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Photography Business Plan

Believe it or not—anyone can take a few pictures, but it takes true skill and talent to get the perfect shot.

And If you’re the guy, everyone’s after asking to click pictures at every party or event, starting a photography business could be incredibly lucrative and satisfying.

However, making your photography business successful is more than just clicking good pictures. You need a solid business plan to ensure success.

Need help writing a business plan for your photography business? You’re at the right place. Our photography business plan template will help you get started.

Download the template and follow step-by-step instructions to draft your business plan in no time!

→ Download Now: Free Photography Business Plan

And though photography lets you fulfill your passion, it attracts a lot of competition due to its ease of entry.

Also, having a successful photography business takes a little more than skill. A photography business plan helps you deal with that, while you shutter away your masterpiece.

Industry Overview

According to the IBIS World industry report , the US photography market is expected to decline at a CAGR of 1.3 to reach 12.9 billion dollars in 2023.

With 7-8% profit margins, individual consumers and households make up the main customer base for the industry. Despite a minor recent decline, the photography industry is projected to experience consistent growth in the coming years.

Here are a few key industry highlights to consider:

• Number of businesses: There are 258,450 operational photography businesses in the US in 2023.
• Industry employment: 293,339+
• Key players: Shutterfly Inc., Alamy Ltd.

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Things to Consider Before Writing a Photography Business Plan

You’ll need to focus on both the artistic and business sides of your trade.

Though having an excellent eye for proportion, dimensions, and light is great it isn’t enough to have a profitable business. You bring your skills to the table, but you’ll have to work as hard as any other business owner on your marketing, finance, and operations to have a profitable business.

And though it might seem intimidating, with the right amount of planning and strategizing you can do it smoothly.

Get the Pricing Right

It is important to study every aspect of the market and select the pricing strategy that suits your business the best. Your pricing as a photography business would depend a lot upon the niche you choose, your location, and the quality of your skills.

Develop Your Soft Skills

Good photography isn’t just about your skills with the camera, especially if you are dealing with people. You’ll need to make your customers feel at ease and have a friendly way of communicating.

This helps you become the person’s go-to photographer. As pictures aren’t just products you pay for, but memories that are cherished for years.

But at the same time, if communication isn’t your thing you don’t need to worry. As there are several other niches in photography that you can pick from.

Get the Right Equipment, but Don’t Go Overboard

The right camera, technical equipment, etc, are important to help you work effectively. But it doesn’t do to go over budget for it. Especially, if you are just starting out.

Pick the right equipment, but not the one that weighs down on your finances at the early stages of your business.

Why Do You Need a Photography Business Plan?

As you are ready to enter the industry, it brings us to the above question, why does one need a photography business plan?

Aren’t you just supposed to dive right in if you are passionate enough?

The answer is, NO.

Though diving headfirst might sound appealing, it can lead to a series of roadblocks in the future. Also, a business plan isn’t as time-consuming as it may seem to you.

It increases the efficiency of your business and acts as a guide on your road to success. Moreover, writing a business plan helps you get a clear idea of your goals and the opportunities and threats that stand in your way of achieving them.

Also, a well-researched and innovative plan can help you get funded. An investor’s confidence in you is directly proportional to the clarity of your business idea. A business plan can help you achieve just that.

How to Write a Photography Business Plan?

Writing a business plan is not as intimidating as it seems. A well-rounded business plan requires thorough research of the industry, a clear set of goals, well-observed and carefully designed strategies to achieve them, and a clear list of milestones and timelines for all the departments of the business.

A business plan should include strategies for all departments from marketing to finance. There are several resources like online software, business consultants, and predesigned templates that can help you in writing the perfect business plan .

Writing a business plan has become a cakewalk through online business planning tools which can craft an ideal business plan for you at the snap of your fingers.

Chalking out Your Business Plan

Though anyone can click pictures with devices as simple as a smartphone, it takes skills, a sense of proportion, and creativity to make people stop scrolling.

In today’s world of photo-sharing apps where people grapple for attention, the demand for excellent photographers continues to rise.

Hence, with the advent of Instagram, the photography industry is growing leaps and bounds.

Photography Business Plan Outline

This is a standard photography business plan outline that will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Introduction
• Products and Services
• Financial Path To Success
• Keys to Success
• Company History
• Market Segmentation
• Target Market Segment Strategy
• Competition and Buying Patterns
• Web Plan Summary
• Website Marketing Strategy
• Development Requirements
• SWOT Analysis
• Competitive Edge
• Marketing Strategy
• Sales Forecast
• Year 1 – Digital Media Production
• Year 2 – Digital Media Production
• Year 3 – Digital Media Production
• Important Assumptions
• Projected Profit and Loss
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Ratio Analysis

As you sit down to write your business plan, it brings us to the question, what all things you will need to include in your business plan? Read on to find out.

1. Write an Executive Summary

The executive summary section of a business plan works as an overview of your business and acts as a highlight of its aims and goals. It should be brief and precise and sum up everything your business stands for.

It serves as a pitch of your business ideas to potential investors and should have the following points.

• The kind of services your business offers (Eg. Commercial Photography, Travel Photography, etc.)
• Your target audience (Eg. Models, travel bloggers, influencers, etc.)
• Your strengths and past experiences
• Your goals for the company.

2. Business Overview

In the business overview section, you’ll jot down all of the business ideas you have and analyze how to bring them to life.

This section would consist of an overview of the functioning of your business. as well as your mission statement.

While writing this section it is important to be as precise as possible It helps the stakeholders of your business to know it better.

3. Describe the Services You’ll Offer

In this section of your business plan, you have to list the services you are going to offer. This helps you get a clearer idea of how to advertise your services and how to reach out to your target audiences.

For example, if you are a landscape photographer all of your marketing strategy and the list of resources and services you’ll need will be built around that.

Also, your target audience would be travel websites and tourism companies. And the ways of reaching out to them would be different than reaching out to influencers or celebrities.

4. Market Analysis

The market analysis section is a crucial part of your business plan.

In this section, you’ll write down everything you can find about the photography market as well as resources that can help you stay updated about the recent trends in the market.

For example, as a photographer, it is essential to know the trending photography techniques.

You can also include the size of the market, your competitors, areas that have the highest growth potential, etc Know the right market value of services and identify the existing market gaps that you can fill.

Let’s consider there is no food photographer in your locality and the restaurants around you need one, you can specialize in food photography to capture that market.

5. Create a Website Strategy

The Internet is the first place where people look for any product or service, hence your business must have a website to be discovered by clients.

A well-optimized website can help you in meeting a lot of potential customers.

Including a website strategy in your business plan is crucial.

6. Plan Your Finances

Your financial planning is one of the major deciding factors of whether your business will stay afloat or not.

In this section keep track of your company’s finances, jot down ways of making it more cost-effective. List down resources that can help you understand and manage your finances better.

Download a sample photography business plan

Need help getting started writing a business plan? Here you go; download our free photography business plan pdf to start.

It’s a modern business plan template designed for your photography center. Refer to the example business plan and follow step-by-step instructions to start writing your plan.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

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Write your business plan with Upmetrics

A business planning tool like Upmetrics is the best way to draft your business plan. This incredible tool comes with step-by-step instructions, customizable templates, AI assistance, and business plan examples to help you get started.

You may also explore our library of Entertainment and media business plan examples before you start writing your plan.

So, whether you are starting a photography business or planning to grow an existing one, Upmetrics is the tool you need to create a business plan.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning now!

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Frequently asked questions, what are some common mistakes to avoid when drafting a photography business plan.

Following are some of the common mistakes to avoid when writing a photography business plan:

• Inadequate and inaccurate financial projections.
• Poor market research and ignoring industry trends.
• Undefined goals and lack of details.
• Not proofreading the document for typos and grammatical errors.
• Including outdated and irrelevant information.
• Not regularly updating your business plan.

What are some key financial metrics to include in a photography business plan?

Following are some of the key financial metrics to include in your photography business plan:

• Balance sheet
• Cash flow statement
• Income statement
• Break-even statement
• Projected business ratios
• Sales and revenue projections
• Projected expenses

How can a photography business plan help in securing funding or investment?

A well-crafted photography business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping you secure investment.

Where to find business plan writers for your photography business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your photography business plan and outline your vision as you have in mind.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Start a Photography Business in 2024

Want to learn how to start a photography business in 2024? This in-depth guide will teach you all you need to know to become a professional photographer!

Learn | Photography Guides | By Mark Condon

Shotkit may earn a commission on affiliate links. Learn more.

Want to learn how to start a photography business in 2024? This in-depth guide will teach you all you need to know!

I’ve run a wedding photography business since 2014 and learnt a lot as a professional photographer and business owner.

Starting a photography business allows you to make money using a skill you already enjoy, but it’s important to have a solid plan and realistic goals.

There’s no doubt that photography is a great career – you can earn a good living, make your own hours and travel to exotic places.

Best of all, you’ll make people happy. Whether you’re capturing priceless moments for families or nailing the client’s brief, photos are a precious commodity.

Is photography a good career? Definitely! It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Now it’s your turn to learn how to start a photography business.

Table of Contents

How do I Start a Small Photography Business?

Reduce risks with a home-based photography business.

Not many professional photographers go from zero to renting a studio – most start off with a home-based photography business, where costs can be kept to a minimum.

As a small business owner, keeping costs low should be a priority, and running your photography business from home is highly recommended.

At this stage when you don’t even have a business plan, all you need is a place in your home from which to work – some private ‘office space’. If you’re using a laptop, you don’t even need a desk!

If you need to meet clients to book work (e.g. for wedding photography), you can do as I did and meet them in a local cafe – clients don’t expect to come to your home, even if you list your home address as your business address.

Decide what types of photography services you’ll offer

Credit: Szabo Viktor

What type of photography is most profitable? You can build a successful photography business by shooting commercial/advertising, event (weddings, corporate, etc), family (maternity, etc), freelance or stock photography.

However, it’s much harder to start earning money as a commercial photographer than, say, as an event photographer.

Also, while stock photography is a good passive source of income , freelance photography allows you to cast a wider net.

When starting your own photography business, it’s important to balance your passion for a specific genre with realistic goals.

Consider whether there’s a market for a particular type of photography in your area, for example.

I chose to focus on wedding photography since there’s a big market for wedding photographers where I live. I also thought shooting weddings would be fun and exciting, and I could also offer mini sessions , pre-wedding shoots and other related services.

You may want to offer several photography services under one unique photography business name , but I recommend focusing on just one genre to become a ‘specialist’.

You need to be the go-to photographer for a certain genre of photography – not the person who shoots everything since this can appear a little amateurish.

That said, there’s always the option to become a professional freelance photographer to offer a selection of different services.

Develop a basic photography business plan

Credit: Galymzhan Abdugalimov

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of creating a photography business is to know how to actually start.

A photography business plan is the first logical step to setting up a strong base camp that will allow you to build up your business without feeling overwhelmed.

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What goes into your plan may vary, but at a minimum, you may want to include:

• Executive summary: You can start your photography business plan with an executive summary that defines what your general objectives are as well as your key factors of success.
• Company overview: Do an outline of the organizational structure of your business according to the terms of the area you are in. Will you be the sole proprietor? Will it be a limited liability company? What will be the business structure? Do you need business licenses? Will you have a business partner? What type of business will you run?
• Products & services overview: It’s important to create a detailed description of the products, services and prices you’ll be offering. This will help you to better navigate the many different client requests that might show up.
• Audience analysis: Understand who your target audience is and what channels will be most effective to reach them.
• Competitive analysis (market research): Have a look at the competition operating in your market locally, identify their strengths and in what ways you can differentiate yourself from them.
• Operations plan: Think about operations – what are the day-to-day logistics of running your photography business?
• Financial analysis: Make an effort to be financially savvy – this is very important! Create a financial plan to be in full control of all the nuances of your business cash flow. It’s likewise helpful to establish early on what your equipment requirements are and how much profit you expect to make.
• Timeline: Establish a timeline with clear milestones so you can track your progress and set goals that are increasingly more realistic and adapted to your situation. Think of it as a photography business roadmap to get you to where you want to be.

I should mention that it’s not worth getting too hung up on having every aspect of your photography business planned out in detail.

There are bits you simply won’t know yet and that’s OK! Do your best with it and don’t let writing a business plan become a block that prevents you from moving forward.

Once you have a basic business plan on paper, it’s time to get into the fun part – bringing it to life!

Find the Right Photography Business Structure

One boring-but-important topic when researching how to start a photography business is the subject of business structure.

In the USA, there are 6 main business types of legal structure to consider for your business: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corp. and C Corp.

Sole proprietorships or sole traders are most common for small home-based businesses. They’re the easiest to manage and easiest to handle in terms of taxes since it’s usually just you involved in the running of everything.

You may also consider going into a photography business with a partner, which is actually similar to a sole proprietorship in terms of liability and taxes.

Each person is responsible for their own side of the business and all profits are split based on the percentages you decide. Of course, you also need to consider that all expenses and liabilities are also split between both partners.

If you want to protect your personal assets, many photography businesses opt for an LLC structure (Limited Liability Company). An LLC or S Corp provides one level of tax and also a layer of protection from personal liability.

At this point, it’s worth mentioning that deciding on a business structure should usually involve some legal advice, or at least, a lot of research on your part to decide what’s most relevant for you.

A quick note on business licenses – in most jurisdictions in the United States, no professional license is needed to run or operate a photography business. However, not all States are the same.

To know for sure whether your locality requires you to get a business license for photography, it’s best to call your local licensing board or city hall.

In addition to a business license, you should also start researching whether you need to use photography contracts or model releases for your line of work.

Putting in the groundwork now will set you up for success without any legal headaches.

Choose a photography business name & branding

Credit: Brad Neathery

Once you’ve decided what your speciality will be and the structure of your business, it’s time to think about your photography business name and branding.

This is what will differentiate you from the competition. It’s also important because of first impressions: when people see your branding, it can instantly give them an idea of what you do and what your style is.

With that in mind, consider the look and feel of your logo and typeface. Is it something quirky and creative, clean and modern, vintage classic…?

As for names, you might choose to name your photography business after yourself (e.g. “Bob Smith Photography”) or you could get creative and have it reflect what you do (e.g. “Maternal Memoirs” for maternity photography, or “Bedroom Eyes” for boudoir – I’m just making these up on the spot here but you get the idea!).

Don’t neglect to choose a unique or catchy slogan or tagline for your photography business .

The most important thing with branding is to be consistent. That bears repeating, so I’ll say it again: Consistency is key!

You want your brand message to be reflected across your website, business cards, social media accounts , and all materials you deliver to clients including final photo packages, invoices, etc.

• What is branding for photographers?

Register a domain and create a photography website

It goes without saying that pretty much all successful photographers in 2024 have an online presence. That’s why the next step in starting a photography business is to create a photography website .

Your website should showcase your best work and give people an idea of who you are and how you work.

While there are plenty of free web hosting solutions out there, it’s worth investing a small amount to register your own domain name.

This not only looks more professional, but it’ll also help you rank in Google searches (just ensure your domain name reflects your business name).

From there, you’ll need to build your photography business website and connect your domain name to it.

Now, if your web design skills are non-existent, don’t worry: there are plenty of solutions out there that can make life ridiculously easy.

One of the best options is to use a content management system (CMS) like Wordpress – you can download elegant-looking, customisable themes (for example, Flothemes make some great ones) so the design and layout aspects are all there for you.

With a few clicks of the mouse, you can adapt a pre-made template to include your own branding and start getting your website out to potential clients.

Invest in professional photography equipment & software

At this point, you’re probably wondering: What kind of camera do most professional photographers use?

While there’s no one correct answer as to what is a ‘professional camera’, by and large, most pros use full-frame DSLR or mirrorless cameras.

However, some do absolutely fine by using APS-C sensor cameras, particularly if high ISO low-light performance isn’t required. (Full-frame sensor cameras are better at this, among other things.)

DSLRs are still an industry standard, but are somewhat of a dying breed – mirrorless cameras offer better features and more recent technology, although the number of native lenses still dwindles in comparison to those on offer for DSLRs.

You can see more of the differences between mirrorless and DSLRs here , but suffice to say, you won’t go wrong with either.

As for the question, what camera should I buy to start a photography business? Initially, it’s whatever you can afford, but once you start making a better income, you should always upgrade your equipment in line with what you need to complete your job efficiently.

For example, wedding photographers need cameras with excellent autofocus and high ISO capabilities, whereas a portrait photographer may not need either of these things.

There’s always the option of renting equipment when you first start out – get yourself a good all-round camera, then if any job comes around that’s out of its comfort range, hire something to suit.

