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Building a photography business in 2023, where to start.
- Thread starter BigBoy
- Start date
Maxx9photo
Active member
The latest and greatest tool depends on the person behind the camera, you can start make money with any camera equipment that you already have!
If you haven't got any experience, try to be assistant to your local pros, learn how they run their business. Build network and showcase your portfolio.
Sometimes, you need to do some free gigs just to get your name out there.
I'm a gear junkie so owning IQ4 just like many other cameras I've owned before, they come and go.
If you haven't got any experience, try to be assistant to your local pros, learn how they run their business. Build network and showcase your portfolio.
Sometimes, you need to do some free gigs just to get your name out there.
I'm a gear junkie so owning IQ4 just like many other cameras I've owned before, they come and go.
why not?
Paul Spinnler
Well-known member
It is difficult - do it as passion project.
The photography business today has changed radically. If you are not a "star" photographer the fees and jobs can be meager, clients difficult and cheap. Stock photography started to eat up the assignment market in the 90's, and now with AI starting to scrape the internet for images, including yours, designers and clients will soon be bypassing photographers altogether for certain types of photos. It's tough with a lot of photographers going after an ever-shrinking market.
Don't give up on photography. Just don't expect it to be easy to make a living unless you get lucky.
Will Deleon
Active member
I've been shooting professionally for about 10-12yrs now and all I can say it's been the best thing. Don't listen to how things were "back in the day" because that's not the market you're going into anyway. You don't know how things were back in the day so it's best to focus on today. Am I the newest generation of shooter? No, but I did start when things started to change. From my experience so far, the industry is still strong and there is a lot of work out there. Just like before, you can't sit around for work to come to you. You have to be a business person first, then a creative. One needs to send out promos, emails, set meetings with agencies, etc. The more of this you do, the more work you get. I can go on and on about this but this is just my point of view as a current working commercial photographer.
kdphotography
Well-known member
The "business end" is much more important to be a professional photographer in present times. The advent of digital has made photography easier, more accessible, and in a sense advancing the capability and the art---while at the same time, destroying the industry and making it much more difficult to be a professional photographer, make a decent living, afford better/higher end equipment often needed to advance knowledge, skills, and the art of photography.
KC_2020
Active member
The business end has always been the most important aspect or you won't be in business. Plan on shooting maybe 20% of the time.
If you are in the U.S., it might be helpful to check out A Photo Editor's ongoing survey of photographers' incomes, pre- and post-pandemic. They write about the mix of work they do and how much they make. https://aphotoeditor.com/2023/03/08/photographers-how-much-do-you-make-3/
KC_2020
Active member
Photographers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images.
www.bls.gov
Thank you. Looking at the data it seems to me to standout in this day age you must have great marketing, sales skills, and a medium format camera.Photographers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images.
Will Deleon
Active member
I have very good friends who shoot global ad campaigns on Canon R5's (or similar). You definitely do not need a medium format cameras to be in the big leagues lol .
buildbot
Well-known member
The median income on that page is 38k....less than the cost of an IQ4 new. I would imagine most of these photographers do not use medium format at all! You'd stand out more by doing film or like, wet plate photography anyway.
Bill_Evans
Member
I’d say clients first gear second. Although it might be more fun the other way round. In the end it’s a customer service business. Deliver the highest quality within the required constraints, on time with courtesy. Actually deliver more than you’re paid for.
If so why do we need medium format cameras then? Maybe I'm being naïve but wouldn't multi million dollar companies want photographers to use the best cameras on the market?
guphotography
Active member
Busy working photographer rarely have time for such surveys.
Business skill is absolute key to a successful business, especially marketing. However, you need a distinctive style in whichever discipline you wish to pursue, just don't be jack of all trades.
Once you are known for something, branch out gradually into other genres that you are also passionate in.
I know very little about what photography business was like back in the day, but I'm loving it. Great clients, good income and even better lifestyle. My fees are going up year on year, and clients are appreciating what I deliver in return.
Be shrewd on where you should spend the time and money, and how much, craft your look and build long term relationships. It may be a slow burner for a few years, just keep ploughing.
Maxx9photo
Active member
You’re asking a question, similar to why do they make Ferrari, Lamborghini while Toyota or Mazda will get you from point A to point B.