Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Hello and welcome! I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait to help you along your journey to becoming a photographer and owning your own little photography empire!
Let me first start by telling you a little about my own journey. While growing up my dad picked up photography as a very serious hobby. Our garage was modified and turned into a studio; I spent my weekends at art galleries, jazz festivals, and museums. I was constantly learning about photography, art, and art history. It was inevitable that I would go down a creative path. My parents took me to Paris for my 16th birthday and while there we naturally went to all the museums. One in particular had a modern photography exhibition showcasing some of the pioneers in the field and, to make a long story short, I fell in LOVE.
Once back in the states I started coming home from school and straight into our garage studio. I had my dad show me how all the equipment worked and would spend hours reading about my new craft. Soon enough I was teaching him.
I took A.P. Photography my senior year and built a portfolio of self-portraits. I knew I wanted to go to art school and was fortunately accepted into every school I applied to. Humble brag lol. I chose to study at The Rhode Island School of Design for it's long history of educating famous photographers and artists.
I'll skip through the next few years and fast-forward to starting by business in 2015. What I did before I started accepting paying clients though was to lay the foundation for a thriving business and a signature look that has taken me from senior portraits to destination weddings and more!
I totally get it. I've been where you are. Even years and years of experience as an artist and a degree in photography didn't quite prepare me for owning a business and being an entrepreneur. I wish I knew even a fraction of what I know now when I started my business six years ago. But the wonderful thing about this industry is that there are so many wonderful resources out there to help young aspiring creative business owners like yourself. And hopefully, some of what I have put together in this resource will help you along the path to being a bonafide girl boss!
beginners
A NOTE TO
Before we jump into the business side of things, the most important thing for any photographer (at any level) is understanding their medium. In this ever evolving world of camera phones and aunt Karen's picking up professional level DSLRs, it's all the more imperative to have a solid understanding of photography as a medium, the type's of cameras available, the difference between lenses, and other gear.
But do not forgot that at the end of the day- it is NOT a good camera that makes a good (and professional) photographer. If I had a dollar for every time someone said "you take beautiful pictures, you must have a great camera" I would be rich. And I really wish I was kidding. The reason you need to have a solid understanding of photography and the types of equipment out there is so that you know what type of camera, lens, or flash you need in any particular situation to get the artistic results you want. Becoming a good photographer comes with practice, failure, success, more failure, and most importantly- time.
So don't stress if you don't have the most expensive camera yet or an arsenal of prime lenses. What you can do in the meantime is develop a solid understanding of what's available to you so you can continue to experiment, learn, and find the right system for you and your business.
What's in my bag and what I recommend for beginners
CAMERA BASICS
I have four cameras at the moment that I shoot with. I have my main mirrorless camera body, a backup camera, my medium format film camera, and a 35mm film camera. I primarily shoot on prime lenses. My go-to every day lens is a 50mm, which is ideal for portraits, weddings, details, and even travel. I shoot a lot of my senior work on an 85mm 1.2. I also use a 100mm macro lens for detail shots at weddings. I use a 35mm for weddings and I have a 17-40mm zoom lens for certain situations at weddings as well.
In my bag
CANON R6
MAMIYA 645 AFDII
canon 600ex-rt speedlite
transmitters & receivers
flashpoint zoom lion r2 (2)
sekonic light meter l-558
MAMIYA 80MM 2.8
NIKON F100
NIKON AF 60MM 2.8
NIKON AF 80MM 1.8
CANON R5
CANON 50MM 1.2
CANON 85MM 1.2
CANON 35MM 1.4
CANON 100MM 2.8
digital:
film:
other:
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Shooting Manual
no more aperture priority
Something common I have seen when most photographers are starting out is that they shoot in aperture priority mode and not manual. This is a huge mistake and I'm going to tell you why. When you shoot in aperture priority the camera is going to make adjustments based off the light that might not suit your style or benefit you later when editing. Shooting manual, meaning you select your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, allows you to gain mastering over your camera and your style.
USING KELVIN
controlling your white balance
Another thing a lot of photographers do in the beginning is set their white balance to auto. Again, if you want to have full control over your images, which will in turn make your style more consistent and your editing process more streamlined, then you should be using kelvin for white balance. With kelvin, just like shooting in manual mode, you will be able to control the warmth of your images. I'm a firm believer in getting my images in camera as close to the final product as possible.
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recording to two cards
backing up your work
Not all cameras are built with a dual card reader but it is something I would never be without. Cards CAN become corrupted and by using two cards in the dual card reader you are able to back up your images as your shoot. At weddings I even go so far as to keep one main 128GB card in the camera for the whole day while I switch out the second card every two hours. That way, if one card gets lost or corrupted, it's only a portion of the day (and will still be on the main card).
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SHOOTING RAW
never shoot in JPEG again
If you want to edit like a professional and have full control over your images then I highly suggest you shoot in RAW. Yes, it will take up more space on your cards, but raw files contain far more data than JPEGS and so when you go to edit in Lightroom or Photoshop (in camera raw), you have more control over the final image.
