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digital photography business



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digital photography business

Any idea how to start and operate an digital photogtaphy business? 
My wife and I are planning to put up one someday. Can anyone share on what gadget or equipments should we buy and what courses should we take before we venture in this kind of business.
Any advice or recommendations are highly appreciated.

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Kakashi2020
Well it's best to buy a digital photography package, I've seen a lot of those being sold. You can google it or go to a store that sells it. It includes cameras, stand, computer, scanner and printers. It's cheaper to buy a package and it also comes with freebies. Buying all equipment piece by piece is much more expensive.



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jeffreyjose48
I strongly agree with you. Buy in volume of all the gadgets to be sold in digital photography. Buying all the equipment piece by piece is very expensive.



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vinaya
Photography is very expensive business. You need to spend a lot of money in skill development. Once you acquire skills, you need to spend a lot of money in buying equipment. The equipment required for photography are not just camera and tripod, but also lighting equipment, a computer, photo editing program etc. You also need a studio. THis is an expensive business not mean for people who do not have resource to invest.



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anyone01
Due to the fact on the excessive stage it takes plenty of equipment. Lots of these items must work to a high degree of quality, and that takes cash. Additionally, excellent lenses need a totally high level of precision and this prices quite a few money. However this is at the high-stage. on the low lever, photography doesn’t need to cost lots. Many amateurs or novices appear to have this concept that they need to buy the very best best camera available and all of the first-rate parts.



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vinaya
If you are working as a photographer you might not need a lot of investment. A professional camera, a few photography accessory such as tripod, lens, printing machine etc will do. You can work as a event photographer and make money. However, it takes a lot of money to establish a photography business.



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cmoneyspinner
Exactly! My son-in-law used to do weddings. You can make a living and he did not invest much money in equipment. He had some websites, a social media page, and that was enough to get him going.



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jaybee19
That's true. I've actually seen some sellers on Facebook and they're willing to sell on a cheaper price and some offer it as a loan which you will pay on a monthly basis.



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Barida
You need to get the films that you are going to be using on your camera. Ensure that you buy them from the authorized stores, if possible from the place that you are going to buy the camera. The reason for that is for you to get one that is of higher quality as well.



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esteban123
Digital photography business is a cool idea since it is in demand nowadays, I think in order to have a good profit from that kind of business is that we need to have the best and latest gadget to be used in order to achieve a quality results. If we can buy those equipment in bulk volume then much better to have them so that we have a discount or savings from it.



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superlicca
A digital photography business is popular and a great business. If you love photography then you might have the cameras you will need for your business. But there are other pieces of equipment you may need like lenses, lighting, tripod, printing machine, and more. Make sure to purchase them at the trusted stores and can provide you some discount.



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theresajane
I don't know much about cameras, but I definitely like Canon Eos 1dx. I have tried using it because my friend let me try it and I must say that it is so good. Actually, I think, it is perfect for people who are beginning their digital photography business. Though I don't have the skills of a photographer, the camera really takes pictures well.



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Martinsx1
Before you and your wife set off to starting your own business in Digital photography, I would seriously advise and recommend that you both take time to research into the business and if possible, get in touch with those already in the business to hear directly from them on the strength, opportunity and weaknesses in the business.



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beerthooyah
We were planning start it out as a hobby first. Then eventually we could go a little further in expanding into a business. we will just do it little by little and to test the market for this kind of business so the risk will be small. Since i have a full time job, our concept was to enjoy this hobby first and explore the field of digital photography. Hopefully in due time we will learn more in this kind of endeavor. Keep those suggestions coming.
How about what short courses shall we take to improve our skills. Any idea?



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vinaya
In the wake of high end smartphones and price of digital cameras going down, I don't think digital photography business is a lucrative business. First of all everyone who has a smartphone is a photographer. Secondly, digital cameras are not very expensive these days.
In the times when people are engrossed with selfie and wefie, how can photography business sustain.



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Youngshark
What is digital photography? I hope you can pardon my ignorance my friends. Do you mean the kind where you search for clients on social media platforms?



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Martinsx1
No sir, I don't think that digital photography is anything about searching for clients online. It's something practically different in its own fashion.

Digital photography is the form of photography that uses cameras containing arrays of electronic photodetectors to capture images focused by a lens, as opposed to an exposure on photographic film (Wikipedia definition).

I'm sure the poster means to set up a new digital photography studio to engage in the business but maybe after they will put their business online and offer freelance services to their clients.