The same goes for camera lenses, of which there are a plethora of options . Again, depending on the type of photography services you’ll offer, you can choose between a wide range of telephoto and primes at various price points.

Most pros can get by with an affordable and fast 50mm lens (nifty-fifty), so you can start your lens collection from there. Remember that buying used camera lenses is also a great option.

As for software, this is another area you’ll need to invest in in order to grow your own photography business.

Many photography business owners start out bare-bones with a mixture of Google Sheets for keeping track of expenses and clients’ information and Google Calendar. You’ll soon outgrow these, through.

When you start making money, you’ll also need some kind of accounting software to keep track of all the figures.

It’s wise to pay for premium photographer software early on as it can really help save you time and headaches in the long run.

At a bare minimum, you’ll need photo editing software (we recommend Adobe Lightroom ), client/studio management software , and an online gallery to deliver your photos to your clients.

You can also consider an all-in-one business management tool such as  Bonsai  to help you manage your photography projects more efficiently. They offer features like invoicing, proposals, contracts, time & task tracking, client CRM and more.

All features are integrated to work seamlessly together and you can automate the entire customer relationship journey – from the proposal, and e-signing contracts to invoicing and tax season. On top of that, Bonsai offers hundreds of free templates for proposals, contracts, invoices, and more.

If you’re not shooting high volumes, you can get by with a photo editing software that doesn’t lock you into a subscription, as Adobe Lightroom does – fortunately, there are several great alternatives .

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business with no money, it may well be tough due to the requirements to invest in all the things mentioned above.

If you have good friends or family, perhaps they can lend you the gear until you’ve done enough jobs to earn the money to buy or rent your own.

It’s also possible to find free software that helps to manage your own business, albeit with some limitations.

Take out photography business insurance

We can’t talk about how to start a photography business without covering some more of the boring-but-important stuff, like… insurance!

Yep, it’s not the most fun thing to have to research and organise, but trust me – if something goes wrong, you’ll be glad you took out insurance.

There are various types of insurance your photography business might need, depending on what kind of work you do.

First and most obvious is your precious equipment. Some insurers offer specific camera insurance or photography plans designed to cover gear and studio fittings.

Note that while your regular home contents insurance may cover loss or damage to your gear, it will only be applicable if the damage occurs at home and not while you’re shooting on location. That’s why it’s worth looking into some specific cover.

On top of that, consider taking out some public liability insurance.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes things go wrong while we’re out shooting. Let’s say you’re photographing a wedding and a guest trips over your tripod, breaking their leg and taking out the entire wedding cake in the process – liability insurance will cover the damages.

If you plan on hiring any extra staff, you’ll also want to look at taking out employers’ liability insurance. This is to cover you if an employee gets sick or injured on the job.

Lastly, some photographers choose to take out professional indemnity insurance as well.

Imagine a client accuses you of some negligence and claims they lost some income due to your actions.

(For example, if you photographed a corporate event but lost your memory cards and couldn’t deliver the images. Indemnity insurance would cover any legal and other costs.)

Insurance needs vary depending on where you are in the world and what your business model is, so take this as a rough guide and do speak to your insurer about what plans are best suited to your needs.

Learn how to market your photography business

On to the next step of learning how to start a photography business: I bet you’re keen to start raking in the customers (and the cash!).

If you’re asking, “How do I get clients for my photography fast?” , the answer is  marketing. 

Unlike advertising, marketing can be done for free (or very cheaply), but it takes a little work.

One marketing strategy you can use is to network with other photographers. But wait, you say, aren’t they the competition? Not necessarily!

Another photographer might get a request for a job that doesn’t fit their style or speciality, but does fit yours – and they can refer the client on to you. These referrals are a great way to generate business, so make sure you nurture your relationships with other photographers.

Meeting other photographers is also a great way to learn. You can find out how they generate new business and meet prospective clients, and learn about which marketing strategies work best for them.

You can easily network with other photographers online through photography groups, or in person at your local photography club .

Marketing via social media is obviously another big one. It’s worth using platforms like Instagram to showcase your photography work and interact with your target audience.

To succeed on Instagram in 2024, you need to be creating entertaining Instagram Stories and posting fresh content regularly, as well as interacting with your followers and other accounts.

Online marketing for photographers is a huge topic, but at a bare minimum, make sure you learn the basics of SEO , how to write interesting blog content and how to attract new business via Facebook ads.

(If you want to become a wedding photographer, check out More Brides where I reveal all the marketing secrets that helped me quickly grow my business.)

Once you do get a few clients, make it as easy as possible for them to recommend you. Word of mouth referrals are one of the best ways to net in new clients, and that’s true of any type of business!

If your clients are happy with your work, ask them to leave you positive reviews online, tag you on social media, and recommend you to their friends.

Also, create an email mailing list where you can keep existing and potential clients up to date with your work and aware of any special offers you might be running. Remember to ask for permission and give people an option to opt-out or unsubscribe.

Let’s not forget that nondigital marketing methods also exist. Don’t underestimate the power of business cards,  flyers and other physical marketing materials for distributing around your neighbourhood or pinning to the local notice board.

For example, if you’re a food photographer you might drop round to local restaurants and hand them a brochure or card.

Or if you want to get a foot in the door as a real estate photographer, you might do a letterbox drop to all your local estate agents.

Whether online or offline, find out where your target market hangs out and go there to introduce yourself.

Invest in photography business education

When you’re just learning how to start a photography business, it’s important to grasp the basics. Then, as your business grows, your knowledge of how to run it has to expand as well.

That’s where it can be worth investing in your photography business education. By investing, I’m talking about time as well as money.

In fact, sometimes time is all you need to invest thanks to the copious amounts of free resources online.

Some areas you might choose to study, whether via a free or paid course or workshop:

• Understanding the full commercial photography workflow, from client briefs through to delivering the final product.
• Pricing structures and how to charge for your services.
• Business administration includes registering your business, filing taxes, etc.
• Best practices for dealing with clients.
• How to market and grow your business.

Your best bet is to determine where your knowledge gaps are, then start looking for ways to fill them.

And, of course, you should continue your photography education as well.

The best professional photographers are those who are always open to learning new things and developing their skills in every aspect of the art, whether it’s compositional techniques, lighting, post-processing and retouching, or something else.

Fortunately, a lot of free photography courses are available right here on Shotkit!

Start thinking about passive income for photographers

Passive income is basically regular earnings that take little-to-no regular effort to maintain. In other words, you set up the income source and money kinda just rolls in while you sleep. Pretty sweet, huh?

So, how do photographers make passive income?

The most obvious is through stock photography. With stock photography sites , you can upload images and get a commission every time someone downloads one (normally, they’re used for commercial or editorial purposes).

The reality of the stock photography world is that thanks to digital photography, it’s highly saturated. So be aware that it takes some dedication and a high volume of photos to make a decent passive income.

That’s not to say it can’t be worth it – just that you should approach it realistically.

There are other potential passive income streams. You can sell digital products such as Lightroom presets or online courses and ebooks.

Or, you could use a print-on-demand service to offer products printed with your photographs .

If you write a photography blog, perhaps you want to start writing reviews of camera gear and link to sites like Amazon and B&HPhoto to earn a commission as an affiliate.

There are also platforms like Patreon that allow you to charge for content that you provide to your followers.

Think outside the box and see what passive income ideas you can come up with – it’s an excellent way to grow your revenue and ensure you have some income even in times of seasonal fluctuations.

Money and Photography Business FAQs

When researching how to start a photography business, you’ll likely have a ton of questions regarding money – how much it costs to start and run the photography business and how much you can expect to earn as a professional photographer .

We’ve answered all the most common queries below – feel free to leave a comment if you want to ask something specific.

• How much money does it take to start a photography business?

It depends on what you’re shooting and how much equipment you need, but a good starting point is around US$10,000. That’s to cover basic camera gear, software, insurance and business registration fees.

• How can I start a photography business with no money?

If you already have some basic camera gear and an internet connection, then you can start a photography business by simply getting out and shooting! Find clients using free marketing strategies and build up from there, reinvesting your earnings until you can buy adequate insurance, better gear, etc.

• How much money do professional photographers make?

According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average photographer salary in the US is $43,114. However, photographer salaries vary greatly depending on country/location, experience level, education level and genre.

• How much money does a photographer make per hour, a week, a month?

Careerexplorer.com states that the average wage for a photographer in the US is around $18.22 per hour; however, that figure ranges from as low as $10.36 per hour for someone starting out to $32.04 or more for an experienced shooter. ZipRecruiter pegs the monthly average salary at $3,592. Again, location is another big factor in how much you can expect to earn.

• How much should I charge as a beginner photographer?

For a beginner, you’re probably looking at an hourly rate of US$25-$50 (or equivalent in your currency), or between $10 and $25 per image. Think about the time and expenses of the work for you and factor that into what you charge.

Final Words

I hope you found this guide to how to start a photography business useful. Moreover, I hope it genuinely inspired you to get out there and do it!

As I’ve found, starting your own photography business and being your own boss is incredibly rewarding. Yes, there are some challenges ahead, but I assure you, there’s nothing that you can’t overcome with a little perseverance!

So what do you think? Are you ready to take the leap?

If you have any other questions about how to start a photography business, please leave them below and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, if you have your own tips or want to share your experiences with venturing into the business world, do add them as well – simply leave a comment below.

Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.

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Mark Condon is a British wedding photographer and editor of Shotkit. When he’s not taking photos or reviewing the latest camera gear and software, Mark can be found cycling around the northern rivers.

As Jon Morgan, CEO of Venturesmarter.com, I couldn’t help but dive into this article on starting a photography business. With my extensive experience in helping startups and small businesses scale, I love exploring different entrepreneurial pursuits. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a photography business myself and capture all my consulting successes! This article provides a fantastic roadmap for budding photographers ready to take on the world, one click at a time. Keep up the great work, Shotkit!

I still don’t know where to go now. I have shot a few wedding films and have some engagement photos scheduled. Website is still a work in progress (cringe rn). Still, the business is actually there and working but i’m not a business as far as the government is concerned, you know? If I buy a new piece of gear, i can’t write that off as of now and get a tax break on the money I make. I’d like to get a body with 10 bit video and dual card slots for redundancy but would love to capture some of that as a business expense to soften the blow. Plus being licensed probably looks less armature to clients. I need to know where to go to actually like, fill out a form so that when tax season comes I can fill out a 1099. Any direction would be appreciated :)

Love these tips Mark. One thing that really accelerated my career was having a Mentor too! I use https://www.lisnic.com to connect with mine now, mentoring is honestly the way to go.

Thanks Taylor – are you associated with Lisnic? Looks interesting…

Thanks for this great article. Coincidentally my brother just wanted to start a photography business.

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Photography Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Photography Business Plan Outline

• Photography Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Photography Plan Here

Photography Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Photography business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Photography business.

Below are links to each section of a sample photography business plan. It can be used to create a wedding photography business plan, a commercial photography business plan, a portrait photography studio business plan or any other type of photography business plan.

1. Executive Summary 2. Company Overview 3. Industry Analysis 4. Customer Analysis 5. Competitive Analysis 6. Marketing Plan 7. Operations Plan 8. Management Team 9. Financial Plan

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What is a photography business plan.

A photography business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your photography business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Photography Businesses?

There are many types of photography businesses depending on the style of photography and target market. The most common and profitable type is event photography. Other types are stock photography, family/baby photography, travel, school, photojournalism and social media photography.

No matter what type of photography business you plan to start, you need a solid photography business plan. You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Photography Business?

The primary source of revenue for photography businesses are service fees for photoshoots and video, licensing fees and photo editing. Other revenues are also generated from product sales like prints, albums, cards, wall prints and canvas.

The key expenses for photography businesses are equipment expense, advertising, transportation, and labor or professional fees.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Photography Studio Business Plan?

Photography businesses are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings and credit card financing.

This is true for a wedding photographer, pet photography business, commercial photography business, a portrait photography business or any other type of photography services.

Download your plan in word or PDF to share with investors.

What are the Steps To Start a Photography Business?

Starting a photography business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Photography Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a photography business that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, data on the photography industry, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your photography business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your photography business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Photography Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your photography business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your photography business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Photography Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your photography business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your photography business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful photography business and photography business planning:

• How to Start a Photography Business

Where Can I Get a Photography Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free photography business plan template PDF here . This is a sample photography business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Home » Blog » How to write a successful photography business plan.

• Photography Business Tips

How to write a successful photography business plan.

Whether you want to know how to start a photography business or take your existing one to the next level, the best place to start is with a plan. A photography business plan is a document that outlines what you hope to accomplish with your business. 

As your business comes to life or goes through change, you can use a business plan to measure your progress and re-calibrate your professional goals. In addition, if you are planning to pitch your business to potential investors for brand partnership opportunities, a business plan is one of the documents you can use to help bring credibility to your business.

However, learning how to start a photography business the right way doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Taking the right steps to showcase your photography services beyond your online portfolio website can set you off on the right foot and continuously help you attract the caliber of clients you want.

Why you need to make a photography business plan. 

Running a small business is hard. You may have heard the lifespan statistic that 20% of small businesses fail in their first 2 years, 30% fail in their first 3 years, and 50% fail after operating for 5 years. While this number is discouraging, the number one reason for the small business mortality rate is the lack of financial planning.

This is why using available tools is essential to your business’s long-term success and to your ability to grow your business. A business plan is critical in keeping you on track with your business goals and identifying where your business is lagging before, during, and after growth.

The main components of a photography business plan.

While you can customize the components of a photography business plan to suit your needs, the standard components are:

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Product or service portfolio
• Target market
• Competitive landscape 
• Marketing approach
• Operations & logistics

These elements work together to provide you and your possible stakeholders with a fulsome portrait of your business and its potential. We will go into further detail about these individual components in the following sections.

Write an executive summary.

The executive summary is a 50-250 word section at the start of your photography business plan that focuses on big-picture goals and outcomes of your company. This section summarizes the entirety of the document and should serve as the “elevator pitch” for your company, and its unique position to succeed. A good question to ask when compiling your executive summary is, “What are 3-5 things I want my clients to remember me by?”

Some of the elements to include in your executive summary are your experience, your specialties (ex. commercial photography , landscape , or wedding photography ), and key components of your business that contribute to your success, such as your marketing efforts or a unique angle you bring to the industry.

Explain your company in a business description.

While you may have a clear vision for your business inside your head, being able to succinctly express it to clients and stakeholders is key to your professional success. When compiling your description, it’s important to be as specific as possible.

First, learn about different organizational structures and the associated terms that come with the territory. Are you running a sole proprietorship, partnership, an incorporated company, or another type of business?

Second, your business description should also outline additional details including the history of your business. It gives possible stakeholders an idea of what your business is about and how it began.

In addition, you want to share your business’ mission statement. Because you will go into more details about the offerings and other aspects of your business, it’s best to keep your company description simple and provide only a high-level overview.

Describe your product and services.

This is the place to talk about the types of photography services and products you offer, and the ones you plan on expanding into in the near future. 

As part of your product and services description, provide a comprehensive pricing model. Your pricing model should cover the types of sessions, services (shooting, editing, formatting) you offer, and their associated fees. For example, do you offer mini photography sessions or 2-hour shoots? Is there a sliding scale for editing services, color correction, or airbrushing? Do you handle the physical production of photos, or is the handoff done digitally?

A competent photography business relies on the client’s clear understanding of your “menu” of skills and services.

Lastly, detail the types of services you offer and the types of products you want to focus on that bring you the most income.

Determine your target market.

Targeting your customers is no simple task, as small business owners want to serve everyone. Nevertheless, it helps you to focus on your customers who need your products. You’ll end up wasting money marketing your product to people who don’t need it or have any interest in it.

Understanding your target audience means researching your local market to identify where demand exists. You can search forums and Facebook groups to see what kinds of photographers people are hiring and how much they’re willing to pay. 

For example, a professional wedding photographer should join relevant local event planning and vendor groups on social media to build connections and promote their wedding photography services. Keep in mind that a wedding photographer often has to travel to a location to shoot the wedding, and make sure to factor it into your project estimates. 

While a target audience looks different for everyone, it’s important for your photography business to have a few areas of specialty that help build up credibility and steadily bring in clients.

Conduct a competitive analysis.

As you conduct research on your local market, you will start to discover there are a number of different photographers that offer similar services as you. To create a thorough competitive analysis, take the list of competitors, and evaluate them in different areas. Conducting this analysis will help you determine what sets yours apart.

When looking at your competitors, consider the following questions:

• Are my product offering and pricing model as straightforward as theirs?
• What is their tone of voice (ex. humorous/expert/familial)?
• Who is their target audience?
• What do they bring to the table that I do not, and vice versa?
• How can I differentiate myself from them?

