{"id":2617,"date":"2017-10-11T20:34:17","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T20:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.sg\/?p=2617"},"modified":"2021-03-05T03:50:24","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T03:50:24","slug":"starting-a-photography-business-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/starting-a-photography-business-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Starting a Photography Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fcbk_share\"><\/div><p style=\"text-align: justify\">In recent years, photography has become a lucrative market, especially in Singapore. Many people quit their 9-5 jobs to plunge into photography businesses, and thus, there\u2019s been a rapid growth in this industry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Starting a photography business has its own challenges, and in this field, it takes an extra effort to thrive in a saturated market. But with proper preparation and planning, you can get your photography business off to a good start, and thrive in the competitive market.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Here&#8217;s our guide to starting a photography business, what to do, and what to avoid.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#How-to-Start-a-Photography-Business\">How to Start a Photography Business<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Determine-your-specification\">Determine your specification<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Research-the-market-and-your-competitors\">Research the market and your competitors<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Find-your-style\">Find your style\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Create-a-strong-and-consistent-brand\">Create a strong and consistent brand<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Build-a-strong-portfolio\">Build a strong portfolio\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Create-a-website\">Create a website\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Be-confident-in-your-pricing\">Be confident in your pricing\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Market-consistently\">Market consistently\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Network-network-network\">Network, network, network\n<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Insure-your-gear\">Insure your gear<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Have-backups-for-everything\">Have backups for everything<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Do-creative-projects-in-your-free-me\">Do creative projects in your free me<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"How-to-Start-a-Photography-Business\"><strong>How to Start a Photography Business<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Determine-your-specification\"><b>Determine your specification<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">When starting a photography business, it can be tempting to offer general service to accommodate any clients that come your way. In reality, this would make everything harder for you, from doing research to planning your strategies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Choose the area you want to focus on, whether it\u2019s wedding photography, commercial photography, or something else, and start from there. Having a specification will hugely help in focusing your time and energy to make improvements.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/15-things-you-should-do-to-ace-pre-wedding-photography\" target=\"_blank\">Engagement Photography Tips and Techniques<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Research-the-market-and-your-competitors\"><b>Research the market and your competitors<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4054\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Research-about-competitors.jpg\" alt=\"check out other competitors\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Research-about-competitors.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Research-about-competitors-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Research-about-competitors-1024x690.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Research-about-competitors-1080x728.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Researching the market and your competitors in the area are one of the first things you should do when starting a photography business. You want to be competitive in your pricing, but you also want to be a few steps ahead in your service to make sure you get people to choose you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">So what do you need to get from your research?<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong>What your competitors offer, and what they <i>don\u2019t <\/i>offer<\/strong> &#8211; it\u2019s good to have an idea of what\u2019s the standard offer out there and to make sure that you at least match that. But equally important is to find out what they <em>don\u2019t<\/em> offer, as this could be your unique selling point. In addition to their wedding photography service, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.annabellaw.com\/instant-print\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Annabel Law Productions<\/a><\/em> also offers a set-up studio on the day to capture the guests, with instant prints for them to bring home as keepsakes. This option not only sets them apart from the other wedding photographers but also gives them a competitive advantage<\/li>\n<li><strong>The price range of the service similar to what you offer<\/strong> &#8211; this will help hugely when it comes to pricing your service. While you don\u2019t need to offer the exact figure, it\u2019s helpful to know the range as a baseline, so you don\u2019t undersell or oversell your service<\/li>\n<li><strong>The marketing strategies<\/strong> &#8211; before you start your marketing, it\u2019s good to learn from others. Take notes of the ideas, what works well, and what attracts the most attention. Is it a big discount, the seasonal promo, or creative campaigns? Learn from your competitors to get the ideas running, but come up with your own unique strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em><strong>Avoid<\/strong>\u00a0diving headfirst without careful preparation and planning of your target clients, and marketing strategies.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Find-your-style\"><b>Find your style<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4057\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Unique-Style.jpg\" alt=\"Positions are unique\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Unique-Style.