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How to Start a Photography Business in 2024

Want to learn how to start a photography business in 2024? This in-depth guide will teach you all you need to know to become a professional photographer!

Learn | Photography Guides | By Mark Condon

Want to learn how to start a photography business in 2024? This in-depth guide will teach you all you need to know!

I’ve run a wedding photography business since 2014 and learnt a lot as a professional photographer and business owner.

Starting a photography business allows you to make money using a skill you already enjoy, but it’s important to have a solid plan and realistic goals.

There’s no doubt that photography is a great career – you can earn a good living, make your own hours and travel to exotic places.

Best of all, you’ll make people happy. Whether you’re capturing priceless moments for families or nailing the client’s brief, photos are a precious commodity.

Is photography a good career? Definitely! It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Now it’s your turn to learn how to start a photography business.

Table of Contents

How do I Start a Small Photography Business?

Reduce risks with a home-based photography business.

workspaces

Not many professional photographers go from zero to renting a studio – most start off with a home-based photography business, where costs can be kept to a minimum.

As a small business owner, keeping costs low should be a priority, and running your photography business from home is highly recommended.

At this stage when you don’t even have a business plan, all you need is a place in your home from which to work – some private ‘office space’. If you’re using a laptop, you don’t even need a desk!

If you need to meet clients to book work (e.g. for wedding photography), you can do as I did and meet them in a local cafe – clients don’t expect to come to your home, even if you list your home address as your business address.

Decide what types of photography services you’ll offer

photography-services

Credit: Szabo Viktor

What type of photography is most profitable? You can build a successful photography business by shooting commercial/advertising, event (weddings, corporate, etc), family (maternity, etc), freelance or stock photography.

However, it’s much harder to start earning money as a commercial photographer than, say, as an event photographer.

Also, while stock photography is a good passive source of income , freelance photography allows you to cast a wider net.

When starting your own photography business, it’s important to balance your passion for a specific genre with realistic goals.

Consider whether there’s a market for a particular type of photography in your area, for example.

I chose to focus on wedding photography since there’s a big market for wedding photographers where I live. I also thought shooting weddings would be fun and exciting, and I could also offer mini sessions , pre-wedding shoots and other related services.

You may want to offer several photography services under one unique photography business name , but I recommend focusing on just one genre to become a ‘specialist’.

You need to be the go-to photographer for a certain genre of photography – not the person who shoots everything since this can appear a little amateurish.

That said, there’s always the option to become a professional freelance photographer to offer a selection of different services.

Develop a basic photography business plan

plan

Credit: Galymzhan Abdugalimov

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of creating a photography business is to know how to actually start.

A photography business plan is the first logical step to setting up a strong base camp that will allow you to build up your business without feeling overwhelmed.

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What goes into your plan may vary, but at a minimum, you may want to include:

  • Executive summary: You can start your photography business plan with an executive summary that defines what your general objectives are as well as your key factors of success.
  • Company overview: Do an outline of the organizational structure of your business according to the terms of the area you are in. Will you be the sole proprietor? Will it be a limited liability company? What will be the business structure? Do you need business licenses? Will you have a business partner? What type of business will you run?
  • Products & services overview: It’s important to create a detailed description of the products, services and prices you’ll be offering. This will help you to better navigate the many different client requests that might show up.
  • Audience analysis: Understand who your target audience is and what channels will be most effective to reach them.
  • Competitive analysis (market research): Have a look at the competition operating in your market locally, identify their strengths and in what ways you can differentiate yourself from them.
  • Operations plan: Think about operations – what are the day-to-day logistics of running your photography business?
  • Financial analysis: Make an effort to be financially savvy – this is very important! Create a financial plan to be in full control of all the nuances of your business cash flow. It’s likewise helpful to establish early on what your equipment requirements are and how much profit you expect to make.
  • Timeline: Establish a timeline with clear milestones so you can track your progress and set goals that are increasingly more realistic and adapted to your situation. Think of it as a photography business roadmap to get you to where you want to be.

I should mention that it’s not worth getting too hung up on having every aspect of your photography business planned out in detail.

There are bits you simply won’t know yet and that’s OK! Do your best with it and don’t let writing a business plan become a block that prevents you from moving forward.

Once you have a basic business plan on paper, it’s time to get into the fun part – bringing it to life!

Find the Right Photography Business Structure

One boring-but-important topic when researching how to start a photography business is the subject of business structure.

In the USA, there are 6 main business types of legal structure to consider for your business: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corp. and C Corp.

Sole proprietorships or sole traders are most common for small home-based businesses. They’re the easiest to manage and easiest to handle in terms of taxes since it’s usually just you involved in the running of everything.

You may also consider going into a photography business with a partner, which is actually similar to a sole proprietorship in terms of liability and taxes.

Each person is responsible for their own side of the business and all profits are split based on the percentages you decide. Of course, you also need to consider that all expenses and liabilities are also split between both partners.

If you want to protect your personal assets, many photography businesses opt for an LLC structure (Limited Liability Company). An LLC or S Corp provides one level of tax and also a layer of protection from personal liability.

At this point, it’s worth mentioning that deciding on a business structure should usually involve some legal advice, or at least, a lot of research on your part to decide what’s most relevant for you.

A quick note on business licenses – in most jurisdictions in the United States, no professional license is needed to run or operate a photography business. However, not all States are the same.

To know for sure whether your locality requires you to get a business license for photography, it’s best to call your local licensing board or city hall.

In addition to a business license, you should also start researching whether you need to use photography contracts or model releases for your line of work.

Putting in the groundwork now will set you up for success without any legal headaches.

Choose a photography business name & branding

Photography name and branding

Credit: Brad Neathery

Once you’ve decided what your speciality will be and the structure of your business, it’s time to think about your photography business name and branding.

This is what will differentiate you from the competition. It’s also important because of first impressions: when people see your branding, it can instantly give them an idea of what you do and what your style is.

With that in mind, consider the look and feel of your logo and typeface. Is it something quirky and creative, clean and modern, vintage classic…?

As for names, you might choose to name your photography business after yourself (e.g. “Bob Smith Photography”) or you could get creative and have it reflect what you do (e.g. “Maternal Memoirs” for maternity photography, or “Bedroom Eyes” for boudoir – I’m just making these up on the spot here but you get the idea!).

Don’t neglect to choose a unique or catchy slogan or tagline for your photography business .

The most important thing with branding is to be consistent. That bears repeating, so I’ll say it again: Consistency is key!

You want your brand message to be reflected across your website, business cards, social media accounts , and all materials you deliver to clients including final photo packages, invoices, etc.

  • What is branding for photographers?

Register a domain and create a photography website

Photography-Portfolio-featured

It goes without saying that pretty much all successful photographers in 2024 have an online presence. That’s why the next step in starting a photography business is to create a photography website .

Your website should showcase your best work and give people an idea of who you are and how you work.

While there are plenty of free web hosting solutions out there, it’s worth investing a small amount to register your own domain name.

This not only looks more professional, but it’ll also help you rank in Google searches (just ensure your domain name reflects your business name).

From there, you’ll need to build your photography business website and connect your domain name to it.

Now, if your web design skills are non-existent, don’t worry: there are plenty of solutions out there that can make life ridiculously easy.

One of the best options is to use a content management system (CMS) like Wordpress – you can download elegant-looking, customisable themes (for example, Flothemes make some great ones) so the design and layout aspects are all there for you.

With a few clicks of the mouse, you can adapt a pre-made template to include your own branding and start getting your website out to potential clients.

Invest in professional photography equipment & software

kit

At this point, you’re probably wondering: What kind of camera do most professional photographers use?

While there’s no one correct answer as to what is a ‘professional camera’, by and large, most pros use full-frame DSLR or mirrorless cameras.

However, some do absolutely fine by using APS-C sensor cameras, particularly if high ISO low-light performance isn’t required. (Full-frame sensor cameras are better at this, among other things.)

DSLRs are still an industry standard, but are somewhat of a dying breed – mirrorless cameras offer better features and more recent technology, although the number of native lenses still dwindles in comparison to those on offer for DSLRs.

You can see more of the differences between mirrorless and DSLRs here , but suffice to say, you won’t go wrong with either.

As for the question, what camera should I buy to start a photography business? Initially, it’s whatever you can afford, but once you start making a better income, you should always upgrade your equipment in line with what you need to complete your job efficiently.

For example, wedding photographers need cameras with excellent autofocus and high ISO capabilities, whereas a portrait photographer may not need either of these things.

There’s always the option of renting equipment when you first start out – get yourself a good all-round camera, then if any job comes around that’s out of its comfort range, hire something to suit.

The same goes for camera lenses, of which there are a plethora of options . Again, depending on the type of photography services you’ll offer, you can choose between a wide range of telephoto and primes at various price points.

Most pros can get by with an affordable and fast 50mm lens (nifty-fifty), so you can start your lens collection from there. Remember that buying used camera lenses is also a great option.

As for software, this is another area you’ll need to invest in in order to grow your own photography business.

Many photography business owners start out bare-bones with a mixture of Google Sheets for keeping track of expenses and clients’ information and Google Calendar. You’ll soon outgrow these, through.

When you start making money, you’ll also need some kind of accounting software to keep track of all the figures.

It’s wise to pay for premium photographer software early on as it can really help save you time and headaches in the long run.

At a bare minimum, you’ll need photo editing software (we recommend Adobe Lightroom ), client/studio management software , and an online gallery to deliver your photos to your clients.

You can also consider an all-in-one business management tool such as  Bonsai  to help you manage your photography projects more efficiently. They offer features like invoicing, proposals, contracts, time & task tracking, client CRM and more.

All features are integrated to work seamlessly together and you can automate the entire customer relationship journey – from the proposal, and e-signing contracts to invoicing and tax season. On top of that, Bonsai offers hundreds of free templates for proposals, contracts, invoices, and more.

If you’re not shooting high volumes, you can get by with a photo editing software that doesn’t lock you into a subscription, as Adobe Lightroom does – fortunately, there are several great alternatives .

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business with no money, it may well be tough due to the requirements to invest in all the things mentioned above.

If you have good friends or family, perhaps they can lend you the gear until you’ve done enough jobs to earn the money to buy or rent your own.

It’s also possible to find free software that helps to manage your own business, albeit with some limitations.

Take out photography business insurance

We can’t talk about how to start a photography business without covering some more of the boring-but-important stuff, like… insurance!

Yep, it’s not the most fun thing to have to research and organise, but trust me – if something goes wrong, you’ll be glad you took out insurance.

There are various types of insurance your photography business might need, depending on what kind of work you do.

First and most obvious is your precious equipment. Some insurers offer specific camera insurance or photography plans designed to cover gear and studio fittings.

Note that while your regular home contents insurance may cover loss or damage to your gear, it will only be applicable if the damage occurs at home and not while you’re shooting on location. That’s why it’s worth looking into some specific cover.

On top of that, consider taking out some public liability insurance.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes things go wrong while we’re out shooting. Let’s say you’re photographing a wedding and a guest trips over your tripod, breaking their leg and taking out the entire wedding cake in the process – liability insurance will cover the damages.

If you plan on hiring any extra staff, you’ll also want to look at taking out employers’ liability insurance. This is to cover you if an employee gets sick or injured on the job.

Lastly, some photographers choose to take out professional indemnity insurance as well.

Imagine a client accuses you of some negligence and claims they lost some income due to your actions.

(For example, if you photographed a corporate event but lost your memory cards and couldn’t deliver the images. Indemnity insurance would cover any legal and other costs.)

Insurance needs vary depending on where you are in the world and what your business model is, so take this as a rough guide and do speak to your insurer about what plans are best suited to your needs.

Learn how to market your photography business

market

On to the next step of learning how to start a photography business: I bet you’re keen to start raking in the customers (and the cash!).

If you’re asking, “How do I get clients for my photography fast?” , the answer is  marketing. 

Unlike advertising, marketing can be done for free (or very cheaply), but it takes a little work.

One marketing strategy you can use is to network with other photographers. But wait, you say, aren’t they the competition? Not necessarily!

Another photographer might get a request for a job that doesn’t fit their style or speciality, but does fit yours – and they can refer the client on to you. These referrals are a great way to generate business, so make sure you nurture your relationships with other photographers.

Meeting other photographers is also a great way to learn. You can find out how they generate new business and meet prospective clients, and learn about which marketing strategies work best for them.

You can easily network with other photographers online through photography groups, or in person at your local photography club .

Marketing via social media is obviously another big one. It’s worth using platforms like Instagram to showcase your photography work and interact with your target audience.

To succeed on Instagram in 2024, you need to be creating entertaining Instagram Stories and posting fresh content regularly, as well as interacting with your followers and other accounts.

Online marketing for photographers is a huge topic, but at a bare minimum, make sure you learn the basics of SEO , how to write interesting blog content and how to attract new business via Facebook ads.

(If you want to become a wedding photographer, check out More Brides where I reveal all the marketing secrets that helped me quickly grow my business.)

Once you do get a few clients, make it as easy as possible for them to recommend you. Word of mouth referrals are one of the best ways to net in new clients, and that’s true of any type of business!

If your clients are happy with your work, ask them to leave you positive reviews online, tag you on social media, and recommend you to their friends.

Also, create an email mailing list where you can keep existing and potential clients up to date with your work and aware of any special offers you might be running. Remember to ask for permission and give people an option to opt-out or unsubscribe.

Let’s not forget that nondigital marketing methods also exist. Don’t underestimate the power of business cards,  flyers and other physical marketing materials for distributing around your neighbourhood or pinning to the local notice board.

For example, if you’re a food photographer you might drop round to local restaurants and hand them a brochure or card.

Or if you want to get a foot in the door as a real estate photographer, you might do a letterbox drop to all your local estate agents.

Whether online or offline, find out where your target market hangs out and go there to introduce yourself.

Invest in photography business education

When you’re just learning how to start a photography business, it’s important to grasp the basics. Then, as your business grows, your knowledge of how to run it has to expand as well.

That’s where it can be worth investing in your photography business education. By investing, I’m talking about time as well as money.

In fact, sometimes time is all you need to invest thanks to the copious amounts of free resources online.

Some areas you might choose to study, whether via a free or paid course or workshop:

  • Understanding the full commercial photography workflow, from client briefs through to delivering the final product.
  • Pricing structures and how to charge for your services.
  • Business administration includes registering your business, filing taxes, etc.
  • Best practices for dealing with clients.
  • How to market and grow your business.

Your best bet is to determine where your knowledge gaps are, then start looking for ways to fill them.

And, of course, you should continue your photography education as well.

The best professional photographers are those who are always open to learning new things and developing their skills in every aspect of the art, whether it’s compositional techniques, lighting, post-processing and retouching, or something else.

Fortunately, a lot of free photography courses are available right here on Shotkit!

Start thinking about passive income for photographers

passive

Passive income is basically regular earnings that take little-to-no regular effort to maintain. In other words, you set up the income source and money kinda just rolls in while you sleep. Pretty sweet, huh?

So, how do photographers make passive income?

The most obvious is through stock photography. With stock photography sites , you can upload images and get a commission every time someone downloads one (normally, they’re used for commercial or editorial purposes).

The reality of the stock photography world is that thanks to digital photography, it’s highly saturated. So be aware that it takes some dedication and a high volume of photos to make a decent passive income.

That’s not to say it can’t be worth it – just that you should approach it realistically.

There are other potential passive income streams. You can sell digital products such as Lightroom presets or online courses and ebooks.

Or, you could use a print-on-demand service to offer products printed with your photographs .

If you write a photography blog, perhaps you want to start writing reviews of camera gear and link to sites like Amazon and B&HPhoto to earn a commission as an affiliate.

There are also platforms like Patreon that allow you to charge for content that you provide to your followers.

Think outside the box and see what passive income ideas you can come up with – it’s an excellent way to grow your revenue and ensure you have some income even in times of seasonal fluctuations.

Money and Photography Business FAQs

When researching how to start a photography business, you’ll likely have a ton of questions regarding money – how much it costs to start and run the photography business and how much you can expect to earn as a professional photographer .

We’ve answered all the most common queries below – feel free to leave a comment if you want to ask something specific.

  • How much money does it take to start a photography business?

It depends on what you’re shooting and how much equipment you need, but a good starting point is around US$10,000. That’s to cover basic camera gear, software, insurance and business registration fees.

  • How can I start a photography business with no money?

If you already have some basic camera gear and an internet connection, then you can start a photography business by simply getting out and shooting! Find clients using free marketing strategies and build up from there, reinvesting your earnings until you can buy adequate insurance, better gear, etc.

  • How much money do professional photographers make?

According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average photographer salary in the US is $43,114. However, photographer salaries vary greatly depending on country/location, experience level, education level and genre.

  • How much money does a photographer make per hour, a week, a month?

Careerexplorer.com states that the average wage for a photographer in the US is around $18.22 per hour; however, that figure ranges from as low as $10.36 per hour for someone starting out to $32.04 or more for an experienced shooter. ZipRecruiter pegs the monthly average salary at $3,592. Again, location is another big factor in how much you can expect to earn.

  • How much should I charge as a beginner photographer?

For a beginner, you’re probably looking at an hourly rate of US$25-$50 (or equivalent in your currency), or between $10 and $25 per image. Think about the time and expenses of the work for you and factor that into what you charge.

Final Words

I hope you found this guide to how to start a photography business useful. Moreover, I hope it genuinely inspired you to get out there and do it!

As I’ve found, starting your own photography business and being your own boss is incredibly rewarding. Yes, there are some challenges ahead, but I assure you, there’s nothing that you can’t overcome with a little perseverance!

So what do you think? Are you ready to take the leap?

If you have any other questions about how to start a photography business, please leave them below and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, if you have your own tips or want to share your experiences with venturing into the business world, do add them as well – simply leave a comment below.

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Mark Condon is a British wedding photographer and editor of Shotkit. When he’s not taking photos or reviewing the latest camera gear and software, Mark can be found cycling around the northern rivers.

As Jon Morgan, CEO of Venturesmarter.com, I couldn’t help but dive into this article on starting a photography business. With my extensive experience in helping startups and small businesses scale, I love exploring different entrepreneurial pursuits. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a photography business myself and capture all my consulting successes! This article provides a fantastic roadmap for budding photographers ready to take on the world, one click at a time. Keep up the great work, Shotkit!