To help you understand how your business is perceived, you can seek the help of a brand marketing professional. To take a more DIY approach, you can send your portfolio website to a roundtable of friends and colleagues and ask them how they would describe your business. Collecting these adjectives and looking for common threads can help you understand how your business is perceived and use these findings to your advantage in your marketing efforts.

Conducting a thorough competitive analysis can help you determine your own competitive edge and stay abreast of the competition. As a best practice, get into the habit of conducting a competitive analysis on an annual basis to stay informed about how your industry and your local market evolve over time.

Detail your marketing strategies.

In marketing, there is a saying that goes, “hope is not a strategy.” Yet many organizations allow an “if you build it, they will come” mentality to drive clients toward their marketing efforts.

In reality, a continuous funnel of new and repeat customers is what ensures their long-term success. This is why continuous marketing efforts are the number one way to ensure a consistent workload. Your marketing should work in tandem with a greater marketing plan that aligns all your efforts.

Because stakeholders and investors know the importance of marketing, they will look for a comprehensive and proactive marketing strategy when evaluating your business plan. This is why it’s important to outline the various marketing mechanisms you plan to use in your marketing plan.

Your marketing strategies encompass your marketing programs and your photography portfolio. 

Marketing programs.

Marketing programs mean any platforms, channels, or mechanisms you use to promote your company and attract customers. These may include email marketing campaigns, direct mail initiatives, local photography directory memberships, trade shows, your social media presence, and any paid social media advertising campaigns.

Photography portfolio.

Your online photography portfolio is an essential part of your marketing toolkit. After you make your potential customers aware of your business with your marketing programs, they will seek out a digital presence to explore your abilities as a photographer and to see if there is a fit. A portfolio experience can make or break a client lead, which is why it’s important to invest in a portfolio website that represents the unique offering your photography brings to the world. You can learn how to build a portfolio website the right way with our helpful guide.

Think about operations. 

While service businesses like photographers traditionally have fewer logistics than brick-and-mortar ones, it’s still important to consider the day-to-day logistics and expenses when compiling your business plan.

The operations portion of your photography business can include details like information about where you conduct work.  Many photographers choose to conduct business out of a home studio or office, holding a majority of their sessions at outdoor locations, client homes, and occasionally utilizing a professional studio. Meanwhile, commercial photographers almost always rely on a professional studio to conduct their business. 

Because different types of photographers have different operational needs, stakeholders will look for this information in your business plan to help assess the overhead cost of the operations. Understanding your operations also helps you to plan for potential opportunities in the future.

Draft your financial plans. 

This portion of your photography business plan is important to understanding the overall factors in the cash flow of your venture. Cash flow refers to the amount of money going in and out of your business. 

While compiling this section of your business plan may take the most time, it’s important to get it right to have an accurate understanding of the amount of money it takes to run your photography business, and which investments (ex. new lenses or editing software) are feasible within your business profits.

If you are a new business owner getting into photography, this section of the plan is where you outline the equipment you hope to invest in and what types of services it will be used for. Consider that as a professional photographer, you may need to invest in two copies of every item in case of malfunction. Some photographers, who may be just starting out, may use rental equipment to help them offset the costs of duplicates. However, the cost of renting can add up, which is why purchasing may be the cheaper option in the long run.

As a photographer, you are investing in hardware and software that is imperative to your job. To protect yourself, consider insuring your photography equipment and professional computer in case of theft. You can outline your insurance policy coverage and its cost in the financial portion of your plan. 

Create a timeline.

For photographers, a timeline is a management tool that helps you keep your business goals on track. Some of the key activities to include in your timeline are marketing, financial, investing, and operational in nature. 

In your timeline, consider setting goals for when you expect to pay back for the items listed in the financial portion of your plan. Calculating how many completed photography sessions it would take to cover the cost of the item can help you calculate this date.

It’s important to remember that timelines don’t need to be complicated. You can simply write down the task and the date by which you hope to complete it in sequential order. To help you stay on track, you can put reminders in your email calendar that notify you when you are nearing the anticipated completion of a task, as well as your personal deadline for its completion.

Putting your photography business plan together.

Compiling a photography business plan is an important step in starting your business and in evolving an existing one. While our photography business plan outline contains all the elements to run a successful photography business, there is nothing like drawing inspiration from what’s out there. A tried and tested photography business plan sample can give you the guidance you need to brainstorm the ins and outs of your business.

While all photography business plans are slightly different, most professional photography business plans are clear about their vision and how they want to get there. We’ve collected sample photography business plans from some of the best and most successful photographers in the industry and made readily editable templates for a fast and comprehensive photography business plan.

If you are just starting with your venture and feel a little lost, be sure to check out startup costs for your photography business and three business questions new photographers often ask . These guides give you the important information you need to get started on turning your photography dream into a viable business.

Photography business plan examples.

A sound business plan will set you on the path to success as a photographer. Whether you are a studio photographer, wedding photographer, or anything in between, these industry-specific photography business plan examples will help you kickstart your career.

Photography studio business plan.

If you run a photography studio, the most important element of your business plan is the photography business description. This segment in your photography studio business plan consists of a thorough description of all of the activities you engage in and the services you offer.

By keeping a detailed checklist, you can be clearer with your clients about the studio photography services you offer and market your business accordingly. Our guide to photography marketing shows you how to attract new clients the right way, without spending a dime.

Wedding photography business plan.

Creating a wedding photography business plan is a crucial step in better understanding your market and the opportunities you can leverage with your skills and experience. If there are any specific photography services you offer that other wedding competitors don’t, make sure to include them in your business plan.

If you are looking for a place to start, a simple Google search will provide you with a range of wedding photography business plan samples to work from, which can be tailored specifically to your business.

Now that you are armed with your photography business plan, you can attract better clients and be prepared for the future with a firm grasp of your competitive edge and industry shifts. Don’t forget that along with a solid business plan you need a beautiful website portfolio to show off your work and start getting clients.

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Contributor

Cheryl is the Director of Content Strategy at Zenfolio and the Owner/Photographer at Portraits by Cheryl and Seniors by Cheryl in Raleigh, NC. Cheryl has mentored countless new photographers looking to build successful photography businesses.

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How To Write a Winning Photography Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for photography businesses who want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every photography business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Photography Business Plan Template

What is a Photography Business Plan?

A photography business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Photography Business Plan?

A photography business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Photography Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful photography business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a photography business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your photography company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your photography business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your photography firm, mention this.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a photography business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the photography industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, customers of a photography business may include individuals, families, small businesses, or corporations.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or photography services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. In addition, you may promote your photography business via public speaking engagements, trade shows, or partnerships.

Operations Plan

This part of your photography business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a photography business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include hiring a certain number of employees, partnering with another company, or opening up a second location.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific photography industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Photography Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Photography Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup photography business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Photography Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your photography company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written business plan is essential for any photography company looking to start, expand or grow its business. It can also help attract investors.  

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With our Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Step-by-step guide on how to write a strong photography business plan

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This article was updated on December 2, 2022

Starting a successful photography business involves more than having a camera and a keen eye for beauty. As a business owner, you must also have a solid business plan.

Without one, your professional photography business may have no legs (or tripods) to stand on. 

Creating a photography business plan is simple. This complete guide will cover all you need to know about writing a comprehensive business plan—from executive summaries to competitive analyses. 

What to include in a photography business plan:

• Write an executive summary
• Describe your photography business
• Outline your products and services
• Analyze your finances and list out business expenses
• Understand your competition and the photography industry
• Devise a sales and marketing strategy
• Set operations logistics and management structure
• Perform customer and market analysis
• Establish a timeline and exit strategy
• Round out your business plan with Nextdoor

1. Write an executive summary

Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of running your own photography business since the day you picked up your first disposable camera, or maybe you just started outlining your vision in recent months. Whatever the case may be, you’ll need to match those dreams with quantifiable business goals and a clear course of action. 

Defining your mission is one of the most important aspects of a strong business plan and almost always comprises the first section. In the executive summary, you will explain your business details such as your business name, and a summary of your business plan in a few sentences.

When defining your business as a professional photographer, it’s crucial to cover two key components: the executive summary and the business description.

2. Describe your photography business

Following the executive summary, the business description section is the place where you'll describe the ins and outs of your business.

Effective photography business descriptions usually contain the following information:

• A history of your business
• An overview of your business structure

Let's break down these two essential components further.

As a professional photographer, your business's history is more than just a summary of facts. It's your unique story . Your passion for what you do should come through in every line.

Include life and color into your business plan by detailing the following:

• Your personal relationship with photography
• Your professional work experience
• The origins of your business and the values you intend to uphold

Describing your history with photography not only gives potential stakeholders an inside look at your motivations but also gives you an outline for an "About" section on your future website.

REAL BUSINESS EXAMPLE: Johnson City, Tennessee's Hunter Kittrell Photography is a business that knows the power of storytelling. Their website's "About" section mentions how the business's founder, Hunter Kittrell, got his start in photography after college and how his love of adventure inspires his work. Look to this small business as a model for your own and add in all of your business's unique details to compel potential clients to work with you.

Business structure

Few business descriptions are complete without an outline of the business structure. To define your business structure, consider the following:

• Type - Is your business a sole proprietorship or an LLC? A partnership or corporation? If you're just starting out, there's a good chance your photography business will be a sole proprietorship. However, if you're thinking of future growth (and outside funding), it may be wise to consider an LLC. Whichever business type you choose, providing this information in your business plan will help you think through the management and other logistical structures.
• Management and business operations - Most U.S. photography businesses have less than two employees . However, if you're planning on employing more people and/or having a detailed managerial structure, it may be wise to include this in your business description. Furthermore, it may be helpful to include details about business hours and studio location(s).

While businesses, especially startups, can experience a number of operational changes during the first couple of years, outlining your initial business structure is a smart way to set up your photography business for continued success.

3. Outline your products and services

The best business plans clearly specify the business's products and photography services. As you draft your plan include the following details:

• Photography type - Will your business specialize in commercial photography, marketing photography, landscape photography, portrait photography, pet photography, or wedding photography? Will you mainly shoot individual portraits or family portraits? Identifying your niche in the photography industry in your business plan will allow you to structure other elements of your business model around that particular focus.
• Pricing model - When it comes to the financial aspects of your business, few details are more important than your business's pricing model. Will you charge by the hour or by the photoshoot (regardless of time)? Is photo editing included in the package or is there an additional cos t ? Look at other photographers for example pricing; likely event photography pricing is structured differently than landscape photography. You would also need to consider your business expenses and budget when setting your rates. Being as specific as possible about your pricing model will help you estimate your income and also p rovide a clear outline of your rates for potential clients.

REAL BUSINESS EXAMPLE: Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Image of Home Real Estate Photography is a small business with a big-time, three-tier pricing model. Their website states that they charge by the square foot and offer the additional benefit of same-day image delivery. This pricing model was, more than likely, hashed out in the business plan. Settle on the pricing specifics for your business and be sure to share them on your online platforms so that they are clearly visible to the public.

4. Analyze your finances

When it comes to financial planning, the more you can foresee, the better. This will keep you from overextending your budget in terms of expenses or overestimating your revenue in your first year. 

To adequately plan for finances, detail the following in your business plan:

• Expenses – Expenses include everything from ordering business cards to the cost of equipment to your studio space. Make a list of everything you’ll need to pay for to get your business up and running. Doing so will also help you budget for the unknown, such as buying an extra lens in case one breaks or hiring an assistant to lend a hand on a particular photo shoot.
• Projected revenue – To stay afloat in the long run, you’ll need to bring in more revenue than you’re spending. As a result, it’s wise to calculate your projected revenue alongside your expenses in your business plan—especially in the first year. These calculations will allow you to budget properly and change your strategy should your financial situation change.
• Set up bank accounts and EIN - Most professional photographers tend to work independently or work by case. Therefore, it is better to separate your work bank accounts and credit cards from your personal accounts to manage your finances. Further, even if this is a small business, you still need to apply for an EIN (employee identification number) from the IRS for legal purposes.

In addition, figuring out where you stand financially will enable you to find room in your budget for marketing strategies and competitive analysis metrics.

5.  Understand your competition

An often overlooked, yet highly important, section of most business plans is the competitive analysis section. 

Researching your competition is beneficial for many reasons. Not only will you better understand your competition’s pricing models and services, but you’ll also learn how you can set yourself apart from competitors. Given the fact that there are more than 40,000 professional photographers in the U.S. , knowing how to stand out in the industry will make sure your one-of-a-kind business doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. 

When writing your competitive analysis section, it’s helpful to answer the following questions:

• How many photographers are located in my area?
• Am I fulfilling a specific niche (i.e. landscape, portrait, etc.)?
• What are my competitor’s pricing models?
• What are their marketing strategies?
• What are my competitors doing well? What could they improve upon?
• Who are my potential client pods and are they overlapping other existing photography businesses?
• How will I provide a necessary and unique photography service?

Of course, there are many more questions you could ask when thinking about your competition, but these should help you get started.

6. Devise a sales and marketing strategy

Good business plans almost always focus on business growth. But to grow your business and attract new clientele, you need to market yourself. 

Detailing your marketing strategy is, therefore, a crucial component of a strong business plan. If you’re wondering how to get photography clients, you’ll want to employ a number of different marketing tactics.

When writing the marketing section, it’s helpful to think of the following strategies:

• Social media marketing – Given that social media is a major conduit of ideas and information, it’s important to develop a social media strategy for your photography business. As a photographer, your portfolio and past works are the best marketing materials. Image-sharing platforms make the most sense, but you’ll want to consider the potential of other platforms, too. For example, if you want to attract local clientele , the best way to connect with your neighborhood is on Nextdoor. This community-minded platform allows you to set up custom business ads or create a Business Page where you can showcase important aspects of your business—from operating hours to services.
• Email marketing – In your business plan, detail how you intend to use email to market yourself. Will you send around a quarterly email discussing new trends in the photography world? Will you deliver special holiday emails urging your target audience to take advantage of discounted holiday shoots? Generating an email list is an effective way to keep clients in the loop about what’s happening with your business.
• SEO marketing – SEO, or search engine optimization, is a critical strategy that will help drive potential customers to your website. To improve the quality of your site, you’ll want to decide which type of keywords are important to your business and build content around them to make your website more discoverable by Google and other search engines. You can do this by adding informational content to different pages on your website, as well as creating a photography blog with helpful tips and information for users. For example, if you are a portrait photographer, you can add keywords such as family pictures or graduation portfolio photos.

7. Set operation logistics and management structure

This section gives you the opportunity to first think through the details of your business workflow then define how you will manage the logistics of your day to day operations. A major part of your photography business will likely be post processing and photo editing before final delivery. Spend time defining how long editing will take after a shoot. How many days afte r a shoot will you promise delivery to your customers? What methods of payment are you planning to accept? Other topics to address in this section may include:

• Primary and backup suppliers
• Equipment inventory
• Transportation expenses
• Management and staff structure if applicable

8. Perform customer and market analysis

C ustomer and market analysis is a critical part of your photography business plan; it helps define the size of the market needing your service as well as your ideal client. Here you will justify your target market and specify niche segments within that market. To do this answer the following:

• What is your dream client - age range, gender, location, demographics, and style of photo shoot. Will you specialize in high end weddings, aerial photography, sports photography, or something else? 
• What are the needs of these customers
• how your services address these needs. 
• What is the growth potential of your market segment? Including considerations such as the number of potential customers, their annual income, frequency of photography style needs

9. Establish a timeline and exit strategy

This later section describes your timeline for the goals and objectives outlined earlier in the business plan. Describe how soon you plan to become profitable, within what timeframe do you plan to meet your revenue objectives, or even when you might plan to hire employees to help grow your business. While it may seem far off, planning how you may want to exit your business years down the road may open up questions and considerations that can have a big impact near term. For some, selling their business to a larger investor is the end goal, for others, keeping photography as a small side gig to pass to their children is the exit strategy - no matter your desired path, document it here. 

10. Round out your business plan with Nextdoor

Developing a strong photography business plan is often the first step in running a successful business. Now that you’re equipped with all the tools to execute it like a pro, you’ll be well-prepared for a promising future ahead. 

But no plan is truly complete without Nextdoor — the neighborhood hub that connects you with your local community so that your photography business can flourish.

Claim a Nextdoor Business Page today to simplify the process of building your brand. That way, you can get back to what truly matters—working your magic behind the camera.

