3 mistakes I made when I first started my photography business.
From a photographer with 15 years experience
Starting a business is not easy as it is, but when it's a creative profession we're talking about, where there's virtually zero upfront business training and no definite guidelines, things get even trickier.
Read on to discover the top 3 mistakes photographers (myself included!) make when starting their photography business, and how they will inevitably affect your confidence and success rates.
✍️ Not having everyone I photographed sign a contract.
It’s easy to think that by asking a client to sign a contract you might be putting unnecessary pressure on them and creating extra work.
The truth?
Contracts are ESSENTIAL. Without them, the image usage terms are loose and subject to personal interpretation, and many crucial points are not clearly laid out prior to the shoot.
A good contract clearly states the terms and both the photographer and the client's responsibilities, and is therefore extremely useful to safeguard both parties.
A client who believes in your work and understands the T&C would never be put off by having to sign an agreement. So do it!
I promise you, you'll need it, whether with strangers, family or friends (in fact, especially with the latter!).
💸 Not charging or not charging enough
Time is money. Time is life. Time is all you have.
And when you're a parent, even more so, because time is LITTLE and RARE.
Any other mums still catching up with work at 9pm in the evening after a full on day? 🙋♀️
Model calls and portfolio shoots are wonderful, but make sure you're getting enough in return, such as enough images you can use as needed, and don't feel ashamed for charging for extra time, extra images, or extra editing.
You are running a business with overheads and your time is valuable. You don't have to play the role of the misunderstood, undervalued artist who can never make ends meet. Let's leave that sad stereotype behind.
You can be a talented artist and generate £££ at the same time.
💡 Thinking that natural light is the only way you can beautifully light a shoot.
When I first started I called myself a 'natural light photographer'. Fast forward a few years and I published a book about all the amazing things you can achieve with studio lighting (shameful ad: it's called 'Lighting People')
Natural light is STUNNING, but often limiting. Ever shot in someone's house and had to bump the iso to 378292 just to still get an underexposed shot? (Gloomy weather UK togs unite 🤚).
Familiarising yourself with artificial light means you can STILL light a shot seamlessly and naturally (using mostly natural light if you wish), but with the option of boosting it to the required intensity, filling deep shadows or creating light accents for visual impact.
What other common photography mistakes would you have added to the list? 📷
Tell me in the comments below.
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