CHAPTER 9-: Here is Chapter 9, The Complete Guide to Starting a Photography Business. – The photography industry is diverse. Some are more service oriented, others are more focused on producing photographic products or goods that can be easily sold in retail stores. No matter which direction your photography business takes, there is one general thing that you need to focus all of your attention, money, and energy on, and that is the test of organizing a photo inventory for your company.
Quite simply Like any other business in the world, whether it is the tertiary sector or the manufacturing sector, the photography sector also needs inventory. The word “inventory” may sound too complicated for you to understand and relate to in the photography industry, and as such, you can refer to inventory simply as a camera and photographic equipment.
The importance of buying your own photo inventory
The need to have your own inventory when starting your own photography business cannot be simply emphasized. You have the option of renting cameras, accessories, and other related equipment from time to time, but this will negatively impact your business ethics and professionalism. All of the successful photographic companies in the industry have done so because their owners strongly believed in the need to invest in inventory.
Your start-up funds might not be very large at the start of your business, but the big part you have should be spent on purchasing a modern inventory that will allow you to provide the best services and products to your customers. The greed or avarice of your inventory investment will be the sign of a compromise in the quality of your products and services.
Given the intense competition in the market, if you produce substandard products and services, chances are high that consumers in your industry are not taking you seriously. and will simply be disappointed with your business before it even has a chance to thrive.It is very important to have a quality camera, accessories and related equipment.
a. The quality of the inventory affects the ability to photograph
One of the biggest mistakes made by aspiring entrepreneurs in the photography industry is that the assumption that a top-notch or top-notch camera and camera is not necessary to be successful in the business. photography industry.
According to their theories lacking in experience and expertise, the skill level of photographers in the photography business is sufficient to determine the success of the photography business. While it is undeniable that the photographer is not the camera, but the photographer, the photographer must take into account that the photographer’s abilities will be severely limited or lagging behind in their absence. appropriate photographic equipment.
b. The analogy of a racing car and a racer
It’s a situation somewhat comparable to racing car drivers, when you watch motorsport you will notice that the best drivers in the industry have ridden on the best cars in the industry. Why is it? Why do these incredibly talented drivers just drive a sedan and win the race? ?
The reason is that winning an INDY 500 or a Formula race is logically impossible with a sedan. Drivers need specialized and race-optimized cars to overtake them at the finish line. Regardless of the driver’s experience, a person cannot compete with cars capable of going at speeds above 200 mph, with a sedan that is unlikely to reach speeds of up to 120 mph. h. …
In other words, placing a championship winner in a mediocre racing vehicle would put them at a serious disadvantage which cannot be reversed under normal circumstances. The same principle applies to photographers.
vs. Provide photographers with the perfect inventory
You can hire the best photographers in the world and bring them into your business, but if you don’t let them use the technologically advanced cameras available in the market today, they won’t be able to provide better services and products than photographers hired by your competitors or competitors.
The need for research
Before shopping for the equipment and cameras needed to take the right photo, there are two specific things you should do. business inventory. The first thing you need to do is a lot of research. Just as a professional photographer will spend hours and days scouring websites and magazines to find the best cameras on the market, it is your responsibility as the owner of a photography business to do your thorough and comprehensive research. . on all cameras and equipment that can give your photographers a shine when carrying out your clientele’s missions.
The need for savings
The second thing you need to do is figure out how you can get the best camera and gear without pushing your budget to the limit, let alone breaking your budget. It is extremely important that you are not overpaying when trying to create a perfect inventory. Investing in good quality cameras and equipment does not give you a license to buy.
You need to spend your money wisely and make profitable decisions every step of the way. Look for discounts and offers at retail outlets and wholesalers (depending on your needs and how many items you need to purchase). Try to get closer to your suppliers in inventory. This will help you buy products at a much lower price and ensure that your supplier will not be ripped off or cheated on.
Remember that the cameras and equipment that will best serve your business and photographers don’t have to be the most expensive product on the market. It is important that you maintain a balance when trying to buy your inventory. The key is to spend exactly as much as it takes to have the items you buy deliver the product when they are used in the field.
Inventory varies by photography niche
The type of inventory you put in place, or in other words, the type of cameras and equipment you buy, will depend on the needs and nature of your photography business. The cameras needed in the wedding photography industry are definitely not the ones used in the photography industry which encompasses pet photography.
As mentioned earlier, corporate photography can work under many different labels and in many different forms. Whether it’s a portrait studio, wedding photography facility, photo production agency, or just a photography school, every business needs its own equipment.
So, when doing your research on the most suitable types of cameras and equipment, make sure that your research is done based on your photography background. For example, if you own a wedding photography business, make sure that your research is limited to the topic of wedding photography.
This will save you an incredible amount of time and also allow you to focus your research work on the specific niche where you are trying to make a name for yourself and your business. Once you’ve identified the type or combination of photo types that you want your business to specialize in, you can focus on your plans for organizing your inventory.
5 essential photography items / equipment you need
Regardless of where your photography business comes from or what niche you are in, there are some inventory items that are common to all types of photography businesses. These are the camera, lenses, processing system, lighting, tripod, and many other miscellaneous items that should be in any photography business.