I still don’t know where to go now. I have shot a few wedding films and have some engagement photos scheduled. Website is still a work in progress (cringe rn). Still, the business is actually there and working but i’m not a business as far as the government is concerned, you know? If I buy a new piece of gear, i can’t write that off as of now and get a tax break on the money I make. I’d like to get a body with 10 bit video and dual card slots for redundancy but would love to capture some of that as a business expense to soften the blow. Plus being licensed probably looks less armature to clients. I need to know where to go to actually like, fill out a form so that when tax season comes I can fill out a 1099. Any direction would be appreciated :)

Love these tips Mark. One thing that really accelerated my career was having a Mentor too! I use https://www.lisnic.com to connect with mine now, mentoring is honestly the way to go.

Thanks Taylor – are you associated with Lisnic? Looks interesting…

Thanks for this great article. Coincidentally my brother just wanted to start a photography business.

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Thanks to the proliferation of smartphones with sophisticated cameras on them (for mobile devices, that is), it seems like everybody wants to try their hand at being a photographer. But not everyone has what it takes to start a business.

There’s a vast difference between those who can take the perfect selfie and those who can capture the perfect moment and call themselves professional photographers. If you’re wondering how to start a photography business, know there's much more to it than pointing your iPhone and slapping on a filter.

As with any professional endeavor, starting a photography business requires a significant investment of time and money to secure equipment, register your business, and build your portfolio. Luckily, the photography industry startup costs are relatively lower than in other industries. Depending on your focus, needs, and current equipment, you can learn how to start your photography business step-by-step as soon as today.

business plan for photography

Step 1: Write a business plan

All business owners should write a business plan—that includes even solo photography businesses. A business plan is critical to outlining your services, understanding your target market, and setting your rates.

When you start thinking about these details upfront, it will help you start and scale your business to the heights you’ve always dreamed of. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy or tedious process either. Be sure to check out our guide on how to write a business plan to get you started.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Step 2: Register your business

Next, you'll want to register your business—meaning you legally establish your business. To do so, you should choose the right business entity for your business and choose a business name.

Choose a business entity

Many photography business owners register as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC). Each legal structure offers certain benefits.

The most popular advantage of sole proprietorships is that they’re free to form. However, a sole proprietorship doesn’t protect you against personal liability.

Many photography businesses form an LLC because you enjoy additional benefits like reduced liability and choosing to be taxed as a sole proprietorship or corporation. Moreover, having “LLC” in your business boosts your professional appearance.

The entity you choose will have a big impact on your business, from taxes to liability and more, so be sure to consult with a business attorney or tax professional if you're unsure of the right choice for you.

Choose a business name

Dedicate some time to thinking about your business name. It will be your potential clients’ first contact with your brand, and you want to ensure you strike a good first impression. After deciding on a business name, do a quick secretary of state business search to ensure the name is unique and available.

If you’re operating under a sole proprietorship, you'll want to file a DBA when registering your business. As a sole proprietorship, your business name defaults to your own legal name. If you want to operate under a different name (one that mentions photography, for instance), you'll need a DBA. DBA requirements can vary by state, so be sure to do your research.

Step 3: Obtain business licenses, permits, and insurance

Your business now legally exists, but to make sure you continue to operate legally, your next step is to obtain the proper business licenses, permits, and insurance.

Business license and permits

Securing the right business license or permit is key to learning how to start a photography business legally. Be sure to check with your local city hall and state licensing board to ensure you’re complying with the necessary regulations.

Business insurance

You may not think it necessary as a photography business, but you should always look into insurance. Insurance adds another level of protection from costly liability disputes if you ever encounter a disgruntled customer. Do some research into business insurance policies to shield you from professional and general liability.

Step 4: Set up EIN, bank account, and credit card

To start doing business, you'll need a separate place for your money to live. That's where EINs, bank accounts, and credit cards come in.

Obtain an EIN

Even if you’re a one-person photography business, you should still apply for an employer identification number, or EIN, from the IRS .

Your EIN is the business equivalent of a social security number for an individual, and you will include it when filing your business taxes with the IRS. Moreover, your EIN is crucial when opening your business bank account and applying for a business loan in the future, should you decide to.

Open a business bank account

It’s always a practical idea to separate your business and personal finances. Mixing your personal and business finances can compromise any legal protections gained from forming an LLC. Even sole proprietorships benefit from this division because it makes bookkeeping easier come tax season.

One way to distinguish your business and personal finances is to open a business checking account . You can deposit cash or invoice payments collected from your photography gigs in this account. Also, remember to use these bank account funds for business-related expenses only.

Open a business credit card

A dedicated business credit card is another practical tactic for separating your business and personal expenses. You may be surprised that you have a separate credit score for your business. By regularly using your business credit card, you boost your business’s financial health, helping you secure a business loan in the future.

Step 5: Purchase or upgrade your equipment

Professional photographers have top-of-the-line (read: often expensive) cameras. But you don’t need brand-new, expensive equipment when you’re first starting a photography business. As you gain more experience and increase your income, you can upgrade your toolkit over time.

“As a young photographer, I started with more amateur equipment—a camera, a lens, and a flash,” says Alexa Klorman, owner of Alexa Drew Photography in New York City. “Then, as my business grew and as I started to get more clients and increase my price, I wanted to make sure that the quality of my photos was validated in what I was charging.”

Startup costs

If you’re serious about your photography, you’ll want to create a business budget that will help you grow your toolkit. Below is a list of recommended tools and accessories with approximate prices:

Camera : $1,000 to $2,000

Camera lens: $1,000

Memory cards: $50

External drives: $100

Laptop for editing: $2,000

Website hosting : $50

Backdrops and lighting: $500

Editing software: $20.99 per month (Photoshop)

Tripod: $100

Camera bag: $150

Accounting software: $10 to $30 per month for basic plans

Chances are, you already have many of the items on this list, like a camera and laptop, which can dramatically reduce your startup costs.

Build a relationship with your supplier

Whether you need a new camera body or lens, or something simple like a memory card, you need a photography equipment supplier. Amazon is often a convenient and inexpensive marketplace to source your needs. But the cheapest option isn’t always the best.

“I go to Adorama in NYC. I love going there because I know the people there; I always go to the same guys. They always give me a good deal—they’re honest and kind,” says Klorman.

When you first start your photography business, Klorman recommends establishing a relationship with a local shop to keep track of your purchases. Being a loyal customer can open opportunities for cost-saving deals and even client referrals. The best part: You’re supporting a fellow small business owner.

Step 6: Price your services

When starting a photography business, pricing your services is where many people get stuck. Your formula should include time, plus labor, as well as a fee for using your resources. Here are a few tactics to help you set your prices:

Choose your niche

The niche you choose will influence the value of your photography services. For example, a professional wedding photographer can charge $2,000-plus for their services. In contrast, a family photographer might charge $400 for a photoshoot.

Choose what you want to focus on—whether it’s weddings, newborns, corporate events, or some combination of multiple areas—and then start accumulating samples to showcase your abilities. As you grow your portfolio, you can eventually raise your rates.

Check out the competition

To get an idea of where to start, do what Klorman did: Look to your peers and grow from there.

“I looked up other photographers in the area, and I started pretty low on the pricing scale. Then every few months, I’d bump it up a bit, then bump it up a bit. And I’d always say, ‘I’ll wait to see if inquiries and emails drop off, and if they do, I’ll lower it back down.’”

Of course, don’t raise your price just to raise it. Once you find yourself working with your preferred clientele, you can stick with a price that works for you. Similarly, stay firm on what you charge.

“I find that people generally accept my pricing; they don’t negotiate so much,” Klorman says. “I have my price, and I’m pretty strict about sticking to it because it’s a fair price. Because I’m transparent with what my packages cost, generally when people contact me, they’re ready to book.”

Figure out how long each job takes

Part of what may affect your pricing is how long each photography job takes. Also, be mindful of your time beyond the photoshoot—processing, editing, uploading, and distributing your photos are time- and labor-intensive. Be sure to factor these steps into your price point, so you’re not underpaid for all your hard work.

Portrait sessions generally last between one-and-a-half and two hours. This produces somewhere in the range of 75 to 100 images, edited in both black and white and color. Events can lead to hundreds of photos, though it depends on how long the event lasts.

Don’t be alarmed if you need a bit longer than this when you first start your photography business. You’re still settling into your workflow and deciding what works best for you. With time and experience, you’ll finish things more quickly and with improved quality.

Step 7: Market your business and find clients

With your photography business up and running, the next step is finding clients so you can start earning money. Here are some strategies to market your business.

Referrals are the lifeblood of many businesses, and the photography business is no exception. The most effective marketing—the kind that professionals would kill for—is positive word-of-mouth referrals. And it doesn’t cost a dime. When you’re starting your photography business, think about how you can develop positive referrals.

Klorman stands by word-of-mouth marketing, attributing 90% of her gigs to be referral-based. “I pride myself on my referrals,” she says. “I don’t invest money in marketing. I would rather spend more time making my clients feel awesome, giving them amazing photos, and building a relationship with them.”

Leverage social media

Social media is no longer only a tool to connect with old friends and family. Now, it’s a real business tool helping them connect with their target customers.

If you want to upgrade your marketing strategy, go to where your target customers are hanging out. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, join local Facebook groups for soon-to-be brides. Chances are, they’re on the lookout for a wedding photographer—a perfect opportunity to pitch your amazing services.

Instagram is another great way to build your portfolio. Instagram is a visual platform, and your stunning collage of photos might inspire a future business inquiry. Also, you can expand your reach by contacting wedding photography profiles to feature your work.

Tips for finding your first client

But what if you’ve never done a photoshoot or worked with a client before?

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business with no experience, worry not. If you don’t have a portfolio, you can do a free photoshoot for your friends and family. Yes, you’re giving your time and labor away for free, but this is often necessary for new photographers. In return, these free gigs will build your experience and create sample pieces that you can market to future clients.

While posting your photography on social media can be helpful, you may want to build your small business website. Getting your own real estate on the internet creates a central resource for prospects to view your work and contact you. Also, having a dedicated domain name for your business adds a professional flair to your brand.

Step 8: Sell your photography online

Don’t limit your income to only the photography gigs you do with clients. You can also learn how to start a photography business by selling your images online. Many websites need stock photos to enhance their content and branding, and stock photo sites will pay to add your work to their database.

If you want to supplement your photography income, here are stock photo marketplaces you can visit:

Adobe Stock

iStockPhoto

Getty Images

BigStockPhoto

DepositPhotos

Shutterstock

ZenBusiness

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

Photography isn’t just a popular hobby; it can be a legitimate business, provided you have a passion for capturing timeless memories. Starting a photography business takes as much dedication as any other business, but the bonus is your work can be visceral and affecting. It’s also a business that is easy to start small and build up.

So, stop messing around with the photo apps on your smartphone. If want to learn how to start a photography business on the side and grow it into a full-time income, it’s time to take what you learned and get started.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

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Photography Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Photography Business Plan Outline

  • Photography Business Plan Home
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Company Overview
  • 3. Industry Analysis
  • 4. Customer Analysis
  • 5. Competitive Analysis
  • 6. Marketing Plan
  • 7. Operations Plan
  • 8. Management Team
  • 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Photography Plan Here

Photography Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Photography business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Photography business.

Below are links to each section of a sample photography business plan. It can be used to create a wedding photography business plan, a commercial photography business plan, a portrait photography studio business plan or any other type of photography business plan.

1. Executive Summary 2. Company Overview 3. Industry Analysis 4. Customer Analysis 5. Competitive Analysis 6. Marketing Plan 7. Operations Plan 8. Management Team 9. Financial Plan

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What is a photography business plan.

A photography business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your photography business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Photography Businesses?

There are many types of photography businesses depending on the style of photography and target market. The most common and profitable type is event photography. Other types are stock photography, family/baby photography, travel, school, photojournalism and social media photography.

No matter what type of photography business you plan to start, you need a solid photography business plan. You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Photography Business?

The primary source of revenue for photography businesses are service fees for photoshoots and video, licensing fees and photo editing. Other revenues are also generated from product sales like prints, albums, cards, wall prints and canvas.

The key expenses for photography businesses are equipment expense, advertising, transportation, and labor or professional fees.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Photography Studio Business Plan?

Photography businesses are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings and credit card financing.

This is true for a wedding photographer, pet photography business, commercial photography business, a portrait photography business or any other type of photography services.

Download your plan in word or PDF to share with investors.

What are the Steps To Start a Photography Business?

Starting a photography business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Photography Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a photography business that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, data on the photography industry, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your photography business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your photography business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Photography Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your photography business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your photography business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Photography Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your photography business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your photography business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful photography business and photography business planning:

  • How to Start a Photography Business

Where Can I Get a Photography Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free photography business plan template PDF here . This is a sample photography business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Photography Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Growthink.com Photography Business Plan Template

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their photography businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a photography business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today. It can be used to create a photography studio business plan, or a commercial photography business plan or a plan for any other type of photography business.

Download our Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your photography business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

photography plan session

Source of Funding for Photography Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a photography business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for a photography business is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Below are the 10 sections of an example photography business plan:

Executive Summary

photographed

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of photography business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup or do you have a photography business that you would like to grow.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the photography industry. Discuss the type of photography business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of photography business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

  • Portrait photography : this type of photography business photographs people ranging from models to famous personalities on red carpets or at magazine shoots to graduation pictures, family portraits, and professional headshots for business people, aspiring models and actors.
  • Product photography : this type of photography business typically requires both artistic and technical expertise to adequately showcase consumer products.
  • Wedding and event photography : this type of photography business usually involves photographing everything from posed portraits to people and their candid moments to the venue and the food at weddings and other events.
  • Commercial photography : this type of photography business creates images for commercial purposes, such as advertising, marketing or instructional brochures or publications.

In addition to explaining the type of photography business you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, prestigious clients, etc.
  • Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

Female photographer business plan

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the photography industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards documentary-style event photography, it would be helpful to ensure your plan calls for instant cameras for guest contributions, or a drone, etc.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your photographer business plan:

  • How big is the photography business (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your photography business. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your photographer business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: celebrities, expectant and/or new moms, engaged couples, schools, online retailers, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of photography business you operate. Clearly schools would want different backdrops, pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than engaged couples.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most photography businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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With Growthink’s Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

celebrity

Direct competitors are other photography businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes amateur photographers and DIY-ers with smartphones. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who needs photography uses a professional photographer.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other photography businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be photography businesses offering similar services in a nearby location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

  • What types of customers do they serve?
  • What services do they offer?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you provide superior photography services?
  • Will you provide products or services that your competitors don’t offer?
  • Will you make it easier or faster for customers to book your services?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a photography business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of photography business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products and services you will be offering. For example, in addition to portraits, will you offer a documentary video of the shoot?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the menu services and packages you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your photography business. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your photography studio located next to a high-traffic retail development, or inside a mall, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.

Promotions : the final part of your photography business marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Making your photography studio’s storefront (if applicable) extra appealing to attract passing customers
  • Advertising in local papers and magazines
  • Social media marketing
  • Reaching out to local bloggers and websites
  • Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., package discount when booked through partner wedding planner)
  • Local radio advertising
  • Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

stylist planning

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your photography business such as serving customers, procuring supplies, scouting new photoshoot locations, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 100th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.

How to Finish Your Photography Business Plan in 1 Day!

Click here to finish your business plan today.

Management Team

To demonstrate your photography business’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the photography business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 10 customers per month or 50? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your photography business, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 product photography contract, that would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, equipment rentals, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During that 180 day period, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a photography business:

  • Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
  • Cost of equipment like cameras, lights, film, backdrops and props, software, etc.
  • Cost of ingredients and maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Taxes and permits
  • Legal expenses

Senior photographer planning

Photography Business Plan Summary

Putting together a business plan for your photography business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the photography business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful photography business.

Download Our Photography Business Plan PDF

You can download our photography business plan PDF here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.  

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my photography business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Photography Business Plan.

Where Can I Download a Photography Business Plan PDF?

You can download our photography business plan PDF template here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Photography Business Plan

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Believe it or not—anyone can take a few pictures, but it takes true skill and talent to get the perfect shot.

And If you’re the guy, everyone’s after asking to click pictures at every party or event, starting a photography business could be incredibly lucrative and satisfying.

However, making your photography business successful is more than just clicking good pictures. You need a solid business plan to ensure success.

Need help writing a business plan for your photography business? You’re at the right place. Our photography business plan template will help you get started.

Download the template and follow step-by-step instructions to draft your business plan in no time!

→ Download Now: Free Photography Business Plan

And though photography lets you fulfill your passion, it attracts a lot of competition due to its ease of entry.

Also, having a successful photography business takes a little more than skill. A photography business plan helps you deal with that, while you shutter away your masterpiece.

Industry Overview

According to the IBIS World industry report , the US photography market is expected to decline at a CAGR of 1.3 to reach 12.9 billion dollars in 2023.

With 7-8% profit margins, individual consumers and households make up the main customer base for the industry. Despite a minor recent decline, the photography industry is projected to experience consistent growth in the coming years.

Here are a few key industry highlights to consider:

  • Number of businesses: There are 258,450 operational photography businesses in the US in 2023.
  • Industry employment: 293,339+
  • Key players: Shutterfly Inc., Alamy Ltd.

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Things to Consider Before Writing a Photography Business Plan

You’ll need to focus on both the artistic and business sides of your trade.

Though having an excellent eye for proportion, dimensions, and light is great it isn’t enough to have a profitable business. You bring your skills to the table, but you’ll have to work as hard as any other business owner on your marketing, finance, and operations to have a profitable business.

And though it might seem intimidating, with the right amount of planning and strategizing you can do it smoothly.

Get the Pricing Right

It is important to study every aspect of the market and select the pricing strategy that suits your business the best. Your pricing as a photography business would depend a lot upon the niche you choose, your location, and the quality of your skills.

Develop Your Soft Skills

Good photography isn’t just about your skills with the camera, especially if you are dealing with people. You’ll need to make your customers feel at ease and have a friendly way of communicating.

This helps you become the person’s go-to photographer. As pictures aren’t just products you pay for, but memories that are cherished for years.

But at the same time, if communication isn’t your thing you don’t need to worry. As there are several other niches in photography that you can pick from.

Get the Right Equipment, but Don’t Go Overboard

The right camera, technical equipment, etc, are important to help you work effectively. But it doesn’t do to go over budget for it. Especially, if you are just starting out.

Pick the right equipment, but not the one that weighs down on your finances at the early stages of your business.

Why Do You Need a Photography Business Plan?

Product photoshot

As you are ready to enter the industry, it brings us to the above question, why does one need a photography business plan?

Aren’t you just supposed to dive right in if you are passionate enough?

The answer is, NO.