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CAREER TIPS

How to Write a Photography Business Plan and Nail It

• Julia Ronen
• Jul 17, 2017

Photographers, designers, bloggers – as artistically inclined people, we are undoubtedly good at creating. Planning, on the other hand, well that’s not necessarily our forte. Unfortunately, a camera or a paintbrush is not exactly the best tool to help you build a successful business. However, in order to do what we love for a living (which is a great accomplishment in itself!), we have to master not only our trade but also the art of managing a small business. Luckily for you, creating a photography website has already been taken care of.

While it may appear intimidating in the beginning, with the right set of tools, you can grasp the hang of it pretty quickly. Just like any other new creative technique you acquired – all you need to succeed is the desire to learn.

This is where we would like to chip in our 5 cents to help our photographer friends take the first step in starting a photography business . Remember, behind every successful photographer is a well thought through business plan. Let us walk you through creating a photography business plan that will set your foot on the right path – the one that leads to success:

So… What is a business plan exactly?

To put it simply, a business plan is a guide that outlines your business’ goals and how you plan to achieve them. It’s created by the business owner on a yearly basis and serves as a reference for any managerial or financial question that may come up during the year. In case you plan to raise funds for your business or negotiate a loan from the bank, a concise photography business plan will make you look professional and sincere in all your intentions. On top of that, the plan will serve as a personal target to achieve, a reference to follow up on your accomplishments, and a guide on where you need to concentrate your efforts in order to do better next year.

With that being said, it doesn’t have to be as long as your exposure settings during night time. The document’s length is up to you, but the principle of “less is more” is a great guideline to start with. After all, you’re not building a groundbreaking start-up company in Silicon Valley, but a traditional photography business, that probably has a lot in common with other businesses in the field – so your readers will most likely know what to expect.

First – wait a second (or two)

Before getting down to some hands on calculations, there are a few things that need to be taken care of. The first of which being you – so take a deep breath (literally, it’s important!).

Now, you have some serious thinking (and writing) to do. In order to position yourself in the highly competitive world of commissioned photographers, you’ll need to define your services, target audience, and business goals. Is this sounding all too much? Not if you follow these steps:

Do some industry research

Do some groundwork on your competition, especially in the geographical area where you plan to operate:

What kind of services do they provide?

Does anything set them apart from the crowd?

What do their online assets look like ( photography website , Facebook business page , Instagram , 500px, etc.)?

How much do they charge? Do your best to find out by browsing their site or asking for an estimate.

What do their clients have to say about them? To find out, simply “Google” your competitors’ name and browse the reviews.

Identify your target audience

Your target audience are the people that are most likely to hire you. They will be the focus of all your marketing efforts. To identify your audience, try to think about the following questions: Who are your clients? What is their approximate age, marital status, income status, where do they live? What are their needs and how can you meet them? Why would they choose you over a competitor? The more information you have, the more accurate your marketing strategy will be.

Define your product and services

With that information in mind, you can start to develop your game plan. Try to define your product and services in the most detailed way possible. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, there’s much more to your services than just wedding photo shoots. First, you probably provide your service in several differently priced packages. Secondly – you also have a physical product – the photo album, and perhaps a USB stick for the client: every item should be listed for budgeting purposes.

Find your niche

Everyone provides high-quality photos and services. Undoubtedly, you do too. So how will your photography business catch the eye of the tiger, e.g. potential clients? Based on the market research you did, try to come up with something that will set you apart from other photographers in your locale. It can be a unique photography style , a special photography package, a delicate personal touch , or any other exclusive idea your brainstorming session will produce. That “little something” that makes you different will be very useful in marketing your photography business.

Know thyself

As you make plans for the coming year, think of your strengths and weaknesses, and use both to leverage yourself. How? Well, strengths are obvious: for example, if you’re a people’s person, you’ll probably excel at marketing your services. As for weaknesses – set a goal to work on the ones you’d like to improve so that your business can benefit from it. For instance, you might consider yourself a technophobe when it comes to creating a photography website or promoting your business online. So one goal for the coming year could be improving your knowledge about online marketing terms , SEO for photographers , and everything you need to know in order to create a great photography website .

Set the right price

The price of your services is a key element, on which your entire photography business plan is based on. Remember the market research you ran four paragraphs ago? The price range of photography prices in your area should be your first indicator. You need to make sure that your final price is positioned within that scale according to your level of expertise.

On the other hand, your price needs to secure your monetary goals for the year. What amount of income do you plan to bring home? Is it a full-time job, or a side gig? How many sessions do you think you could secure per month? What is the price that can give you a net profit on top of your expenses and dedicated time? Bear in mind, that some questions can only be answered after you’ve earned some mileage as a professional photographer. In the meantime, here is a great reference to what photographers of different expertise levels charged in 2016 .

Set your goals

If the business plan serves as an orientation map through the year, then it must have a clear destination. Remember, a good “destination”, or objective, is an achievable one. The more defined and the more realistic, the better. When choosing a target, think of how you can measure its success. If it ain’t measurable, it ain’t pleasurable.

Now let’s get to business (plan)

Now that the theoretical part is done, it’s time to talk numbers. The purpose of this part is to understand the financial side of things, and mostly – to obtain your net profit. Here’s a step by step guide to calculating your earnings for the upcoming year:

01. Define your total sales per month . This includes both your booking fee and product sales. Think of the average amount of gigs you get per month, and multiply by the average amount of money you earn from each job.

02. Costs of sales per month – include all your expenses on getting the job done. This can include a second shooter, print lab fees, and average travel expenses to and from the event. Note that these are not your fixed costs (we’ll get to this below).

03. Time for gross profit ! ‘Total sales per month’ minus ‘costs of sales per month’ will give you this number.

04. To figure out your monthly net gain, calculate your general business expenses, i.e. fixed costs . These expenses are constant and do not add up per photo shoot. For example, they can include marketing expenses, accounting, equipment, hardware, and taxes. Definitely skip hosting and web-design fees, as you can easily make an impressive photography website for free! Divide the number you get by 12 – these are your fixed costs per month.

05. It’s the final countdown: your gross profit minus monthly fixed costs will generate your net profit .

About that net profit

If you’re just starting your business, take into consideration that many businesses take a year, sometimes more, to get out of a negative net profit. That means that you need to plan ahead and prepare some savings to survive that first year. If you end up having a nice net profit, you have two choices: keep it to yourself (that’s why you were doing this in the first place, right?) or invest it in the coming year to grow your business even further. A nice net profit will give you the option to do both, depending on your business goals of course.

That’s it, you’re ready to go. Good luck with the new exciting journey! Now that you have a detailed map, the road to success is clearly marked.

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HOW TO WRITE THE ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS PLAN

Table of contents, 1. summarise your services and products, 2. describe your target market, 3. analyse your competitors, 4. conduct a swot analysis, 5. outline your marketing plan, 6. outline your operations plan, 7. work out your finances, 8. set goals and create systems, 9. write an executive summary.

What is your main photography service?

List any other photography services your offer, how do your photography services complement each other, describe the products you provide to clients.

Sum up your ideal client in one sentence

What are the top 3 desires you can help with, what are the top 3 pain points you can help with, what will connect you and your ideal client, 3. analyse your competitors.

List 2 or 3 of your closest competitors

Describe their services and products, who are they appealing to, what is their price point and position, what are they doing well, what could they be doing better, write 3-5 adjective to describe their brand, 4. conduct a swot analysis.

Make a list of your strengths

Acknowledge your weaknesses, where are the opportunities, are there any potential threats, 5. outline your marketing plan.

What makes your business stand out?

Write your elevator pitch, write your big, bold statement (tagline), define your brand personality and tone of voice, what content are you going to create, which social media platform will you use and how, will you do any face-to-face marketing, will you seek publicity for your business, how will you generate and nurture leads, how will you create loyalty and encourage referrals, 6. outline your operations plan.

Describe the enquiry and conversion process

Describe the booking and onboarding process, describe the shoot or wedding process, describe the post-shoot/wedding process, describe the product sales process, describe the order fulfilment process, describe the process beyond order fulfilment, 7. work out the finances.

Summarise your CODB and salary aims

Where are you positioned in terms of price, which pricing model is right for you, 8. set goals and create systems.

Decide on your financial goal

Map out your systems, what needs to happen for your systems to work, 9. create an executive summary.

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How to Run a Photography Business (Complete Guide)

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This article explores how to run a photography business. Becoming a professional photographer isn’t easy, and the prospect of running a business can seem daunting. But with the right knowledge and application, you can turn a photography hobby into a career.

There are many things you need to think about when running a photography business. There are essential laws and legal paperwork you need to be aware of, as well as marketing and client-sourcing techniques. 

While that might sound complicated, we’re here to help. This article breaks down the process of starting a photography business with handy tutorials packed with vital information. Once you’ve finished, you’ll have the confidence to run a photography business. 

How to Run a Photography Business

When you imagine being a professional photographer, your thoughts are probably dominated by fancy cameras and glamorous photo shoots. These elements do play a part, of course, but professional photographers also have to deal with the less glamorous side of running a business.

You are no longer just a person with a camera. You now have to think of yourself as a professional—as a brand. That means you have to take everything from client correspondence to financial transactions seriously. 

Booking studio space and models has to become like second nature to you. You’ll also need to know how to write and complete every type of contract and release form.

Revenue has to be one of your main concerns, as that’s how you put bread on the table. Making money with photography isn’t easy, but there are ways you can diversify your income streams so you always have money flowing in. 

We start the article by looking at the basics of becoming a professional photographer. Then we cover marketing and social media strategies to help you get ahead of the competition. We also have everything you need to know about the legal paperwork for photography businesses. 

Each section has a link to a full-length article on the topic, so remember to click to learn more. 

Becoming a Professional Photographer

Becoming a photographer takes hard work and dedication. Mastering the basics of exposure, depth of field, and light is essential when starting out. Practice as much as possible to improve your skills.

Find your photography niche based on what you enjoy and the types of photography that provide an income. Carefully invest in the right equipment for your niche. Build a strong portfolio that showcases your abilities as a professional photographer in your chosen area.

Share your work online to establish your brand and get exposure. Get organized and always behave professionally to build trust and a solid reputation. Be proactive in finding work and seeking out opportunities in your local area. Always ask for compensation for your services, whether it’s financial payment or credit and exposure.

To learn more about how to become a photographer , we have an in-depth guide that covers everything you need to know.

Is It Easy?

Being a photographer isn’t always easy. It can be a competitive field, with many amateurs willing to work for low pay or even for free. This makes it hard to charge what you’re worth and can lead to getting ripped off.

The pay can be inconsistent, especially when you’re just starting out. You may have to spend a lot of time away from home for jobs. And you’ll encounter demanding clients who expect perfection, even when it’s not realistic.

Photography also requires investing in expensive gear to get professional results. You may find yourself shooting the same subjects repeatedly to specialize in a niche. And post-processing can be a boring but necessary part of the job. Despite the challenges, many photographers find the rewards worth it.

Being a photographer has its difficulties, but it can also be a fulfilling career for those who are passionate about it.

Prep for Your First Shoot

Preparing for your first client photo shoot is important. Create a mood board to share ideas with your client and make sure you’re on the same page. Visit the shooting location ahead of time to check for potential issues like harsh sunlight or crowds.

Bring backup gear in case of technical problems. Rent or borrow extra cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment. Hire an assistant to help with tasks like holding reflectors and changing lenses.

The day before the shoot, finalize your equipment checklist, clean your gear, charge batteries, and look up directions. On the day of the shoot, arrive early to set up and test your lighting. Have model releases and contracts signed upfront. Being prepared will help you focus on creativity during the shoot.

If you’d like to learn more about how to prepare for a photo shoot , we have a detailed guide in this link.

Successful Client Sessions

Planning your photo shoot is key to success. Make a list of ideas and discuss them with your model beforehand. Pack carefully and don’t forget important gear like lenses or batteries.

Embrace the location in your portraits, but keep the focus on your model. Blur the background if needed to avoid distractions. Take a variety of shots, including wide, medium, and close-ups. Have your model look in different directions, not just at the camera.

Control the lighting to set the mood. Use flash or reflectors to soften the light and make your model look their best. Communicate with your model to help them relax and pose naturally. Listen to their ideas and try them out.

Having a successful client photo shoot  takes practice, but these tips will help you capture stunning portraits.

Studio Photography Basics

Setting up a photography studio doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start with just a background and stand. If you have plenty of window light, you can achieve professional results even in a small space.

As you earn more, consider buying artificial lights. Begin with one light and modifier, then grow your kit as needed for more complex lighting setups. Take your time getting used to the equipment.

Before you know it, you’ll have a full-size studio that can handle all your photography needs.

If you want to learn more about studio photography , we have a detailed guide that covers everything from equipment to lighting techniques.

Responding to Requests

As a photographer, you may receive requests for free photography. While it can be flattering to get attention, it’s important to remember that your time and skills are valuable. Before agreeing to work for free, consider the costs and benefits.

There are some situations where offering a free photo shoot can be beneficial, such as when building your portfolio or getting credit from a well-known publication.

However, in most cases, it’s best to politely decline requests for free photography. Explain that you appreciate their interest but cannot allow your photos to be used without payment due to the costs associated with taking and editing them.

If the requester is still interested, provide them with your reasonable licensing rates. The price per photo will depend on factors such as the size of the image, the publication’s circulation, and the duration of use.

By conducting yourself professionally and knowing your worth, you can successfully navigate requests for free photography.

Click this link to learn more about responding to requests for free photography .

Starting Your Photography Business

Starting a photography business requires careful planning. Create a business plan that outlines your structure, target market, finances, and long-term vision. Consider diversifying your income streams with photo shoots, classes, and online courses.

Choose a business structure like a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. This determines the paperwork you’ll need to file. Pick a memorable name for your business that reflects your long-term goals.

Build a marketing plan based on your target clients. Use social media, blogs, or community events to reach them. Focus on building relationships and making your clients happy.

Growing a successful photography business takes time and hard work, so be patient and stay committed to your goals.

If you’d like to learn more about starting a photography business , we have a detailed guide with all the essential info.

What You Need

Starting a photography business requires some essential equipment. A full-frame camera like the Canon EOS RP is a good entry point for serious photographers.

Lenses are just as important as the camera. A couple of good-quality, fast lenses will give you the sharp, high-quality imagery that you need as a professional. Prime lenses tend to be sharper than zoom lenses.

Other important equipment includes a sturdy tripod, memory cards, a card reader, extra batteries and charger, lens filters, lens hoods, backup drives, a color calibrator, a color checker, a grey card, a reflector kit, and possibly a lighting kit with modifiers and stands.

Check out our full article if you’d like to learn more about what you need to start a photography business .

Writing a Business Plan

A photography business plan is a road map to success. It outlines your goals and how you’ll achieve them. Your plan should include an executive summary, a description of your services, your target market, and marketing strategies.

Assess your competition and find what makes you unique. Develop a timeline and consider your operations strategy. Plan your financials for the first three years, including expenses like gear, software, and marketing.

A photography business plan is key to a successful photography career. It helps you prepare and set goals. Start working on yours today, and you’ll be ahead of most photographers who don’t have a plan.

Running a photography business can be expensive. There are many costs to consider, such as liability insurance, web hosting, backup drives, memory cards, batteries, software subscriptions, and more. These expenses add up quickly and can make it challenging to turn a profit.

It’s important to understand the cost of doing business (CODB) before setting your prices. Your CODB is the total amount it costs you to run your business, including all monthly and annual expenses. Anything you make over that amount is your profit.

When determining your rates, consider your living expenses and savings goals in addition to your CODB. Price yourself high enough to pay your overhead, turn a profit, and put some aside for slower periods or gear upgrades.

By understanding your cost of doing business , you can set prices that reflect your value and ensure the sustainability of your business.

Finding a Studio

Finding a cheap photography studio rental is possible, even on a limited budget. Consider unusual locations like classrooms, museums, or rec centers that rent out space by the hour or day. Airbnb listings can also work well, and some are even dedicated studio spaces.

Talking to a realtor about empty retail or office spaces available for temporary rental is another option. You can also use the client’s home or office if it’s suitable for the shoot. Joining a studio co-op allows you to share the cost of a dedicated space with other photographers.

Creating a studio in your own home is a popular choice for many photographers starting out. Finally, taking the studio outdoors can work for certain types of shoots and even boost creativity.

To learn more about photography studio rental , check out our in-depth guide.

A photography shot list is a great way to stay organized during a photo shoot. It’s essentially a checklist of the images you want to capture. Shot lists can be simple written notes or more advanced, like sketches or storyboard-style illustrations.

Using a shot list opens up communication between you and your client. It helps manage expectations and acts as proof of what was agreed upon. A shot list also makes the most of your time by keeping you focused on the shots you need.