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Unique-Style-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Unique-Style-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Unique-Style-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Every photographer has their own unique style. It can be sleek and modern, vintage and romantic, fun and quirky, or something else entirely. There\u2019s no one style that\u2019s better than the others, each has its own personality and target clients. Annie Leibovitz and Terry Richardson\u2019s styles contrast each other &#8211; one has a soft and dreamy mood while the other is clean and sharp &#8211; but both are good in their own right.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Define your style and stick to it, as it will be your trademark, and it will also set the entire look of your business.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Avoid: Copying other photographers\u2019 styles. It\u2019s good to look up to other photographers to get ideas and inspiration, but come up with your own style that distinguishes you from other photographers. For instance, Hello Jane Lee&#8217;s vintage and romantic style can be seen in each and every one of their images, which helps build their trademark and brand.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Create-a-strong-and-consistent-brand\"><b>Create a strong and consistent brand<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Branding is a crucial thing that you should establish when you start out, as it\u2019s how you portray your business to the clients. Branding is more than just your business logo. Your imagery, website design, social media, and other marketing tools should carry consistent branding throughout.\u00a0This\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/photographyspark.com\/build-your-photography-brand-attract-dream-clients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">guide to branding your photography business<\/a>\u00a0is really helpful to help you work on your branding.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">One thing to note is to create a brand that reflects your style. If your style is vibrant and colorful, for example, make sure your brand shows that. <em>Glowing Iris Photography<\/em> nails the consistency of their photography style and brand, which is reflected in their work, website, and social media channels. It wouldn&#8217;t take long to know that their work is all about elegance. Only a good brand can achieve that.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">For the logo, although it\u2019s not the only thing about branding, it\u2019s certainly important to have a unique, memorable logo. If the design is not your forte, it\u2019s worth hiring a designer that can create a bespoke logo.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em><strong>Avoid<\/strong>\u00a0inconsistency across your imagery, logo, social media, and other marketing channels. Stick to your defining style, and make sure it&#8217;s coherent.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Build-a-strong-portfolio\"><b>Build a strong portfolio<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4055\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Strong-Portfolio.jpg\" alt=\"Create strong profile\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Strong-Portfolio.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Strong-Portfolio-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Strong-Portfolio-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Strong-Portfolio-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Your portfolio will be the first impression that your clients get, so make sure it catches their attention and make them want to explore more. It\u2019s tricky when you just start out, as your collection might not be enough to build a portfolio yet. Don\u2019t hesitate to offer your friends and family sessions with reduced prices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">If your work involves events like weddings, offer a reduced price for the documentation. As you get more photos from various assignments, keep your portfolio updated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">How to choose which images to put on the portfolio? Here are a few things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong>Only choose your best photos, and don\u2019t compromise<\/strong>. If you hesitate for some photos, they\u2019re probably not good enough<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep your portfolio flowing<\/strong> &#8211; while the images you use won\u2019t be from the same event or session (and they shouldn\u2019t be), arrange them so they\u2019re coherent and flowing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Include \u2018emotional\u2019 photos<\/strong> &#8211; it\u2019s no secret that people tend to remember things that evoke emotions, so make sure you include these in your portfolio. If you\u2019re a wedding photographer, a photo of the emotional groom would likely to be more memorable than a closeup of the flower arrangement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Keep in mind the 3 things your portfolio should show: your skills, your experience, and your style.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">If you need a reference or inspiration, take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blocmemoire.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Bloc Memoire<\/a>&#8216;s portfolio, which not only covers their diverse experiences but also shows their skills in capturing fleeting moments and emotions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Avoid: Including low-quality images when you don\u2019t have enough to fill up your portfolio. Shoot more to get more images, and be extremely selective when choosing which images to put on the portfolio.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Read:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/20-tips-to-make-your-photography-portfolio-stand-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">20 Tips to Make Your Photography Portfolio Stand Out<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Create-a-website\"><b>Create a website<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4051\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Create-new-website.jpg\" alt=\"websites to create\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Create-new-website.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Create-new-website-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Create-new-website-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Create-new-website-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Some people think social media (particularly Instagram) is enough to be the portfolio, but that\u2019s not entirely right. A website is like a digital business card, something you use to introduce your brand and showcase your work. As many people use websites as a point of reference to decide the credibility of a business, it\u2019s important to set up a website that is a one-stop place for your clients to get any information they want to know about you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">What should be on your website?