Though diving headfirst might sound appealing, it can lead to a series of roadblocks in the future. Also, a business plan isn’t as time-consuming as it may seem to you.

It increases the efficiency of your business and acts as a guide on your road to success. Moreover, writing a business plan helps you get a clear idea of your goals and the opportunities and threats that stand in your way of achieving them.

Also, a well-researched and innovative plan can help you get funded. An investor’s confidence in you is directly proportional to the clarity of your business idea. A business plan can help you achieve just that.

How to Write a Photography Business Plan?

Writing a business plan is not as intimidating as it seems. A well-rounded business plan requires thorough research of the industry, a clear set of goals, well-observed and carefully designed strategies to achieve them, and a clear list of milestones and timelines for all the departments of the business.

A business plan should include strategies for all departments from marketing to finance. There are several resources like online software, business consultants, and predesigned templates that can help you in writing the perfect business plan .

Writing a business plan has become a cakewalk through online business planning tools which can craft an ideal business plan for you at the snap of your fingers.

Chalking out Your Business Plan

Though anyone can click pictures with devices as simple as a smartphone, it takes skills, a sense of proportion, and creativity to make people stop scrolling.

In today’s world of photo-sharing apps where people grapple for attention, the demand for excellent photographers continues to rise.

Hence, with the advent of Instagram, the photography industry is growing leaps and bounds.

Photography Business Plan Outline

This is a standard photography business plan outline that will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

  • Introduction
  • Products and Services
  • Financial Path To Success
  • Keys to Success
  • Company History
  • Market Segmentation
  • Target Market Segment Strategy
  • Competition and Buying Patterns
  • Web Plan Summary
  • Website Marketing Strategy
  • Development Requirements
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Competitive Edge
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Sales Forecast
  • Year 1 – Digital Media Production
  • Year 2 – Digital Media Production
  • Year 3 – Digital Media Production
  • Important Assumptions
  • Projected Profit and Loss
  • Projected Cash Flow
  • Projected Balance Sheet
  • Ratio Analysis

As you sit down to write your business plan, it brings us to the question, what all things you will need to include in your business plan? Read on to find out.

1. Write an Executive Summary

The executive summary section of a business plan works as an overview of your business and acts as a highlight of its aims and goals. It should be brief and precise and sum up everything your business stands for.

It serves as a pitch of your business ideas to potential investors and should have the following points.

  • The kind of services your business offers (Eg. Commercial Photography, Travel Photography, etc.)
  • Your target audience (Eg. Models, travel bloggers, influencers, etc.)
  • Your strengths and past experiences
  • Your goals for the company.

2. Business Overview

Overview Image

In the business overview section, you’ll jot down all of the business ideas you have and analyze how to bring them to life.

This section would consist of an overview of the functioning of your business. as well as your mission statement.

While writing this section it is important to be as precise as possible It helps the stakeholders of your business to know it better.

3. Describe the Services You’ll Offer

In this section of your business plan, you have to list the services you are going to offer. This helps you get a clearer idea of how to advertise your services and how to reach out to your target audiences.

For example, if you are a landscape photographer all of your marketing strategy and the list of resources and services you’ll need will be built around that.

Also, your target audience would be travel websites and tourism companies. And the ways of reaching out to them would be different than reaching out to influencers or celebrities.

4. Market Analysis

The market analysis section is a crucial part of your business plan.

In this section, you’ll write down everything you can find about the photography market as well as resources that can help you stay updated about the recent trends in the market.

For example, as a photographer, it is essential to know the trending photography techniques.

You can also include the size of the market, your competitors, areas that have the highest growth potential, etc Know the right market value of services and identify the existing market gaps that you can fill.

Let’s consider there is no food photographer in your locality and the restaurants around you need one, you can specialize in food photography to capture that market.

5. Create a Website Strategy

Screenshot of Website

The Internet is the first place where people look for any product or service, hence your business must have a website to be discovered by clients.

A well-optimized website can help you in meeting a lot of potential customers.

Including a website strategy in your business plan is crucial.

6. Plan Your Finances

Your financial planning is one of the major deciding factors of whether your business will stay afloat or not.

In this section keep track of your company’s finances, jot down ways of making it more cost-effective. List down resources that can help you understand and manage your finances better.

Download a sample photography business plan

Need help getting started writing a business plan? Here you go; download our free photography business plan pdf to start.

It’s a modern business plan template designed for your photography center. Refer to the example business plan and follow step-by-step instructions to start writing your plan.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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Write your business plan with Upmetrics

A business planning tool like Upmetrics is the best way to draft your business plan. This incredible tool comes with step-by-step instructions, customizable templates, AI assistance, and business plan examples to help you get started.

You may also explore our library of Entertainment and media business plan examples before you start writing your plan.

So, whether you are starting a photography business or planning to grow an existing one, Upmetrics is the tool you need to create a business plan.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning now!

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Frequently asked questions, what are some common mistakes to avoid when drafting a photography business plan.

Following are some of the common mistakes to avoid when writing a photography business plan:

  • Inadequate and inaccurate financial projections.
  • Poor market research and ignoring industry trends.
  • Undefined goals and lack of details.
  • Not proofreading the document for typos and grammatical errors.
  • Including outdated and irrelevant information.
  • Not regularly updating your business plan.

What are some key financial metrics to include in a photography business plan?

Following are some of the key financial metrics to include in your photography business plan:

  • Balance sheet
  • Cash flow statement
  • Income statement
  • Break-even statement
  • Projected business ratios
  • Sales and revenue projections
  • Projected expenses

How can a photography business plan help in securing funding or investment?

A well-crafted photography business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping you secure investment.

Where to find business plan writers for your photography business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your photography business plan and outline your vision as you have in mind.

About the Author

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Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Start  Successful Photography Business via Unsplash

How to Start a Photography Business: 6 Helpful Steps

If you’re thinking about starting a photography business, you’ve probably got a lot of questions.

Is it worth the work? What are the pros and cons? How much money can you make? What equipment do you need? Should you specialize in a particular type of photography? How can you get clients?

There’s a lot to consider.

Still, if you love taking photographs and you’re willing to put in the work, it’s possible to earn a good living from your passion. As  Walt Disney once said , “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

In this article, we’ll run through how to start a photography business step-by-step.

The Pros and Cons of Starting a Photography Business

business plan for photography

Hobbies and businesses are two very different things.

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So, before you turn your passion into a livelihood, take a moment to consider the pros and cons of starting a photography business.

5 Pros of Starting a Photography Business

1. make money from your passion.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius once said , “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

If you decide to start a photography business, you’ll have the opportunity to spend a lot of your time doing the thing you love: taking photographs.

2. Find Meaning in Your Work

Photographers are hired to capture and preserve special moments forever. Whether the subject is nature, family portraits, weddings, or etc, photographers can find much meaning in their work.

3. Meet New People

Whether you meet people at weddings, in your portrait studio, or on location taking wildlife pictures, photography can be a great way to meet lots of new and interesting people. Most cities even have active meetup.com groups, who meet regularly to socialize.

4. Flexibility

Running a photography business can provide a lot of flexibility to you and your family. Unlike a traditional nine-to-five, you’re in complete control of your schedule. This makes it easier to prioritize childcare, vacations, and time with those you love.

5. Travel Opportunities

Do you love to travel and experience new places? Many photographers make travel a regular part of their work. Simply book clients in locations you’d like to visit.

5 Cons of Starting a Photography Business

Photography Business Equipment via Unsplash

1. Expensive Equipment Costs

Depending on how much equipment you already have, it can be expensive to purchase everything you need to start a photography business.

2. Fickle Customers

Some customers can be difficult or draining. Also, some events can be stressful and bring out the worst in people. For example, if you decide to photograph weddings, you may come across the occasional “bridezilla.”

3. Unsociable Working Hours

Many photography shoots happen outside of normal working hours during the evenings and weekends. This can make it challenging to spend time with friends and family who work or go to school during the week.

4. Inconsistent Income

As with any small business, income isn’t always consistent, and it can take time to build a regular flow of work. When starting, you’ll likely experience surges and dips in your income. 

5. You Could Spoil Your Passion

As mentioned above, hobbies and businesses differ in many ways. Turning your hobby into a business can take the fun and spontaneity out of it, and photography could end up feeling like boring, tedious work.

9 Photography Business Ideas

The most successful photographers specialize in a particular type of photography. Why? In short, specialists are most sought after than generalists.

Think about it: If you’re getting married, would you rather hire a general photographer or someone who specializes in weddings?

So, before you start your photography business, take some time to decide what type of photography business you want to run.

To help, here’s a list of nine common photography business ideas.

1. Wedding Photography Business

Wedding photographers are needed to help capture and preserve every couple’s big day.

wedding photography via unsplash

2. Portrait Photography Business

Families, actors, models, and business people all need a portrait photographer from time-to-time.

3. Real Estate Photography Business

Realtors, property managers, homeowners, hotels, and even Airbnb hosts all need stunning photos to help them market their properties.

4. Travel Photography Business

Travel photographers provide stunning photographs to countries, cities, magazines, blogs, hotels, and tourist attractions. These photographs can be used for entertainment or promotional purposes.

5. Event Photography Business

Event photographers are needed for birthday parties, graduations, business events, and religious celebrations.

6. Food Photography Business

Restaurants, food brands, and advertising agencies often use specialist food photographers to showcase their products or menu items.

7. Fashion Photography Business

Designers, magazines, and runway events all need fashion photographers to capture and promote the latest styles and creations.

8. Sports Photography Business

Sports photographers specialize in capturing the excitement, action, and drama of sports events.

9. Product Photography Business

Businesses selling products need presentable photos to use for marketing and sales.

How to Start a Photography Business?

Now, you’re probably wondering:

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Photography Business?

Before you start a photography business, it helps to have a rough idea of how much getting set up will cost – especially as professional photography equipment isn’t cheap.

So, how much does it cost to start a photography business? 

Well, Jamie Swanson , a wedding photographer in Wisconsin, USA, calculated the total costs of starting two different types of photography businesses. Here’s what she found:

  • Total costs of starting a portrait photography business: $8,524 – $12,319
  • Total costs of starting a wedding photography business: $13,182 – $16,977

She summarized by saying, “For less than $10,000, you can start a portrait photography business and for less than $15,000, you can start a wedding photography business.”

Okay, but what exactly do you need all of this money for?

What Do I Need to Start a Photography Business?

If you’ve been an amateur photographer for a while, you may already have most of the equipment you need.

Still, you should consider whether the quality of your equipment is high enough to produce work that you can confidently charge for.

What’s more, you’ll likely need to purchase some additional equipment and services to run your photography business. 

Here’s a list of everything you may need to start a photography business.

Photography Equipment

Let’s start by running through the gear you’ll need when setting up a photography business.

1. Professional Camera

Of course, the most important piece of equipment you’ll need is a professional-grade camera. Before you purchase a camera, make sure to do plenty of research on the best make and model for your type of photography.

Photography Camera via Unsplash

2. Backup Camera

As a professional photographer, it’s always good practice to have a high-quality backup camera. That way, if you’re ever mid-shoot and something goes wrong with your camera, you can continue the shoot. 

Just imagine if you were hired to photograph a wedding and your camera broke during the vowels!

Every photographer needs a set of professional lenses to capture their subjects. Again, make sure to research the types of lenses most suitable for your style of photography.

Tripods are a vital piece of equipment for all photographers. Not only do they help keep your camera steady, but they also allow you to take many photos of a subject without altering your frame.

5. Camera Bag

Professional-grade cameras and lenses aren’t cheap, so be sure to protect them from damage with a dedicated camera bag. These bags also make it easier to organize and access your gear while out on a shoot.

6. Lighting

Great photographs require great lighting. Although natural lighting is often best, you’ll need to get some lighting equipment or reflectors to help you take great photos when there’s not enough sunlight. 

7. Backdrops

If you plan on starting a portrait photography business, you’ll need to create or purchase some backdrops.

Depending on the type of photographs you plan to take, you may want to source some props. For example, if you’re an events photographer, you could gather some party props like oversized glasses and silly hats.

9. Reliable Car or Van

As a professional photographer, your livelihood will depend on your ability to provide a quality service to clients. In other words, turning up late – or not at all – because your car broke down is very bad for business. Make sure that you have reliable transportation for you and your gear.

10. Studio Space

Depending on the type of photographs you plan to take, you may need to purchase or rent some studio space. Alternatively, you could create a small studio in your home.

11. Computer

You’ll need a reliable computer to market your business, edit photos, and manage your photo files.

12. Editing Software

You’ll also need some professional photo editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom to fine-tune your photographs.

If you use a desktop computer with a large screen for photo editing, you may also want to invest in a laptop to edit on-the-go.

14. External Hard Drive

High-quality digital photos can take up a lot of hard drive space on your computer – and this can slow your computer down. Instead, invest in an external hard drive to store your photo files.

15. Photo Printer

If you plan on offering prints to your clients, you may want to consider investing in a photo printer. Alternatively, you could locate a local printing service to use whenever you need to print photos for clients.

16. Smartphone with a Quality Camera

Although you’ll need to use your professional-grade camera for shoots, you can use your smartphone to capture behind-the-scenes content for social media. You can use this content to promote your photography business.

17. Mobile Photography Apps

You may also want to download some photo editing apps to polish your smartphone photos before you share them online. Check out Snapseed , Lightroom CC , Scratch Photos , and Photoshop Express (picture below).

Adobe Photoshop Express App

Marketing Tools

Now that you’ve got your gear sorted let’s take a look at some of the tools you’ll need to market your photography business.

18. Website and Online Portfolio

You’ll need a professional website that presents your services and showcases your previous work. (More on this later.)

19. Social Media Channels

It can help to be active on social media platforms like Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and LinkedIn . You can use these channels to promote your work and network with potential clients.

20. Business Cards

Business cards are a tried-and-true form of personal marketing. Always keep a few with you and share them with new contacts at events and shoots. To create yours, check out services like Vistaprint , Office Depot , and Staples.

Operational Tools

Now, let’s take a look at some tools to manage your business operations.

21. Payment System

As a business, you’ll need an efficient way to collect payments from clients. Ideally, this system would allow you to take payments online, over the phone, and in person.

A cost-effective and straightforward way to do this is to use Shopify's Point of Sale system . 

Shopify is a complete commerce solution that you can use to build your website, manage your business, and take payments.

22. Business License

You may need to register your business with your local or state government. Make sure to look into the requirements for photography businesses in your area.

23. Insurance

Accidents happen. You may wish to purchase business or equipment insurance to help protect you if things go wrong.

24. Accounting Software

When you become self-employed, you’ll need to keep track of your finances and submit tax returns. You may want to consider using an accounting program to help, such as Freshbooks , Quickbooks , or Xero .

25. Client Contracts

Whenever you get a new client or project, it’s good practice to have the other party sign a contract. This helps to protect you if things go wrong and clarifies to both parties what’s expected from the arrangement. You could purchase contract templates or hire a local lawyer to create contracts for you.

26. PPA Membership

You may wish to become a member of the Professional Photographers of America . This is an organization that provides resources, advice, and education to professional photographers. 

How Much Do Photographers Charge?

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business, you’re probably also wondering, “how much do photographers charge?”

Although there’s no fixed answer to this question, we can explore some averages to get a general idea.

According to the business platform Fash , professional photographers often charge between $100 and $250 USD per hour. This typically works out as $25 to $100 per final edited photograph.

It’s important to note that how much a photographer earns is mostly dependent on their level of skill, experience, and the type of photography they’re doing. Check out the image below to learn more.

Fash How Much Do Photographers Charge Per Hour in USD

What’s more, average day rates for photography services range from $300 to $500 for birthday parties and $1,000 to $3,000 for weddings.

Also, remember that this is what photographers charge – it isn’t what photographers make.

Although a photographer may charge $200 per hour, they need to subtract the cost of administration, travel, marketing, equipment, and editing time. Once they’ve taken these additional costs into account, their take-home pay will be less.

How to Name Your Photography Business

When naming your photography business, there are two basic options available:

  • Use your name and simply call you business, “Jane Smith Photography” or “Jane Smith Wedding Photography.”
  • Create a new brand name for your photography services, like “Luxe Photography” or “Luxe Wedding Photography.”

If you chose option number one, you’re all set.

However, if you choose option two, there are a few things to consider. To start, you need to choose a name that fits the type of photography business you’re starting.

For example, “Happily Ever After Photography” will work nicely if you're photographing weddings. But it might not work so well if you’re shooting corporate business conferences.

To help brainstorm ideas, check out Shopify’s business name generator .

Next, you need to make sure that your business name isn’t already trademarked. In the US, to get started with this process, perform a TESS trademark search on the USPTO website using the “basic word mark search” function.

It’s also worth searching Google to see if another business is already using the name or using a similar name that could be confused, like “Happily Ever After Videography .”

If you find someone else using the name, it’s best to avoid it and find something original.

How to Brand Your Photography Business

Before you can start marketing your photography business, you’ll need to create your brand visuals.

This means choosing a visual style, colors, and fonts. You can use these visuals on your website, social media channels, business card, and any other marketing materials you create. 

It also helps to create a professional logo. You can do this for free with Hatchful .

It took just a few minutes to create the logo below. And as you can see from the image, Hatchful provides ready-made branding images optimized for social media.

Branded Photography Business with Hatchful

How to Market Your Photography Business

Now comes the most important part of starting a photography business: landing clients. To do this, you need to market your services.

But before you start marketing your photography business, it helps to have a portfolio of work to showcase your skills. And the easiest way to display your photography portfolio is by building a professional website. 

You can do this with a service like Shopify . This service has tons of website themes built specifically for art and photography businesses.

To learn more about building your photography website, check out our guide, How to Make a Website.

Once you have an online portfolio, you can start marketing your photography business.

Begin by posting on social media and reaching out to people in your network to ask if they know anyone who may be interested in your services. It’s not uncommon for a photographer's first few clients to be people they know.

Also, make sure that you always have some business cards in your bag to give to people you meet.

Once you’ve done these steps, start networking in Facebook groups related to your target market. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer in New York, you might want to join New York Weddings .

You could also attend trade shows and events in your target market. For example, if you’re a pet photographer you could find many potential clients at dog shows.

Summary: How to Start a Photography Business

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business, here are some steps you can take:

  • Weigh the pros and cons
  • Specialize in a particular type of photography, such as weddings, fashion, or portraits
  • Figure out how much it will cost you to get started
  • Gather your equipment, like cameras, lenses, and editing software
  • Get your business in order with a payment system, business license, insurance, and contracts
  • Work out your pricing model
  • Choose a name for your photography business
  • Create a logo, and brand your business
  • Start marketing your business

Turning your hobby into your livelihood can be very rewarding. Good luck!

