How to Start, Survive & Make Money as a Photographer

Have you been questioning how to start, or move your commercial photography business forwards but aren’t sure how to handle the business world?

Do you have trouble handling estimates and clients properly? Perhaps you don’t have enough clients, or perhaps too many bad ones? Are you established and are curious to know how to take it to the next level?

Well, if you like to learn by example – I'll share my day-to-day methods that I use to not only survive, but increase my brand and business each year for over a decade with several anecdotes of the ups and downs of my studio.

Most of us are not born with business minds or personalities – having started out as a web developer I've transitioned careers to not only be “another photographer”, but to be regarded as one of the top luxury product photographers today.

Learn to avoid the many mistakes photographers make when running their business – stay busy doing things right.

Buy the course here now and take advantage of an early bird 25% discount!

This course is for you if:

  • You are looking to start a commercial photography business

  • Want to avoid making common mistakes in business

  • Have a photography business, but are wondering what you can do to get to the next level.

Check out my free excerpt from the course, things to consider when renting your first studio:

Here's the course breakdown:

  • 1. Your first Steps to Success in Commercial Photography

    1.1 Your first steps to success in commercial photography
    1.2 You’re not only a photographer
    1.3 When should you quit your day job?
    1.4 Finding yourself and defining your portfolio
    1.5 Is doing free work bad?
    1.6 Getting clients — The state of marketing today
    1.7 How to source products to garnish your portfolio?

  • 2. What are you worth?

    2.1 Conditions that affect your photography fees
    2.2 What are you worth? Determining your base rate
    2.3 Factors affecting your creative fee

  • 3. Copyright and licensing — What is it?

    3.1 Owning the rights vs work for hire
    3.2 How to protect your images from theft and illegal usage?
    3.3 The usage fee

  • 4. How to create estimates like a pro

    4.1 Handling inquiries professionally: Human psychology 101
    4.2 Negotiating: The art of saying “No”
    4.3 What should a quote look like and contain?
    4.4 Terms and conditions

  • 5. The invoice

  • 6. Bookkeeping and accounting: Knowing what’s going on

    6.1 Keeping paperwork in order
    6.2 Business expenses
    6.3 Working with a professional accountant
    6.4 Accounting software

  • 7. Dealing with slow or non-paying clients and false promises of volume of work.

    7.1 Dealing with slow paying clients; Making first contact
    7.2 Ways to recover your money
    7.3 Handling clients promising you big volumes of work

  • 8. Growing your business with external help

  • 9. Your studio

    9.1 Home studio vs external studio
    9.2 Things to consider for your studio space
    9.3 The hidden costs of renting a studio space

  • 10. Protecting yourself and your business with insurance
     

  • 11. Dealing with clients: The good, the bad, and the ugly
     

  • BONUS: Several questions I’ve been asked and have collected through Photigy. My personal answers to them. (Additional content to be released soon)
     

  • Downloads: Sample Invoices, quotes and estimates

    Real documents from real business, for you as an example


Here are two recent reviews on the course:

So what are you waiting for? Buy the course now!

Vadim ChilineComment