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Youngshark
OOOH Okay. Thanks a lot my friend for the detailed explanation. It has actually given me a clarification on the idea which I had about the practice. What can I say? We learn every day, Don't we?



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stbrians
Digital business is not bad. You need all the paraphernalia that goes with photographsphotographing.

Learning does not end. Enrol in school for basics then begin. You can learn much on the job or go for more courses.



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Martinsx1
You have a very good point about getting enrolled in a reputable school to learn the business and how to excel in the digital photography business.

But I'm definitely going to stress more on getting lots of practical experience, so I would suggest going for training either a workshop or seminar to help brush up your skills.



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edencaga
You need to have a bit of knowledge about photography and its equipment. You can ask your Professional photographer friends to guide you in choosing the right equipment and tools in photography. Studying photography class might be also helpful for you to fully understand this kind of field most especially for those who are a bit lack of knowledge about this industry.



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kammy143
I agree with your suggestions. In order to put up a successful business, one must have knowledge on what they are doing and what there is they need to know about the equipment. Buying stuff without the proper know-how will only drag the business and also the owner to as very slow phase or failure when it comes to progress.



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edencaga
Yes, it's better that the owner of the studio has knowledge as sometimes problems can't be avoided especially in business industry. And customers do rant sometimes so its better to be alert and make sure that you really know the product or services you are promoting to the customers.



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rlpzbeermoney
I don't think a digital photography is still in demand. I mean the only time people call photographers nowadays is during the big life events which doesn't really happen often. This include weddings, graduations and birthdays. And even then, not a lot of people use these services since they have smartphones in their pockets.



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beerthooyah
Even though most of the people have phone camera in their pocket, still few people are knowledgable in photo and video editing. Thats where the digital photogtaphy comes in. There are some people that wants their image to be enhanced in a photo. Most digital photographers know how to use adobe photoshop that they can also add graphic design as addition to their services and other printing services that you can think of.



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vinaya
I think you can make money with videography, however, I don't think you can survive with photography. It is true that even though people are taking photos and shooting videos through their phone, they do not have skills to create amazing shots and videos. They can use photo filters to create great photos, however, with video they still need professionals.



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rlpzbeermoney
True. But you can't deny the demand for photographers has dropped dramastically over the years. Not everyone can do Photoshop and graphic design and I think those services can be integrated in the digital photography business like you said. Most of the photography studios already do this.



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amelia88
Where I live digital photography is still huge. There's a trend here called lifestyle photography, where digital photographers will take more "everyday" photos of people and families, rather than necessarily big life event photography. It's actually what a lot of photographers in my local area seem to specialize in, and they get a lot of work!



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anyone01
Sign up your photography business. A photography business license is usually required for expert photographers. Check with your nearby municipal and state authorities to peer what type of business licenses are required in order to run your businesses. And also you want to register as a legal entity with each the federal and local governments for taxation and compliance motive. Good luck!



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amelia88
Honestly, a few of my friends did this and the way they got their start was just by photographing people for free first, to build a quality portfolio. From there, a lot of them have just advertised their services on Facebook. People usually look at the style of photography they do to see if they fit their needs, and having photo galleries on Facebook is a way that they can easily showcase their work.



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ElectorAlexande
Starting up for free is also a great idea but I suggest you find a model who is ready to help you out by advertising your brand and also Facebook should not be your only means of social media awareness, I think Instagram is better than Facebook in that aspect but all is needed in the business.



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amelia88
Oh, they promote on other outlets too. Facebook was mainly just how they got their start. They've since branched out of course, but if you're starting from zero it's a good point to test the waters with.



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jayjaydimson
I think this business will boom, especially this days. Because photography is never been old. It always has some new ideas and techniques on photography, and making it as a business will definitely good.



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ElectorAlexande
As far as 21 century is concerned Photography is still an important aspect of our daily lives and it's still spreading because the more the world advance on Tech the more we photograph more, everyone wants to boost around of his/her beauty or keep a nice picture as a memory of their youthful days.



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theresajane
I agree with you I can't even wait for the photography world to embrace 3D. I just hope that it will someday be an option on phone cameras or digital cameras.



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ElectorAlexande
Going into the Digital world is a good idea especially since its Digital Photography business, first I would advice you to buy your camera from a good seller and the quality should be very good and then get a tripod and studio settings should be available too, the location of the Studio should be in a youth area because youths love to snap pictures more often and quality once.



