New Year. New Business.
Breaking Down the Barrier to Entry
with Tali Joy. January 2024.
Have you ever even slightly dreamed about starting a photography business but believe you can’t because you think you don’t have enough money, you’re super overwhelmed by taking the first step, or maybe you’re just plain scared to fail?
I’m here to call you out and tell you that those are just excuses and I want to remind you that even the professionals had to start somewhere! Here are five practical (and affordable) steps to take to start your own photography business!
#1 Shoot with Friends!
Ask any of your friends and family members that would be willing to have a free session so you can practice working with real life couples and people. When I first started my business, before I even made it official, I built my portfolio by asking people I knew if I could take their photos for free. Plus, your friends and family are by far the BEST people to practice on because there are little to no risks. Who cares if you totally blow it? They are the preferred people to make mistakes with! Overtime, you will become comfortable with asking the right prompts and coordinating the shots you want.
#2 Buy from Facebook Marketplace
Starting a business does not mean you need to spend thousands of dollars! Begin sourcing your gear off Facebook Marketplace! My first camera was literally $300.00 from a seller on Facebook. If you have money to blow, awesome! But if not, and you don’t even know what is considered good gear yet, don’t drop every penny you have on high end equipment. Rather, invest your money in learning the fundamentals through online courses and buy a cheap, second hand starter camera. Then, by the time your skills have improved and you’re more informed about what equipment would help your business grow, you should have enough money from booking clientele to invest in better quality gear!
#3 Free Education
You live in a day and age where there there is SO much free educational resources for photographers right now. Podcasts (my favorite is linked below), YouTube videos, reels, blogs, freebee guides and courses, and SOO MUCH MORE!! Scour the internet and learn from the experts in different areas that you are struggling with or do not understand. Not only is it helpful to learn skills from a professional who is in the field that you are desiring to be in, but you have the opportunity to hear their success story, too!
Check out my favorite podcast here: Nathan Chanski’s Passion With Purpose.
#4 Fake It Till You Make It
Show up each day and be the expert that you are, that you have become, because your clients aren’t photographers, YOU are. So, even if you don’t feel ready, kick that imposter syndrome in the butt and be ready. DO IT SCARED. Don’t wait till you feel confident. Rest in what you know and have the courage to step out and jump in. The feeling part of it all often comes second anyway!
#5 Free Platforms
Take advantage of creating a free account on social platforms that can be used as a visual portfolio for potential clients to see. For example, Instagram is a great place to start! Take the time to build your personal brand and engage with your community online.
I launched my business Instagram page back in 2020, the peak of the quarantine, as a result from a fun challenge my husband created to pass the time. The main rule was we had to naturally grow our business account from the ground up without promoting it on a personal accounts to challenge us to get creative with marketing! I had ZERO clients at the time and only had photos of my friends to showcase. It gave me the push I needed to create my brand and market my photography business. Since then I have gained 4,000+ followers on Instagram and it is my main platform where I am most active, showcase my latest work, and personally connect with clients!
Eventually, I would HIGHLY recommend investing in launching a professional website (I wish I did this sooner!). In the meantime, it’s great to take advantage of the free opportunities first! But if and when you are ready to pay someone, my favorite photography website designer is @itsclarkcreative, she is seriously the sweetest human ever.
YOU GOT THIS! Starting something new, especially a business, can seem daunting and overwhelming, but all it takes is one first step! With these five steps I’m sure that you will grow your business in no time!
Like this kind of content? Be sure to follow me on Instagram where I post WEEKLY photographer tips! @talijoyphotography. See you soon!
