Do you know that feeling of doubt whether you are good enough or not to start your own business? Have you ever had that feeling of uncertainty creeping up when you see other photographers work and you feel that they are better, more creative than you? 
You are not alone 
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You have been doing photography as a hobby/side business for a few years and now you really want to turn it into your dream business. 
Where do you start?
Having a framework and systems, a plan, an exact outline 
what you need to do when is essential for a successful business start without feeling overwhelmed. Your framework and plan will guide you.
In your business, you won’t just be taking photos. You will also be handling admin, marketing, client conversations, billing, accounting, editing, along with many other tasks. A large percentage of any niche businesses fail within the first year. This is mainly due to poor planning which leads to poor execution..Building a business is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
The better you plan your resources, the more successful you will be.
Rome was not built in just one day!
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK COULD BE:
1. Do I have to start with lower prices because I am a new business? 💰
No. Your prices are based on your cost of doing business (CODB) and you deserve a salary which pays your bills and puts food on your table. Find out your COBD and make sure you value yourself and your work high enough! You can’t start cheap and then expect your clients to pay higher prices at a later point.Does a new restaurant start selling $0.10 hamburgers? No. They do market research, create their perfect burger and design their product before they open their doors to new customers. Work on your photography skills and set yourself apart from the competition.
2. What lenses are a MUST for portrait and business photography? 📸
A popular lens to start is the 50mm. However, if your budget allows, I suggest investing in a 24-70mm 2.8 so that you don’t have to switch lenses all the time.It really depends on your preference but my 24-80mm 2.8 has been my work horse for many years and has never let me down. I use it for almost everything, but especially during business photo sessions as this lens gives me the flexibility I need.Prime lenses to add as you are growing your business could be: for portraits 85mm 1.4 or 80-200mm 2.8, for wide angle 14-24mm 2.8, for small products and jewelry macro 105mm 2.8.
3. What editing software do you need to start out with? 🖥
Lightroom and Photoshop are the most common.
4. How do you acquire your knowledge? 🎓
Do you self-teach everything you don’t know? Read online? Watch videos? Take online classes?You don’t NEED a college degree. There is sooo much information out there. Online courses, 1:1 coaching by an experienced photographer, YouTube, podcasts, blogs, books …..
5. Are a ton of props necessary? 🛍
Not really, depends on the niche. For portraits you won’t need any. One of the most important rules of composition is simplicity. Everything else just detracts from the subject and draws your eye all over the place.
6. How do you deliver your photos to clients? 🎞
Shootproof Online Gallery. Wetransfer. Physical prints.Pic Time. Honeyboook as a customer service database to stay organized with projects.
7. Is a website needed right away? 💻
Set up your own website as soon as you can. It holds all your best work in one place instead of scrolling through social media. A website is definitely needed if you want to be seen as professional. A website allows you to organize your portfolio how you like it and it lets you have greater control over things like SEO..Ultimately almost all this comes down to what your dream business looks like for you. 
Ask yourself: Once I am successful, what does my business look like? Where is it? Who am I photographing? What am I creating? How much am I shooting? What is my style and what do my images look like? Start there. If you build a cheap “starter” business, you will never have that dream business because you are busy building something totally different which you ultimately will want to change. So start with a framework, a plan to guide you.
👉 Want to know more about business photography? Join my free FB Group and Photography Business Community and click on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/photographybusinesscommunity
Feel free to ask me questions!
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