If you want to make a part time job or career out of photography, it’s easier that you might think. Portrait photography is needed in almost every city and it doesn’t require a lot to have a working home studio. The best thing about starting in portraiture is that you can begin with the bare essentials and add equipment as your business grows. Here’s how to take the first steps:

Set Up the Studio

There are a few things that you should pick up before attempting professional portrait photography. Obviously you will need a camera (preferably digital as it’s easier for inexpensive photo editing) but you will also need a tripod, a basic light setup and some sort of light reflector. Most of this equipment is available at entry-level quality for a low cost, or can be improvised if you’re short on cash (for instance, white poster board can work as a light reflector). It would also be a good idea to buy a laptop and equip it with some photo editing tools – the portability of a laptop will make your work run much more quickly.

You will also need some working space. An extra room, garage, or living room can usually fit everything you need. Windows can provide natural light, white walls can act as natural reflectors and different colors of bed sheets can act as backgrounds.

Set Up the Business

If you are really serious about starting a portrait photography business, you’ll need to treat it as a serious business. Make sure you have small business software such as QuickBooks for your invoicing and payment tracking before you bring in your first client. It is essential that you track your income so you can identify possible problems with your pricing and plan for paying taxes on your services.

It’s also a great idea to build a website for your new business with an online portfolio. With so many people using the internet to locate professional services, an online presence is a powerful way to bring in new business. You can either build a simple site yourself or hire it out inexpensively at websites like Elance. Make sure it has your contact information!

Finally, think of ways to set your portrait photography studio apart from the rest. If you want to get a competitive edge, try focusing on a specific photography niche. For instance, people are willing to pay more for photographs of their pets or children, and if you specialize in one of those fields you’ll have less competition to contend with.

Once you have the studio set up, the cash flow handled, and a strategy for the business, you should be ready to take the plunge into professional portrait photography. With a few advertisements in local papers and good word of mouth, there’s no measuring the potential your small studio might have. And don’t worry because if you provide excellent photographs to your clients, no one will ever remember you used bed sheets as backdrops!

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com. Shop online and see our selection of quality large picture frames and unique floating picture frames by visiting our photo frame website or calling us at 1-800-780-0699.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: portrait photography tips,portrait photography business