It’s getting easier and easier to develop professional-looking websites using readily available templates, but one thing those templates cannot offer is original, customized photography. Large companies will, of course, hire professional photographers, but small businesses might only need someone with a decent phone camera to take photos of people, workplaces, events, etc.
PROS:
— Can be fun and creative
— Photos often would be simple enough (e.g. “meet our team”) that clients would trust a young person
CONS:
— You may not be able to control your hours
— You may need a car to travel to events
How to Get Started:
NOTE: Before you start your business, you should read the page on this website entitled “things to think about before you get started.” After you have taken the preliminary steps for starting any business, you can take the specific steps outlined below.
Create business cards and brochures.
You can also create a website to show off your work. Include a picture of yourself and a page that tells people about your background and experience. You should also add your contact information and list at least some of your prices.
Also, don’t forget to use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to promote your work.
How Much to Charge:
It would not be unreasonable to ask for $25 per hour. For every hour you spend taking pictures, you could spend about three hours culling, editing and processing for the customer (e.g., putting them into a CD or flash drive). Factor that into your pricing. So a good price for a one-hour photo session would be $100.
Taking it to the next level:
Keep learning and looking for ways for improve your photography skills, so you can grow your photography business. Take classes, watch educational videos, or schedule time to shoot pictures of something different than your usual pictures.
You can also learn photo editing skills such as Photoshop so you can enhance and manipulate photos (creating cut-outs, for instance).
