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Photography as a career is an art application, a practise of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film.
With the right camera equipment, you can even photograph wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye, including UV, infrared, and radio. The first permanent photograph was captured in 1826 by Joseph Nicéphore Ni épce in France. It shows the roof of a building lit by the sun.
The art of photography has gradually evolved over time. We can see that by differentiating between a photograph taken in the 19TH century and a photograph taken in the 21st Century. Art has become and will continue to grow as time goes by because art is all about creativity.
Back then, photography was not viewed as an activity that could generate income for an individual and comfortably rely on it without financial worries. In the modern world, we are living in, photography has evolved in a very great way such that it is a career, driven by passion and hobby. YES!! Photography is now a career that one can learn about and apply as a means of income.
As camera gear has become more affordable and consumer-friendly, and almost every smartphone now features a great camera, everyone’s a photographer. If you have some creative photography chops, you might want to turn your creative outlet into a money-making venture, and here is HOW:
Any serious entrepreneur will tell you that you need to organise your thoughts on paper. This detailed document serves as your roadmap, describing what your business is and how it will be profitable. It breaks down things like cash flow expenses, ownership, and competition.
As part of your business planning process, you’ll need to assess your start-up costs. What are the essentials that you’ll need before you can really launch your business?
You’ll need business licence insurance, a website, and accounting software like Quickbooks or Xero.
You can decide to with a dedicated studio space or work out of your home.
You can secure the start-up funds by borrowing from friends and family or taking a loan from a bank if what you have is not enough. Lucky you if you have enough capital to take you through the setting up of your new business.
A business does not grow/ become profitable overnight. Therefore, you might have to work another job to make ends meet until your business generates enough money.
You’ll need to show your prospective clients what you can do, and working alongside a professional photographer is a great way to get some experience and start to build a portfolio. Farren worked as a photographer’s assistant while starting her own business.
How much will you charge for your services?
Your website should, of course, showcase your work. That’s what your clients will want to see. Keep your site organised by breaking your galleries up by category. Include a picture of yourself and a page that describes your background and experience.
Contact information is also a must. It’s a good idea to list at least some of your prices. This helps manage customer expectations and keeps people from negotiating for a lower price.