So You Want To Start a Photography Studio?
by Robert Provencher
You love photography. You have a fairly new digital camera. You're actually
getting good, maybe even being asked by many friends and relatives to shoot
some events or weddings.
You start wondering...."hhhmm, what if I could make a living from
this. Maybe I could start a studio."
Or you're a pixel mom, kids at home, husband working full time, you're
thinking the same thing.
What now? Where do you start? What's it take to make a go of it? Do you
need to get some sort of diploma or other 'formal' training or certification?
What do you charge? How do you get more experience? Do you need a business
license?
I will try to answer these and other pertinent questions for you.
First off, most folks who get into photography have a deep and earnest
passion for it. They simply love it. They love creating images. They really
love the reaction that people have when you give them outstanding images.
The first thing you need is a good product, and this is a two sided coin.
On one side is the actual work. Do your images stand above and beyond the
rest? Do they have impact? If 'not really' is the answer, but you
know you have it in you, then all you need is more training and practice.
Photography may look easy enough, especially nowadays with digital technology,
but the truth is, nothing has changed. All the fundamentals of good photography
still apply, and you must learn to master them. Don't expect overnight results.
This is no different than an aspiring musician learning his or her instrument.
It takes years of hard grueling practice. With music there is an academic
path you can follow, something that helps you measure results.
In photography, the only thing you have is when you open up shop. It's called
clients. And they vote with their wallets.
The other side of the coin is YOU. You are part of the product you bring
to photography. Unless you're happy shooting wild animals, scenics and sunsets.
In that case I personally don't think there is much of an industry, short
of being a stock photographer. And I can't help you there, since I am a portrait
photographer. If stock photography interests you, google it and start your
research. It's out there somewhere. As I understand it stock photography is
one of the toughest fields to prosper in, but achievable nevertheless.
The universe of portraiture is much wider and deeper. People do and will
spend good money on quality photography of their weddings, families and babies.
And they buy YOU as much as they buy your work. You leave a little piece of
yourself in every exposure you make.
Notice I said quality.
The rapport you create with people when you are taking their photographs
is also a key component to all this. It has TONS to do with how they look
in the final images. It is very important that you have the ability to communicate
with and make people relax, and all the while create stunning images that
are properly exposed, well composed, and great use of lighting to create maximum
impact and tones.
Getting discouraged? Hope not. Like I said, it takes years. It took me about
twenty. At least that's how I feel about it. Actually, I worked in a darkroom
for two years. That was good solid training for the deep technical side of
things. Then I shot schools for almost 4 years, managed a photography franchise
for less than one year, and then started my own studio. All by the age of
25.
And I was just starting out. I was wet behind the ears. I had more balls
than brains, and something has to be said for the whole idea of taking action,
quick action, and getting the ball rolling. I figured out how to drain the
swamp once I was up to my neck in alligators.
Every year it seems I am just 'getting it'. There is never a final phase,
a "tadaaaaa!!!!, I've figured it all out" stage. Photography
moves on and it's like a unicycle: stop peddling and you fall off.
But it's one of the best, if not the best job around. It's extremely fulfilling,
and I get to enrich peoples lives and puta smile on their faces and sometimes
a tear or two. And they pay me for that.
Do you need a license? Well, yes, eventually. But I wouldn't get too excited
about the formalities. Many successful business owners started and got the
ball rolling, and at some point realized, "oh, I better get a license".
It's just a formality. I know of others who got all caught up in the process'
of starting the biz then nothing happened. It flopped. Focusing on the wrong
thing.
Others had too much money. They threw money at the business, until the money
was all gone. And so was the business. Make your start on a tight shoestring.
Prove that you can do that, and the business will grow. You will build on
a solid foundation.
Do you need a commercial space? Or I i might ask, is one absolutely necessary?
No. You could run a successful studio out of just about anywhere, if you do
everything right. What about gettiing a college diploma? Not needed. I don't
have any issue with getting any type of formal training, but don't fool yourself
into thinking that it is THE KEY. It ain't. Most graduates end up doing totally
unrelated work.
What about getting experience? Here's the key. Let your passion and ambition
drive you. If you are motivated enough, you will figure out the business side
of things. Most of it is simple and common sense. Experience will come as
a by-product of your drive and ambition. You'll be shooting everyone and everywhere.
You'll be studying other successful photographers and maybe even attending
workshops and working for free for them if the opportunity presents itself.
The fuel behind getting ahead in this field is self-motivation. That's what
makes photography tough and hard to make a go of. Your love of the craft has
to be so great you are willing to endure the grief and drudgery to get ahead.
You'll smile all the way too, because no matter how desperate or hard it gets,
it always makes you smile.
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