Photography Business

“My client wants all the raw images,” or, “My client wants to see the raw images. What do I do?” The general consensus seems to be a resounding no, but handing over raw files to your client might be a great idea. Here's why.

Take a look back at some recent client work of yours, and simply ask the following question: Did I bring to the table a deep and thoughtful understanding of my clients' photography wants, and needs? Or did I instead find myself photographing based only on my own personal needs as a photographer?

Who we are as artists and photographers is usually a process that takes time and a deeper internal dialogue to understand, and the initial direction we go will almost always be left on the wayside as we develop our abilities and discover our passions. How do some of the most accomplished photographers in the world start in the industry and do they grow into or out of their genres?

In the early throes of your career, demanding clients with highly specified briefs can seem far more trouble than they are worth. I initially would be far more interested in the clients who offered creative freedom, but looking back, I believe I was wrong to do so. I'll explain why.

A video production technique is any method that you use to capture video. It's often incorporated into a specific style of video production, such as live event video production or staged video production. Here are a few things that you should consider when trying to determine which techniques to use. 

Before you take on that new client, apply for an internship, or consider assisting that photographer, make sure you have done the following first.

For a lot of us, being able to spend all of our time taking photographs is very enticing. Here are five markers that suggest you are ready to make the leap from amateur to professional.

A few weeks ago in a boudoir forum I came across a subject on what was the most time-consuming portion of most photographers' flow. The majority of the comments referred to culling and editing. So if you are looking to speed up your own workflow with minimal editing this video is for you.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, there seem to be a number of stock lines we hear over and over about the craft and technique of photography and making a career of it, but just because we hear them, it doesn't make them true. Here are five lies about being a photographer.

Photography dreams can come true, and for Adam Coppola, that’s just what happened this year when he opened his newly completed photography studio. I had an opportunity to tour Coppola's newly completed dream studio a few weeks ago.

They say that when you find a career that you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. That’s bull. Well, sort of.

What should you be doing today to ensure your photography studio is still viable decades into the future? Reflecting on 10 years in the business, Photographer Phillip Blume of Blume Photography offers advice on how to sustain a photography studio that will be productive for decades to come.

A legal battle that erupted between a photographer and a Film Festival after the latter used a copyrighted photo has concluded with a federal court in Virginia, which ruled that taking an image from the Internet without permission for a commercial website can be considered fair use.

It’s an idea that’s sat in the back of your mind for possibly years by now: traveling the world and doing what you love by creating films. How can it become a reality?

Go to any live music event and if the crowd is big enough, there will be photographers snapping away for the first three songs. Concert photography is a blast, but does that blast produce bucks?

Is your client booking workflow scattered around on notebooks or multiple to-do lists? Have you thought about automating the client booking process to speed it up and have more time to spend on getting new clients and bookings?

You've had your camera, your passion growing with every click of the shutter, and now you're thinking that this thing that you love could be a money maker. You say to yourself, "I'm going to become a full time photographer!" But first, what are some of the steps to go full time?

Not just any old space can or should become a photography studio. Make sure you have taken the following 12 things into account before making such an important decision.

It's not easy taking photos of yourself, but it's a really great way to connect with people and show them who you are. So when someone who has over 500,000 online followers tells you her secrets to looking great in selfies, it's a great opportunity to learn. 

What does it take to turn your photography business into a full-time job? Three successful photographers share the critical steps they took to make a career out of photography.

In a saturated industry, talent can get lost in the crowds. However, talent in combination with proficient business running expertise can lead to you rising above those crowds. Some business expertise is experience, but some is received wisdom. Here are more of the most important things I've learned through both.

This video isn't about mistakes like going too heavy on the saturation slider (but seriously, tone it down there). Rather, it talks about three larger mistakes that can seriously impact both your work and your career.

Starting your own photography business is both an exciting and scary time, and of course, you'll want to make sure you have the best business practices in place to ensure that your clients are happy and you're bringing in money. This great video will detail three mistakes to avoid with clients.

Have you heard of ASMP before? If not, you could be missing out on a valuable resource that can have a huge impact on your career as a photographer. But, with all the fantastic resources on the Internet these days, are professional organizations worth it anymore? Yes, and here's why.