Want to Learn More

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FAQs on How to Start a Photography Business

How much money does it take to start a photography business.

Many photographers budget at least $5,000 to get started, but the actual figure depends on what type of business you are planning to start.

Portrait photography incurs lower starting costs than wedding photography, for example. How much you need also depends on your marketing budget, equipment, and what your long-term business goals are. 

How can I start a photography business with no money?

Here are some ways to start a photography business with no money:

  • Don't buy equipment, rent it instead
  • Learn the basics of photography from free courses and videos available online
  • Brush up on your skills by practicing with friends and family
  • Invest some time into building your business website instead of outsourcing it to others

How do I start my photography career?

The main camera aside, you'll also need equipment like a backup camera, lenses, a tripod, a camera bag, proper lighting, backdrops, props, a computer or laptop, and editing software.

You may also require marketing and operational tools if you're starting your own photography business.

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Home » Blog » How to write a successful photography business plan.

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How to write a successful photography business plan.

How to Write a Successful Photography Business Plan

Whether you want to know how to start a photography business or take your existing one to the next level, the best place to start is with a plan. A photography business plan is a document that outlines what you hope to accomplish with your business. 

As your business comes to life or goes through change, you can use a business plan to measure your progress and re-calibrate your professional goals. In addition, if you are planning to pitch your business to potential investors for brand partnership opportunities, a business plan is one of the documents you can use to help bring credibility to your business.

However, learning how to start a photography business the right way doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Taking the right steps to showcase your photography services beyond your online portfolio website can set you off on the right foot and continuously help you attract the caliber of clients you want.

Why you need to make a photography business plan. 

Running a small business is hard. You may have heard the lifespan statistic that 20% of small businesses fail in their first 2 years, 30% fail in their first 3 years, and 50% fail after operating for 5 years. While this number is discouraging, the number one reason for the small business mortality rate is the lack of financial planning.

This is why using available tools is essential to your business’s long-term success and to your ability to grow your business. A business plan is critical in keeping you on track with your business goals and identifying where your business is lagging before, during, and after growth.

The main components of a photography business plan.

While you can customize the components of a photography business plan to suit your needs, the standard components are:

  • Executive summary
  • Business description
  • Product or service portfolio
  • Target market
  • Competitive landscape 
  • Marketing approach
  • Operations & logistics

These elements work together to provide you and your possible stakeholders with a fulsome portrait of your business and its potential. We will go into further detail about these individual components in the following sections.

Write an executive summary.

The executive summary is a 50-250 word section at the start of your photography business plan that focuses on big-picture goals and outcomes of your company. This section summarizes the entirety of the document and should serve as the “elevator pitch” for your company, and its unique position to succeed. A good question to ask when compiling your executive summary is, “What are 3-5 things I want my clients to remember me by?”

Some of the elements to include in your executive summary are your experience, your specialties (ex. commercial photography , landscape , or wedding photography ), and key components of your business that contribute to your success, such as your marketing efforts or a unique angle you bring to the industry.

Explain your company in a business description.

While you may have a clear vision for your business inside your head, being able to succinctly express it to clients and stakeholders is key to your professional success. When compiling your description, it’s important to be as specific as possible.

First, learn about different organizational structures and the associated terms that come with the territory. Are you running a sole proprietorship, partnership, an incorporated company, or another type of business?

Second, your business description should also outline additional details including the history of your business. It gives possible stakeholders an idea of what your business is about and how it began.

In addition, you want to share your business’ mission statement. Because you will go into more details about the offerings and other aspects of your business, it’s best to keep your company description simple and provide only a high-level overview.

Describe your product and services.

This is the place to talk about the types of photography services and products you offer, and the ones you plan on expanding into in the near future. 

As part of your product and services description, provide a comprehensive pricing model. Your pricing model should cover the types of sessions, services (shooting, editing, formatting) you offer, and their associated fees. For example, do you offer mini photography sessions or 2-hour shoots? Is there a sliding scale for editing services, color correction, or airbrushing? Do you handle the physical production of photos, or is the handoff done digitally?

A competent photography business relies on the client’s clear understanding of your “menu” of skills and services.

Lastly, detail the types of services you offer and the types of products you want to focus on that bring you the most income.

Determine your target market.

Targeting your customers is no simple task, as small business owners want to serve everyone. Nevertheless, it helps you to focus on your customers who need your products. You’ll end up wasting money marketing your product to people who don’t need it or have any interest in it.

Understanding your target audience means researching your local market to identify where demand exists. You can search forums and Facebook groups to see what kinds of photographers people are hiring and how much they’re willing to pay. 

For example, a professional wedding photographer should join relevant local event planning and vendor groups on social media to build connections and promote their wedding photography services. Keep in mind that a wedding photographer often has to travel to a location to shoot the wedding, and make sure to factor it into your project estimates. 

While a target audience looks different for everyone, it’s important for your photography business to have a few areas of specialty that help build up credibility and steadily bring in clients.

Conduct a competitive analysis.

As you conduct research on your local market, you will start to discover there are a number of different photographers that offer similar services as you. To create a thorough competitive analysis, take the list of competitors, and evaluate them in different areas. Conducting this analysis will help you determine what sets yours apart.

When looking at your competitors, consider the following questions:

  • Are my product offering and pricing model as straightforward as theirs?
  • What is their tone of voice (ex. humorous/expert/familial)?
  • Who is their target audience?
  • What do they bring to the table that I do not, and vice versa?
  • How can I differentiate myself from them?

To help you understand how your business is perceived, you can seek the help of a brand marketing professional. To take a more DIY approach, you can send your portfolio website to a roundtable of friends and colleagues and ask them how they would describe your business. Collecting these adjectives and looking for common threads can help you understand how your business is perceived and use these findings to your advantage in your marketing efforts.

Conducting a thorough competitive analysis can help you determine your own competitive edge and stay abreast of the competition. As a best practice, get into the habit of conducting a competitive analysis on an annual basis to stay informed about how your industry and your local market evolve over time.

Detail your marketing strategies.

In marketing, there is a saying that goes, “hope is not a strategy.” Yet many organizations allow an “if you build it, they will come” mentality to drive clients toward their marketing efforts.

In reality, a continuous funnel of new and repeat customers is what ensures their long-term success. This is why continuous marketing efforts are the number one way to ensure a consistent workload. Your marketing should work in tandem with a greater marketing plan that aligns all your efforts.

Because stakeholders and investors know the importance of marketing, they will look for a comprehensive and proactive marketing strategy when evaluating your business plan. This is why it’s important to outline the various marketing mechanisms you plan to use in your marketing plan.

Your marketing strategies encompass your marketing programs and your photography portfolio. 

Marketing programs.

Marketing programs mean any platforms, channels, or mechanisms you use to promote your company and attract customers. These may include email marketing campaigns, direct mail initiatives, local photography directory memberships, trade shows, your social media presence, and any paid social media advertising campaigns.

Photography portfolio.

Your online photography portfolio is an essential part of your marketing toolkit. After you make your potential customers aware of your business with your marketing programs, they will seek out a digital presence to explore your abilities as a photographer and to see if there is a fit. A portfolio experience can make or break a client lead, which is why it’s important to invest in a portfolio website that represents the unique offering your photography brings to the world. You can learn how to build a portfolio website the right way with our helpful guide.

Think about operations. 

While service businesses like photographers traditionally have fewer logistics than brick-and-mortar ones, it’s still important to consider the day-to-day logistics and expenses when compiling your business plan.

The operations portion of your photography business can include details like information about where you conduct work.  Many photographers choose to conduct business out of a home studio or office, holding a majority of their sessions at outdoor locations, client homes, and occasionally utilizing a professional studio. Meanwhile, commercial photographers almost always rely on a professional studio to conduct their business. 

Because different types of photographers have different operational needs, stakeholders will look for this information in your business plan to help assess the overhead cost of the operations. Understanding your operations also helps you to plan for potential opportunities in the future.

Draft your financial plans. 

This portion of your photography business plan is important to understanding the overall factors in the cash flow of your venture. Cash flow refers to the amount of money going in and out of your business. 

While compiling this section of your business plan may take the most time, it’s important to get it right to have an accurate understanding of the amount of money it takes to run your photography business, and which investments (ex. new lenses or editing software) are feasible within your business profits.

If you are a new business owner getting into photography, this section of the plan is where you outline the equipment you hope to invest in and what types of services it will be used for. Consider that as a professional photographer, you may need to invest in two copies of every item in case of malfunction. Some photographers, who may be just starting out, may use rental equipment to help them offset the costs of duplicates. However, the cost of renting can add up, which is why purchasing may be the cheaper option in the long run.

As a photographer, you are investing in hardware and software that is imperative to your job. To protect yourself, consider insuring your photography equipment and professional computer in case of theft. You can outline your insurance policy coverage and its cost in the financial portion of your plan. 

Create a timeline.

For photographers, a timeline is a management tool that helps you keep your business goals on track. Some of the key activities to include in your timeline are marketing, financial, investing, and operational in nature. 

In your timeline, consider setting goals for when you expect to pay back for the items listed in the financial portion of your plan. Calculating how many completed photography sessions it would take to cover the cost of the item can help you calculate this date.

It’s important to remember that timelines don’t need to be complicated. You can simply write down the task and the date by which you hope to complete it in sequential order. To help you stay on track, you can put reminders in your email calendar that notify you when you are nearing the anticipated completion of a task, as well as your personal deadline for its completion.

Putting your photography business plan together.

Compiling a photography business plan is an important step in starting your business and in evolving an existing one. While our photography business plan outline contains all the elements to run a successful photography business, there is nothing like drawing inspiration from what’s out there. A tried and tested photography business plan sample can give you the guidance you need to brainstorm the ins and outs of your business.

While all photography business plans are slightly different, most professional photography business plans are clear about their vision and how they want to get there. We’ve collected sample photography business plans from some of the best and most successful photographers in the industry and made readily editable templates for a fast and comprehensive photography business plan.

If you are just starting with your venture and feel a little lost, be sure to check out startup costs for your photography business and three business questions new photographers often ask . These guides give you the important information you need to get started on turning your photography dream into a viable business.

Photography business plan examples.

A sound business plan will set you on the path to success as a photographer. Whether you are a studio photographer, wedding photographer, or anything in between, these industry-specific photography business plan examples will help you kickstart your career.

Photography studio business plan.

If you run a photography studio, the most important element of your business plan is the photography business description. This segment in your photography studio business plan consists of a thorough description of all of the activities you engage in and the services you offer.

By keeping a detailed checklist, you can be clearer with your clients about the studio photography services you offer and market your business accordingly. Our guide to photography marketing shows you how to attract new clients the right way, without spending a dime.

Wedding photography business plan.

Creating a wedding photography business plan is a crucial step in better understanding your market and the opportunities you can leverage with your skills and experience. If there are any specific photography services you offer that other wedding competitors don’t, make sure to include them in your business plan.

If you are looking for a place to start, a simple Google search will provide you with a range of wedding photography business plan samples to work from, which can be tailored specifically to your business.

Now that you are armed with your photography business plan, you can attract better clients and be prepared for the future with a firm grasp of your competitive edge and industry shifts. Don’t forget that along with a solid business plan you need a beautiful website portfolio to show off your work and start getting clients.

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Cheryl Dell'Osso

Cheryl is the Director of Content Strategy at Zenfolio and the Owner/Photographer at Portraits by Cheryl and Seniors by Cheryl in Raleigh, NC. Cheryl has mentored countless new photographers looking to build successful photography businesses.

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10 Key Steps for Writing Your Photography Business Plan

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A surprising number of photographers never write a photography business plan. If you plan to embark on a career as a freelancer, you need a plan. A business plan is a road map to success. It outlines your business-related goals and how you intend to achieve them. There is no need to have a very formal business plan. But the components of a traditional business plan can help you be more specific about your goals. This way, you are more likely to achieve them.

The Components of a Photography Business Plan

Create an executive summary.

The Executive Summary is where you define your photography business . What will be the legal structure of your business? Will you be operating as a sole proprietor? This is an overview of your business. It lays out how your business will meet the needs of your target clients. It’s helpful to write out a mission statement for your photography business. You should have tangible objectives and the keys to success.

Write a Product and Service Description

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Consider Your Target Market

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Assess the Competition

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Develop Key Marketing Strategies

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Consider Your Operations Strategy

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Plan the Financials

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SWOT Analysis

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Make a Timeline

A photography business plan checklist

Preparation and goal setting are crucial to success in any business. A plan for your photography business can make all the difference. Start today by working on your photography business plan. If you can set aside 30 to 60 minutes a day, you’ll finish before you know it. And then you’ll be far ahead of most photographers, who have no plan whatsoever! Now you’ve worked out how to make your business plan, check out our posts on how to price your photography services or use social media marketing next!

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This article was updated on December 2, 2022

Starting a successful photography business involves more than having a camera and a keen eye for beauty. As a business owner, you must also have a solid business plan.

Without one, your professional photography business may have no legs (or tripods) to stand on. 

Creating a photography business plan is simple. This complete guide will cover all you need to know about writing a comprehensive business plan—from executive summaries to competitive analyses. 

What to include in a photography business plan:

  • Write an executive summary
  • Describe your photography business
  • Outline your products and services
  • Analyze your finances and list out business expenses
  • Understand your competition and the photography industry
  • Devise a sales and marketing strategy
  • Set operations logistics and management structure
  • Perform customer and market analysis
  • Establish a timeline and exit strategy
  • Round out your business plan with Nextdoor

1. Write an executive summary

Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of running your own photography business since the day you picked up your first disposable camera, or maybe you just started outlining your vision in recent months. Whatever the case may be, you’ll need to match those dreams with quantifiable business goals and a clear course of action. 

Defining your mission is one of the most important aspects of a strong business plan and almost always comprises the first section. In the executive summary, you will explain your business details such as your business name, and a summary of your business plan in a few sentences.

When defining your business as a professional photographer, it’s crucial to cover two key components: the executive summary and the business description.

2. Describe your photography business

Following the executive summary, the business description section is the place where you'll describe the ins and outs of your business.

Effective photography business descriptions usually contain the following information:

  • A history of your business
  • An overview of your business structure

Let's break down these two essential components further.

As a professional photographer, your business's history is more than just a summary of facts. It's your unique story . Your passion for what you do should come through in every line.

Include life and color into your business plan by detailing the following:

  • Your personal relationship with photography
  • Your professional work experience
  • The origins of your business and the values you intend to uphold

Describing your history with photography not only gives potential stakeholders an inside look at your motivations but also gives you an outline for an "About" section on your future website.

REAL BUSINESS EXAMPLE: Johnson City, Tennessee's Hunter Kittrell Photography is a business that knows the power of storytelling. Their website's "About" section mentions how the business's founder, Hunter Kittrell, got his start in photography after college and how his love of adventure inspires his work. Look to this small business as a model for your own and add in all of your business's unique details to compel potential clients to work with you.

Business structure

Few business descriptions are complete without an outline of the business structure. To define your business structure, consider the following:

  • Type - Is your business a sole proprietorship or an LLC? A partnership or corporation? If you're just starting out, there's a good chance your photography business will be a sole proprietorship. However, if you're thinking of future growth (and outside funding), it may be wise to consider an LLC. Whichever business type you choose, providing this information in your business plan will help you think through the management and other logistical structures.
  • Management and business operations - Most U.S. photography businesses have less than two employees . However, if you're planning on employing more people and/or having a detailed managerial structure, it may be wise to include this in your business description. Furthermore, it may be helpful to include details about business hours and studio location(s).

While businesses, especially startups, can experience a number of operational changes during the first couple of years, outlining your initial business structure is a smart way to set up your photography business for continued success.

3. Outline your products and services

The best business plans clearly specify the business's products and photography services. As you draft your plan include the following details:

  • Photography type - Will your business specialize in commercial photography, marketing photography, landscape photography, portrait photography, pet photography, or wedding photography? Will you mainly shoot individual portraits or family portraits? Identifying your niche in the photography industry in your business plan will allow you to structure other elements of your business model around that particular focus.
  • Pricing model - When it comes to the financial aspects of your business, few details are more important than your business's pricing model. Will you charge by the hour or by the photoshoot (regardless of time)? Is photo editing included in the package or is there an additional cos t ? Look at other photographers for example pricing; likely event photography pricing is structured differently than landscape photography. You would also need to consider your business expenses and budget when setting your rates. Being as specific as possible about your pricing model will help you estimate your income and also p rovide a clear outline of your rates for potential clients.

REAL BUSINESS EXAMPLE: Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Image of Home Real Estate Photography is a small business with a big-time, three-tier pricing model. Their website states that they charge by the square foot and offer the additional benefit of same-day image delivery. This pricing model was, more than likely, hashed out in the business plan. Settle on the pricing specifics for your business and be sure to share them on your online platforms so that they are clearly visible to the public.

4. Analyze your finances

When it comes to financial planning, the more you can foresee, the better. This will keep you from overextending your budget in terms of expenses or overestimating your revenue in your first year. 

To adequately plan for finances, detail the following in your business plan:

  • Expenses – Expenses include everything from ordering business cards to the cost of equipment to your studio space. Make a list of everything you’ll need to pay for to get your business up and running. Doing so will also help you budget for the unknown, such as buying an extra lens in case one breaks or hiring an assistant to lend a hand on a particular photo shoot.
  • Projected revenue – To stay afloat in the long run, you’ll need to bring in more revenue than you’re spending. As a result, it’s wise to calculate your projected revenue alongside your expenses in your business plan—especially in the first year. These calculations will allow you to budget properly and change your strategy should your financial situation change.
  • Set up bank accounts and EIN - Most professional photographers tend to work independently or work by case. Therefore, it is better to separate your work bank accounts and credit cards from your personal accounts to manage your finances. Further, even if this is a small business, you still need to apply for an EIN (employee identification number) from the IRS for legal purposes.

In addition, figuring out where you stand financially will enable you to find room in your budget for marketing strategies and competitive analysis metrics.

5.  Understand your competition

An often overlooked, yet highly important, section of most business plans is the competitive analysis section. 

Researching your competition is beneficial for many reasons. Not only will you better understand your competition’s pricing models and services, but you’ll also learn how you can set yourself apart from competitors. Given the fact that there are more than 40,000 professional photographers in the U.S. , knowing how to stand out in the industry will make sure your one-of-a-kind business doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. 

