Attachment Report

A photography business of any sort, whether it’s a full-time venture or a weekend fling (you know what I mean), needs a beginning. Whatever your business objectives, you need a map for this adventure before hitting the road. This tutorial is your road map (GPS, if you’re like me) to starting a successful photography business. I’ll teach you how to

Set Business Goals

Business goals can begin in general terms. For example, my goal was to establish a core group of expectant mothers who I could photograph — from maternity through the kindergarten years of their children. I wanted to replace my existing full-time job, so I had to be available about 40 hours per week to make it happen.

Having an end goal in mind makes it simpler to find the path needed to reach the destination, like breadcrumbs you’re leaving for yourself to follow later. Let’s begin with your client goals.

Choose your ideal client

It’s important to first establish your ideal client. The audience you choose will greatly impact the necessary time commitment and revenue potential of your new business. Be specific. The definition of an audience can include any or all of the following:

* Type of person (twenty-something bride, mom with three children, etc.)

* Location (city, venue, distance from home, etc.)

* Income level (luxury, budget)

* Style

* Interests

For example, marketing to a wedding client who favors a luxury destination is much different than marketing to a mom on a budget who needs family photos. Effective business and marketing plans (we’ll get there soon) require knowing exactly who this ideal client is. You shouldn’t even begin a plan before defining your ideal client.

Set revenue and schedule expectations

Begin with the amount of time you want to put toward the business, the amount of money you want to make, or a combination of the two. You can start to see real numbers emerge after doing a little bit of math.

Let’s assume a 40 hour workweek. That could mean one...