In the last few years, we've seen massive changes occur in the photography industry with whole camera divisions and markets wiped out and replaced. More than likely this will continue and the photography industry is going to be vastly different in the next five years.

When it comes to being a successful professional photographer, there are certainly many misconceptions. Knowing what some of these misconceptions are and how to avoid them can help take your business to the next level.

Efficient project management (in fact, life management), is about getting things done or GTD. So, how on earth does the indent help you?

Wedding industry veteran Robert Hall, is taking a break from the tech side of photography to bring you six prudent tips for wedding photographers, all focused specifically on the importance of the client experience.

Last week’s article introduced my take on the reasons photographers and videographers lose prospective clients. I focused on two common pricing errors plus the importance of a human connection, and this week, I’m examining three other important reasons.

I have been doing photography for about 10 years. In that time I have moved from hobbiest film shooter to professional commercial photographer. This is what helped me make the leap.

I doubt any photographers became professional because they were excited to run the business, but run it they will. Unfortunately, the importance of savvy business practices is much closer to photographic talent that most like to admit, so take a break from honing your portraiture, and hone your abilities as a small business owner.

When two guys with over two million social media followers between them sit down to share their secrets, it's a great opportunity to learn. This short, 6 minute video is jam-packed with helpful advice that anyone can start using immediately.

Etsy is one the best ways to sell photography prints to strangers over the Internet. Changes to the fees they charge sellers were announced today and go in effect next month. Here’s what you should know.

When you jump into doing photography professionally as a business, you quickly learn that your website’s search engine results are an essential part of making your business successful. Here’s how to improve your visibility on Google.

Last month, Fstoppers was commissioned by MOO to produce an ad for their printing service with Peter Hurley. Luckily, instead of a standard 30-second ad, MOO had a better idea. 

A survey has shown that 85 percent of photographs published on the Internet (not including social media and image libraries) have had their metadata removed. Of those that retained the information, fewer than one in five contained copyright details.

For many photographers, taking portraits of celebrities, athletes, and government officials seems like the pinnacle of a successful business. Sometimes, however, those jobs require an insane amount of work, risk, and safety precautions to pull off the shot. In today's Story Time With Monte Isom, we look at how Gregory Heisler captured Time's Man of the Year cover with NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Photographers and videographers both tread water in a crowded pool of competition, and often we feel in danger of drowning in that pool. In this week’s and next week’s articles, I will present the most common reasons we lose out on work we otherwise might have won.

Countless photographers and videographers keep saying working for free is the worst enemy of our industry. Aviv Vana, the founder of CineSummit, takes another approach to free work and bet it can actually double your work income if you keep one crucial detail in mind.

You've worked on your technique, your artistic vision is strong. It seems like the natural next step is to become a professional photographer. However, the path isn't all that clear or obvious, and there's a lot you should consider before you make the leap.

We’ve all had the question thrust upon us, but it’s worth it to hear what other people are charging.

“What kind of camera should I get?” is probably one of the questions I get asked the most often. So, I’ve become pretty quick at coming up with recommendations, and I figured it might be nice to share how I come up with them.

Today, I conclude my two part essay about a difficult two months of negotiation over a commercial photography shoot that may not have ultimately come to fruition, but taught very valuable lessons along the way.

The way you structure and display your rates to potential clients could be negatively affecting your earning potential and losing you work. Use these tried and trusted psychological "tricks" to help you get hired and earn more money.

There's so much we photographers can learn from watching what others in our industry do, whether we watch a tutorial or start an online photography course. But have you thought about improving your business by looking beyond photography industry?

If a client has ever laughed at your quote, you know it’s hurtful and embarrassing. But there are ways to respond so that you can keep the client and get a price that’s good for you.

After a lengthy and involved negotiation for a large commercial project came to an unfortunate conclusion, I wanted to share some of the lessons I learned that may help you in your future business.

Are you struggling to find work? Are you ready to bring your business to the next level? Are you confident in your artistic ability but lack clients? Well, I may have the answers you're looking for.

If you're failing to get hired as a photographer, then maybe your first impression and initial communication could be the things that are letting you down.

Professional photography is a business, and like any business there are patterns and traits that exist when looking at what works and what doesn’t work. Here are a few traits every successful photography business shares that you can incorporate into your business.