When writing your competitive analysis section, it’s helpful to answer the following questions:

  • How many photographers are located in my area?
  • Am I fulfilling a specific niche (i.e. landscape, portrait, etc.)?
  • What are my competitor’s pricing models?
  • What are their marketing strategies?
  • What are my competitors doing well? What could they improve upon?
  • Who are my potential client pods and are they overlapping other existing photography businesses?
  • How will I provide a necessary and unique photography service?

Of course, there are many more questions you could ask when thinking about your competition, but these should help you get started.

6. Devise a sales and marketing strategy

Good business plans almost always focus on business growth. But to grow your business and attract new clientele, you need to market yourself. 

Detailing your marketing strategy is, therefore, a crucial component of a strong business plan. If you’re wondering how to get photography clients, you’ll want to employ a number of different marketing tactics.

When writing the marketing section, it’s helpful to think of the following strategies:

  • Social media marketing – Given that social media is a major conduit of ideas and information, it’s important to develop a social media strategy for your photography business. As a photographer, your portfolio and past works are the best marketing materials. Image-sharing platforms make the most sense, but you’ll want to consider the potential of other platforms, too. For example, if you want to attract local clientele , the best way to connect with your neighborhood is on Nextdoor. This community-minded platform allows you to set up custom business ads or create a Business Page where you can showcase important aspects of your business—from operating hours to services.
  • Email marketing – In your business plan, detail how you intend to use email to market yourself. Will you send around a quarterly email discussing new trends in the photography world? Will you deliver special holiday emails urging your target audience to take advantage of discounted holiday shoots? Generating an email list is an effective way to keep clients in the loop about what’s happening with your business.
  • SEO marketing – SEO, or search engine optimization, is a critical strategy that will help drive potential customers to your website. To improve the quality of your site, you’ll want to decide which type of keywords are important to your business and build content around them to make your website more discoverable by Google and other search engines. You can do this by adding informational content to different pages on your website, as well as creating a photography blog with helpful tips and information for users. For example, if you are a portrait photographer, you can add keywords such as family pictures or graduation portfolio photos.

7. Set operation logistics and management structure

This section gives you the opportunity to first think through the details of your business workflow then define how you will manage the logistics of your day to day operations. A major part of your photography business will likely be post processing and photo editing before final delivery. Spend time defining how long editing will take after a shoot. How many days afte r a shoot will you promise delivery to your customers? What methods of payment are you planning to accept? Other topics to address in this section may include:

  • Primary and backup suppliers
  • Equipment inventory
  • Transportation expenses
  • Management and staff structure if applicable

8. Perform customer and market analysis

C ustomer and market analysis is a critical part of your photography business plan; it helps define the size of the market needing your service as well as your ideal client. Here you will justify your target market and specify niche segments within that market. To do this answer the following:

  • What is your dream client - age range, gender, location, demographics, and style of photo shoot. Will you specialize in high end weddings, aerial photography, sports photography, or something else? 
  • What are the needs of these customers
  • how your services address these needs. 
  • What is the growth potential of your market segment? Including considerations such as the number of potential customers, their annual income, frequency of photography style needs

9. Establish a timeline and exit strategy

This later section describes your timeline for the goals and objectives outlined earlier in the business plan. Describe how soon you plan to become profitable, within what timeframe do you plan to meet your revenue objectives, or even when you might plan to hire employees to help grow your business. While it may seem far off, planning how you may want to exit your business years down the road may open up questions and considerations that can have a big impact near term. For some, selling their business to a larger investor is the end goal, for others, keeping photography as a small side gig to pass to their children is the exit strategy - no matter your desired path, document it here. 

10. Round out your business plan with Nextdoor

Developing a strong photography business plan is often the first step in running a successful business. Now that you’re equipped with all the tools to execute it like a pro, you’ll be well-prepared for a promising future ahead. 

But no plan is truly complete without Nextdoor — the neighborhood hub that connects you with your local community so that your photography business can flourish.

Claim a Nextdoor Business Page today to simplify the process of building your brand. That way, you can get back to what truly matters—working your magic behind the camera.

Nextdoor Editorial Team

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How To Write a Winning Photography Business Plan + Template

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Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for photography businesses who want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every photography business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Photography Business Plan Template

What is a Photography Business Plan?

A photography business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Photography Business Plan?

A photography business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Photography Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful photography business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a photography business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

  • Start with a one-line description of your photography company
  • Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your photography business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your photography firm, mention this.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a photography business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

  • What part of the photography industry are you targeting?
  • How big is the market?
  • What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, customers of a photography business may include individuals, families, small businesses, or corporations.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or photography services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

  • Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
  • Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
  • Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
  • Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. In addition, you may promote your photography business via public speaking engagements, trade shows, or partnerships.

Operations Plan

This part of your photography business plan should include the following information:

  • How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
  • What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a photography business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include hiring a certain number of employees, partnering with another company, or opening up a second location.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific photography industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

  • Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
  • Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
  • Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Photography Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

  • Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
  • Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
  • Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Photography Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

  • Cash Flow From Operations
  • Cash Flow From Investments
  • Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup photography business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Photography Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

  • Your complete financial projections
  • A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
  • Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your photography company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written business plan is essential for any photography company looking to start, expand or grow its business. It can also help attract investors.  

Finish Your Photography Business Plan in 1 Day!

Wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your photography business plan?

With our Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

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Mastering Photography Business Management: Your Ultimate Handbook

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  • November 7, 2023

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Running a successful photography business is so much more than just taking great photos. Beyond mastering your craft, you need to know how to effectively manage the business side - the finances, marketing, operations, and legal aspects.

Without business management skills, some common issues photographers face include:

  • Cash flow problems from financial mismanagement
  • Overwhelm from disorganization and constantly "putting out fires"
  • Loss of clients due to poor communication or service delivery
  • Stress from trying to juggle too many things at once

Mastering business management allows you to put systems and processes in place to set up an efficiently-run and profitable photography business. This enables you to focus on your true passion - creating amazing photographs.

This handbook will provide photography professionals a blueprint to manage their business successfully. You'll learn how to:

  • Create a business plan to align on your vision, objectives, and strategy
  • Set up rock-solid financial structures and accounting practices
  • Establish legal protections through contracts, permits, insurance
  • Deliver 5-star service by wowing clients from first contact
  • Streamline operations using smart workflows and automation
  • Manage your brand, marketing, and growth systematically
  • Leverage tools and resources to work smarter, not harder

With the strategies covered in this handbook, you'll gain the confidence and skills to manage a thriving photography business. Implementation is key - use this as your guidebook to put systems in place one step at a time until you have a well-oiled business management machine.

Let's get started with building a strong foundation, which is the first step on the path to success.

Building your Foundation

A solid foundation is key to building a thriving photography business. This involves defining your business plan, dialing in your finances, and establishing legal protections.

Creating a Business Plan

A business plan is like a roadmap that defines your business goals and how you will achieve them. It covers areas like:

  • Business overview and objectives
  • Products and services offered
  • Target market and ideal client avatar
  • Competitor analysis
  • Marketing and growth strategies
  • Financial projections
  • Operations plan

Taking the time to create a comprehensive business plan has many benefits:

  • It forces you to clarify your business vision, values, and goals
  • You can spot gaps or weaknesses in your business strategy
  • It keeps you focused and helps avoid scope creep
  • You can use it to secure funding from investors or lenders

Set aside dedicated time to work on your business plan. Having a clear strategic plan is crucial to guiding your business decisions and measuring success.

Setting Up Financial Structures and Accounting

Solid financial systems and controls are essential for managing the financial side of your photography business. Key areas to focus on include:

  • Accounting software  - Choose a platform like QuickBooks to manage tasks like invoicing, expenses, payments, and taxes.
  • Bookkeeping  - Keep careful records of all income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equity. Or outsource to a bookkeeper.
  • Financial statements  - Generate regular profit/loss statements and balance sheets to assess the financial health of your business.
  • Cash flow  - Use cash flow projections to anticipate income vs expenses. Maintain healthy cash reserves.
  • Taxes  - Understand tax obligations and work with an accountant to file business taxes correctly.

With robust financial systems, you gain clarity on the numbers. This enables you to make smart financial decisions to fuel growth.

Establishing Legal Protections

Taking steps to protect your business legally provides security and peace of mind:

  • Business structure  - Choose an entity like LLC that limits liability and provides tax benefits.
  • Contracts  - Use contracts to outline terms, conditions, scope of work, payment schedule, copyrights, and liabilities.
  • Insurance  - Secure general liability insurance plus errors and omissions insurance to protect from liability claims.
  • Permits and licenses  - Obtain all required local and state permits and business licenses for your photography business.
  • Releases  - Have photo release forms signed by clients and models giving you permission to use their images.

With the proper legal protections in place, you reduce risk and create confidence in your business systems.

Delivering Exceptional Service

Providing an incredible client experience is critical for photography businesses. Master these areas to wow clients:

Making Stellar First Impressions

A first impression has a lasting impact and sets the tone for the client relationship. Strategies for impressing clients from the start:

  • Website  - Have a professional website that displays your amazing work and is easy to navigate. Include your bio, services, and client testimonials.
  • Portfolio  - Curate an impressive portfolio that highlights your photography specialties and style.
  • Consultation  - Make consultations inviting. Discuss their needs, style preferences, and how you can bring value.
  • Follow-up  - Send a prompt thank you note after initial meetings reaffirming your enthusiasm to work together.

When you make clients feel understood, important, and delighted from the first interaction, you build instant trust and credibility.

Communicating Effectively

Ongoing communication is the lifeline between you and clients. Best practices include:

  • Clarity  - Be clear, direct, and transparent in all communication. Set proper expectations.
  • Timeliness  - Respond promptly to inquiries within 24 hours. Being responsive builds reliability.
  • Professionalism  - Craft emails, contracts, and collateral with excellent spelling, grammar, and branding.
  • Listening skills  - Listen attentively to understand what clients want. Reflect back to ensure alignment.

With robust communication systems, you can provide the white-glove service clients seek.

Streamlining Systems with CRM

Using a customer relationship management (CRM) system can significantly enhance client service. A good CRM centralizes key information like:

  • Contact details
  • Communications history
  • Booked sessions
  • Billing details
  • Notes and preferences

This provides easy access to every client detail in one spot. CRMs also automate workflows like email sequencing. This saves tons of time while delivering personalized service.

Delivering exceptional experiences consistently is the key to retaining happy clients and winning new ones through referrals. Master these areas, and your services will stand out.

Managing Your Finances

Managing the financial side of your photography business includes budgeting, pricing, invoicing, and cash flow management. Implementing strong financial practices will keep your business profitable.

Creating a Realistic Budget

An annual budget provides a spending blueprint for your business and helps you plan cash flow needs. Steps for budgeting:

  • List expected income from photography sessions, print orders, etc. Be conservative.
  • Estimate expenses like gear, rent, salaries, marketing, taxes, and more.
  • Factor in ad-hoc expenses for upgrades, maintenance, etc.
  • Establish monthly and annual budgets based on projected income and expenses.
  • Review budgets regularly and adjust as needed.

Sticking to a budget prevents overspending and ensures you remain profitable.

Developing Profitable Pricing Strategies

Set pricing that captures the value you provide while generating sufficient profit. Ways to optimize pricing:

  • Research industry rates in your area for comparison.
  • Factor in all costs - time, gear, editing, overheads, taxes - and desired profit margin.
  • Offer packages with tiered pricing for different products and services.
  • Communicate value not just cost - showcase why your unique expertise warrants higher rates.
  • Raise prices gradually over time as you gain experience and recognition.
  • Offer discounts only for limited-time promotions, not permanently.

Profitable pricing is key to running a sustainable photography business.

Sending Professional Invoices and Getting Paid

Make invoicing and payment collection a seamless process:

  • Send invoices promptly after a shoot. Include dates, items purchased, and payment terms.
  • Accept secure online payments by implementing a payment gateway on your website.
  • Follow up with friendly payment reminders before due dates for overdue invoices.
  • Offer installment payment plans for large purchases if needed.
  • Always follow through on collecting - this ensures you actually earn what you bill for.

With disciplined invoicing and collections, you maximize your photography earnings.

Streamlining Operations

Smooth business operations are vital for running an efficient and productive photography studio. Focus on these areas:

Implementing Efficient Workflows

Analyze your business processes to identify any bottlenecks or redundancies. Look for ways to streamline workflows using:

  • Organization systems - Keep files, assets, archives orderly so work is easy to find.
  • Checklists - Checklists prevent forgetting key steps and reduce mistakes.
  • Automation - Automate repetitive tasks like resizing images, email sequences, post-shoot follow-ups.
  • Collaboration tools - Use tools like Slack or Trello to collaborate with team members.

When workflows are optimized for efficiency, you get more done in less time.

Managing Projects Seamlessly

Juggling multiple client projects can be challenging. Use project management principles:

  • Break down large projects into tasks and set timelines.
  • Prioritize urgent tasks and stick to schedules.
  • Use charts and dashboards to visualize project progress.
  • Identify resource needs and allocate your team accordingly.
  • Proactively communicate with clients and provide progress updates.

With organized project management, work gets delivered on-time and on-budget.

Coordinating a Cohesive Team

For studios with team members:

  • Hire those aligned with your values and photography style.
  • Conduct extensive training to instill excellence and consistency.
  • Set clear responsibilities, expectations, and processes.
  • Foster open communication and collaboration.
  • Recognize achievements to boost morale and loyalty.

An engaged, tightly coordinated team allows your studio to provide amazing service at scale.

Growing Your Business

To attract a steady stream of clients, focus on crafting your brand, digital marketing, and networking:

Crafting Your Unique Brand Identity

Define what makes your photography business one-of-a-kind:

  • Articulate your vision, values, personality, and photography style.
  • Create visual brand assets like your logo, colors, and font that reinforce your brand image.
  • Ensure your website, collateral, and marketing unify around your brand.
  • Deliver a cohesive client experience that aligns with your brand values.

An authentic, clearly defined brand builds your reputation and visibility.

Executing Digital Marketing Strategies

Leverage digital platforms to connect with potential clients:

  • SEO  - Optimize your website and content with relevant keywords so you rank high in search engines.
  • Social media  - Share your work regularly on Instagram and Facebook. Use relevant hashtags and tagging.
  • Content  - Create educational blog posts and videos that connect with your target clients.
  • Email  - Send email newsletters with tips or promotions to build relationships and stay top of mind.
  • Ads  - Run Google/Facebook ads to get your brand in front of targeted audiences.

A multi-channel digital marketing strategy helps you continuously expand your reach and acquire clients.

Building Partnerships Through Networking

Partnerships provide symbiotic benefits:

  • Attend industry networking events and conferences to connect with colleagues.
  • Partner creatively with other photographers or wedding vendors.
  • Cross-promote related businesses through co-marketing or guest blogging.
  • Develop referral relationships - offer discounts for referred clients.

Strategic partnerships allow you to grow your reputation and client base.

Leveraging the Right Tools

Running a photography business is made infinitely easier with the right tools. Focus on core software platforms and educational resources.

Software Essentials for Photographers

Integrating the right software creates efficiency:

  • Client management tools like CRM, contracts, and invoicing
  • Streamlined workflow management from shoot to delivery
  • Booking pages and calendar integrations
  • Robust analytics and reports to spot trends and make smart decisions
  • Adobe Creative Cloud  - For editing photos, Lightroom and Photoshop are vital.
  • Cloud storage  - Store images securely in the cloud on platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive.
  • Email marketing  - Use email marketing software like Mailchimp to manage email newsletters.

Optimized software boosts productivity and profitability.

Valuable Educational Resources

Continuous learning helps you elevate your craft and business acumen:

  • Books  - Read classics like "Best Business Practices for Photographers".
  • Podcasts  - Tune into podcasts like ' Six Figure Photography ’ while commuting or shooting.
  • Online courses  - Take courses on photography, editing, marketing etc.
  • Conferences  - Attend local and national photography conferences to get inspired and learn new skills.
  • Facebook groups  - Join groups like "Photography Business Owners Network" to connect and learn from peers.

Make learning a lifelong habit to constantly level up.

Running a successful photography business requires mastery of both your creative skills and business management abilities.

In this handbook, we covered the essential components of photography business management:

  • Crafting a solid business foundation with your plan, financials, and legal protections
  • Wowing clients by delivering exceptional service consistently
  • Managing your finances through budgeting, pricing, and streamlined billing
  • Optimizing operations with efficient systems, project management, and team coordination
  • Growing your business by honing your brand identity and leveraging marketing strategies
  • Making your work easier with the right software tools and education

Follow this roadmap one step at a time, focusing on the areas most needed in your business. Over time, you will notice photography business management becoming second nature.

This will provide you the freedom to focus on your true passion - capturing stunning visuals through your lens.

To help you get started, access the following free downloadable templates and guides:

  • Sample Photography Business Plan
  • Photography Pricing Calculator (and Benchmarks )
  • Photo Shoot Checklist
  • Client Intake Questionnaire
  • Photography Marketing Plan Worksheet

We hope this handbook provides a blueprint to take your photography business management abilities to the next level.

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The Ultimate Business Plan for Photographers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Author thumbnail

When you hear the term “business plan,” you might think of a large business with many employees. But having a solid plan is helpful for every business, from small startups to major corporations. 

A business plan is a roadmap for your goals and how you plan to achieve them. It outlines your strategy for pricing, marketing, operations, finances, and more — all important aspects of your business to consider in advance. 

Whether you want to start a new photography business or take your existing business to the next level, a business plan is a powerful tool to point you in the right direction.

Photographer putting together his business plan.

Why Do You Need a Photography Business Plan?

To run a successful photography business, you can’t rely solely on the strength of your photography. It requires a combination of talent, hard work, and business acumen. You don’t need an MBA, but it’s helpful to take some business courses and have a strategic plan for success. Check out our list of the best business resources for photographers for a list of amazing courses.

Lack of planning is a major reason that many small businesses fail. Creating a business plan helps you think through your pricing structure, target audience, financial projections, marketing strategies, and potential obstacles. You’ll feel confident and prepared to navigate the business side of your photography if you take steps to prepare in the beginning.

Your business plan will also help you stay on track toward your goals, identify problem areas, and adjust your strategy as needed. 

What Does a Photography Business Plan Include?

