Do you love to capture all the beautiful moments of life behind the lens of your camera? If yes, then having your own photography business can prove beneficial to you in some ways. Of course, that doesn’t mean you randomly click pics of pots and flowers and call yourself an ace photographer. That’s not how it works, you know?
Photography is an art, and like any other art, it provides fulfillment, inspiration, freedom and peace of mind. It’s kind of meditation which only a true lover of art can understand.
However, the satisfaction and independence that you get as a freelancer, where no one’s there to look over your shoulder with a set of instructions are truly blissful.
Why Become a Freelance Photographer?
Especially when you are a photographer your standpoint of a shoot may be entirely different from that of your boss’s or co-workers. Constant criticism may limit your growth as an artist and creator. And in most cases, you will not get full credit for the work you deliver. And what’s more? You may also not be compensated for your innovation, true!!!
That’s why freelancing when it comes to photography could be the best thing you can gift yourself. However, any freelance career can be a tough road; with no one to guide you correctly, you may get lost in the race.
If you are unsure about starting as a freelance photographer, then our article might help you with some valuable insights. We have compiled freelance photographer tips, sourced from champions of the industry.
You can start your business as a part-time freelance photographer and then gradually expand your work. To become a successful freelance photographer, you need to have a good understanding of the photography techniques, the gadgets and a lot amount of imagination and creativity.
1. Purchasing The Right Equipment
The most significant investment you will be making in your freelance photography career is buying the right equipment. The camera, props and accessories play the heroes in this job field.
The list of equipment you would require in the profession at the beginning include:
– A state of the art camera from a very reliable brand
– Lenses
– A flash
– Reflectors, diffusers, lights and tripod
Lenses are the most crucial aspect of great photography. But they are expensive. So, once you start adding profits to your business, we recommend you to invest in some high-quality lenses.
2. Create a Blogging Website
Setting up your website is an essential step in building your freelance photography career. It is where your clients will look at and consider your work. Therefore, make sure you invest here. To help spread your business, you need a responsive yet easy to navigate website.
Create content, as in photos here. Don’t just throw every picture that looks decent to you. NO! You are not aiming decency, but you are creating extravaganza out of those pics. So select the best shots for the web content.
If you don’t have photos, set up shoots with your friends, family or aspiring models.
After that, update a blog every day (at least in the beginning) devotedly. Effect of a daily blog with great photos is several, including a steady flow of network. Your blogs should contain shoots that you love. Blogging will also help improve your photography skills.
Blogging will shape the personality of your website, build a community and improve your site presence.
3. Build Your Portfolio
As a freelancer, you won’t be instantly famous. You need a strong portfolio to attract clients. The best way to do so, when you first start out is by doing specific work for free.
Local models, family weddings, friends’ occasions are few resources you can use to build a strong portfolio. Once you have a good number of collection, post them on your website, and other social media accounts.
4. Get Your Clients
The Internet is the best marketplace to get hired and attract potential clients. Today, social media marketing is trending, and as a freelance photographer, you need to grab the opportunity hands down.
Use Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and so on to connect with people. Use hashtags for the niche crowd.
Of course, you have your daily blogs too. Update your work on these sites regularly and devotionally. You can use various techniques to attract clients such as you can teach them photography and posing techniques, talk about wedding photography, props, and so on.
You have to sound professional and gain their trust for the long-term association.
5. What’s Your Budget?
Yes, what is your work’s value?We all know the first job proposal is always awkward and scary. We hesitate and accept whatever the client offers, but that’s when we lower our worth.
Don’t do that!!Although pricing can be the most annoying thing to figure, you need to work on it. One simple suggestion would be, don’t quote a price on the spot.
Get your client’s requirements and say, “I will get back with quotation soon”. Make sure you fish out all the details from your client before quoting a price. And then decide on a budget.
If you have a particular price structure in mind, work around it. You can also quote different prices for packages that include some shoot days, occasion, number of photos, videos and props and location. Don’t hesitate to speak your mind. However, do an initial research about the charges so that you don’t overrate or underrate yourself.
6. Create a Schedule, Prioritise Work
Once you start getting more clients, you will have to work on loads of stuff on hand. Therefore, it’s essential that you create a schedule and prioritise your work.
Always remember if someone has contact with you for a shoot, they have gone through your portfolio, liked your work and then have come for you.You are a fresh bloom in their mind; respect that and connect with them immediately. Respond to emails and messages at the earliest.
Random stuff that you don’t feel like doing at times should be made tangible by putting them in lists. Make sure you check the list every day and cross things off as and when completed.
As you grow big, ensure to hire an assistant to do these regular and random works of consultation.
7. Surf Websites For Enhancing Skills (But Set Up Specific Time For That)
Web surfing is an excellent way to understand your market, know your strengths and weaknesses and gain information about the skill. Your perspective will improve by collecting more data and by gaining more knowledge.
As a sole entrepreneur, staying connected with the internet world is vital. Although this is a productive thing to do, it fragments your work concentration. Therefore, make sure you surf the web for enhancing your proficiency but set up a specific time for doing so.
8. Editing Is Must
Every work we accomplish needs a certain amount of tweaking. Remember you always taste the salt while making a recipe?It’s precisely similar with photographs. The best way to entice your clients is by producing stuff that is not just ordinary but brilliantly curved out.
Editing and enhancing your photographs is a must before you deliver. Set ample time for this purpose. It will take you a long way.
9. Learn Manage Your Finances Well
To be a freelance photographer means no secured job or salary at the beginning of the month. You will be a sole proprietor who will be in charge of your salary, profits and losses.
However, don’t be scared. There are ways to eliminate unnecessary expenses and managing the income efficiently. Start by jotting down everything in a journal; everything that goes into the business and that you spend the income.
We also suggest you keep your personal and job expenses separate. Pay yourself a guaranteed salary and save or invest the rest in your business. In this way, you can keep a tab on your income and won’t be tempted to spend extravagantly.
Last but not the least, there is no expiry for knowledge enhancement. So, attend workshops conducted by famous photographers because it helps you to develop your skill and become a first-rate professional.
Share the tips to be a freelance photographer with an aspiring artist and help him build a stable career.