To create a shot list, consult with your client about their needs and expectations. Write down all the shots that come to mind, then narrow it down.

Break your list into sections like must-haves, detail shots, and wide shots. When shooting, keep your shot list handy on your phone for quick reference.

Photography shot lists are a valuable tool for efficiently capturing all the important images. Check out our full article for setting up a complete shot list.

A photography logo is the first thing potential clients see, so it’s important to create one that represents your brand. Using an acronym of your business name can keep your logo compact and recognizable. A signature or script text adds a personal touch and is unique to you.

Simplicity is key—a bold font makes a statement about your professionalism. Incorporating photography imagery like a camera or film roll clarifies that you’re a photographer. Using your initials to create a symbol—like turning them into a tripod—is creative and memorable.

Your logo should show your photography style and niche, whether it’s analog, landscape, or wedding photography. A simple illustration style with a hand-drawn feel can also give your logo a distinct look.

Creating photography logo ideas can be tricky, but with a little inspiration, you can create the perfect one for your business.

Business Card Designs

Photography business cards are an essential tool for networking and showcasing your unique style. They allow you to quickly share your contact information and give potential clients a glimpse of your work.

When designing your photography business card, include your name, email address, website, and any relevant social media accounts. You can also add a QR code that links to your online portfolio or website.

To make your business card stand out, consider using unique materials like transparent or metallic paper, or opt for an unusual shape or size. Including a small print of one of your photos is another great way to showcase your skills and style.

If you’re interested in learning more about photography business cards , there are many creative designs and ideas to explore in our full-length article.

Cliche Name Game

Naming your photography business can be a challenge. When you’re feeling stuck, take a break and try our fun photography name generator for inspiration.

The generator combines a positive adjective, something pretty or colorful, and a funny way of saying photo or photography. The results may sound cheesy, but they can shake up your creative energy and lead to unexpected ideas.

Remember, the best business names are easy to remember and give customers a sense of what you do. If you specialize in a certain niche, consider including that in your name.

For more tips on naming your photography business, read our photography name generator article.

The Legal Side of Starting a Business

To start a photography business legally, you need to understand the laws in your country. Copyright laws protect your photos, giving you ownership and control. However, you may need a release form to use photos with recognizable people or private property for commercial purposes.

It’s important to have the right legal paperwork. Photography contracts protect both you and your client by setting clear expectations. You may also need a photography license, depending on your location.

A photo licensing agreement outlines how a client can use your images. Photo release forms grant permission to use an image and are essential for photographing people or property.

Take a deeper dive into the laws and legalities of running a photography business in our detailed article. 

Must-Know Photography Laws

Photographers must understand copyright law if they want to protect their work correctly. Copyright is automatically applied to photographs at the moment of creation, giving the photographer ownership and control over the image. This means the photographer can reproduce, sell, and use the photo however they wish.

However, there are some restrictions when photographing people or private property. In the U.S., a photographer needs a release form to use someone’s likeness commercially.

There are some exceptions for photojournalism and fine art. But in general, you can’t do whatever you want with a photo of someone without their permission.

It’s important for photographers to know their rights and responsibilities when it comes to copyright law. Understanding concepts like commercial use, fair use, release forms, and the difference between public and private property is essential.

By educating themselves on photography laws , photographers can avoid legal issues and protect their creative work.

Photo Licensing Agreement

A photo licensing agreement is a contract that grants specific usage rights to a client or collaborator.

The agreement outlines how the image can be used, such as in print or online, the number of people who will see it, and for how long. This protects you as the creator of the image and helps avoid misunderstandings with clients.

Clients may not understand why they need a licensing agreement. They might think they own the images and can use them however they want. In this case, you’ll need to educate them on the transaction and how it works.

The licensing agreement should be specific about the end use of the image and the brand’s visibility. High-profile businesses should have different terms and prices than small local businesses.

Click on this link if you’d like to learn more about photo licensing agreements .

Photo Release Form

A photo release form is a contract between the photographer and the subject that grants permission to use the image. It’s required in the U.S. to use someone’s likeness commercially. The form can include limits on usage and an expiration date.

There are different types of photo release forms. Model release forms are for photographing people, while property release forms cover buildings and objects. Print release forms give clients permission to make prints. Minor release forms are signed by a parent or guardian for subjects under 18.

You need a photo release form if the subject is recognizable and the photo will be used commercially or for advertising.

To learn more about photo release forms , including free templates you can use, check out our in-depth guide.

Model Release Form

A model release form is a legal contract between a photographer and the subject they photograph. It’s one of the most important documents for photographers, as it protects both parties and prevents future complications or lawsuits.

The form outlines the rights of the photographer, client, and model regarding the use of the images.

Model release forms are essential for commercial photography, where the photos may be used for promotion or sales. However, the specific requirements vary depending on the country, state, and intended use of the images.

It’s crucial to research local laws and regulations to ensure your model release form covers all necessary aspects.

To make the process easier, consider using a template rather than creating your own from scratch. A well-written model release form should include the subject’s personal information, a witness signature, and clear terms regarding the usage rights of the images.

Read all about model release forms in our educational article.

Marketing for Photographers

Marketing is a top priority for any professional photographer who wants to succeed. Building a professional website has never been easier or more affordable. And social media can help boost your online profile and make your work more visible. Sending your photos to magazines is another great way to get more eyes on your work.

To learn more about marketing for photographers , including SEO, sales, and more, this article is a helpful resource with in-depth information on these topics.

Easy Marketing Strategies

As a freelance photographer, you won’t have a dedicated marketing team to promote you and your work. That’s why having a basic understanding of professional marketing is so important. 

Ask for referrals from friends, family, and clients. Make sure you have a professional website with a portfolio and testimonials ready. Producing great photos encourages people to recommend you and your services to others.

Create targeted social media ad campaigns to attract your ideal audience. Use eye-catching images, and behind-the-scenes videos or before-and-after comparisons can go viral.

Attend local business networking events to build relationships. Bring business cards and flyers, and be prepared to briefly introduce yourself. Look for real estate agents or brokers who may need your services.

Real estate photography marketing involves a variety of strategies to reach potential clients and showcase your work. By implementing these tips consistently, you can grow your business and attract more customers in your local market.

Getting Noticed

To get your photography noticed, make sure your images are high-quality and visually interesting. Experiment with creative photo projects and share them on photography websites to showcase your skills.

Running a photography blog is a great way to build your online presence and attract more viewers to your work.

Entering photography contests can help you gain recognition, but be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. Getting your photos published in magazines or newspapers, both online and locally, can attract potential clients.

Joining photography forums and social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn allows you to reach a wide audience.

Uploading your work to photo-sharing platforms like Flickr, 500px, and Behance can provide exposure and networking opportunities. If you have compelling images, you may even gain new clients.

Learn more about getting your photography noticed with our helpful guide.

Attracting Clients

Identifying your ideal client is key to targeting the right audience for your photography business. Research your target market’s media consumption habits to focus your marketing efforts on the most relevant platforms. This will save you time and money.

Attract more clients by launching targeted social media campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. You can also host an open photo shoot to show potential clients what it’s like to work with you. It’s a great opportunity to network and showcase your talent.

Create a quarterly email campaign featuring your latest work to remind your clients of your services. Offer special promotions and loyalty programs to attract new clients and retain existing ones. Incentivize people to refer you, but be careful not to cheapen your brand.

If you’re looking to get photography clients , consider joining freelancing websites or volunteering to photograph events in your local community.

Writing a Website Bio

Writing a photographer bio for your website is an important task. Your bio introduces potential clients to the person behind the camera, adding depth and personality to your online presence. Keep your bio simple and concise, using clear language that’s easy to understand.

Your bio should reflect your unique personality as a photographer. If you have a fun and lighthearted style, feel free to inject some humor into your writing. However, if you’re a serious professional, stick to the facts and avoid forcing jokes where they don’t fit naturally.

Include relevant information about your photography career, such as notable commissions, awards, or achievements. A photo of yourself can also add a nice personal touch.

By crafting a well-written bio that showcases your skills and personality, you’ll create a strong first impression for potential clients visiting your website.

We have more valuable information about writing a photographer bio in this blog post.

Website Builders

Finding the best website builder for photographers is essential to start your business. Every photographer needs their own website as a portfolio, storefront, and business hub. The more professional your website, the more success you’ll have as a photographer.

Wix is the best website builder for photographers. It’s a well-priced website builder anyone can use. Wix is a no-code platform with drag-and-drop design tools, so you don’t need web design experience. There are thousands of design options to develop your own branding.

If you’d like to see more of the best website builders for photographers , our list has all the top options.

SEO is important for photographers to drive traffic to their website and attract more clients. Search engines like Google index and rank web pages based on relevance to a user’s search query. Optimizing your website and online presence can help you appear higher in search results.

To improve your photography website’s SEO, make sure your site is mobile-friendly and contains relevant keywords. Blogging regularly with high-quality content keeps your site fresh.

Getting backlinks from other reputable websites and maintaining an active social media presence also boosts your search rankings.

Setting up a free Google Business listing allows you to appear in local search results and on Google Maps. Use Google Analytics to track your website traffic and learn more about your visitors.

SEO takes sustained effort, but it’s worth it to generate more organic traffic and grow your photography business.

SEO for photographers is important for any photographer with a website or blog, so click the link to find out more. 

Social Media for Photographers

Social media is a powerful tool for photographers to showcase their work and attract clients. Instagram and Facebook are two of the most popular platforms. To get the most out of them, it’s important to post high-quality photos consistently and engage with your followers.

On Instagram, use relevant hashtags to make your photos easier to find. Write engaging captions that tell a story or provide context for your images. Interact with other accounts in your niche to build a community around your work.

For Facebook, create a dedicated photography page separate from your personal profile. Share your best photos and include links to your website or portfolio. Encourage fans to like and share your page to expand your reach.

By building a strong presence on social media, you can grow your photography business and connect with potential clients.

To learn more about social media for photographers , our in-depth guide covers everything you need to know.

Creating a Facebook photography page is a great way to showcase your work and build a community of fans. To get the most out of your page, select the right category when registering.

Listing yourself as a website rather than a public figure has advantages, such as being able to reach more than 10,000 fans.

Fill in the About section with information about who you are and what you do. This will help your page show up in Google searches.

Choose a profile picture that best represents your photography business, and use the cover photo to advertise your services or display your best work.

Share your portfolio on your Facebook photography page, but be selective. Only post your best images, as the album is only as strong as its weakest photo.

Watermark your photos to protect them from theft, but keep the watermark small and unobtrusive. Post regularly to keep your fans engaged, and add a call-to-action button to direct them to your website.

By following these tips, you can create an effective Facebook photography page that showcases your work and attracts new clients.

Instagram is probably the best social media platform for photographers. It allows you to showcase your best work, generate a following, and attract new clients and collaborators. 

Use Instagram as a social media diary to look more approachable. Post behind-the-scenes shots that your audience can relate to. Choose a username and fill out your bio so people can find you.

Find accounts important in your field for reposts and targeted campaigns. Use niche hashtags with under 250,000 posts to make your photos stand out. Be consistent with your posts to gain relevant followers.

Reply to all comments to broaden your Instagram network. Use your visibility to reach out to brands for photography opportunities. Keep your captions simple to hold people’s attention.

Building and maintaining a popular Instagram photography account takes time and effort, but it can lead to lots of business opportunities.

Writing Captions

Writing great captions for Instagram can make a big difference in how your photos are received. A clever or funny caption adds to the photo’s impact. Keep the caption informative but catchy, and explain the story behind the image.

Write in a conversational tone using present tense, as if talking to a friend. The caption’s style should fit the platform, and consider character limits. On Instagram, captions under 125 characters are the most readable.

Identify key people in the photo, and consider using a relevant quote or song lyrics. The caption should add value and not just state the obvious. Captions that create involvement and engage viewers often work best on social media.

Captions for Instagram take some thought, but the right one enhances your photo’s message. With practice, you’ll find it easy to write the best captions for your images.

Using Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to get your photos seen by more people on Instagram. Using the right hashtags can help you reach a wider audience and gain more exposure for your work.

It’s important to use specific, niche hashtags rather than broad, popular ones. Your photos will get lost in the sea of content if you use hashtags with millions of posts. Instead, find hashtags that are relevant to your photography style and have an active, engaged community.

You can also create your own unique hashtags to stand out from the crowd. This allows you to build a community around your brand and feature your followers’ photos.

By using a mix of popular and niche hashtags, as well as your own branded hashtags, you can maximize your reach and engagement on Instagram with photography hashtags .

Profitable Photography Careers

If you’re looking for profitable photography careers, there are several options to consider. Stock photography is a great way to make money from your images. Capture photos that are in demand and submit them to stock agencies to create a steady income stream.

Travel photography is another option. You can sell your photos to magazines, newspapers, tour operators, and travel companies. Wedding photography can also be very profitable, especially during the summer months.

Other photography careers include commercial photography, editorial photography, product photography, photojournalism, fitness photography, and real estate photography. With hard work and dedication, you can turn your passion for photography into a successful career.

Check out the full article on photography careers to see which is best for your business model.

Stock Photography

Taking stock photos that sell requires capturing high-quality images that are in demand. Research current trends and plan your shoots around popular concepts like business, lifestyle, and outdoor activities. Use a shot list to ensure you capture all the angles and scenarios you need.

Edit your files and choose only the best images to sell. Add relevant keywords and descriptions so potential buyers can find them. You can sell your stock photos through agencies or market them yourself.

Learn more about how to take stock photos with our in-depth tutorial.

Travel Photography

Travel photography jobs can be an exciting and rewarding career path for those with a passion for photography and adventure. To succeed, you’ll need exceptional photography skills that set your work apart from the billions of travel photos uploaded daily.

Business skills are equally important, as you’ll need to market yourself effectively to find work.

Travel photography jobs can be physically demanding, requiring long hikes with heavy gear and the ability to handle challenging weather conditions. You may also face irregular sleep schedules and spend a lot of time alone or with strangers.

If you’re serious about pursuing travel photography jobs, having a strong online presence is essential. A professional website showcasing your portfolio, a blog to share your work and experiences, and active social media accounts can help you get noticed.

With hard work, diverse income streams like print sales, stock licensing, writing, and teaching, and a willingness to get creative, you can turn your love for travel and photography into a successful career.

Read our full post on travel photography jobs to start making money from your next adventure.

Commercial Photography

Commercial photography covers a wide range of niches, from fashion and product photos to food and architectural images. To succeed, you need to keep your network active, maintain a professional attitude, and ensure you’re shooting with the best gear.

Stay on top of the latest photography trends and develop your own distinct style to stand out. Be creative in your approach while still meeting the client’s needs.

Avoid rookie mistakes by continuing to learn and improve your skills. Build a strong portfolio showcasing your best work in different styles.

Always carry business cards and gather recommendations to attract new clients. When working with a client, communicate clearly to understand their requirements, provide an accurate quote, and discuss usage rights.

Commercial photography can be very rewarding if you’re willing to work hard. It can also be one of the most lucrative areas of professional photography, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Product Photography

Product photography is a broad field with many different specialties. From 360-degree shots to flat lays, there’s a type of product photography for every product and style.

Some popular types include Amazon product photography, which requires a white background and specific composition. Photographing artwork, clothing, furniture, and jewelry each has its own unique challenges and techniques to master.

Lifestyle product photography shows items in real-life scenarios to help customers imagine using the products themselves. Other niches like makeup, nail, and beer photography are growing in popularity for advertising and promotion.

To learn more about the various types of product photography , check out our detailed blog post.

Magazine Photographer

Becoming a magazine photographer takes hard work and dedication. Choose a specialty to stand out from other photographers. Ask friends to pose for practice shoots to get comfortable with your camera.

You don’t need expensive gear when starting out. Even entry-level mirrorless cameras with a prime lens are enough to create magazine-worthy images. Build a strong portfolio with at least 10 of your best photos that showcase your unique style.

Promote your work on Instagram to increase your reach. Study the photographs in magazines you want to work with to understand their style. Contact editors to introduce yourself and share your portfolio. To become a magazine photographer, you need to create work that is truly unique.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a magazine photographer , we have a detailed guide that covers everything you need to know.

Internships

Photography internships offer students valuable work experience and a chance to fast-track their careers. Interning with a professional photographer or studio while studying can help you network and gain practical skills that you can’t get in the classroom.

During an internship, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to real-world situations and gain insight into the business side of photography. You may assist with lighting setups, post on social media, or help stylists on set.

The amount of hands-on shooting experience varies depending on the photographer and their niche.

Internships are a great way to evaluate your career goals and find gaps in your knowledge. While they may not lead to immediate employment, they can open doors for future opportunities.