For your photography business plan, you don’t have to stick exactly to a traditional business plan outline. Your plan should include the sections that make the most sense for you and your business. In general, most business plans include some combination of the following sections:

  • Executive summary 
  • Services and pricing
  • Market analysis (target market, competition, SWOT analysis)
  • Marketing plan
  • Operational plan
  • Financial plan and projections

Including these sections will help you form a cohesive and consistent plan for your business. But if there’s anything else you’d like to map out, feel free to include that too!

Now, let’s take a closer look at what goes into each of these sections.

Executive Summary

The executive summary appears first in the business plan, but you should write it last. It describes your business and includes brief descriptions of the other sections that appear in your business plan.

Your executive summary should begin with the name, location, and mission of your business. Write in an upbeat tone that conveys why you have a great idea for a successful photography business. 

Next, mention your unique value proposition (also known as a unique selling proposition). How do your services benefit your customers? What sets your photography business apart from others?

Briefly explain the legal structure of your business, including whether you’ll operate as a sole proprietor. If you have employees, list their names and roles. 

Include a subheading for each section of your business plan (e.g., Services and Pricing, Market Analysis, Marketing Plan) with a two-sentence summary of the information you’ll cover in those sections. 

Finally, conclude your executive summary with a few sentences outlining your goals for the future. If you’ve already been in business for a while, you should also mention the milestones you’ve achieved so far.

Services and Pricing

After the executive summary, it’s time to dive into the details. List your services and products, along with a price and description for each offering. If you need guidance on setting your prices, check out this post on setting your prices.

Include the type(s) of photography you do, such as newborn or wedding photography, and the sessions and packages you plan to offer.

Mention products such as prints, photo albums, holiday cards, and anything else you’ll sell. Some photographers also offer services like workshops and mentoring. Whatever products and services you’ll list for sale, describe and price them here. 

Market Analysis

Your market analysis will identify your target audience and competitors. It may also include a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Also include your USP, or unique selling proposition in your marketing work. What is it? Basically, it involves figuring out what makes you unique, which is really important when starting your photography business. WHY would people hire YOU and not the competition? For more on developing your USP for your photography business, grab this free how to start a photography business Ebook.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what you need to analyze before you create your marketing plan…

Target Audience:

Many small business owners want to serve everyone, but this isn’t an effective strategy. If you market to everyone, you’ll fail to reach anyone. Generic messaging doesn’t connect or resonate with potential clients. So, choose your niche and focus on customers who want and need your products and services. 

When you’ve identified your broad target audience, segment your list and name a few characteristics of each segment. Include information like age, family size, location, and income. Can you find information about why and how they buy? When they post looking for photographers, what criteria do they list? Are they more likely to look for photographers on Facebook, Instagram, or via recommendations from close friends and family? Are they searching on Google or a genre specific website (eg. the knot.com)? 

For more information on developing your ideal client, check out this post on Defining Your Ideal Client  The more you know, the more effective your marketing will be. 

Competitors:

Next, list the top competitors in your area and briefly analyze their strengths and weaknesses. This process will help you determine how to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Research photographers in your area who offer similar services. Browse their websites and portfolios and read their reviews. Who is their target audience? What do they do well? Are their prices and product offerings straightforward and easy to understand? What do you bring to the table that they don’t, and vice versa?  If your market is saturated with similar style photographers, how are you going to differentiate yourself that is not price. Your price needs to be determined by your income needs, time, costs for you to run your business - not from someone else’s - you don’t know their business model or profitability. For more information on determining your pricing, head to Picsello’s Smart Profit Calculator™  

SWOT Analysis:

Many business plans also include a SWOT Analysis. Your SWOT Analysis will list your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 

Strengths are areas you excel in and advantages you have in the photography business. This may include existing clients and connections, a strong portfolio you’ve already built, and any differentiators you found when researching your competitors.

Weaknesses are areas for improvement. Your weaknesses could include a lack of business knowledge or experience, skills you need to build further, or the need to create a portfolio and find clients. Identifying these areas can help you build a plan for continuing to improve and grow as a photographer and business owner.

Opportunities are external factors and trends that you can leverage to grow your business. On the other hand, threats are the external obstacles and challenges you’ll face, such as well-established competitors or a decreasing demand for photography in your area. Evaluating your opportunities and threats can help you plan how to capitalize on advantages and overcome obstacles.

Photographer creating her marketing plan for her business plan.

Creating a Marketing Plan for Your Photography Business

Now that you know your target audience, map out how you will market your photography business to them. How will you structure your website and increase traffic? Do you have a strong online photography portfolio to feature on your website? If not, how do you plan to build and improve it? What is your budget for marketing your business? 

What social media platforms will you use? How will you encourage friends, family, and existing clients to spread the word? Will you attend local trade shows? Partner with local businesses ? Use email marketing campaigns or direct mail initiatives? Also, don’t forget to optimize all of the copy that you have on your website for SEO (we have a post for you specifically about SEO for Photographers ).

Operational Plan

Most photography businesses have fewer logistics than traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Still, it’s important to consider the day-to-day logistics of running a successful photography business.

Describe where you conduct your work and the operational needs of your business. Do you have a home-based office or studio? Do you shoot on-location, or are you planning to rent a studio? What are your overhead costs?

Picsello's Smart Profit Calculator landing page on desktop.

Financial Plan

The financial portion of your business plan may be the most time-consuming, but it’s one of the most important. Consider enlisting the help of a financial advisor, accountant or consultant with this section of your plan. Starting your business with the right financial plan will ensure you not only make money from your photography but you also stay in business.

First, list your expenses, including equipment, website and marketing costs, editing software, insurance, travel to and from locations, and equipment maintenance and repair. You can use this expense tracker to keep everything in order.

Try to project your costs and income for your first three years (or next three years) of doing business. Make a realistic estimate of the number of clients you’ll have multiplied by the average amount of money each client will spend. 

Compare your projected income with your projected expenses. Is your margin large enough? If not, what expenses can you cut? How many more clients will you need? Are your prices too low for you to be profitable? 

Continue crunching the numbers and making adjustments until you have a reasonable financial plan that sets you up for profitability. If this gives you anxiety or you don’t know how many clients you can realistically photograph, use Picsello’s Smart Profit Calculator™ as it helps you create a pricing structure that will set your business up for sustainability and profit.

Preparation Is The Key to Success

Alexander Graham Bell said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” 

Even if you never present your business plans to others, it’s an essential tool for your personal use. Writing a business plan requires you to think through every aspect of your business. It gives you a chance to troubleshoot potential issues, plan how you’ll navigate obstacles, and take advantage of your strengths and opportunities before you book your first client.

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CAREER TIPS

How to Write a Photography Business Plan and Nail It

  • Julia Ronen
  • Jul 17, 2017

Woman with business plan - featured image

Photographers, designers, bloggers – as artistically inclined people, we are undoubtedly good at creating. Planning, on the other hand, well that’s not necessarily our forte. Unfortunately, a camera or a paintbrush is not exactly the best tool to help you build a successful business. However, in order to do what we love for a living (which is a great accomplishment in itself!), we have to master not only our trade but also the art of managing a small business. Luckily for you, creating a photography website has already been taken care of.

While it may appear intimidating in the beginning, with the right set of tools, you can grasp the hang of it pretty quickly. Just like any other new creative technique you acquired – all you need to succeed is the desire to learn.

This is where we would like to chip in our 5 cents to help our photographer friends take the first step in starting a photography business . Remember, behind every successful photographer is a well thought through business plan. Let us walk you through creating a photography business plan that will set your foot on the right path – the one that leads to success:

So… What is a business plan exactly?

To put it simply, a business plan is a guide that outlines your business’ goals and how you plan to achieve them. It’s created by the business owner on a yearly basis and serves as a reference for any managerial or financial question that may come up during the year. In case you plan to raise funds for your business or negotiate a loan from the bank, a concise photography business plan will make you look professional and sincere in all your intentions. On top of that, the plan will serve as a personal target to achieve, a reference to follow up on your accomplishments, and a guide on where you need to concentrate your efforts in order to do better next year.

With that being said, it doesn’t have to be as long as your exposure settings during night time. The document’s length is up to you, but the principle of “less is more” is a great guideline to start with. After all, you’re not building a groundbreaking start-up company in Silicon Valley, but a traditional photography business, that probably has a lot in common with other businesses in the field – so your readers will most likely know what to expect.

business plan outline written with chalk on a board

First – wait a second (or two)

Before getting down to some hands on calculations, there are a few things that need to be taken care of. The first of which being you – so take a deep breath (literally, it’s important!).

Now, you have some serious thinking (and writing) to do. In order to position yourself in the highly competitive world of commissioned photographers, you’ll need to define your services, target audience, and business goals. Is this sounding all too much? Not if you follow these steps:

Do some industry research

Do some groundwork on your competition, especially in the geographical area where you plan to operate:

What kind of services do they provide?

Does anything set them apart from the crowd?

What do their online assets look like ( photography website , Facebook business page , Instagram , 500px, etc.)?

How much do they charge? Do your best to find out by browsing their site or asking for an estimate.

What do their clients have to say about them? To find out, simply “Google” your competitors’ name and browse the reviews.

Identify your target audience

Your target audience are the people that are most likely to hire you. They will be the focus of all your marketing efforts. To identify your audience, try to think about the following questions: Who are your clients? What is their approximate age, marital status, income status, where do they live? What are their needs and how can you meet them? Why would they choose you over a competitor? The more information you have, the more accurate your marketing strategy will be.

couple kissing with two matching mugs

Define your product and services

With that information in mind, you can start to develop your game plan. Try to define your product and services in the most detailed way possible. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, there’s much more to your services than just wedding photo shoots. First, you probably provide your service in several differently priced packages. Secondly – you also have a physical product – the photo album, and perhaps a USB stick for the client: every item should be listed for budgeting purposes.

Find your niche

Everyone provides high-quality photos and services. Undoubtedly, you do too. So how will your photography business catch the eye of the tiger, e.g. potential clients? Based on the market research you did, try to come up with something that will set you apart from other photographers in your locale. It can be a unique photography style , a special photography package, a delicate personal touch , or any other exclusive idea your brainstorming session will produce. That “little something” that makes you different will be very useful in marketing your photography business.

Know thyself

As you make plans for the coming year, think of your strengths and weaknesses, and use both to leverage yourself. How? Well, strengths are obvious: for example, if you’re a people’s person, you’ll probably excel at marketing your services. As for weaknesses – set a goal to work on the ones you’d like to improve so that your business can benefit from it. For instance, you might consider yourself a technophobe when it comes to creating a photography website or promoting your business online. So one goal for the coming year could be improving your knowledge about online marketing terms , SEO for photographers , and everything you need to know in order to create a great photography website .

Set the right price

The price of your services is a key element, on which your entire photography business plan is based on. Remember the market research you ran four paragraphs ago? The price range of photography prices in your area should be your first indicator. You need to make sure that your final price is positioned within that scale according to your level of expertise.

On the other hand, your price needs to secure your monetary goals for the year. What amount of income do you plan to bring home? Is it a full-time job, or a side gig? How many sessions do you think you could secure per month? What is the price that can give you a net profit on top of your expenses and dedicated time? Bear in mind, that some questions can only be answered after you’ve earned some mileage as a professional photographer. In the meantime, here is a great reference to what photographers of different expertise levels charged in 2016 .

business plan for photography

Set your goals

If the business plan serves as an orientation map through the year, then it must have a clear destination. Remember, a good “destination”, or objective, is an achievable one. The more defined and the more realistic, the better. When choosing a target, think of how you can measure its success. If it ain’t measurable, it ain’t pleasurable.

Now let’s get to business (plan)

Now that the theoretical part is done, it’s time to talk numbers. The purpose of this part is to understand the financial side of things, and mostly – to obtain your net profit. Here’s a step by step guide to calculating your earnings for the upcoming year:

01. Define your total sales per month . This includes both your booking fee and product sales. Think of the average amount of gigs you get per month, and multiply by the average amount of money you earn from each job.

02. Costs of sales per month – include all your expenses on getting the job done. This can include a second shooter, print lab fees, and average travel expenses to and from the event. Note that these are not your fixed costs (we’ll get to this below).

03. Time for gross profit ! ‘Total sales per month’ minus ‘costs of sales per month’ will give you this number.

04. To figure out your monthly net gain, calculate your general business expenses, i.e. fixed costs . These expenses are constant and do not add up per photo shoot. For example, they can include marketing expenses, accounting, equipment, hardware, and taxes. Definitely skip hosting and web-design fees, as you can easily make an impressive photography website for free! Divide the number you get by 12 – these are your fixed costs per month.

05. It’s the final countdown: your gross profit minus monthly fixed costs will generate your net profit .

About that net profit

If you’re just starting your business, take into consideration that many businesses take a year, sometimes more, to get out of a negative net profit. That means that you need to plan ahead and prepare some savings to survive that first year. If you end up having a nice net profit, you have two choices: keep it to yourself (that’s why you were doing this in the first place, right?) or invest it in the coming year to grow your business even further. A nice net profit will give you the option to do both, depending on your business goals of course.

That’s it, you’re ready to go. Good luck with the new exciting journey! Now that you have a detailed map, the road to success is clearly marked.

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How to Write the Ultimate Photography Business Plan: A Detailed Guide

A photography studio

Are you looking to start your own photography business? Or are you someone who already owns one and are looking to take it to the next level? Having your own photography business plan is the first step!

Creating a business plan for photography is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that you have a higher chance of success.  It gives you clarity on what your goals are and how you go about achieving them.

In effect, it is a road map to success.

In fact, research shows that 71% of the fastest-growing companies have written documentation for their plans and business owners who took the time to write them saw growth 30% faster than those who did not.

Photography is a highly competitive industry where reputation matters. As a startup, it is hard to break into this industry and gain market share. Doing the initial research and creating a photography business plan will give you a head start. 

Read on until the end to find a downloadable photography business plan template that you can use to create your very own!

Here’s what we will be discussing in the blog:

  • What exactly is a business plan and why should you write one?
  • How do you go about writing a business plan?
  • What is the lean business plan?
  • Traditional business plan vs Lean business plan: Which one is right for you?

What exactly is a photography business plan and why should you write one?

A business plan is a document that outlines the product or service that you are selling, your strategies to market the product, your financial strategy (the revenue model and how revenue is generated) and includes information about day-to-day operations. 

It also specifies the goals that you set for your business and your ideas on how to achieve those goals . Ideally, you should create a business plan when you start your business but it’s never too late to start.

Having a detailed plan in place ensures that you are never confused about the direction your business should take and this helps you align day-to-day decisions with the overall goal you have for your business.

Writing a business plan involves analyzing the target market as well as the competition. This step might reveal to you that maybe this business is not as lucrative as you thought it would be. You might save a lot of time and money by altering your course.

If you plan to raise funds to start your business, either by approaching investors or lenders, a business plan is all the more important . A good and thorough document tells them that you are serious about your business and this gives them the confidence to invest in you.

How do you write a photography business plan?

An important question to answer is how to write a business plan for a photography business. It may seem like a daunting task at first, but we assure you, it is anything but.  

Here’s a photography business plan outline, read on to find out more about each section: 

  • Executive Summary
  • Business Description
  • Market Analysis
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Marketing Plan
  • Operations Plan
  • Financials Plan

1. Executive Summary

This is the first section of the plan. This section is where you summarize the contents of the plan into a short pitch.

Potential investors go through multiple photography business plans in a day and don’t have the time to read through each of them in detail. The executive summary is what they will focus on.

You should clearly and concisely explain what your company is about, where you are now and what you hope to accomplish in the future. Make it short, sweet, and to the point.

Include the vision you have for the company, its mission statement, and a short photography business description of the products/services you provide. Since it is a summary, it is recommended that you write this section last but make sure to spend some time on it.

Here’s a photography business plan executive summary sample that you can look at to understand exactly what points need to be included in each section.

Remember, you have to include only the most important points in the executive summary. Make it engaging and interesting to read by creating a narrative. This will ensure that the reader remains captivated and reads the whole thing.

Vision Statement

When writing a vision statement , you need to ask yourself, “Where do I see my business in 5 years?”

Having long-term goals gives you a target to work towards. An important point to remember here is that you shouldn’t sell yourself short when setting long-term goals . At the same time, your goals should not be too unrealistic either. 

Because these goals take a long time to achieve, you might forget about them as time goes on. You may achieve certain milestones and become complacent. Having solid goals ensures that you remain on track no matter what. They help you monitor your progress and correct your course if need be.

Your business’s goals are determined by the niche that you are in, and your own personal situation such as how much time you can devote to the business.

Some long term goals could be:

  • Having your own photography studio
  • Employing 10 people
  • Generating $500,00 in annual recurring revenue ( the average revenue for a retail photography business is $238,689 )
  • Having 100 repeat customers
  • Working for a retail client
  • Having your work showcased in an art gallery
  • Having your photo appear on a popular magazine cover, etc.

Mission statement

Next comes the mission statement . A mission statement is the business’ reason to exist. This is where you explain why you are doing what you do. Here’s what you need to include:

  • Value – What is the value of your photography business in the market? How can it help your clients? 
  • Inspiration – Why should people want to come to you?

Make sure your mission statement is clear and concise . Your short-term goals should have time frames associated with them.

A photography business plan example of a mission statement is:

“ To deliver professional and creative images at an incredible value, we make sure that customer satisfaction lies at the heart of everything that we do “

Just reading these two sentences tells you what the company does, and what it is they represent. This is what you should also aim for with your mission statement.

Writing an executive summary for the first time can be confusing and you might get stuck wondering what to include and what to leave out.

To help you out, here are some topics you can include:

  • Business overview
  • Product overview
  • Target customers
  • Management Structure
  • USP and other success factors
  • Long term goal

2. Business Description

This is where you describe your business. Ensure that the name of the company is clearly stated here.  Clearly mention your niche and give a short overview of what that involves.

Some popular niches in the photography industry are: 

  • Wedding photography
  • Portrait photography
  • Commercial photography
  • Event photography
  • Product photography
  • Freelance photography, etc.

Next, you should provide an overview of your business. Describe what the business does.  Start with a short sales pitch. Make sure to mention the USP of your business.

For example, “We provide wedding photography services to clients at an affordable price point. Customer experience is at the heart of everything that we do and customer satisfaction is our number one priority”.

Next,  mention the structure of your business i.e. whether it is a sole ownership business, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Include the names of the proprietors and other stakeholders in the company. 

Additionally, you can also include when the business was started, the struggles you faced along the way, and how you overcame them. The reader should be able to get an idea of what your business is by reading this section alone . 

Then, list the services that you offer. Write a brief description of what each service entails.

Highlight the services that bring you the most profit. These are the services that you should be focusing on when growing your business.

