Simply put: mastering lighting, camera settings, and editing is, of course, crucial to becoming a financially successful photographer, but it is not enough. If you want to find success with your photography business, you also have to know how to properly run a business. This excellent video tutorial will run you through the basics of that to help you ensure you give yourself the best chances of getting it right.
Coming to you from Magi Fisher with B&H Photo and Video, this great video tutorial will teach you the basics of properly setting up a photography business, including things like insurance, contracts, trademarks, and more. For sure, you should absolutely have liability insurance if you are running a photography business. Unfortunately, even if you operate in a responsible manner, all it takes is something like someone tripping over a light stand at a wedding reception or the like to seriously jeopardize your business, and proper insurance can help protect against such events. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Fisher.
If you would like to learn everything there is to know about setting up a successful photography business, check out "Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography With Monte Isom," which is currently on sale along with the rest of the Fstoppers store.
As someone who spent a long time working under the instruction of insurers and tort (negligence) lawyers, I second Alex's comment around public liability insurance. If you are uninsured, and you are found negligent, the litigation will bankrupt you.
You also want insurances on your kit, personal injury, and business interruption.
Producing images is the easy part of running a photography business, and the photography is a small part of the business. And it should be remembered, the game is more often about networking and relationships, as opposed to simply having world class images.
You should:
- undertake education in running a small business, prior to starting your business.
- acquire the services of a bookkeeper and accountant; and listen to their advice (not all are equally competent).
- acquire the services of a lawyer; contracts are *very* important.
- outsource everything you can.
Also, the old thing about having 12 months worth of overheads saved prior to starting is good advice.
Scott Choucino's advice is worth watching again https://youtu.be/RZ3KtyNLmnc
Very true, William. And Scott's videos are all nice to watch. It takes him under 7 minutes to tell the essential things.
This video should only be third as long. There is far too much irrelevant talk in it. I can't imagine that there is anyone who listens to this voice for over 53 minutes. Sorry. But Alex, you can vote me down again if it makes you feel better.