<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong><i>&#8216;About&#8217;<\/i> page<\/strong> &#8211; explaining what&#8217;s unique about your business, your photography style, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portfolio<\/strong> &#8211; your selection of the best images from projects you\u2019ve taken in the past<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clients&#8217; testimonials<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Love by July<\/em> includes clients&#8217; testimonials on their website, and this powerful addition can really help convince potential clients of their skills and experience<\/li>\n<li><strong>Links to your social media accounts<\/strong> &#8211; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Contact details<\/strong> &#8211; email, phone number<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blog<\/strong> (this is optional, but highly recommended) &#8211; while the portfolio displays a selection of your best photos from various projects, you can use the blog to post photos per event, or per session. Sometimes, it helps the clients to see continuous photos from an event to see your workflow and documentation approach as a whole.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">A website is one of the marketing tools that are worth investing in, so make sure you set aside some budget for that. Invest to buy hosting and a domain for your own website.\u00a0You can read\u00a0this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.themoderntog.com\/beginners-guide-to-creating-a-pro-photography-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">beginner&#8217;s guide to creating a photography website<\/a>\u00a0for more details.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Apart from giving your business a professional look, <strong>a website will be useful for further marketing efforts, such as blogging to share useful content and updates with your clients, getting people to sign up for your newsletter, and increasing your discoverability with SEO.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Be-confident-in-your-pricing\"><b>Be confident in your pricing<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Confident-in-Pricing.jpg\" alt=\"Pricing your products or services\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Confident-in-Pricing.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Confident-in-Pricing-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Confident-in-Pricing-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Confident-in-Pricing-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">As a new player, it\u2019s easy to undercharge your clients when you feel you don\u2019t have enough experience in the field yet. While you might have to start lower and gradually increase your prices as you\u2019ve gained more experience, you should never undercharge your service.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Offering a price that\u2019s too low would only make clients doubt your skills and ability. Make sure your price is within the range, even if it\u2019s at the lower end. You can also do the alternative of giving a big discount to make it more appealing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">When calculating the prices, take into account the editing process. <strong>As a rule of thumb, 3 hours of editing is needed for each hour of shooting.<\/strong> Say you have a 2-hour maternity session, then your estimated working hour is 2 hours (shooting) + 6 hours (editing) = 8 hours.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Don\u2019t forget to factor in travel cost, studio rent (if you use studio), printed images and other goods you offer to the client (if any), and any other ongoing costs in your business.\u00a0You can learn more about this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sproutingphotographer.com\/photographer-pricing-8x10-print\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">photography pricing guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em><strong>Avoid:<\/strong> appearing unreliable and not confident by undercharging.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Market-consistently\"><b>Market consistently<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4052\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Marketing-Strategies.jpg\" alt=\"Social medias\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Marketing-Strategies.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Marketing-Strategies-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Marketing-Strategies-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Marketing-Strategies-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Set aside a specific time every day to market your business. Update your social media, reach out to potential clients, write useful articles for clients to post on your blog, or go out to photography events and gatherings. Make sure you consistently market your business.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">To get the ball rolling, here\u2019s where you can start with marketing:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong>Social media<\/strong> (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) &#8211; post at least once a day on each channel to grow it and keep your followers updated<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blog<\/strong> &#8211; write about useful tips for your clients, for example: what to prepare for maternity photography, tips for beautiful engagement shoots, or even amazing locations in your area that are interesting for a photoshoot. A good example of this is <a href=\"https:\/\/arjunkarthaphotography.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Arjun Kartha Photography<\/a>, which specializes in wedding and engagement photography. Their <a href=\"https:\/\/arjunkarthaphotography.com\/photography-blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">blog<\/a> is updated not only with recent weddings and engagement shoots, but also useful tips for couples and fellow photographers, from getting beautiful couple shots to ding decor and outfit inspiration.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Newsletter<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Offline marketing<\/strong> &#8211; despite what most people think, offline marketing is not dead. More about this in the next point.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">These are only the bare minimum. Try these incredibly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/effective-photography-marketing-ideas\" target=\"_blank\">effective marketing ideas<\/a>, and decide which works best for your photography business.