Many photographers fall into the trap of believing that being a portrait photographer is the easiest thing in the world. While it doesn’t require a lot of money to set up your business initially and you might not have a lot of trouble finding initial clients among friends and family, it might get harder from there. The trick with portrait photography is finding other clients and drawing them in.
This is why it is important to ensure that you are doing a good job and don’t pay attention to common myths about being a portrait photographer. Making any of the following mistakes is a sure way of losing business at a fast pace:
This could not be farther from the truth. Any photographer, no matter his domain of activity, needs more than one camera. One camera might be enough for those who see photography as a hobby, but it certainly won’t do for those who make a living off of it.
Consider this: What if your only camera breaks down during a shoot? What then? Your clients will be disappointed because they’ll have to wait around or reschedule. All professional photographers have at least one or two backup cameras in case something goes wrong.
You might be talented, but you also can’t just sit around and wait for people to come knocking on your door. If you use the same album formatting and design or stale advertising slogans like everyone else, you’ll get nowhere.
As a professional portrait photographer, you need to showcase your skills in a visible and unique manner.
This falls in line with another myth: Thinking that you don’t have to know anything about marketing and sales. Show your clients that you put as much effort into marketing as you do into photography and they’ll soon look you up and hire you for various jobs.
The chances are rather slim. While there are some people who might know how to pose to add style to a photo, most of it will still be up to you. After all, that’s what you’re getting paid for, among other things. If you leave it up to your clients, then most of the photos will just seem stiff and forced. It goes without saying that your clients won’t be too happy.
Use your skill and expertise to help them pose in such a way that the photos will come out looking great and natural.
While this is true, since you are running your own business, you also need to understand that you will most likely be working almost all the time, at least until your business is large enough to hire extra people.
Until then you’ll have to set a lot of time aside to handle the work, the clients and the advertising. It will take a lot of effort, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Check out our website for more information about portrait photography or any other type of photography for that matter. Don’t forget to also visit our online shop for the latest in camera accessories.
