For the curious minds.
have you ever wondered what goes into photography besides the session and editing? I had no clue until it went from being a hobby to a business.i thought i would share for the inquiring minds, and it gives me something to chat about because blogging is new territory for me. i was never a fan of writing papers but here we are!
since you’re a one man band it all falls on you, otherwise it won’t get done… referring to the business side of it. but i also need my clients! they are absolutely amazing and deserve all the recognition because without them there would be no business. a lot of my clients come from referrals, word of mouth, family and friends, but i have gained many clients through social media. facebook has been the main source but im trying to up my instagram game so if you have insta id love a follow!
marketing is a huge piece for any business. you need to get your name out there, get a brand for yourself, find your clientele and never stop chasing your dream!
lets not forget about all the programs we use. you need to have an editing program, most photographers use 2 programs, a website that should be updated weekly, an online gallery platform to deliver pictures, a scheduling program, and a way to send invoices and collect payment online. having the option to pay online is convienant but with that comes a fee for every transaction made that the business owner has to pay.
there is also the communication between clients which is hands down a top priority but can be a job in itself. keeping track of who communicated where because i receive emails, facebook messages, instagram messages, texts and phone calls. i never really thought i was the organized type but after writing this i take that back. i dont always have my ducks in a row but hey who does!
Lastly, the fun props! since im a newborn and childrens photographer i love to buy all the props, and let me tell you they are not cheap (what is anymore). just to give an example, some of the newborn swaddles, bonnets, sleepy caps, and headbands cost anywhere from $15-$100. i also have a client closet for maternity sessions and those dresses depending on where they are from can be costly. it all adds up and trying to keep up with the trends and seasons makes for adding to the collection frequently.
i guess one last but very important thing, equipment. i remember my first big girl camera, it was a target black friday special for $100, a steal of a deal! Since then i think i have upgraded 4 times. i have also upgraded my computer a few times after researching and learning what type of computer works great for editing programs. its hard keeping up with the latest technology and software because its always advancing and then the old stuff seems to work at a snails pace. then we have the studio lights, memory cards, extra batteries, external flashes, lenses, camera bag, etc.
i feel like taxes need their own blog. small business taxes are absolutely ridiculous! and some have to factor in health insurance, retirement planning, all the things that a large corporation typically contributes to for their workers.
Another investment photographers make is education. i didnt go to college for photography but i have invested in education over the years. i have traveled to wisconsin for a workshop. im currently part of an amazing online education program. there are also many hours invested in researching and learning things on my own.
in a nutshell, photography is an investment for my clients. its not the camera that does the work, its the person behind the camera with a passion for photography that has learned how to shoot in manual mode, what aperture, iso, and shutter speed mean. its learning how to interact with your clients, create authentic, storytelling images. its about the experience.
if you made it this far thanks for taking the time read my very first blog! if theres something you want me to write about please let me know!
until next time!