3. Market Analysis

Magnifying glass on Report

Write a detailed analysis of the target market that your photography business aims to serve . You would have identified a niche that your business intends to cater to – like portrait, still life, landscape, travel, etc. 

Write a detailed analysis of the target market for your particular niche. This is where you prove to potential investors that you have a clear understanding of the needs and wants of the target market .

A great market analysis will answer the following questions:

  • Who are my potential customers?
  • What are my customers’ buying habits?
  • How large is my target market?
  • How much are customers willing to pay for my product?

Start by creating a client profile . Describe your ideal client. This gives you an idea of who you are selling to.  Fine-tune your marketing efforts keeping in mind these customer profiles for maximum engagement.

Creating a professional-client profile would ideally include customer demographics, customer psychographics, etc. This will help you identify who your potential customers are, and what their buying habits are:

For example, if you are a wedding photographer, your research will tell you that your average client is around 30 – 35 years of age. People in this age group are part of the millennial generation. Research shows that millennials spend an average of 2 hours and 34 minutes a day on social media. Therefore, your chances of reaching them are highest if you market your business on social media.

If your business is already operational, you can look back at the previous clients that you have had and analyze them to find common trends. This can provide valuable insight into who your ideal clients are.

Next, analyze the industry. Include the current size of the target market, the growth rate, and so on.

Photographic services is a $35 billion industry globally , with the US accounting for $15 billion or 40% of the total market share. Further, the industry is growing at a rate of 0.6% annually in the US.

4. Competitor Analysis

Running a small business can be extremely competitive, especially a photography business where reputation counts for a lot. So in order to be successful, it is imperative that you have a very good idea of the competition that you are facing.

This is where competitor analysis comes into the picture. A good competitor analysis tells potential investors that not only is there a good market for this business but also that you have a great understanding of the market. This improves your chances of securing funding.

Start by making a list of your closest competitors . These are the people that offer the same services as you do and appeal to the same clients as you do.

For each competitor, make the following list:

Competitor Analysis

The benefits of doing this are twofold:

  • You will know exactly where you stand with respect to the competition 
  • You might notice some additional opportunities that might otherwise have remained undiscovered. 

Competitor analysis helps you identify gaps in the industry that are currently underrepresented. Focusing on these gaps will ensure that you have fewer direct competitors. 

Alternatively, you can beat your competitors at their own game by offering the same services that they do at a lower price , or by offering additional services that help you stand out from the rest.

Any good business aims to solve the problems that people face. The inferences you draw from this analysis, combined with the market research, will help you address the pain points that customers have in this industry. 

For example, you might have learned from your market analysis that the customers would like the option to buy photo albums. Your competition analysis might reveal that only 1 among the 5 photography studios in the area offer this service. In this instance, offering customers the option to buy photo albums will help you stand out.

5. Marketing Plan

photographer at photoshoot

In this part of the photographer’s business plan, you outline how you get your product or service across to customers. The marketing plan should include the promotions strategy, outreach, and PR campaigns to be undertaken over a period of time. Write down the cost of these marketing strategies and compare them against the potential benefits to measure their effectiveness. 

Make a list of the various promotional activities and strategies that you plan to do. These can include:

  • Cold calling
  • Advertising, both locally on billboards, etc, and in the media
  • Distributing pamphlets
  • Referral programs, deals and discounts
  • Workshops, etc.
  • Converting CTAs on social media channels like Instagram and Facebook

For example, if you are a wedding photographer, you can tie up with a local bridal clothing store and shoot some of their new collections, and have the photographs printed and displayed in the store. This will be a free promotion for you as you are creating awareness among the customers of that particular store.

You can also host a photography workshop that is free to enter. This builds customer relations and brand awareness in your locality.

Innovative marketing methods like this can get word of your business across to potential customers while reducing expenses on your end. The ideal photography client will need around 15 to 20 touchpoints with you and your business before they’re ready to make an inquiry. This requires a lot of effort in advertising and marketing.

If the marketing plan is complex, it may be difficult to implement. In this case, identifying marketing firms that you can outsource this task to makes your life easier and leaves you with more time to focus on the core business. 

Make a detailed sales forecast for the next quarter, the next 6 months, and the next year based, and include deadlines for your sales forecasts so that you have a target to work towards. This will ensure that your business is on track and leave adequate time for corrective measures if you find that it is not.

6. Operations Plan

photographer working on images

The operations plan describes the day-to-day operations of your photography business. A proper operations plan ensures that everything you do on a daily basis is aligned with your long-term goals.

A well-written operations plan will streamline your workflow and ensure that things run smoothly and efficiently. This implies that your clients will have consistently great experiences when doing business with you. As long as a good operations plan is in place, your business will run like a well-oiled machine. 

Each process should be documented. Segment your processes as follows:

  • Lead generation
  • Meeting the client and understanding their requirements
  • The actual shoot
  • Editing the images 
  • Delivering the finished product back to the clients. 

Having such a detailed operations plan in place will ensure that your business will come across as a professional outfit and clients will keep coming back.

The more tasks you can outsource to employees or third parties, the more time you will have to focus on what actually matters; the core business. Hiring editors and other photographers can reduce your workload. You may need an accountant to manage the finances, a marketing manager to oversee all marketing efforts, and so on. 

The operations plan should clearly state the distribution of roles of each employee working in your company. This removes ambiguity and ensures that work gets done in an efficient manner. 

An example of the role distribution is given below:

You, the owner : Oversees all day-to-day operations, meets with clients, takes decisions on important matters, primary photographer at all major shoots.

Assistant photographer: Assists with larger shoots and handles smaller shoots. Takes care of logistics when going for shoots. 

Editor: In charge of post-processing. Decides which photos are included in the final draft. In charge of printing oh photo albums.

Receptionist: Schedules customer appointments, handles day-to-day tasks and answers phone calls. First point of contact of client interactions.

As your business grows, you may need to hire a receptionist to handle appointment scheduling. Alternatively, photography booking software can handle all your appointment scheduling needs. It also offers a lot of additional functionality like reports that help you stay on top of your business.

7. Financial Plan

Rolled Dollar Bills

A good place to start is by creating an expenses worksheet. This is a document that keeps a track of all your expenditures.

One-time expenses are those expenses that you incur at the time of setting up the business. This usually constitutes the biggest chunk of the pie.

Some examples of one time expenses are:

  • Certification Costs
  • Insurance Costs
  • Other photography equipment like lights, memory cards, etc.
  • Studio remodeling
  • A company car, etc.

Next, list the recurring expenses. These are essentially bills that you have to pay on a recurring basis.

These can include:

  • Software subscriptions
  • Employee salaries
  • Marketing and advertising costs
  • Office supplies
  • Phone bill, etc.

Included below is an example of an expenses worksheet. You can use this as a reference when creating your own expenses sheet.

Expenses Worksheet

Next, elaborate on the revenue model you have chosen for your business.

In photography, there are broadly 2 revenue models:

  • an hourly-rate model where you have a fixed hourly charge
  • a fee-upfront model where you charge the client a one-time fee depending on the service you provide. 

You can decide upon one or the other, use a mixture of the two, or come up with a system that is unique to you. 

Once you have decided upon a revenue model, you have to decide on prices for your services. Depending on your market positioning, you can charge a premium for a better service/experience. As long as you offer something unique compared to the competition, that is also in line with your pricing strategy, your business should thrive. 

It is essential to remember that pricing strategies are not set in concrete . Maybe you are resource-limited in your starting days. You might only be able to provide a few basic services. This is by no means a death sentence.

Eventually, you will have more money to invest in people and equipment, allowing you to offer more services. As your client experience improves, you can charge more. The pricing strategy is dynamic. One thing to keep in mind is that you should always provide a value proposition , no matter the price point.

Now write down estimates of monthly revenue taking into account your billable hours, your expenses such as rent, utilities, staff salaries, and other instances of cash flow. Another approach to pricing your services is to start with a target monthly income for your business and work backward , dividing that income by the number of billable hours to get an estimate of how much you should be charging per service per hour in order to achieve your goals.

8. Appendix

The appendix contains links to supporting documents. This can include links to research docs, renders of your office/ photography studio, names of supporting businesses that handle marketing, logistics, etc . Basically, any document that is not directly relevant to the business plan but you feel may add context can be included here.

To help you avoid spending a lot of time on creating the design of your plan, here is a free photography business plan template for you. All you need to do is enter your email below and you’ll get your very own downloadable copy!

Photography Business Plan

Download the free photography business plan template!

Save it or print it out and use it to create a robust business plan!

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What is the lean business plan.

photography equipment

If you are not looking for external funding and feel that a full-fledged, fleshed-out plan is too complicated, you can try creating a lean version. As the name suggests, this is a condensed form of the business plan for a photography studio . It is just one page long and gives a broad overview of specific aspects of your business.

While the business plan primarily exists to secure external funding for your business, the lean version helps you optimize your business and manage it well .

If you are just starting out with your photography business and don’t have the time or necessity to create a business plan, you should look into creating a lean version of the same. This helps you define your goals and ensure that you are on course.

The lean business plan has 4 sections:

  • Business specifics

Remember, the perspective of the document changes because it is a document that you are creating for yourself . The information in this is for your reference.

At the end of the day, you know your business better than anyone. This document is there to provide some guidance as you are starting out and to ensure that you are on track to achieving your goals. Try to keep it as short as possible. Use bullet points wherever you can for easy readability .

This is where you define the strategy that your business will use to become successful. Define the target market, the problem that the target market faces, the solution to this problem, and why you think your business is better than the rest at solving the problem. This will give you clarity on what your business needs to be and what you should be focussing on to succeed.

Execution deals with the day-to-day tasks that you need to do in order to achieve your goals. It includes everything from product, to management, to sales and marketing. Start by defining the services that you offer . This is the core of the business and everything else wraps around it. 

Next, describe the management structure of your business . Who does what should be clearly defined. Create roles for each of your employees and delegate specific tasks to them. Some scheduling software help you assign staff roles and empower employees to make their own decisions. If you feel that you have a shortage of manpower, identify those areas where you need employees and create a recruitment schedule.

Create a marketing plan that you are going to use in order to raise awareness amongst the target market and generate leads. This should include all advertisements, PR campaigns, and other outreach activities. Estimate the cost of your marketing efforts and create a timeline .

Finally, write down sales projections based on your marketing efforts. Make sure you include deadlines so that you have targets to work towards.

Business specifics 

This is where you describe your business. Start with your niche. Then list the services that you offer and explain briefly what each service entails. Also, describe the USP of your business.  Include a short description of the operations. 

Start with the money that has been invested into the business. This is your capital expenditure. Specify whether the business was bootstrapped or if the money was borrowed from a bank . If it was borrowed, write down how long it will take for the business to be debt-free. 

Write a brief description of the pricing model. Include financial projections . Make a list of your monthly expenses and current monthly revenue. List how much you charge for each service and determine how profitable they are. Finally, write down how much you should charge for each service to achieve your financial goals.

Traditional b usiness plan vs Lean business plan: Which one is right for you?

woman writing on book

When writing a photography business plan, the first question that you need to answer is, “Why am I writing this? Is it for myself or am I writing it to pitch to investors?” The content and structure of this document will depend on your answer to these questions.

If you are writing it to secure funding, it is recommended that you stick with the traditional business plan. It has a more rigid format and will include all the relevant information banks and investors look for. Remember to go into as much detail as possible so that the person reading it can get the full picture.

If, on the other hand, you are writing it for yourself, then you can be far more flexible with the content and structure. In fact, this is the perfect opportunity for you to write a lean business plan. You can include only those parts you find relevant to your business and word it however you want

You don’t need to follow these exact steps when creating your plan. You can pick and choose those topics that you find most relevant to your business.

It is important to know the basics of how to write a photography business plan when applying for a loan or pitching to potential investors – that means including the executive summary, business description, operations plan, and financial plan is a must

Make sure to include all the relevant information so that the readers can get a complete picture of your business. Remember, a photography studio business plan may not be necessary to start a business, but a well-written one can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

While having a written plan for your investors will facilitate your business to be profitable, as a business owner, you have a responsibility to make sure your processes are optimized as well. A booking software will do exactly that! It will not only help you book more, but also save time by managing your daily admin, boosting booking convenience, helping with marketing, and much more!

Don’t believe us? Try our 14-day free trial to decide for yourself!

About Appointy We at Appointy, help business owners grow and run their businesses with our online scheduling software. This blog was a part of our ‘Manage your Business’ category, where we provide expert tips, and resources, or simply talk about the challenges that small and medium businesses face every day.  If you have any thoughts on this blog or would like to chat about your business struggles and achievements, let us know in the comments below.  We love a good talk!

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Photography Business Plans

Did you know each of these plans was created in LivePlan? Learn More

Commercial Photography Business Plan

Flash Commercial Photography will serve small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits for all of their studio photography needs.

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Photography businesses are all about capturing memories or events for your clients. A good business plan will help you capture their business. Get started writing your business plan by browsing these sample business plans for portrait photography, pet photography, commercial photography, and other related businesses.

If you’re looking to develop a more modern business plan, we recommend you try LivePlan . It contains the same templates and information you see here, but with additional guidance to help you develop the perfect plan.

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How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business

Photography Business - Getting Started

So, you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and bring your love of photography to the next level: start making money by building a home-based photography business! Good for you! Of course, the B-word can be frightening, and that’s where this article comes in. I’ve built multiple businesses from my desktop, from a freelance writer studio to a media company focused on Remote Work, ThinkRemote. Let me tell you that there are challenges, definitely (if it were easy, everyone would do it, and it would pay no money). But all of them are surmountable, and if you follow the following roadmap, you’ll realize that it is much easier than you imagined. So without further ado, let’s talk about how to start a photography business from home.

How To Start a Photography Business: The Plan

I’d tell you to skip the plan and “Just Do It,” but life doesn’t work like a Nike commercial. That said, if at any point you feel overwhelmed with planning, you should skip ahead and start the business. Planning is important, but you shouldn’t let it bog you down too much. Any plan is better than no plan, and beginning with an imperfect plan is better than never starting because you’re working on the perfect plan.

Write A Photography Business Plan

Let’s keep it short, simple, and actionable. Open a new document in your note-taking or word-processing tool of choice, and answer the following questions (don’t worry about answering them ideally on the first try; we’ll be revisiting this document for the rest of the guide):

  • What kind of photography will my business focus on?
  • Who is my ideal customer?
  • What will I do to reach those customers?
  • How much do I need to make to live off this business?
  • What is my profit goal for the first year?
  • How much do I need to charge for my work to reach that goal?

Learning how to start a photography business became more challenging with the increasing amount of online work opportunities. However, you’ll notice that every question is about one of three things: product, customers, and money. These are the three pillars of any business you must keep in mind. Keep these in mind at all times, and the rest will fall into place. 

Assess Your Photography Business Costs

Whether you already have the money to bootstrap your business or are willing to take on a loan, you need to have an idea of how much it will all cost.

Now is the time to write a list of your expected one-year expenses. This list will include the cost of photography gear (more on that later) but also other non-trivial matters such as grocery money and rent money. You’ll have an easier time if you start your business as a side-hustle while working your current job. That would be ideal, but I have to assume that the end goal for your business is for you to dedicate yourself 100% to it eventually. If that’s the case, you need to pay yourself a salary.

That salary won’t be too glamorous over the first couple of years — most of the money should go back into the business — but it should be enough to afford the bare necessities for you and your family. So while including groceries and rent and stuff like that in your business costs might feel a bit iffy and unprofessional, that’s the practical reality for a bootstrapped business.

Did you get the number you expect to spend on your business for the first year? Great. Now add an extra 20% on top. (Trust me.)

Prepare To Pay Attention To Cash Flow

We’re still talking about money. Where is all the photography talk? Where is the creative part? Sorry, but the main goal of a business is to generate revenue. So, the money talk IS important. We’ll get to the rest soon, I promise.

In the planning stages, you’re not earning, so no sense in tracking cash flow just yet, but you should have a plan to do so — no need to get complicated. A simple spreadsheet will do: You have a column called “sales” and another called “expenses.” At the end of the month, you do the highly complex math of sales minus expenses. If the number is positive, you win!

Alright, it’s a bit more complex than that. You should have small descriptions as well, so you know where you made the most money and where you spent the most as well. This math is one more boring thing that you think you don’t need to do, but at the end of the month, it will help you figure out what kind of gigs to invest in the most and where you have leaks fixed.

How To Start a Photography Business: The Product

You skipped the previous section, didn’t you?! Fair enough, you are an adult after all, but I think you should reconsider. You may feel that it’s a tedious chore and that you know all the answers in your mind, but trust me: you don’t. When you take the time to write stuff down, new problems show up, and it is better to know about them sooner than later. 

Having stuff written also means that you don’t need to use processing power later when the time comes to decide. Should you take that “sweet sixteen birthday party” gig? You don’t need to ponder it; what you do is: go back to your written plan and see if it fits your customer, product, and financial goals.

Now that I’ve made the disclaimer and hopefully got you to write your plan down, this section will be dedicated to helping you build your product and offer. Making sure you have an appealing product and value proposition is a big part of starting your photography business…

Buy Camera Gear

But nothing too expensive. 

Look, I’m not saying you should go around doing shoots with an iPhone. If you’re a good photographer, you probably could, but it would look stupid. 

Let me tell you a secret that will make you slightly sad (and hopefully, I’ll be able to cheer you up with the rest of the article): the camera you buy has more to do with your client’s perception of you than how good the camera is. 

If you go around doing iPhone photography, no matter how awesome it looks, people will think you’re an amateur and won’t give you the time of day.

Here’s the good news: Most of your clients will be clueless about the difference between a beginner-friendly Nikon D5100 and a more veteran camera like a Canon 70D. You should buy the cheapest professional camera you feel comfortable with because there are three types of camera: phone, tourist-person camera, and professional camera for the average human being. As long as you have something that looks professional, people will feel good about their choice in hiring you and paying your prices. If, of course, you deliver good photos! This brings me to the next point…

Get Professional Experience And Build A Portfolio

Yes. It’s time to get out there and take some photos! You might have heard about the 10.000-hour rule, the time it takes to achieve mastery at something. No matter how much time & effort you have put into your photography, there’s certainly much to learn. And the best way is by doing it. It’s time to get your first paid customers.

“What?!” you say. “I haven’t even built a website! Did you want me to get clients without a website? What kind of guide is this?!”

The good kind! Remember the three pillars of a business? Product, customer, and money. Is there a “website” there? Nope, I didn’t think so.