To learn more about photography internships , including how to find one and what to expect, follow the link to the full article. 

How to Make Money as a Photographer

Transforming your photography hobby into a career takes effort, but there are many ways to make money with your skills. Finding reliable income streams is key to becoming a professional photographer.

You can sell your services as a photographer or sell the photos you create. Selling landscape photos, stock photography, and doing real estate photography are some of the best ways to get started. You can also sell prints online, offer Lightroom presets, or even turn your images into NFTs.

To be successful, research what subjects are in demand and plan your photo shoots around popular concepts. Build a strong portfolio of your best work to attract clients. If you’re passionate about photography and willing to put in the effort, you can turn it into a rewarding career.

To learn more about how to make money with photography , read the full article for helpful tips and strategies.

Sell Prints

Selling photography prints online is a great way to make extra money from your work. There are many platforms to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Squarespace is a popular website builder that works well on all devices. It’s easy to use but not made just for photographers.

Fine Art America is one of the biggest places to sell prints online. They let you sell more than just prints, like pillows and phone cases. But there is a lot of competition on the site.

Etsy is well-known for selling art and handmade items. It has over 30 million buyers. You are in charge of printing and shipping the prints yourself. If you want full control, selling prints on your own website is a good choice.

Plugins like Envira or platforms like Photoshelter, Format, Zenfolio, and SmugMug make it easy to sell prints from your site.

To sell photography prints with the most success, try using a mix of different platforms and methods.

Pricing Prints

Selling photography prints can be a great way to make money from your images. To get started, decide if you want to focus solely on selling prints or if you’ll also work as a photographer for specific clients.

Research what types of photos sell well as prints, such as beautiful landscapes, iconic cityscapes, and wildlife.

Choose only your best images to print. They should be technically perfect and have the most “value” to potential buyers. Consider various papers, sizes, finishes, and materials for your prints, but keep costs in mind.

Factor in all expenses like printing, shipping, VAT, and credit card fees. Then add a percentage markup for profit, but make sure the price is still reasonable. If a print doesn’t sell, you may need to reduce the price or accept that it might take a while.

Learn how to price photography prints by reading our in-depth article.

Real Estate Photography

Getting paid to take pictures of houses is a great way to turn your love of photography into a career. To get started, research your local market to find out what real estate photography jobs cost in your area.

You’ll also need to decide if you want to work with interior designers or real estate agents.

Create a basic website with sample images and your contact info. Plan out your real estate photography process, including a rate sheet, contract, delivery method, and how to wrap up a project.

Connecting with potential clients is key, so attend in-person social events, spread the word to family and friends, and use social media to showcase your work.

To get paid to take pictures of houses , focus on improving your skills and building a client list. With solid research, an efficient workflow, and visibility online and in person, you’ll soon have a steady flow of photo shoots.

Sell Lightroom Presets

Adobe Lightroom presets are a quick way to edit photos and achieve a specific look. If you have a knack for photo editing, you can create and sell your own Lightroom presets. Start by editing your photos to create a unique style that others will want to use.

Package your presets and price them competitively. Look at other preset packs to find a general price range, then price yours on the high side. You can always offer discounts or have a sale later.

Market your presets on social media platforms like Instagram. Post before and after photos to show the difference your presets can make. Emphasize how easy they are to use. Busy professional photographers will pay for quality presets that save them time.

Check out our full tutorial on how to sell Lightroom presets by clicking this link.

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How to Start a Photography Business: The Ultimate Guide

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Thanks to the proliferation of smartphones with sophisticated cameras on them (for mobile devices, that is), it seems like everybody wants to try their hand at being a photographer. But not everyone has what it takes to start a business.

There’s a vast difference between those who can take the perfect selfie and those who can capture the perfect moment and call themselves professional photographers. If you’re wondering how to start a photography business, know there's much more to it than pointing your iPhone and slapping on a filter.

As with any professional endeavor, starting a photography business requires a significant investment of time and money to secure equipment, register your business, and build your portfolio. Luckily, the photography industry startup costs are relatively lower than in other industries. Depending on your focus, needs, and current equipment, you can learn how to start your photography business step-by-step as soon as today.

Step 1: Write a business plan

All business owners should write a business plan—that includes even solo photography businesses. A business plan is critical to outlining your services, understanding your target market, and setting your rates.

When you start thinking about these details upfront, it will help you start and scale your business to the heights you’ve always dreamed of. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy or tedious process either. Be sure to check out our guide on how to write a business plan to get you started.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Step 2: Register your business

Next, you'll want to register your business—meaning you legally establish your business. To do so, you should choose the right business entity for your business and choose a business name.

Choose a business entity

Many photography business owners register as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC). Each legal structure offers certain benefits.

The most popular advantage of sole proprietorships is that they’re free to form. However, a sole proprietorship doesn’t protect you against personal liability.

Many photography businesses form an LLC because you enjoy additional benefits like reduced liability and choosing to be taxed as a sole proprietorship or corporation. Moreover, having “LLC” in your business boosts your professional appearance.

The entity you choose will have a big impact on your business, from taxes to liability and more, so be sure to consult with a business attorney or tax professional if you're unsure of the right choice for you.

Choose a business name

Dedicate some time to thinking about your business name. It will be your potential clients’ first contact with your brand, and you want to ensure you strike a good first impression. After deciding on a business name, do a quick secretary of state business search to ensure the name is unique and available.

If you’re operating under a sole proprietorship, you'll want to file a DBA when registering your business. As a sole proprietorship, your business name defaults to your own legal name. If you want to operate under a different name (one that mentions photography, for instance), you'll need a DBA. DBA requirements can vary by state, so be sure to do your research.

Step 3: Obtain business licenses, permits, and insurance

Your business now legally exists, but to make sure you continue to operate legally, your next step is to obtain the proper business licenses, permits, and insurance.

Business license and permits

Securing the right business license or permit is key to learning how to start a photography business legally. Be sure to check with your local city hall and state licensing board to ensure you’re complying with the necessary regulations.

Business insurance

You may not think it necessary as a photography business, but you should always look into insurance. Insurance adds another level of protection from costly liability disputes if you ever encounter a disgruntled customer. Do some research into business insurance policies to shield you from professional and general liability.

Step 4: Set up EIN, bank account, and credit card

To start doing business, you'll need a separate place for your money to live. That's where EINs, bank accounts, and credit cards come in.

Obtain an EIN

Even if you’re a one-person photography business, you should still apply for an employer identification number, or EIN, from the IRS .

Your EIN is the business equivalent of a social security number for an individual, and you will include it when filing your business taxes with the IRS. Moreover, your EIN is crucial when opening your business bank account and applying for a business loan in the future, should you decide to.

Open a business bank account

It’s always a practical idea to separate your business and personal finances. Mixing your personal and business finances can compromise any legal protections gained from forming an LLC. Even sole proprietorships benefit from this division because it makes bookkeeping easier come tax season.

One way to distinguish your business and personal finances is to open a business checking account . You can deposit cash or invoice payments collected from your photography gigs in this account. Also, remember to use these bank account funds for business-related expenses only.

Open a business credit card

A dedicated business credit card is another practical tactic for separating your business and personal expenses. You may be surprised that you have a separate credit score for your business. By regularly using your business credit card, you boost your business’s financial health, helping you secure a business loan in the future.

Step 5: Purchase or upgrade your equipment

Professional photographers have top-of-the-line (read: often expensive) cameras. But you don’t need brand-new, expensive equipment when you’re first starting a photography business. As you gain more experience and increase your income, you can upgrade your toolkit over time.

“As a young photographer, I started with more amateur equipment—a camera, a lens, and a flash,” says Alexa Klorman, owner of Alexa Drew Photography in New York City. “Then, as my business grew and as I started to get more clients and increase my price, I wanted to make sure that the quality of my photos was validated in what I was charging.”

Startup costs

If you’re serious about your photography, you’ll want to create a business budget that will help you grow your toolkit. Below is a list of recommended tools and accessories with approximate prices:

Camera : $1,000 to $2,000

Camera lens: $1,000

Memory cards: $50

External drives: $100

Laptop for editing: $2,000

Website hosting : $50

Backdrops and lighting: $500

Editing software: $20.99 per month (Photoshop)

Tripod: $100

Camera bag: $150

Accounting software: $10 to $30 per month for basic plans

Chances are, you already have many of the items on this list, like a camera and laptop, which can dramatically reduce your startup costs.

Build a relationship with your supplier

Whether you need a new camera body or lens, or something simple like a memory card, you need a photography equipment supplier. Amazon is often a convenient and inexpensive marketplace to source your needs. But the cheapest option isn’t always the best.

“I go to Adorama in NYC. I love going there because I know the people there; I always go to the same guys. They always give me a good deal—they’re honest and kind,” says Klorman.

When you first start your photography business, Klorman recommends establishing a relationship with a local shop to keep track of your purchases. Being a loyal customer can open opportunities for cost-saving deals and even client referrals. The best part: You’re supporting a fellow small business owner.

Step 6: Price your services

When starting a photography business, pricing your services is where many people get stuck. Your formula should include time, plus labor, as well as a fee for using your resources. Here are a few tactics to help you set your prices:

Choose your niche

The niche you choose will influence the value of your photography services. For example, a professional wedding photographer can charge $2,000-plus for their services. In contrast, a family photographer might charge $400 for a photoshoot.

Choose what you want to focus on—whether it’s weddings, newborns, corporate events, or some combination of multiple areas—and then start accumulating samples to showcase your abilities. As you grow your portfolio, you can eventually raise your rates.

Check out the competition

To get an idea of where to start, do what Klorman did: Look to your peers and grow from there.

“I looked up other photographers in the area, and I started pretty low on the pricing scale. Then every few months, I’d bump it up a bit, then bump it up a bit. And I’d always say, ‘I’ll wait to see if inquiries and emails drop off, and if they do, I’ll lower it back down.’”

Of course, don’t raise your price just to raise it. Once you find yourself working with your preferred clientele, you can stick with a price that works for you. Similarly, stay firm on what you charge.

“I find that people generally accept my pricing; they don’t negotiate so much,” Klorman says. “I have my price, and I’m pretty strict about sticking to it because it’s a fair price. Because I’m transparent with what my packages cost, generally when people contact me, they’re ready to book.”

Figure out how long each job takes

Part of what may affect your pricing is how long each photography job takes. Also, be mindful of your time beyond the photoshoot—processing, editing, uploading, and distributing your photos are time- and labor-intensive. Be sure to factor these steps into your price point, so you’re not underpaid for all your hard work.

Portrait sessions generally last between one-and-a-half and two hours. This produces somewhere in the range of 75 to 100 images, edited in both black and white and color. Events can lead to hundreds of photos, though it depends on how long the event lasts.

Don’t be alarmed if you need a bit longer than this when you first start your photography business. You’re still settling into your workflow and deciding what works best for you. With time and experience, you’ll finish things more quickly and with improved quality.

Step 7: Market your business and find clients

With your photography business up and running, the next step is finding clients so you can start earning money. Here are some strategies to market your business.

Referrals are the lifeblood of many businesses, and the photography business is no exception. The most effective marketing—the kind that professionals would kill for—is positive word-of-mouth referrals. And it doesn’t cost a dime. When you’re starting your photography business, think about how you can develop positive referrals.

Klorman stands by word-of-mouth marketing, attributing 90% of her gigs to be referral-based. “I pride myself on my referrals,” she says. “I don’t invest money in marketing. I would rather spend more time making my clients feel awesome, giving them amazing photos, and building a relationship with them.”

Leverage social media

Social media is no longer only a tool to connect with old friends and family. Now, it’s a real business tool helping them connect with their target customers.

If you want to upgrade your marketing strategy, go to where your target customers are hanging out. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, join local Facebook groups for soon-to-be brides. Chances are, they’re on the lookout for a wedding photographer—a perfect opportunity to pitch your amazing services.

Instagram is another great way to build your portfolio. Instagram is a visual platform, and your stunning collage of photos might inspire a future business inquiry. Also, you can expand your reach by contacting wedding photography profiles to feature your work.

Tips for finding your first client

But what if you’ve never done a photoshoot or worked with a client before?

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business with no experience, worry not. If you don’t have a portfolio, you can do a free photoshoot for your friends and family. Yes, you’re giving your time and labor away for free, but this is often necessary for new photographers. In return, these free gigs will build your experience and create sample pieces that you can market to future clients.

While posting your photography on social media can be helpful, you may want to build your small business website. Getting your own real estate on the internet creates a central resource for prospects to view your work and contact you. Also, having a dedicated domain name for your business adds a professional flair to your brand.

Step 8: Sell your photography online

Don’t limit your income to only the photography gigs you do with clients. You can also learn how to start a photography business by selling your images online. Many websites need stock photos to enhance their content and branding, and stock photo sites will pay to add your work to their database.

If you want to supplement your photography income, here are stock photo marketplaces you can visit:

Adobe Stock

iStockPhoto

Getty Images

BigStockPhoto

DepositPhotos

Shutterstock

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

Photography isn’t just a popular hobby; it can be a legitimate business, provided you have a passion for capturing timeless memories. Starting a photography business takes as much dedication as any other business, but the bonus is your work can be visceral and affecting. It’s also a business that is easy to start small and build up.

So, stop messing around with the photo apps on your smartphone. If want to learn how to start a photography business on the side and grow it into a full-time income, it’s time to take what you learned and get started.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

Photography Business Plans

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Pet Photography Business Plan

Adorable Pet Photography is a start-up pet portrait company in Atlanta, Georgia.

Photography Studio Business Plan

Phoebe’s Photo Studio will meet the needs of professionals and their families to capture the special moments in their lives and present them in the best light.

Photography businesses are all about capturing memories or events for your clients. A good business plan will help you capture their business. Get started writing your business plan by browsing these sample business plans for portrait photography, pet photography, commercial photography, and other related businesses.

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Sample Photography Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a photography business. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring photography business owners, having access to a sample photography business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own photography business plan.

Download our Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful photography venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A photography business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The photography business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your photography as Growthink’s Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a photography business plan of your own.

Photography Business Plan Example – LensLegacy Studios

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

LensLegacy Studios, nestled in the vibrant heart of Minneapolis, is poised to revolutionize the photography industry with its innovative approach. Our mission is to provide top-tier photography services that not only capture moments but tell a story, creating lasting legacies through the lens. With a focus on utilizing the latest technology and creative techniques, we offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. From capturing life’s most significant milestones for individuals and families to providing professional imagery that propels businesses forward, our studio is dedicated to excellence. Our strategic Minneapolis location allows us to connect with a broad clientele, ensuring we are an integral part of our community’s most cherished moments and commercial successes.

Our journey to becoming a cornerstone in the photography market is fueled by several key success factors and notable accomplishments. The expertise and passion of our founding team have been instrumental in shaping our innovative service offerings and customer-centric approach. We have successfully established a comprehensive portfolio that showcases our ability to cater to a wide array of photography needs, setting us apart in a competitive landscape. Additionally, our strategic partnerships with local businesses and our proactive engagement in networking activities have significantly expanded our market reach. These efforts have not only built a strong foundation for our brand but have also fostered a loyal customer base that appreciates the quality and uniqueness of our work.

The photography industry is witnessing a dynamic shift, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. Traditional photography services are being complemented with digital innovations, allowing for more creative and personalized offerings. This evolution has opened up new market segments, including personal branding and social media content creation, reflecting the growing demand for high-quality, engaging visuals. The competitive landscape is diverse, with studios differentiating themselves through niche specializations and superior customer experiences. Our strategic focus on leveraging the latest technology and trends positions us well within this evolving industry, enabling us to meet the expanding needs of our clients while staying ahead of market dynamics.

LensLegacy Studios targets a wide spectrum of customers, from local residents celebrating significant life events to businesses seeking professional photography solutions. Our primary market comprises individuals and families in Minneapolis, looking to capture weddings, anniversaries, and other milestones with high-quality, memorable photographs. Additionally, we cater to the commercial sector, including real estate agencies, retailers, and hospitality businesses, offering tailored photography services that enhance their online presence and marketing efforts. Recognizing the growing trend of personal branding, we also provide specialized packages for influencers, entrepreneurs, and professionals aiming to strengthen their digital footprint. This diversified customer base underscores our adaptability and commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community.

Our top competitors include local photography studios that offer similar services. However, LensLegacy Studios distinguishes itself through a unique combination of cutting-edge technology, creative excellence, and personalized customer experiences. Our competitive advantages lie in our ability to deliver unparalleled quality and innovation in every project, coupled with our deep understanding of the local market. This enables us to provide services that not only meet but exceed the expectations of our diverse clientele, setting us apart in a crowded industry.