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NerdIndeed
My neighbor has a side business like this. It's a wedding photo booth. I believe all she has is a digital camera, tripod, a printer, and a backdrop which she prints depending on the client and that's about it. Success in this business is more about the people you know rather than the work itself. Best to have a wedding planner as a friend for referrals. Good luck!



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amelia88
This! It's often about just networking IMO, rather than necessarily the work. I've seen plenty of "average" photographers still getting a ton of work because of the way they network and market themselves, and their family/friends/clients then referring them on.



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NerdIndeed
Exactly. It does not matter whether you're a pro or not. It has everything to do with the people you know in the wedding niche, so its best for you to be good with people if you'll be planning on venturing into this business.



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TheArticulate
This is unfortunately the world that photographers have to live in. Digital cameras are very affordable anymore, which makes photography an easier gig to get started in. While that's great for people who are passionate about it, it bums me out to see so many really good photographers struggle to make a living because they can't compete price-wise with the average Joe and family friend who has a DSLR and can click a shutter.

I'm lucky to have built my skills in wedding videography, which is a more difficult niche to get started in, but I'm interested in seeing if the next 5 or 10 years makes it easier for people start doing what I do too, and undercut my prices.



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amelia88
"It bums me out to see so many really good photographers struggle to make a living because they can't compete price-wise with the average Joe and family friend who has a DSLR and can click a shutter."

Totally agree. I'm sorry if I came across as being flippant that some people I know have built up photography businesses without any real formal training or skills. It frustrates me, too, that people who have spent years (if not decades) perfecting their craft are losing out on work to people who will happily charge $50-$100 a session and not deliver anywhere near the same quality - but people just go with them because of the dollar figure.



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jayjaydimson
This type of business is very unique because only a few people only have that kind of business, so building that kind of business in a populated place will let you earn a lot of money.



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NerdIndeed
I believe only a few have this kind of business because it is not that in demand nowadays as anyone can purchase their very own digital cameras. Nonetheless, what you say is true.



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MomoStarr16
Find a free seminar for digital photography near you. A lot of those seminars are held nowadays. And if you are lucky they are also willing to provide you where to buy equipments for your business. Look in the internet for people who know seminars of digital photography.



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theresajane
You have a great suggestion. Nothing is more effective than being taught personally and learn in person. Sometimes watching tutorials or alreading online can help, but sometimes it's not effective to others.



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Kakashi2020
I have to agree that attending Digital Photography Seminars and Trainings is a must. You'll get a certificate as well as qualified suppliers for what you need.



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mitan143
Cool. Thanks for the tip. I actually have one friend and she's thinking about creating a photography business and I think she does not have a concrete idea at all how to start. So maybe with the help of your tip, then she might get enough details and information about the said business. The only problem is if she can find a free seminar but, it is now up to her with the searching.



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jayjaydimson
Thank you for that information I will consider it in the near future, thank you for sharing.



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mosesoscar
I create contents on my Facebook profile, and in doing that I have to scan through Google for suiting pictures, and in the process I'm always led to sites, where I can either save the picture direct, or buy them. I also get to scan through these sites for more interesting photos.

I'm convinved that there're many content creators out there who source for pictures for their contents just the way i do; and this hold great opportunity for people who desire to go into digital photo business. The market exist, and its big. You will get people to browse you're site and they can also purchase pictures.

Just have a taste for quality pictures, know what purpose pictures can serve for online content creators, and meet them.



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beerthooyah
Thanks for the idea. I have already heard of this platform but never really had a time to research much deeper in this area.



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Kakashi2020
Starting a Digital Photography Business is a good idea and it could be a profitable one. In my opinion you should start with the basic services like,
Events Photography and Videography and Studio Photography. This includes editing photos and videos.



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theresajane
Yes, you are right. In our country these business is very in demand because having photoshoots and videos for prenup or birthdays are very trendy.



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ajahcuizon
That's a good business that you come up with. What I could suggest is that, you should buy your equipment and tools with good quality so that you can use it for a longer period of time. Especially the camera that you will use, better to spend higher amount of money than to suffer with lesser quality of photos. Also, it would also be great to have a printing station for people who would want to print out their photos taken by them.



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knnon
It is indeed an expensive business to start but you probably already have the basics, right? Camera and computer? You'll also need to get different lenses for your camera; 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, 300mm. As well as a tripod and some lighting. You'll also need filters, cleaning equipment, and memory cards. You should also invest in a photo editing software.



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