Customers won’t magically appear like fungi in a poorly cleaned bathroom in a Panamanian jail just because you have a website. A website is good, and we’ll get to it in the next section, but you need to be able to get customers without one. The hustle is real.

Friends and family are your golden ticket. That’s literally how every bootstrapped business starts: by asking around their family and network if there’s any need for the product. I know you’re shy, so I made a template for you to copy/paste:

Hi there, (insert name of friend and family), guess what? I’m starting my photography business! Right now, I’m focusing on (type of photography), and I’m excited! Do you have something coming up that you would like me to shoot, or if you know about someone who might? I’d love an introduction if that’s the case. Based on my market research, I’m pricing myself at X, that’s what similarly skilled photographers charge, but I’m taking orders from friends and family at half that price.

Go forth and send this to anyone you feel comfortable doing so on your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other favorite social networks. I’d even go a step further and comb my email contact lists. You’d be surprised at how many people have something coming up: a birthday, a pregnancy, a wedding, etc. On LinkedIn, particularly, many people ponder about mixing up their headshot and profile header.

Don’t feel comfortable selling to friends and family? That’s not great. That probably means you still need to do some work on yourself before starting a business. Having a bootstrap business means you need to be conformable selling. That doesn’t mean you can’t be generous. I baked in a hefty discount on my template. Still, if you must, you can offer your services free to build up your portfolio.

Of course, you can try your luck at freelancer websites. These will never pay as well as seeking your clients because a) the platform takes a cut, and b) the clients go there to save a buck. But they can be a reasonable fallback if you are strapped for cash or need to pad out your portfolio. UpWork , TrueLancer , and FlexJobs are good places to start.

Set Pricing

Ah, we’re back to talking about money. I can feel you cringe with joy. Well, it might relieve you to know that I’m not going to tell you how much you should charge. You already know because you did the math back in the first section of this article! You already know how much you need (or want) to make based on your goals. So now, all you need to do is figure out how much time you can work and translate that into an hourly rate.

But you won’t charge by the hour. Instead, come up with 3 service packages. One is your “cheap” package that will pay you the bare minimum to reach your goals. It should be unexciting because you want people to feel like they are missing out if they don’t go for Tier 2, which is the amount you are happy to get. And you should always have an over-the-top Tier 3 plan! By over the top, I mean 5x to 10x what you are charging for Tier 2. You don’t expect to sell it, but occasionally, someone will show up wanting the premium treatment, and you’ll hit the jackpot. Basically, Tier 3 is only there to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

That said, make sure Tier 3 is a premium experience. When someone gets it, you need to make that client the center of your world. Research them and their needs as if you would be standing trial for your life, and the proof of your innocence was hidden somewhere in their life & career. Be obsessive about providing these people a service that they will mention to their grandkids. If you do that, they will likely mention you to other people — and push them to get the Tier 3 experience.

In summary: have three price points. The first one should be based on the market offer +20% because you want to be perceived as premium, not the cheap photographer. The second one should be based on what you imagine yourself earning for a comfortable, easy-going lifestyle. The third one should be the price-point for royalty — with service to match.

Red Tape and Fine Print

Being in photography means that you’ll often interact with people in complex and unpredictable scenarios. That means that more than professionals who mostly work online — like, let’s say, a blog writer — you are exposed to potentially litigious situations more often.

Imagine you are doing the aforementioned “Sweet Sixteen” party. Your flash scares the host’s pet Doberman into mauling the pretty face of her bestie-of-the-week for life. You can bet someone will be out for blood, and the scapegoat will quite literally be the person with the weakest legal representation. You want to avoid being that person.

Then, obviously, there’s death and taxes. Insurance and accounting are a blight on the human soul, but they are also necessary for those who don’t want to be expelled from the business world prematurely and permanently. I’m not an expert on any of those things, and realistically, what you need to do and how you need to do it will differ radically based on your location. So, here’s your “Google Search Cheat List” (aka homework) for the day:

  • Accounting Services
  • Invoicing Service
  • Photography Business Insurance
  • Photography Contracts
  • Photography Legal Representation

Do you need these to start your business and land your first few gigs? No, you really don’t, and I would actually encourage you to not wait for these things to be in place to start… It can easily turn into one more “I’m not ready” excuse. But be sure to start the process of setting them up alongside everything else; don’t wait until you are over-exposed to risk (IE, doing multiple gigs per month).

How To Start a Photography Business: The Marketing

So now that you have the main pillars of how to start a photography business covered, I’d be remiss if I didn’t add some marketing tips. None of them will pay off as much as doing cold client outreach like I described above; the ability to do sales pitches is still what separates the poor freelancers from the highly successful business creatives. But they will help.

Make (or Buy) a Beautiful Website

It will take a lot of time and work until you generate enough organic traffic to get clients from the web. So, why put effort into a website? Well, it’s still the best way to showcase your portfolio, one you fully control. Much better than the popular portfolio websites where you are rubbing shoulders with many competitors (of course, you should still have a profile there, with a link to your site!)

Why would a photographer want a blog? It will be thanks to the blog that people will reach your website without you doing cold sales outreach. As you go on gigs, write short blog posts about the experience; talk about the venue, the equipment you used, challenges, pleasant surprises, etc. Encourage/ask your clients and friends to share your posts on social media ; also, be on the lookout for photography websites and try to occasionally (once a week would be great, but once a month is more realistic for someone with a job that’s got little to do with writing) write an article for them, linking to your most popular posts somewhere in the text. I’ve just outlined the basics of the Dark Arts of SEO, and it’s engaging in this little internet song-and-dance routine that makes the Google Gods look favorably upon your puny existence.

Make Time To (Social) Network

Social networks are getting more and more visual every day. You might scoff at the amateurish nature of most Instagram accounts, but that’s where most of your potential clients are, so it behoves you to build and maintain a profile there. Twitter and Facebook are a bit more generic, but still good. LinkedIn can be very specific and somewhat frustrating, but if you are good at login in often and engaging in conversations with people, eventually, you might see the opportunity to pitch your services to a business or company that will deliver a massive payday.

No matter how far technology and society progress, the reality is that a lot of business is still about “who you know,” so it’s time to drop the “my art speaks for myself” act (I’ve been there) and start engaging genuinely with people. Find some Facebook and LinkedIn groups that appeal to you, start meeting and chatting with people there; follow brands and people who are appealing to you on Instagram, and comment on their posts. Be social to a point such as when you detect the opportunity to pitch someone your services, you’ll already have a prior relationship with them.

It might sound like a bother, but you can make it enjoyable if you pick who you follow and who is involved in things you find interesting, and the time investment needn’t be more than 30 minutes per day.

You also want to talk about your gigs and showcase your work often, but don’t make your social presence all about that; people engage with people who engage with them, not with someone who uses their social networks as a portfolio.

Be a Pleasure To Hear From

In what has since become one of my   favorite commencement speeches , author Neil Gaiman had the following to say regarding making your life as a creative professional:

(…) people keep working in a freelance world, and more and more of today’s world is freelance because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. People will forgive the lateness of your work if it’s good and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as everyone else if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

Chances are, work won’t be incredible from the get-go. You are still on your way to putting in those much-needed 10,000 hours. Effort and commitment are important, but there’s only so much time in each day to get better. There’s a limit to how much you can strengthen your skills in the first few months of running your photography business. But what you can improve by a factor of 10 almost overnight is becoming a pleasure to hear from. Add to that a work ethic that lets you be always on time, and you’ll have two out of Neil’s three recommendations. That’s fine. Three out of three is what you will eventually aim for — that’s what pays the big bucks — but you have time to get there. For now, you want to make the best with what you have.

There’s Always More Things to Do When Starting a Home-Based Photography Business, But…

“But what about business cards? What about the nitty-gritty of how to select photos from my portfolio? What’s the best editing software?! This guide sucks!”

Look, there are a million things that you can do to sharpen your business. But this guide on how to start a home-based photography business is intended to get you up and running. We’ve covered everything needed to establish the three pillars of a business: product, clients, and money. The rest is optimization.

If you have a product to sell, if you can find people to sell it to, and you are making more money selling the product than you spend crafting and marketing it, you not only have a business, you have a successful business. Don’t let shiny objects distract you from the core pillars. If you send out my email template today without doing anything else and get someone interested in your service, congratulations, you already won. You are in the top 10 percentile of people who will read this article and act on it.

Keep at it, and you’ll have a fantastic photography business running in no time!

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Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

In Word, you can create a form that others can fill out and save or print.  To do this, you will start with baseline content in a document, potentially via a form template.  Then you can add content controls for elements such as check boxes, text boxes, date pickers, and drop-down lists. Optionally, these content controls can be linked to database information.  Following are the recommended action steps in sequence.  

Show the Developer tab

In Word, be sure you have the Developer tab displayed in the ribbon.  (See how here:  Show the developer tab .)

Open a template or a blank document on which to base the form

You can start with a template or just start from scratch with a blank document.

Start with a form template

Go to File > New .

In the  Search for online templates  field, type  Forms or the kind of form you want. Then press Enter .

In the displayed results, right-click any item, then select  Create. 

Start with a blank document 

Select Blank document .

Add content to the form

Go to the  Developer  tab Controls section where you can choose controls to add to your document or form. Hover over any icon therein to see what control type it represents. The various control types are described below. You can set properties on a control once it has been inserted.

To delete a content control, right-click it, then select Remove content control  in the pop-up menu. 

Note:  You can print a form that was created via content controls. However, the boxes around the content controls will not print.

Insert a text control

The rich text content control enables users to format text (e.g., bold, italic) and type multiple paragraphs. To limit these capabilities, use the plain text content control . 

Click or tap where you want to insert the control.

Rich text control button

To learn about setting specific properties on these controls, see Set or change properties for content controls .

Insert a picture control

A picture control is most often used for templates, but you can also add a picture control to a form.

Picture control button

Insert a building block control

Use a building block control  when you want users to choose a specific block of text. These are helpful when you need to add different boilerplate text depending on the document's specific purpose. You can create rich text content controls for each version of the boilerplate text, and then use a building block control as the container for the rich text content controls.

building block gallery control

Select Developer and content controls for the building block.

Developer tab showing content controls

Insert a combo box or a drop-down list

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that you provide or they can type in their own information. In a drop-down list, users can only select from the list of choices.

combo box button

Select the content control, and then select Properties .

To create a list of choices, select Add under Drop-Down List Properties .

Type a choice in Display Name , such as Yes , No , or Maybe .

Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drop-down list.

Fill in any other properties that you want.

Note:  If you select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won’t be able to click a choice.

Insert a date picker

Click or tap where you want to insert the date picker control.

Date picker button

Insert a check box

Click or tap where you want to insert the check box control.

Check box button

Use the legacy form controls

Legacy form controls are for compatibility with older versions of Word and consist of legacy form and Active X controls.

Click or tap where you want to insert a legacy control.

Legacy control button

Select the Legacy Form control or Active X Control that you want to include.

Set or change properties for content controls

Each content control has properties that you can set or change. For example, the Date Picker control offers options for the format you want to use to display the date.

Select the content control that you want to change.

Go to Developer > Properties .

Controls Properties  button

Change the properties that you want.

Add protection to a form

If you want to limit how much others can edit or format a form, use the Restrict Editing command:

Open the form that you want to lock or protect.

Select Developer > Restrict Editing .

Restrict editing button

After selecting restrictions, select Yes, Start Enforcing Protection .

Restrict editing panel

Advanced Tip:

If you want to protect only parts of the document, separate the document into sections and only protect the sections you want.

To do this, choose Select Sections in the Restrict Editing panel. For more info on sections, see Insert a section break .

Sections selector on Resrict sections panel

If the developer tab isn't displayed in the ribbon, see Show the Developer tab .

Open a template or use a blank document

To create a form in Word that others can fill out, start with a template or document and add content controls. Content controls include things like check boxes, text boxes, and drop-down lists. If you’re familiar with databases, these content controls can even be linked to data.

Go to File > New from Template .

New from template option

In Search, type form .

Double-click the template you want to use.

Select File > Save As , and pick a location to save the form.

In Save As , type a file name and then select Save .

Start with a blank document

Go to File > New Document .

New document option

Go to File > Save As .

Go to Developer , and then choose the controls that you want to add to the document or form. To remove a content control, select the control and press Delete. You can set Options on controls once inserted. From Options, you can add entry and exit macros to run when users interact with the controls, as well as list items for combo boxes, .

Adding content controls to your form

In the document, click or tap where you want to add a content control.

On Developer , select Text Box , Check Box , or Combo Box .

Developer tab with content controls

To set specific properties for the control, select Options , and set .

Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each control that you want to add.

Set options

Options let you set common settings, as well as control specific settings. Select a control and then select Options to set up or make changes.

Set common properties.

Select Macro to Run on lets you choose a recorded or custom macro to run on Entry or Exit from the field.

Bookmark Set a unique name or bookmark for each control.

Calculate on exit This forces Word to run or refresh any calculations, such as total price when the user exits the field.

Add Help Text Give hints or instructions for each field.

OK Saves settings and exits the panel.

Cancel Forgets changes and exits the panel.

Set specific properties for a Text box

Type Select form Regular text, Number, Date, Current Date, Current Time, or Calculation.

Default text sets optional instructional text that's displayed in the text box before the user types in the field. Set Text box enabled to allow the user to enter text into the field.

Maximum length sets the length of text that a user can enter. The default is Unlimited .

Text format can set whether text automatically formats to Uppercase , Lowercase , First capital, or Title case .

Text box enabled Lets the user enter text into a field. If there is default text, user text replaces it.

Set specific properties for a Check box .

Default Value Choose between Not checked or checked as default.

Checkbox size Set a size Exactly or Auto to change size as needed.

Check box enabled Lets the user check or clear the text box.

Set specific properties for a Combo box

Drop-down item Type in strings for the list box items. Press + or Enter to add an item to the list.

Items in drop-down list Shows your current list. Select an item and use the up or down arrows to change the order, Press - to remove a selected item.

Drop-down enabled Lets the user open the combo box and make selections.

Protect the form

Go to Developer > Protect Form .

Protect form button on the Developer tab

Note:  To unprotect the form and continue editing, select Protect Form again.

Save and close the form.

Test the form (optional)

If you want, you can test the form before you distribute it.

Protect the form.

Reopen the form, fill it out as the user would, and then save a copy.

Creating fillable forms isn’t available in Word for the web.

You can create the form with the desktop version of Word with the instructions in Create a fillable form .

When you save the document and reopen it in Word for the web, you’ll see the changes you made.

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IMAGES

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  2. A Simple Photography Business Plan for Beginners

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  3. Photography Business Plan Template Sample Pages

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  6. Photography Business Plan Template [Free PDF]

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VIDEO

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Start a Photography Business 2024 Checklist

    Starting a photography business allows you to make money using a skill you already enjoy, but it's important to have a solid plan and realistic goals. There's no doubt that photography is a great career - you can earn a good living, make your own hours and travel to exotic places. Best of all, you'll make people happy.

  2. How to Start a Photography Business

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  7. Start A Photography Business: The 2022 'How To' Guide

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  8. How to Write a Successful Photography Business Plan

    A photography business plan is a document that outlines what you hope to accomplish with your business. As your business comes to life or goes through change, you can use a business plan to measure your progress and re-calibrate your professional goals.

  9. How to Write a Photography Business Plan

    A detailed photography business plan will help you define your purpose, create business goals, and help you maximize your profitability. Here are the six elements to include when creating a plan. by Colleen Egan Jun 08, 2018 — 4 min read Starting Your Business Marketing Professional Services

  10. 10 Key Steps for Writing Your Photography Business Plan

    A- A+ A surprising number of photographers never write a photography business plan. If you plan to embark on a career as a freelancer, you need a plan. A business plan is a road map to success. It outlines your business-related goals and how you intend to achieve them. There is no need to have a very formal business plan.

  11. Step-by-step guide on how to write a strong photography business plan

    What to include in a photography business plan: Outline your products and services Analyze your finances and list out business expenses Understand your competition and the photography industry Devise a sales and marketing strategy Set operations logistics and management structure Establish a timeline and exit strategy

  12. Creating a Photography Business Plan

    A photography business plan is essential because it provides a clear direction and strategy for your business. It helps you define your goals, identify your target market, understand your competition, and plan your finances. A well-written business plan will also make it easier to secure funding, attract clients, and make informed decisions as ...

  13. How to create a photographer business plan

    A photographer business plan is a structured document that outlines the goals, strategies, and operational details of your photography business. It offers a range of benefits, including: Attracting funds: Whether it's cash from investors or a loan from a bank, your business plan is your ticket to funding.

  14. Write A Winning Photography Business Plan + Template

    A photography business plan is a formal written document that describes your company's business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders ...

  15. 12 Steps to Write a Photography Business Plan

    1. Executive Summary The first step is the executive summary. Most business plans start with the executive summary and if you were a start-up going for investing, most investors read the executive summary first and if they don't like what they are reading then they might not even read the rest of the plan!

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    In this handbook, we covered the essential components of photography business management: Crafting a solid business foundation with your plan, financials, and legal protections. Wowing clients by delivering exceptional service consistently. Managing your finances through budgeting, pricing, and streamlined billing.

  17. Why Do You Need a Photography Business Plan?

    ‍ Why Do You Need a Photography Business Plan? To run a successful photography business, you can't rely solely on the strength of your photography. It requires a combination of talent, hard work, and business acumen. You don't need an MBA, but it's helpful to take some business courses and have a strategic plan for success.

  18. How to Write a Photography Business Plan and Nail It

    Here's a step by step guide to calculating your earnings for the upcoming year: 01. Define your total sales per month. This includes both your booking fee and product sales. Think of the average amount of gigs you get per month, and multiply by the average amount of money you earn from each job. 02.

  19. Photography Studio Business Plan Example

    Solution Phoebe's Photo Studio will meet the needs of professionals and their families to capture the special moments in their lives and present them in the best light. We will establish a relationship in which we initiate the calls to keep their photos up to date.

  20. How to Create a Comprehensive Photography Business Plan

    3. Market Analysis. Write a detailed analysis of the target market that your photography business aims to serve. You would have identified a niche that your business intends to cater to - like portrait, still life, landscape, travel, etc. Write a detailed analysis of the target market for your particular niche.

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  25. Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

    Show the Developer tab. If the developer tab isn't displayed in the ribbon, see Show the Developer tab.. Open a template or use a blank document. To create a form in Word that others can fill out, start with a template or document and add content controls.

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