1. Digital camera
Choosing the right camera is certainly not the easiest task in the world. Much of the research you need to do before setting up your inventory will focus on determining which cameras will provide the best value for your business, it’s not as easy as picking out the most expensive camera in a store and running it. ‘hope it pays dividends. …
There are countless things you need to consider, one of which determines whether your camera is worth or isn’t compatible with your photographer’s skills. If there is no compatibility, your photographers will not be able to make the best use of their cameras.
Going back to the driver’s example, sometimes it’s not just a matter of getting the best driver to sit. best car. It’s about building harmony between them and developing the chemistry between the driver and the car so that both can use their full potential. Much of the same is true of photographers and cameras.
As the owner of a photography business, you should choose the cameras that match the style of your photographers and are the most comfortable for your photographers to use. Only then can you expect your photographers to be at their peak.
What kind of camera do you need?
If you’ve been a professional photographer at some point in your career, you should be fully aware that point-and-shoot cameras are unlikely to be of use to the professional photographers you use in your business. You need to give all of your professionals what they really deserve – one single SLR or digital SLR.
With digital SLRs in hand, your photographers will be able to accurately capture what they see through the viewfinder. SLRS are so important to the success of photography these days that most customers will likely give up on your services unless you prove to them that your photographers own DSLRs. In the eyes of most customers, DSLRs are a symbol of photographic excellence, and while this may not necessarily be the case in all areas of photography, you shouldn’t go wrong to take advantage of this misperception. masses in general while helping you funnel money into your business.
What brand of camera should I buy?
As to which brand is the best when it comes to buying cameras, you have a pretty mysterious situation to deal with. That’s because almost everyone, from the 13-year-old hobbyist to the professional photographer who has worked in the industry for decades, seems to have an opinion on the brand that makes the best cameras.
Since you are not expected to take advice from amateurs as a business owner and your best bet is to ask the pros what they think is the best brand around. You’ll hear the names of the different brands, and while the choices may seem a bit overwhelming, choosing from a wide range of brands might be right for you as a business photography owner.
If there are more brands competing in photography, that means photography business owners like you will be able to enjoy high quality cameras at very reasonable prices. When choosing a brand, be sure to take your business needs into account.
For example, if your business is wildlife photography, you may need high exposure cameras. In the case of portraits, using cameras with impressive megapixels can help. You don’t always have to choose high-tech digital cameras to get the best performance. Sometimes in the case of fine art, you can resort to old school film cameras instead of digital cameras. At the end of the day, the key is to match the needs of your business with the functions of your camera.
2. Camera lenses
When it comes to SLR cameras, lenses are just as important as the cameras themselves. The way your photographers switch, switch, swap, and switch lenses to suit your camera to their surroundings will show how efficient and skilled they are at their job.
Choosing the best camera lenses to buy
As with choosing cameras, the type of work your business does will determine the type of lenses you need. If your business is based on wildlife photography, sports photography, or adventure photography, your photographers should use telephoto lenses or zooms.
In the case of landscape photography, you need to buy wide angle lenses which, as the name suggests, are ideal for capturing large areas of terrain. These lenses can also come in very handy when shooting a team or class. For portraits, you can count on mid-range lenses.
On the other hand, there are many other unconventional and innovative goals that can come in very handy when managing a set of missions. your customers Among them there are special lenses such as fisheye lenses, extreme telephoto lenses, night vision and image stabilization lenses.
3. Lighting
Artificial lighting is a must for any photography business. You may not need artificial light all the time, as it does with product photography, but there will be times when you need it to improve the quality of the images your photographers take and produce.
For example, if you have clients who ask you to photograph at night, you can purchase powerful strobe lights. On the other hand, you may be assigned a job where you need to use lights remotely. If your photography business operates in a studio, you will need a fixed lighting system, and last but not least, indoor photography may require the use of a variety of flash colors.
4. Processing system
After purchasing your camera and lenses, you need to set up a processing system for your photographic work. Photos that you save with your camera must be transferred to media for sale or distribution to paying customers. This medium can take the form of a movie or the Internet.
Without a processing system, you cannot transfer photos from one medium to another. In the case of film cameras, you will need to own or rent a darkroom to develop films. With digital cameras, transferring photos is much easier because all you need to do your job is a computer with photo editing software and a photo-quality printer.
What type of treatment system do you need? ?
Just like your choice of camera, lenses, and lighting, the type of photograph your business takes will determine the type of processing system you need. In other words, the computer, software, and printer you choose will vary depending on your photography niche. There are some programs that come pre-packaged with regular computers, and then there are programs that are more exclusive and therefore expensive.
Refrain from buying the more expensive products unless you have a special need for their functions. Photo printers, like computers, come in a variety of sizes and qualities, and the ones you buy should match your business needs.
5. Tripod
Choosing tripods for your photographers is not as difficult as choosing cameras, lenses, and processing systems. Once you have purchased these items, you can take a break and be more relaxed about purchasing tripods. All tripods serve the same function as your camera, but like any product, some tripods serve this purpose better than others. Tripods come in a moderate range of sizes and a wide range of prices. Some come with features like water resistance and portability. Buy based on what best suits your budget and needs.
miscellanea
Depending on the niche you have chosen for your photographic equipment, you may need a wide variety of different photographic equipment and accessories to improve the quality of your images. For example, you can buy a remote control to automatically trigger the camera shutter without causing camera shake. Sometimes you will need an underwater adapter if your subject is aquatic animals; if most of your work is done in a studio, you will need a studio and a backdrop. You may also want to consider investing in some lens filters, especially when your business is operating in locations where conditions are beyond your control.
