Photography Business

Hi J.!
I have a photography business of my own. I am G. Ledman Photographic Art, and have been so for 2-3 years. Prior to that, I was just taking pics for everyone eles for free. If you'd like to chat, you can email me directly at ____@____.com. I have alot of advice I can offer you, if you want it. I would also suggest spending alot of time on www.shuttermom.com and www.ILP.com. These forums were of great help to me, and still continue to be today. There are some great books out there as well. One I suggest to anyone interested in taking their photography to the next level, Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson. It is a MUST have!!!!! I found mine at Barnes and Noble. You can get alot of information as well as some online classes for pretty cheap at www.betterphoto.com. The creator/founder of this website is Vik Orenstein, and she is from Minnesota also. She also has a good book called, Photographer's Market: Guide to Building Your Photography Business - Everything you need to know to run a successful photography business.
Give me a call or email if you want to talk shop!

Most Community Colleges have small courses that are like a few classes long, and not entire semisters long, that can give you training on using cameras, lighting, editing, etc. Try looking up community colleges and see if they offer something small. Even the Science Museum of MN has courses like these. Some Community Centers will have information posted on upcoming classes, many of which are considered hobby classes.

Good luck.

Hello I have some info on how to get educated further at home in photography. You can purchase a Short Course at ritzcamera.com for $249. It has all you need to start and learn how to use your camera and also gives you some free things to help do photography. Just go to ritzcamera.com and click on Cannon then click on Digital SLR Cameras the click on the first camera on the list, when that comes up scroll to the bottom of the page and there will be one that says NYIP Fundamentals of Digital Photography Short Course. You can also purchase the package at NYIP.com for much more I thing it was six or seven hundred but you can slao do monthly payments. I am not sure if you have a digital camera or not but I have also participated in picture contests at picture.com and I have a picture that is being published in a photography magazine that hits book shelves in July. Anyway it is a good way to win money and go on trips and win awards also. If you want to talk more email me directly Thanks A. and good luck Happy Picture Taking!!!!

I do photography, and right now its mostly for family and friends, and last year I did a ton of Christmas sittings! This Spring/Summer has been fairly busy so far.

How I got started was working for a photographer, and then for a studio. I did a few weddings on my own, and when my oldest was born I knew thats waht I wanted to do full time, but like you couldnt' go back to school full time. I had taken about 6 months of photography in college.

I took pictures of my son, and some friends' kids, and then of my friends' friends kids, and it kind of branched out from there. I honed my skills on my own kids, and devoured any photography book or website I could find, not only to get ideas but to learn mroe about lighting, etc.

I have a small studio set up in my basement, a couple interfit lights and a few backdrops, but I love takign pictures outside! We live near the Mississippi, so there are a ton of nice parks and areas to do pictures!

If you want to chit chat a little, feel free to message me and I'll reply back with my e-mail.

I do photography and I have always thought of it as a talent, you can educate and educate but you have to have the passion and talent. I'm not saying you you don't I just saying that YES school is great but getting out there and doing it is a real hands on experiance that will make you awesome.

I started out with photography class in highschool, moved on to working at Penny's, Sears, and eventually Proex. Proex was the best as far as training very in depth and just great. It got my confidence up and I worked there for 2 years just gaining and gaining. It's so much practice every sitting I had and I learned all the "proper" ways to pose and then got into my own personal style. Unfortunately they couldn't pay me what I was worth and I went on my own.

I don't have my own buisness (still thinking if I want to pursue that) but I do ALL my friends, families pics. I've done weddings etc. Most of the time I enjoy it so much I don't charge. If I do charge I'm extremely reasonable. I just keep trying new things to add to my portfolio. That's how I've gotten started.

As far as starting your own buisness you may need more advise from others. : )

I know alot of people have a great camera system. Do outdoor photgraphy. Charge a flat fee. And mail a cd or photo proofs to the customer along with a copyright release leaving the printing process up to the customer and be done with it. Other's have their stuff copyrighted and charge hefty prices for each print that's ordered. It's all about what you want to make and how much work you want to put into it.

Good luck!

I have a friend who lives in Texas. She just started her own photography business. Let me know if you would like her email.
A.

You should get a beginers guide to photog. decide if you want to learn black&white, color, digital. digital is now what everyone is doing so whatever you decide get that kind of book. there are local art centers, you could find out if your community has one and see if there are photography classes you could take.