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Network-network-network\"><b>Network, network, network<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Network-and-People.jpg\" alt=\"Create networks and get in more people\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Network-and-People.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Network-and-People-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Network-and-People-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Network-and-People-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Networking is a part of your marketing effort, and it\u2019s still as relevant today as it was years ago. Networking here doesn\u2019t mean exclusively with potential clients, but also with fellow photographers in your field and other business owners.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">By building relationships with fellow photographers, they can help pass some projects to you if they\u2019re booked up, while networking with other business owners will open doors for opportunities for collaborations and other projects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Where do you go to the network? For a start, you can go to the local events, photography meetups, bridal fairs, and other things that will give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and your business. Explain what you do, and express your interest in working with the people you meet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Offer collaborations with local businesses to get your name out there. For example, if you\u2019re a wedding photographer, network with the wedding planner, caterers, or florists. If you\u2019re a commercial photographer, you can offer collaborations with the local clothing stores, restaurants, or e-commerce ventures.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Insure-your-gear\"><strong>Insure your gear<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4049\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Backpacking-your-gears.jpg\" alt=\"Camera Gear sets\" width=\"1162\" height=\"776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Backpacking-your-gears.jpg 1162w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Backpacking-your-gears-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Backpacking-your-gears-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Backpacking-your-gears-1080x721.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1162px) 100vw, 1162px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Photography gear is expensive, but it would be a lot more expensive when it\u2019s lost or damaged (imagine all the loss it would cause if you can\u2019t do your job). Considering you would be helpless without your gear, it\u2019s well worth the money to insure your valuable equipment. Yes, insurance can be expensive, but it protects you from the risks that might happen. Insurance costs and premiums can be included as business expenses and factored in the pricing calculation.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Have-backups-for-everything\"><b>Have backups for everything<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Every photographer\u2019s nightmare is losing all their hard work in a blip, and this is a risk that you cannot take, as it would put your reputation on the line. Make sure you do precautionary steps in every assignment. Use more than 1 memory card for every session, have backup gear if at all possible, and backup the images immediately after shooting.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span id=\"Do-creative-projects-in-your-free-me\"><b>Do creative projects in your free me<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4056\" src=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Think-on-creativity.jpg\" alt=\"Creativity is important\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Think-on-creativity.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Think-on-creativity-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Think-on-creativity-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Think-on-creativity-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In your spare time, it\u2019s good to have a personal project that can showcase your talent and creativity. &gt;Alexandra Cameron, whose work focuses on portrait and fashion photography, created \u2018The GIANT Series\u2019 project, a whimsical imagery where her models are portrayed as miniatures to \u2018giant\u2019 props. This project not only brings exposure to her work, but it also highlights her photography skills and creativity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Hope this guide helps you get ready to start your own business!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Are you a professional photographer? If you&#8217;d like to give your clients bespoke, high-quality albums for them to keep, we&#8217;d like to help you out. Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/pro-plan\" target=\"_blank\">Pro Plan<\/a> service, tailored to accommodate the needs of professional photographers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Last updated 31 July 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In recent years, photography has become a lucrative market, especially in Singapore. Many people quit their 9-5 jobs to plunge into photography businesses, and thus, there\u2019s been a rapid growth in this industry. Starting a photography business has its own challenges, and in this field, it takes an extra effort to thrive in a saturated market. But with proper preparation and planning, you can get your photography business off to a good start, and thrive in the competitive market. Here&#8217;s our guide to starting a photography business, what to do, and what to avoid. Table of ContentsHow to Start a Photography BusinessDetermine your specificationResearch the market and your competitorsFind your style Create a strong and consistent brandBuild a strong portfolio Create a website Be confident in your pricing Market consistently Network, network, network Insure your gearHave backups for everythingDo creative projects in your free me How to Start a Photography Business Determine your specification When starting a photography business, it can be tempting to offer general service to accommodate any clients that come your way. In reality, this would make everything harder for you, from doing research to planning your strategies. Choose the area you want to focus on, whether [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4198,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions\/4198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.photojaanic.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}