during practices and games.

• Real estate photography: Work with real estate agents and take professional photographs of houses before they go on the market.

• Pet photography: Take stunning photos of clients’ pets.

• Commercial photography: Work with different businesses to take photos for their marketing strategies.

• Food photography: Take close-ups of food for different restaurants.

There are so many different types of photography you can get into. Decide what you like, then start building up your photography portfolio with relevant images to appeal to new clients.

Sell your photography services on Fiverr

Ready to get your new photography business up off the ground? Enlist Fiverr to help you start selling your photos. Create your own Fiverr profile listing out your service offerings so your ideal client can easily find and hire you for your photography services.

Photography business FAQ

Is photography a profitable business?

Although photography is a highly competitive field, it can become a sustainable source of livelihood if you find your niche and work hard. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of photographers in 2022 was $40,170 per year.

But in reality, photographers can charge between $25 and $100 per hour. The asking price of professionals is higher at $100 to $250 an hour. The monthly earnings of starting solo photographers can range from $2,000 to $10,000.

What's needed to start a photography business?

To start your photography business, you first need the proper equipment and skill to take high-quality photos. Then, you need to get a business license and a website to showcase your services and share your contact information. Finally, you need a marketing strategy in place to start generating clients.

What photography is most profitable?

Different types of photography can range vastly in profitability. Photojournalism and portrait photography likely are two of the least profitable. Some of the most profitable types of photography include wedding photography and commercial photography.

How do I start off as a photographer?

To start off as a photographer, you simply need to take photos. You can start with your smartphone as you learn more about different angles and principles for good photos. Then, invest in a high-quality camera, photography classes, and editing software to further improve your skills.