At LensLegacy Studios, our marketing strategy is centered around showcasing the breadth and depth of our photography services, complemented by competitive pricing. We offer a diverse range of services, from event photography to commercial shoots, all tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our pricing strategy is designed to offer value while reflecting the premium quality of our work. To promote our studio, we leverage a mix of digital marketing tactics, including SEO, social media marketing, and email campaigns, alongside traditional advertising methods. Special promotions and partnerships with local businesses further enhance our visibility and attract a broad clientele. This comprehensive approach ensures that we effectively communicate our value proposition and engage with our target markets on multiple levels.

Our operations plan is meticulously crafted to ensure the seamless delivery of our services. Key operational processes include efficient booking, shooting, editing, and delivery workflows that prioritize customer satisfaction and turnaround times. We are committed to achieving several milestones, such as launching our business, building a robust portfolio, establishing a strong online presence, and fostering key partnerships. By securing high-quality equipment and software, and possibly expanding our team, we aim to enhance our operational capacity. Implementing an effective marketing strategy and optimizing our operational processes are pivotal to reaching our financial goal of $15,000 per month in revenue, while continuous improvement based on customer feedback will keep us aligned with our mission of excellence.

The backbone of LensLegacy Studios is our highly skilled and passionate management team. With a wealth of experience in photography, business management, and customer service, our leaders bring a diverse set of skills that drive our studio’s success. Their collective vision for innovation and excellence in the photography industry shapes our strategic direction and operational approaches, ensuring we deliver unmatched value to our clients. The team’s dedication to fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement is integral to our growth and sustainability.

Welcome to LensLegacy Studios, a new Photography venture based in the heart of Minneapolis, MN. As a freshly established local photography business, we’ve identified a significant gap in the market – the absence of high-quality local photography services. Our mission is to fill this void by offering exceptional photography solutions to our community.

At LensLegacy Studios, our portfolio of offerings is both diverse and specialized. We provide a wide range of photography services to meet the varied needs of our clients. These services include photography sessions that capture life’s most precious moments, event photography that documents your special occasions with a keen eye for detail, and photo editing and retouching services that ensure your images are picture-perfect. Additionally, we offer photography workshops and training for those looking to hone their skills under the guidance of experienced professionals, as well as commercial photography services tailored to businesses seeking high-quality visual content. Our studio is fully equipped to cater to all your photography needs, ensuring a one-stop solution for our clients in Minneapolis, MN.

Our strategic location in Minneapolis, MN, positions us perfectly to serve the local community with ease and efficiency. This proximity to our clients not only allows for convenient service delivery but also fosters a deeper connection with the community we aim to serve.

The foundation of LensLegacy Studios is built upon solid ground, with a unique blend of factors that poise us for success. Our founder brings invaluable experience from previously running a successful photography business, ensuring that we are well-versed in the intricacies of the industry. Moreover, our commitment to quality sets us apart from the competition. We pride ourselves on taking better quality photos and offering a wider array of packages, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of our clients.

Since our inception on January 3, 2024, LensLegacy Studios has made significant strides as a C Corporation. Our accomplishments to date include the creative development of our brand identity, with a carefully designed logo and a compelling company name that resonates with our mission and values. Additionally, we’ve secured an ideal location that not only serves as our operational base but also enhances our accessibility to clients. These milestones mark the beginning of our journey, laying a strong foundation for our future endeavors.

The Photography industry in the United States is currently a thriving market, with an estimated size of over $10 billion. This figure includes revenues generated from various photography services such as portrait, commercial, event, and stock photography. With the increasing demand for professional photography services across different sectors, the industry is expected to continue growing at a steady rate in the coming years.

One of the key trends driving the growth of the Photography industry is the rise of social media platforms and online marketing. Businesses and individuals alike are increasingly relying on high-quality visual content to attract and engage their target audience. This presents a great opportunity for LensLegacy Studios, a new Photography serving customers in Minneapolis, MN, to capitalize on the growing demand for professional photography services in the digital age.

Furthermore, advancements in technology have also played a significant role in shaping the Photography industry. The introduction of high-resolution cameras, editing software, and online platforms for showcasing and selling photographs have made it easier for photographers to reach a wider audience and monetize their work. As LensLegacy Studios leverages these technological advancements to enhance their services and offerings, they are well-positioned to succeed in the competitive photography market.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

LensLegacy Studios will target a diverse range of local residents seeking professional photography services. This primary customer base is composed of individuals and families looking to capture significant life events such as weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. The studio will tailor its offerings to meet the unique needs and preferences of these local clients, ensuring high-quality, memorable photographs that reflect their special moments.

Aside from local residents, LensLegacy Studios will also extend its services to local businesses in need of professional photography. These include real estate agencies requiring high-quality images of properties, local retailers looking for product photography to enhance their online presence, and hospitality businesses seeking captivating images to promote their venues. By providing tailored photography solutions, the studio will establish itself as an indispensable resource for the commercial sector in Minneapolis.

Moreover, LensLegacy Studios will also focus on the growing market of personal branding and social media content creation. As individuals seek to build their personal brands online, the demand for professional profile pictures and content that stands out is increasing. The studio will offer specialized packages for influencers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who aim to enhance their digital footprint with high-quality, engaging visuals. This approach will address a modern and rapidly expanding segment, further diversifying the studio’s client base.

Customer Needs

LensLegacy Studios understands the vital importance of capturing life’s most precious moments through the lens of a camera. Customers can expect high-quality photography sessions that not only meet but exceed their desires for capturing memories in a tangible form. This studio ensures that every shot reflects the depth, emotion, and essence of the moment, allowing residents to cherish these memories for years to come.

In addition to offering superior quality images, LensLegacy Studios recognizes the need for a personalized and comfortable photography experience. Customers have the opportunity to work closely with photographers who are not only experts in their field but also attentive to the unique needs and preferences of each client. This personalized approach ensures that every photography session is not just a transaction, but a collaborative effort that brings the client’s vision to life.

Furthermore, LensLegacy Studios caters to the growing demand for versatile photography services. Whether it’s capturing the spontaneous laughter of a family gathering, the poised elegance of a corporate event, or the tender moments of a wedding, customers can count on the studio to deliver with professionalism and creativity. By offering a broad range of services, LensLegacy Studios positions itself as a one-stop photography solution for the diverse needs of the Minneapolis community.

LensLegacy Studios’s competitors include the following companies:

Sarah Pierce Photography specializes in family, newborn, and wedding photography. Their services include on-location shoots and studio sessions, with packages tailored to meet a variety of client needs. Price points for Sarah Pierce Photography vary based on the type of session and package chosen, but they maintain competitive pricing within the Minneapolis market. The company operates primarily in Minneapolis, MN, but also serves surrounding areas. Customers include families, newlyweds, and individuals seeking high-quality, memorable photography. A key strength of Sarah Pierce Photography is their personalized approach to each shoot, ensuring unique and tailored experiences. However, a potential weakness is the limited scalability due to the personalized nature of their services.

Minneapolis Headshots focuses exclusively on professional headshots for individuals and corporate clients. They offer studio and on-location services, with an emphasis on creating professional, high-quality images suitable for corporate websites, LinkedIn profiles, and personal branding. Pricing is transparent and competitive, with several package options to cater to different needs and budgets. Minneapolis Headshots serves the greater Minneapolis area, targeting professionals and corporations in need of professional imagery. Their key strength lies in their specialization and expertise in professional headshot photography, ensuring high-quality results. However, their niche focus can be seen as a weakness, limiting their appeal to a broader audience seeking more diverse photography services.

John Wagner Photography is known for its commercial and editorial photography, serving a wide range of clients from small businesses to large corporations. They offer a variety of services, including product photography, corporate headshots, and commercial advertising imagery. John Wagner Photography operates across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and even extends services nationally for larger projects. Their client base includes businesses and organizations looking for high-quality commercial imagery. A significant strength of John Wagner Photography is their extensive experience and versatility in handling a diverse array of commercial projects. A potential weakness is the higher price point, which may not be accessible for smaller businesses or startups.

Profeshie is a newer entrant in the Minneapolis photography market, focusing on affordable and quick professional headshots and personal branding photography. They utilize a mobile studio, allowing them to offer convenient services at various locations. Profeshie aims to attract individuals and small businesses seeking cost-effective photography solutions. Their pricing is among the most competitive in the market, making professional photography accessible to a wider audience. The company serves the Minneapolis metropolitan area, targeting professionals, freelancers, and small business owners. A key strength of Profeshie is their affordability and convenience. However, their reliance on a mobile studio might limit the range of services and the quality of lighting and backgrounds compared to traditional studio settings.

Competitive Advantages

At LensLegacy Studios, we stand out in the competitive landscape of photography through our unwavering commitment to quality and variety. Our team excels in capturing stunning, high-quality photos that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations. We understand the importance of those once-in-a-lifetime moments, and our expertise ensures they are immortalized with the clarity and vibrancy they deserve. Our edge in quality is not just a claim; it’s a promise we deliver on, with every click of our cameras. This dedication to excellence positions us as a preferred choice for clients seeking unparalleled photographic experiences in Minneapolis.

Furthermore, our adaptability and responsiveness to customer needs are exemplified through our extensive range of packages. We pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection that caters to various preferences and budgets, ensuring that no moment goes uncaptured due to financial constraints. From intimate elopements to grand celebrations, our packages are designed to accommodate the unique requirements of each event, providing our clients with personalized options that best suit their needs. This flexibility, combined with our superior photo quality, creates a competitive advantage that sets us apart. By choosing LensLegacy Studios, clients can expect a service that is as accommodating as it is exceptional.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

LensLegacy Studios offers a comprehensive suite of photography services tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. At the heart of its offerings is a range of photography sessions designed to capture life’s most precious moments. Clients can book sessions for family portraits, individual shoots, or special occasions. The average price for these photography sessions starts at $200, varying based on the duration and location of the shoot.

Event photography is another critical service provided by LensLegacy Studios. This service caters to a wide array of events, including weddings, corporate gatherings, and private parties. The studio’s photographers possess the skill to capture the essence and energy of each event, ensuring clients have lasting memories. Pricing for event photography is typically structured around the event’s scale and requirements, with packages starting at $500.

In addition to capturing beautiful moments, LensLegacy Studios excels in photo editing and retouching. This service ensures that every image meets the highest standards of quality, with attention to detail that brings out the best in each photograph. Prices for photo editing and retouching services start at $50 per image, depending on the complexity of the work required.

LensLegacy Studios is also dedicated to sharing its expertise through photography workshops and training. These sessions are designed for individuals looking to improve their photography skills, from beginners to more advanced enthusiasts. The workshops cover various aspects of photography and post-processing techniques. Participants can expect to invest around $150 for a basic workshop, with more advanced training sessions priced accordingly.

Finally, the studio offers commercial photography services, catering to businesses in need of professional images for marketing, advertising, or other commercial purposes. These services are tailored to meet the specific needs of each business, ensuring that the final images align with the client’s brand and objectives. Commercial photography services start at $300, varying based on the project’s scope and complexity.

LensLegacy Studios is committed to providing exceptional photography services at competitive prices. With a focus on quality, creativity, and client satisfaction, the studio aims to be the go-to choice for photography services in its market.

Promotions Plan

LensLegacy Studios embarks on a vibrant journey to captivate and engage customers through a multitude of promotional methods, with a strong emphasis on online marketing. They understand the power of digital presence and will harness it to reach a broad audience. Their promotional strategy encompasses a variety of tactics designed to attract and retain customers, ensuring that LensLegacy Studios becomes a household name in Minneapolis, MN.

At the heart of their promotional efforts, online marketing stands as a cornerstone. LensLegacy Studios will leverage social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, showcasing their portfolio of stunning photography. Through regular posts, behind-the-scenes content, and engaging stories, they expect to build a community of followers who are passionate about photography. Additionally, they will utilize targeted ads on these platforms to reach potential customers based on interests, location, and more, ensuring maximum visibility.

Email marketing is another tool LensLegacy Studios will employ. By collecting email addresses through their website and at events, they will send out newsletters containing special offers, photography tips, and highlights from recent photoshoots. This personalized approach will keep LensLegacy Studios at the top of their customers’ minds.

Understanding the significance of search engine visibility, LensLegacy Studios will invest in search engine optimization (SEO) for their website. By optimizing their site with relevant keywords, they expect to rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find them when searching for photography services in Minneapolis.

Beyond the digital realm, LensLegacy Studios will engage in community events and photography workshops. Participating in local art fairs and community gatherings will not only increase their visibility but also allow direct interaction with potential customers. Hosting workshops on photography basics or specific techniques will position LensLegacy Studios as experts in their field, fostering trust and credibility among their audience.

Referral programs will also play a crucial role in their promotional strategy. Satisfied customers will receive incentives for referring friends and family, turning their customer base into a network of advocates. This word-of-mouth promotion is invaluable and will contribute significantly to their growth.

In conclusion, LensLegacy Studios will deploy a comprehensive mix of online and offline promotional methods to attract customers. From leveraging the power of social media and SEO to engaging with the community and implementing referral programs, they are set to make a significant impact in the Minneapolis photography scene.

Our Operations Plan details:

• The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
• The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of LensLegacy Studios, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

• Customer Engagement: Interact with potential and existing customers via phone, email, and social media to answer queries, book appointments, and receive feedback.
• Scheduling Appointments: Utilize a digital calendar system to manage photography session bookings, ensuring clients have clear expectations for their session date and time.
• Equipment Maintenance: Regularly check and maintain photography equipment to ensure everything is in working order, including cameras, lenses, flashes, and other accessories.
• Session Preparation: Prepare for each photography session by gathering necessary equipment, reviewing client requests and session plans, and ensuring all settings are ideal for the shoot.
• Photography Sessions: Conduct photography sessions according to the client’s needs, demonstrating professionalism and creativity to capture high-quality images.
• Post-Processing: Edit photos using appropriate software to adjust exposure, color balance, and other elements to enhance the final images before delivery to the client.
• Client Deliverables: Provide clients with their images in the agreed format and medium, within the discussed timeframe, ensuring high satisfaction levels.
• Financial Management: Track income and expenses daily to manage the studio’s budget effectively, including invoicing clients and paying any vendors or contractors.
• Marketing Activities: Execute daily marketing tasks, such as updating social media profiles, posting recent work, and engaging with the community to attract new clients.
• Professional Development: Stay updated with the latest photography techniques, trends, and equipment through online courses, workshops, and industry publications.
• Feedback Collection: Solicit and review feedback from clients after the delivery of their photographs to identify areas for improvement and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Inventory Management: Regularly check and restock photography supplies, such as memory cards, batteries, and props, to ensure readiness for all sessions.

LensLegacy Studios expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

• Launch Our Photography Business: Officially open for business by completing all necessary steps to be operational. This includes legal registration, setting up a physical or virtual office, and announcing the opening through various channels to create awareness.
• Build a Portfolio: Develop a comprehensive portfolio that showcases the range and quality of our work. This will involve doing some initial projects possibly at a discounted rate or for visibility to capture high-quality examples of our work.
• Establish Online Presence: Create a professional website and active social media accounts to display our portfolio, share customer testimonials, and engage with potential clients. This online presence will be crucial for marketing and brand building.
• Network and Partnerships: Build relationships with other businesses such as event planners, venues, and local agencies to foster referrals and partnerships. Networking events, business associations, and community events will be key avenues for these efforts.
• Secure Key Equipment and Software: Acquire high-quality photography equipment and editing software necessary for professional-grade service. This includes cameras, lenses, lighting, and software for photo editing and management.
• Hire and Train Staff: If necessary, hire additional photographers or support staff to handle increased demand. Provide training to ensure the quality of service and consistency across all projects and client interactions.
• Implement an Effective Marketing Strategy: Develop and execute a marketing plan that includes digital marketing, local advertising, and special promotions to attract a wide range of clients from individuals needing personal photos to businesses requiring professional shots.
• Optimize Operational Processes: Establish efficient booking, shooting, editing, and delivery processes to maximize customer satisfaction and turnaround times. This includes implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) system to track bookings and interactions.
• Get to $15,000/Month in Revenue: Achieve the financial milestone of generating $15,000 per month in revenue. This will involve constantly reviewing pricing strategies, sales efforts, and cost management to ensure profitability and sustainability.
• Customer Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Regularly collect customer feedback to identify areas of improvement and success. Use this feedback to refine services, processes, and customer interaction to enhance overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.

