| Most people with the right training, proper equipment | | | | to meet and you must be reliable every-time on the |
| and technical savvy can take photographs. But, if they | | | | job. |
| were starting a photography business, then the whole | | | | If you are hired as a freelancer for a print publication, |
| venture is going to take considerable planning, | | | | you will be paid upon completion of the assignment. |
| investment and some business acumen to launch their | | | | This will be subject to either a written contract or a |
| company. Prior to launching the business, the best way | | | | verbal one. This does make sure that you will be paid |
| to get advice is to go to a small business advisory | | | | no matter what. Provided you are a reliable |
| service and study the following: how to look after your | | | | photographer, some companies may even pay you a |
| financial and tax matters; make sure you know all the | | | | retainer for when you do not have any work. This |
| legal ramifications of the business like setting up a | | | | saves them looking for some-one else at short notice |
| company; you must have a well organized office | | | | and you still have money coming in. |
| set-up for appointment setting, marketing and | | | | Choosing the stock photography option is vastly |
| administration because it will save you time. | | | | different. As a photographer, you will have to build a |
| When you are fresh out of college you really need to | | | | data bank of pictures of almost everything. This |
| understand what type of photography you would like | | | | means taking a lot of extra special pictures that you |
| to specialize in. Most novices, start out by working in | | | | can sell, should there be demand for it. It also means |
| newspapers and magazines, because they need to | | | | investing a lot of time and money in your business if |
| practice their skills before they launch on their own. | | | | you are going to see some good results. You will have |
| However, you will need to have tenacious skills to | | | | to be careful about staff salaries, rent for your office, |
| develop a business in non-journalistic fields such as | | | | buying special camera equipment, van to carry the |
| wedding pictures, portraits, landscapes, events, | | | | gear, insurance and much more. There is a vast |
| commercial shots and much more. | | | | market out there of clients hungry for special pictures |
| The field of photography can be divided into two main | | | | and it is a question of finding the right area. To be |
| sections: assignment photography or stock | | | | successful in this side of the business, there will have |
| photography. The owner of the photography business | | | | to be a long term marketing plan and good business |
| must decide the niche you wish to enter. There are | | | | strategy as it does require a lot effort. At the very |
| times when you can juggle both sides, but not when | | | | least with a good business plan and financing to see |
| you are just starting out. If you choose the field of | | | | you through the early stages there is scope to |
| assignment photography then there will be dead lines | | | | improve, learn and grow. |