2009 was a year of continuing to grow as a photographer.  Just when I thought I really knew what I was doing, I’d have a session where I’d need to do things very differently.  I started my business mid-year and wow, it was really time consuming.  It still is.   If someone had told me ahead of time how demanding it would be to start a photography business – especially a legal business -  I never would have believed them.  When I was a client of other photographers, I had no idea what the photographer did during the time between our photo session until I picked up my prints.  The average photographer spends about 12 hours on a client.   I can tell you that I spent more time last year on each of my clients, even the easy ones.   I also had no idea how many varied things a photographer had to do to start and run a business.  Under my Fun Links tab, I have a link to a great article on why custom photography costs so much.

Here are some of the things I had to learn/do last year:

Master my camera techniques

Find good locations in Kansas City (Many photographers don’t want to share their favorite locations so I spent hours driving all over town!)

Learn what the light looks like at various times of the day in Kansas City

Write  a business plan

Get a tax ID and register with the state.  Pay exciting quarterly taxes and fill out three tax returns. (Guess what, even if you have a $0 on a return, you still have to file!  Kansas politely reminded me about that in July)

Get a business checking account and credit card

Buy accounting software to meticulously track income and expenses

Create  a system to track client information

Develop a workflow;  back up your files in the event your computer crashes

Build a wesite

Buy a domain name and hosting services for the above website

Buy equipment – lenses, lighting, backdrops, props, funky chair, computer monitor, color calibration device, software, external hard drives, reflector, compact flash cards, new camera body

Build a portfolio  of images

Do test prints with various labs and decide which products to print from each lab

Figure out what products to sell and what to charge

Burn endless hours on the internet researching pricing, products, competition etc.

Read lots of books on photography and starting a bsuiness

Order product samples to show clients

Figure out how to market

Poke needles in your eyes trying to figure out how to use Facebook for your business

Poke more needles in your eyes trying to figure out how to get new clients

Hug your husband who supports you, even knowing you will lose money this year

And these are just some of the gazillion things I did to start my business last year.  I know 2010 has to be easier!

Here’s a fun image from one of my many portfolio building practice sessions in early 2009. My older two kids found a  sign and were trying to “leave out” their younger brother!