LensLegacy Studios management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Nathan Cox, President

Nathan Cox brings a wealth of experience to his role as President of LensLegacy Studios. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen were honed through the successful management of a previous photography business. This venture not only showcased his ability to lead but also his deep understanding of the nuanced photography industry. Nathan’s expertise lies in identifying market trends, crafting strategic business models, and leading teams towards achieving collective goals. His leadership is instrumental in steering LensLegacy Studios toward a path of innovation, growth, and lasting success in the competitive photography market.

To achieve our growth objectives, LensLegacy Studios is seeking financial investments. These funds will be instrumental in expanding our operational capabilities, enhancing our marketing efforts, and further developing our service offerings. With a strategic investment, we are poised to solidify our position in the market, attract a broader clientele, and achieve our financial milestones, ensuring long-term success and profitability.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

[insert balance sheet]

Income Statement

[insert income statement]

Cash Flow Statement

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Photography Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Photography Business Plan PDF here. This is a free photography business plan example to help you get started on your own photography plan.  

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iPhone Photography Basics: How to shoot a 365 project

W hat better way to learn the iPhone photography basics than by capturing an image every single day for a whole year? A 365 project might sound like a daunting task, but when you consider the thousands of photos that likely already exist on your iPhone or on iCloud , it’s an entirely doable challenge. In fact, there’s a good chance you use your iPhone camera almost every day anyway. The only difference here is that you’re going to be taking your photography that little bit more seriously so you can develop your skills as an iPhone photographer. 

Embarking on a 365 project will immediately give you a goal to work towards, adding a sense of purpose to the photographs that you capture. And if you plan your days effectively, you’ll be able to throw in your fair share of challenges along the way. This is integral in allowing you to develop your photography skills, just make sure you don’t become too ambitious too quickly. Just like an endurance race, a 365 project is a marathon, not a sprint. Shoot three sunsets and four sunrises in the first week and there’s no way you can keep that level of commitment up. 

So, if you’re thinking about starting a 365 project today, here are a few tips to help you avoid throwing the towel in so you can journey forth and become a better photographer…

Brainstorm photography ideas

There is quite simply no genre of photography that doesn’t benefit from planning. And a 365 project is no different. If you leave capturing your photo to the last minute every day, you risk running out of ideas and becoming frustrated. You certainly won’t be capturing your best work. 

As soon as you commit to a 365 project, brainstorm your ideas. Your iPhone’s Notes app is a great way of doing this, so you have access to them at all times. Write down the various genres you’d like to try and then get more specific with particular mini projects you’d like to work on. You can then start to plan your time more effectively and shoot more ambitious images.

Avoid unrealistic expectations

Vowing to capture 365 images in a single year is a huge undertaking and it’s easy to become disillusioned, especially if you set unrealistic expectations. A 365 project is anything you want it to be: a visual diary of your life, an excuse to take photos or a practice regime that allows you to build your skillset. Just don’t expect to capture an award-winning iPhone image every single day. Even the world’s best photographers would struggle to shoot their best work on such a consistent basis. 

Instead, allow yourself to find creative ways to come up with easy wins on days when you’re busy and save more ambitious projects for the days when you’ve got the time. If all you manage to capture is an artistic ray of window light, highlighting the cup on your desk one day, that’s not a problem. And while you should try your best not to miss a day, if you do, simply shoot two photos the next day and move on.

Keep a camera with you at all times

If you were shooting with a dedicated camera, this would be an extremely important step. But it highlights the real beauty of iPhone photography and why – even as a seasoned photographer – I take my iPhone Camera seriously . It’s the camera that’s always by your side, making it arguably the best camera you could use for a 365 project.

Whether you’re on your way back to the office with your lunch and you spot a fantastic piece of architecture, or you’re walking the dog in the evening and are met with beautiful golden light, or you’re off on a city break, your iPhone is the camera that’s always by your side.

Experiment with genres and iPhone tech

Experimentation is key if you want to use your 365 project to develop your skills, but it’s also a great way to get to know your iPhone camera inside out. I’m willing to bet that most iPhone photographers keep their camera on the main wide-angle lens and don’t deviate further. This is your chance to experiment with different lenses: try shooting a fun portrait with the ultra-wide-angle lens or if you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone 15 Pro Max , put that brand-new 5x telephoto lens through its paces. Explore functions like Pano, Portrait, and Night modes. Apply a filter and shoot in black and white or finally get round to learning how to edit iPhone photos the right way by delving into the Photos app’s editing functions. 

Challenge yourself

Just as you don’t want to set yourself unrealistic expectations, you also don’t want to go too far the other way. If all you do is take a quick snap every day, with little thought regarding composition , the quality of light, or whether or not you’re using the right lens, you simply will not improve as a photographer. You need to push yourself out of your comfort zone at certain times throughout the year. This might be trying a different genre like street photography or portraiture, it might be learning more about your iPhone camera and using the various features to their fullest. Either way, you have to push yourself to get better.

Share and collate your images

There really is something special about seeing a body of work. In a world where digital photography means we can shoot and move on, and the time-sensitive nature of digital media means articles and images are soon lost to the annals of time, seeing a collection of your images in one place is a really satisfying way to chart progress. It’s one of the main reasons why Instagram became so popular, after all. 

Creating an Instagram account for your 365 project is a fantastic way of collating your work and sharing it with others. It also gives your project an additional purpose and allows you to receive constructive criticism, garner inspiration from other accounts and receive positive comments to motivate you further. And if you don’t want to share your project online, you can create a folder in the Photos app, so you can still collate your work and browse through it in one place.

Find a photography partner

Persuading a friend, or even a group of friends, to partake in a 365 project is a great way to stay inspired and motivated, while also introducing a healthy dose of competition. This allows you to really immerse yourself within the project. Encouragement will spur you on and constructive criticism will help you develop. You may even find yourselves heading out together and becoming more ambitious with your efforts. But easily the most valuable by-product of teaming up, is an added sense of accountability. If you ever find yourself disillusioned or lacking the motivation to continue, your photography partner will be there to lift you up and encourage you to push on.

But I’m too busy to take a photo every day… 

Photography should be about having fun. Force yourself to embark on a 365 project and it could have an adverse effect. If your life is simply too busy for a 365 project right now, you can still use almost all of the tips above, but apply them to more manageable, mini projects. This might be taking a photo every time you walk the dog, only capturing black and white photography for a month, or focusing on a street photography project during a city break. Multiple ‘mini projects’ throughout the year may prove just as valuable as a 365 project. You're on the right track as long as you’re motivated to capture photos regularly.

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From old-school spots to foodie favorites, there's a 'hole' lot to try.

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Bread and bagels at The Works Cafe in downtown Portland. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

From New York-style boiled bagels to Montreal-inspired wood-fired ones, there’s lots of great bagels in southern Maine and several shops have the accolades to back that up.

In 2023, Bon Appetit named bagels from Rose Foods and Rover Bagel among the best in the country.

Two years before that,  Food & Wine Magazine put Rover, Forage and Scratch Baking Co. on its list of best bagels in the U.S.

Whether you like yours toasted with cream cheese or as the bread for your breakfast sandwich, you can find plenty of styles and flavors from Biddeford to Brunswick.

BEACH BAGELS

The offerings at Beach Bagels include a French toast and marble bagel, and the cream cheese menu comprises spreads like strawberry, olive and honey walnut. Along with breakfast sandwiches, Beach Bagels has hearty breakfast options like omelets and pancakes. Best of all, you’re steps away from a beach stroll. Just don’t let the seagulls steal your bagel. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily WHERE: 34 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. beachbagels.yolasite.com ______________

Dutchman’s opened in 2022 as a pop-up housed at Nomad pizza in Brunswick’s Fort Andross building. It’s since become a permanent fixture there and uses the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens to bake its bagels. The hand-shaped, honey-boiled bagels come in plain, roasted garlic, poppy and a bagel-of-the-day flavor.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday WHERE: Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. dutchmans.me ______________

FORAGE MARKET

Making bagels at Forage Market involves a two-day aging process. The bagels are naturally leavened with wild yeast starter and baked next to a hardwood fire. There are usually five flavors available, including sesame and garlic. Breakfast sandwiches (including vegan options) are available. Forage also has a location in Lewiston. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 123 Washington Ave., Portland. foragemarket.com _____________

MISTER BAGEL

There are 10 or so Mister Bagel locations in Maine, including South Portland and Falmouth. It all began with the Portland location, which was the first bagel shop to open in Maine. The late Rick Hartglass started Mister Bagel in 1977, and it is still a family business. Music fans will appreciate the breakfast sandwich menu, which includes The David Bowie (bacon, egg and American cheese), the Jimmy Buffett (egg with roast beef and cheddar) and The Lady Gaga (avocado, salt and pepper, with or without egg).

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland. misterbagelforestave.com ______________

At Rose Foods, the menu varies depending on the day, but there are usually six to eight flavors available. For example, should you pop in on a Friday, you’ll find a poppy and onion bialy (a cousin of the bagel that is not boiled). Rose Foods also makes a number of bagel sandwiches, including the Classic Nova with Nova lox and the Classic Whitefish. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland. rosefoods.me

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ROVER BAGEL

At Rover Bagel, you’ll find wood-fired plain, poppy, sea salt, sesame and everything bagels available most of the time, and the spread game here is strong with cream cheese options like lemon-thyme-honey cream and chili-garlic.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 10 West Point Lane Suite 10-204, Biddeford (Pepperell Mill). roverbagel.com

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SCRATCH BAKING CO.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the line of devoted fans waiting for Scratch Baking Co. to open, especially on weekend mornings. Along with the popular Maine sea salt, plain and other everyday flavors, Scratch has a daily special bagel. There’s honeyed rosemary on Wednesday and jalapeno cheddar on Thursday. Scratch is also famous, at least to locals, for its P-Cheese spread. It’s a pimento cheese recipe made with cheddar, mayo, roasted red peppers and seasoning and was passed down to co-owner and head baker Allison Reid by her grandmother, Mern.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 416 Preble St., South Portland. scratchbakingco.com ___________

THE MAINE BAGEL

The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach. The Maine Bagel really shines with a dozen kinds of cream cheese spreads, including raisin-walnut, lox, strawberry, cranberry-nut and bacon-chive.

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: 117 Route 1, Scarborough. themainebagel.com Advertisement

THE WORKS CAFE

The Works Cafe is an institution on the edge of the Portland’s Old Port. It opened in 1990 as Bagel Works before it changed its name in 2002. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The menu also has bowls, sandwiches and smoothies.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily WHERE: 15 Temple St., Portland. workscafe.com

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• by Melissa Hammam
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Hands up if you’re ready to be dazzled! From a ceremony structure designed to float on water to a jaw-dropping reception room with flowers blooming from every service, we’re swooning over every bit of this wedding. If you can believe it, that’s just the beginning. Julia Kaptelova artfully shot every detail, like the ballet performance guests were treated to and snow falling from the ceiling for the first dance! Prepare to be amazed and take a visit to the full gallery .

From About You Decor … Our design is a symbol of dawn and a distant endless horizon. Ahead is a long, happy life without any borders. An international couple, Pavel and Cherry, met in London and have been walking together for many years.

From the Bride, Cherry… My husband and I we decided to have our summer wedding in Moscow because the city is where his roots are. As we knew we were going to have the other wedding ceremony in China, we wanted our Moscow one to be very personal and intimate. We’ve known each other since we were fourteen, together with many of our friends whom we’ve also known for a decade.

I didn’t want to walk down the aisle twice so the plausibility of my request quickly came into discussion. The open pontoon stage was constructed in order to facilitate the bridal entrance on water, although there were concerns about safety as the last thing we wanted was probably a drowned bride before she could get on stage, picture that! I have to say on that day it wasn’t easy to get on the pontoon stage from the boat, in my long gown and high heels. Luckily my bridesmaids still noticed even though they stood the furthest from me on the stage, and helped me out without prior rehearsal. My girls could just tell whenever I needed a hand or maybe they were just so used to my clumsiness. Who knows 😂

We all love our photographer Julia! She’s so talented and her style is so unique. Our beloved host Alex is exceptional who made everyone laugh and cry. It was truly a blessing to have so many kind and beautiful souls on our big day. Thank you all!

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/384992271 600 338]

Photography: Julia Kaptelova Photography | Wedding Planner: Caramel | Cake: Any Cake | Invitations: Inviteria | Rings: Harry Winston | Band: Menhouzen | Grooms attire: Ermenegildo Zegna | Wedding Venue: Elizaveta Panichkina | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Marchesa | Bridesmaids’ dresses: Alice McCall | Bride’s gown : Jaton Couture | Bride’s shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Decor : About you decor | Earrings: Damiani | Muah: Khvanaco Studio | Video: Artem Korchagin

More Princess-Worthy Ballgowns

I’m still not convinced this Moscow wedding, captured to perfection by  Sonya Khegay , isn’t actually an inspiration session—it’s just  that breathtaking. From the beautiful Bride’s gorgeous lace wedding dress and flawless hair and makeup to the pretty pastel color palette and stunning ceremony and reception spaces, this wedding is almost too good to be true. Do yourself a favor and see it all in The Vault now!

From Sonya Khegay … It was the last day of April and still very cold in the morning. The weather forecast wasn’t pleasing and no one expected that the sun would come out, but miracles happen and light rain gave way to the warm rays.

I love how all the details went together, you could feel the harmony in everything throughout the entire wedding day from the morning until the fireworks.

A gentle look of the bride, elegant but so airy and unique decor, the fresh and light atmosphere of early spring and, of course, true happiness in the eyes. My heart becomes so warm from these memories, it is always a pleasure to see the birth of a new family of two loving hearts.

Photography: Sonya Khegay | Event Design: Latte Decor | Event Planning: Ajur Wedding | Floral Design: Blush Petals | Wedding Dress: La Sposa | Stationery: Special Invite | Bride's Shoes: Gianvito Rossi | Hair + Makeup: Natalie Yastrebova | Venue: Rodniki Hotel

• by Elizabeth Greene

You really can’t go wrong with simple: a beautiful Bride , perfectly pretty petals , loved ones all around. But add in an amazing firework show  to cap off the night and simple just became downright extraordinary. Captured by Lena Elisseva , with assistance by  Katya Butenko , this rustic Russian celebration is simply fantastic. See it all in the Vault right here !

From Lena Eliseeva Photo …  This cozy and warm summer wedding of gorgeous Natalia and Anton was in the middle of June. The young couple decided to organize their wedding themselves, and the day was very personal and touching. I am absolutely in love with rustic outdoor weddings, and this one is my favourite because of the free and easy atmosphere.

All the decor excluding the bride’s bouquet was made by a team of ten friends of the bride and groom. And it was charming – a light and beautiful arch, eco-style polygraphy and succulents, candy-bar with caramel apples and berries – sweet joys of summer.

At the end of ceremony the guests tossed up white handkerchiefs embroidered by Natalia’s own hands.

The most touching moment was the happy eyes of the groom’s grandmother, the most estimable person on the wedding. And the fireworks were a bright end to that beautiful day.

Photography: LENA ELISEEVA PHOTO | Floral Design: Katerina Kazakova | Hair And Makeup: Svetlana Fischeva | Photography - Assistance: Katya Butenko

These photos from Lena Kozhina are so stunningly beautiful – as in you can’t help but stop and stare – it’s hard to believe it’s real life. But these pics are proof of this gorgeous Bride and her handsome Groom’s celebration at Moscow’s Fox Lodge , surrounded by vibrant colors and breathtaking blooms . Oh, and the idea of prepping for your Big Day outside in the sun ? Brilliant. See more bright ideas right here !

From Lena Kozhina … When we met with the couple for the first time, we immediately paid attention to Dima’s behavior towards Julia. There was a feeling of tenderness and awe, and we immediately wanted to recreate this atmosphere of love, care and warmth on their Big Day.

Later, when we had chosen a green meadow and an uncovered pavilion overlooking a lake as the project site, it only highlighted a light summer mood with colorful florals and a great number of natural woods. The name of the site is Fox Lodge and peach-orange color, as one of the Bride’s favorites, set the tone for the whole design – from the invitations, in which we used images of fox cubs to elements of serving guest tables and other decorative elements with the corresponding bright accents.

Photography: Lena Kozhina | Event Planning: Ajur Wedding | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Shoes: Marc Jacobs | Catering: Fox Lodge | Makeup Artist: Elena Otrembskaya | Wedding Venue: Fox Lodge | Cake and Desserts: Yumbaker | Decor: Latte Decor

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I had a great experience with Ivy Studio for our family pictures! We plan to come back for my second baby's Dohl pictures. They have a GREAT grand opening deal so I would run and book your pictures immediately! They are super professional and have a lot of clothes and accessories on site so you can use their items or bring your own. Digital photos and one printed picture with a frame!

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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