advise needed on starting photography business - Freelance UK Forums

photoworks · 11-08-2009, 07:01 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone has any advice about starting a business as independant photographer? I have been doing photography as an amateur for more than 15 years. I have as well built up a solid experience in photoshop retouching. I am seriously thinking to turn professional, if only part-time at the beginnning. I am aware that many people like my work, but somehow i am unable to sell myself successfully. If anybody has found any methods of advertising successful then please let me know.

I would like to know what is the best way to obtain start up grants.

My website is Serge Chabert , any comments on the website are welcome and would be very helpful please!

Thanks in advance.

photoworks · 11-09-2009, 03:08 PM

anyone, please ?

c69 · 11-29-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoworks

anyone, please ?

second one is crap,
#3 and #1 are ok,
#4 is very good

IainGlasgow · 12-04-2009, 01:24 PM

The second one would be better if the model was in the centre or not cropped on the right but I think the lighting is effective though and adds to the impression she is daydreaming.

adamcoupe · 12-08-2009, 11:27 AM

Hi

I'd research the market for your particular area of photography. Many creative people get carried away with the dream of how brilliant it will be to earn a living from photography without fully understanding what's going on in that niche nationally or locally. Research can be online (list all photographers in your target niche, review their websites and make notes of the way in which they talk abou their business and how they interact with their market. You're trying to glean how they acquire new customers and if possible their pricing structure and 'packages' that they offer.

Take a look at this London Freelance site and get a feel for the 'typical' pricing listed Freelance Fees Guide: Welcome

Decide upon a trading style - what you intend to call your business - needs to be credible and above all memorable.

Start to develop a view on how other established photographers in your target niche appear to market their businesses - website, Google Adwords http://bit.ly/QJcrQ, local / national / niche press advertising, direct mail etc and construct an experimentation marketing plan where you try out a number of marketing activities and see which works best for your business. A lot of online promotion and marketing can be done at little or no expense - just effort on your part. You can find loads of web tools here Commercial Photography - Resources - Adam Coupe Photography

Good luck

Adam
Commercial Photography - Portfolio - Adam Coupe Photography

11-08-2009, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
photoworks New Poster Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Greenock Posts: 2	advise needed on starting photography business Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone has any advice about starting a business as independant photographer? I have been doing photography as an amateur for more than 15 years. I have as well built up a solid experience in photoshop retouching. I am seriously thinking to turn professional, if only part-time at the beginnning. I am aware that many people like my work, but somehow i am unable to sell myself successfully. If anybody has found any methods of advertising successful then please let me know. I would like to know what is the best way to obtain start up grants. My website is Serge Chabert , any comments on the website are welcome and would be very helpful please! Thanks in advance.

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11-09-2009, 03:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
photoworks New Poster Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Greenock Posts: 2	anyone, please ?

12-04-2009, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
IainGlasgow Regular Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	The second one would be better if the model was in the centre or not cropped on the right but I think the lighting is effective though and adds to the impression she is daydreaming.

12-08-2009, 11:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
adamcoupe New Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 8	Hi I'd research the market for your particular area of photography. Many creative people get carried away with the dream of how brilliant it will be to earn a living from photography without fully understanding what's going on in that niche nationally or locally. Research can be online (list all photographers in your target niche, review their websites and make notes of the way in which they talk abou their business and how they interact with their market. You're trying to glean how they acquire new customers and if possible their pricing structure and 'packages' that they offer. Take a look at this London Freelance site and get a feel for the 'typical' pricing listed Freelance Fees Guide: Welcome Decide upon a trading style - what you intend to call your business - needs to be credible and above all memorable. Start to develop a view on how other established photographers in your target niche appear to market their businesses - website, Google Adwords http://bit.ly/QJcrQ, local / national / niche press advertising, direct mail etc and construct an experimentation marketing plan where you try out a number of marketing activities and see which works best for your business. A lot of online promotion and marketing can be done at little or no expense - just effort on your part. You can find loads of web tools here Commercial Photography - Resources - Adam Coupe Photography Good luck Adam Commercial Photography - Portfolio - Adam Coupe Photography