It’s another installment of a recently added blog series post, Photog Q&A! One common question I received when I announced the series was how to start a photography business, or steps I recommend to make things happen. While a very important topic, it could get pretty in-depth and lengthy, but I’m going to try to keep it as simple and as short as possible for the sake of those who don’t love to read (like me!).

Before I get into my list, I’m going to start by saying I am no expert. My advice is based on my experiences and the steps I took to create JFP. The following may or may not work for you and there are no guarantees. I share this information freely and willingly, and I hope it’ll help you either start a photography business or take the next steps into making yours better. And just for a picture break, here’s a look at where JFP got its start…

(from our old home in Waynesboro, PA)

1. Hobby first. Photography requires practice, artistry and investment, so consider treating it as a hobby first before jumping all in right away. Buy a decent DSLR camera and lens, and photograph anyone and anything that will let you…or anything that catches your eye. When you’re ready, share those pictures with friends and family and get some feedback. Maybe take a class or two at a local college, or find a professional photographer offering workshops. Take advantage of the opportunity of being a hobbyist by learning as much as you can and practicing as much as you can, so when you start a business, you have a quality product to deliver.

2. Facebook and FREE. Everyone is doing it and it’s free! To me, there’s no better way to get your work out there and communicate with thousands of people than Facebook. After you’ve practiced your hobby and are yearning to offer services through a business, test it out with Facebook. Share your pictures on your own personal page and chances are a handful of people will come knocking at your inbox wanting pictures taken. Take their pictures for free (yes, FREE) and start to build your professional portfolio. More people will come, you’ll continue practicing, you’ll get better, and eventually you’ll have a nice little springboard to jump start your business. Good Facebook practices will come in handy later, too.

3. Make it official. It’s boring, confusing and requires paperwork, but save yourself the trouble later and make your business an official operating entity in your state. Do some research online, contact a lawyer and/or accountant, call the Secretary of (your) State’s office, get a sales tax ID number…there are various options and different ways to go about the registration process, but find all the facts and make yourself legit. For me, chatting with a lawyer and an accountant was very helpful, so I highly recommend finding some that will lead you in the right direction. If you’re in West Virginia, check out this site for more information on starting a small business. And here’s one for PA, MD, and VA, too.

4. Branding. YOU! What do you like? What are your favorite colors? What inspires you? How do you stand out? I learned from other pros to make my business like me and it’s something I strongly believe in. I like lots of color, so my business look is colorful. I’m a crafty kind of person, some craft-like elements are included in my blog and website. I share my personal stories and personality through my business so when my branding matches those, I get consistency! I also achieved consistency in my branding by hiring a professional. If you want a good-looking brand that communicates you’re a professional with a good product, outsource your logos, colors and overall look. Sometimes that means investing thousands, but it might be worth it to put your absolute best foot forward right from the start. May I suggest Second Street Creative and Krista Jones for branding (and website) design.

5. Website. An awesome new website can go hand-in-hand with awesome new branding. A lot of times web designers and graphic artists will offer both branding and website concepts (like 2nd Street and Krista Jones), so you can get the visual stuff done all in one bang! But maybe you can’t invest in both professionally done branding and a website. Maybe you’d rather invest in your look and use a simple website (alongside Facebook) in your beginning stages. I think that’s fine because not everyone has a million dollars to invest in their business right away (no, it won’t really cost a million dollars, silly!). But make sure you have a good, clean website that will help communicate your level of professionalism and show off your product. I started off with a $100 template website and people loved it! It did what I needed it to do in the beginning and eventually I upgraded to the custom site I have now. So if you need to start slow and easy, consider ProPhoto Blogs, Zenfolio and maybe even Showit for your website.

6. Facebook…again! Like I said above, there’s no better way to get your work out there and communicate with thousands of people. Make yourself official, get some branding, get a website and tell the world! Share your pictures and share them often. Tag as many people and places as you can to share even more. While almost 100% of my current inquiries are a result of Google searches, my older market was full of people who found me on Facebook. I believe this form of social media has had a huge impact on my business so I treat it as a very important tool. I have a business page that is very active and I’m constantly trying to make it better. And do I have to mention it again…it’s free!!! 🙂

Whew! That’s a lot, sorry! But starting a small business and delivering captured life memories aren’t to be taken lightly. I also could have mentioned blogging, Twitter, Pinterest, vendors, packages and products, but those aren’t for everyone and are honestly things that can just happen naturally for a photography business. There’s so much that can go into being a professional photographer and business owner, so it’s quite the journey (long and exciting!). My journey started in my first home office in Waynesboro, PA where I made my own logo, had a template website, ugly blog and uncertainty about where JFP was headed. Now I’m in Morgantown, WV (soon to be in the Deep Creek Lake area in MD!) with a pretty custom website and blog, and I have the opportunity to teach you all about the wonderful world of photography. Who woulda thunk it? 😉 Where will your journey begin? Or where will it take you next?? Wherever it is, I hope you found this Q&A helpful…and I hope you’ll find success along the way!