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creating a cohesive brand
and client experience
Now, just as there's a lot more that goes into becoming a great photographer besides a good camera, there is even MORE that goes into running a successful creative business. Once you have a solid understanding of your medium it's time to start thinking about your business and brand. The number one way to build a reputation and a recognizable brand is through- you guessed it- branding. Everything from your logo, your website, your style of editing, even the way you communicate with clients, all helps define your BRAND. Because without a brand, without a target client/market, you're not only going to be shooting a lot of random things, your going to ATTRACT a lot of unwanted work.
As a creative business owner you want to have something that sets you apart. A signature style, a look, an experience. You want to have a brand that is recognizable, a brand that attracts your ideal client, and ultimately, a brand that BOOKS. Because at the end of the day, deciding to start and run a photography business is all about YOUR CLIENT and you want your client to know exactly what they are getting when they book with you.
At the beginning of each year I create a "vision board". It helps me define and visualize my goals, creative vision, target clients, dream destinations, and more for the coming year.I have been doing this for years. But it's been all the more important this past year as I've been slowly pivoting my business from seniors to weddings.
By creating a vision board, I've allowed myself to separate from my current work and visualize a new brand, a new style, and a new client. Now, I don't mean find a bunch of pictures you love on Pinterest and put them into a collage. You have to be intentional with your curation. Each image should speak to something about your brand, business, and client.
Vision Board
find it fast
website
social media
experience
resources
vision
creating a cohesive brand
To coincide with my "vision board" I create a list of words I want associated with my brand. Some words for me have stayed the same of the years like "romantic", but others have evolved and turned into something entirely different. For example, now I use words like "timeless", "effortless", and "intimate". As a senior photographer I wasn't focused on creating "timeless" work, but current and dare I say trendy work that spoke to who my clients were in that season of their lives. But a couple getting married, their love, and their special day- that is timeless.
These exercises may seem silly but trust me, they will help you and save you a ton of time in the beginning of your business (and the years after) by helping you define your brand and your client.
Words are Powerful
find it fast
website
social media
experience
resources
vision
creating a cohesive brand
These days, most clients are going to find you on social media. But the true expression of your brand is going to be on your website. It's where your potential client will go to get a more comprehensive feel for your business, brand, and what they would be investing in. It's where all the elements of your business come together to tell a story that should, when done right, speak directly to your ideal client.
The words you use, the colors, the images- each decision you make should be carefully curated with your ideal client in mind.
Website
find it fast
website
social media
experience
resources
vision
creating a cohesive brand
This probably goes without saying, but your logo and colors should also speak to your brand and ideal client. They should evoke a feeling, a mood, a tone. For me, my new logo for my brand refresh is organic, delicate, feminine, and calming.
I arrived at my current logo by thinking about myself as a photographer but also my brides. For example, on a wedding day I like to have a calming presence. My wedding work is very intimate, romantic, and organic. My ideal client/bride is overly feminine, an old soul, and loves the outdoors and nature. Taking all these things into consideration I knew my new color would be a soothing blue and that I wanted a timeless and feminine logo with an organic/floral crest.
Logo + Colors
find it fast
website
social media
experience
resources
vision
creating a cohesive brand
Beyond your website and social media, there is your Client Experience. By this I mean the experience your client has from the moment they first engage with your work, through their initial inquiry, to the proposal you send with pricing and information, all the way to their session and gallery delivery. Once you have defined your brand, style, and client, all these things will start to fall into place.
For example, my branding/colors are consistent throughout the experience but it goes beyond that. I want to make sure all my bases are covered so my clients feel as though I'm walking them through each step of the process with ease and confidence. That the MPP client experience is just that- an experience.
Client Experience
find it fast
website
social media
experience
GIFTING
vision
creating a cohesive brand
Client gifts are a great way of not only building your clients trust and confidence in you, they are also a great way of generating referrals. This can be a care package, or something as simple as a magazine about your business or a print after their session. When clients receive things like this they feel valued and are more likely to refer you to friends and family because that "gift" will be on their coffee table, their wall, etc. Hello conversation starter! I do encourage keeping the gifts "on brand" though.
Note: Be sure to budget these client gifts into your pricing! They may seem like "gifts" but I've already factored the cost of both into my packages/pricing.
Client Gifting
find it fast
website
social media
experience
resources
vision
creating a cohesive brand
Let's take it back a few paces to when I was talking about vision boards and the client experience. Before you embark on your journey of defining or re-defining your style, I think it's so important to define your CLIENT. After all, you are trying to reach potential paying clients with your work. But who are. you marketing to? Who is your ideal client? Take an hour or two and be specific. Write down who your clients is, what they do for a living, what season of life are they in, where do you they shop, what music might they listen to, etc. The more specific you are the more specific your brand will be.
DEFINING YOUR CLIENT
CLIENT WORKFLOW
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INITIAL CONTACT
via your website, social media, phone, ect.
The first point of contact for your clients is either going to be via social media, your website, or directly through email. I want my clients to feel immersed in my brand from the moment they reach out. Having an email signature is a quick way to continue your branding into your email and communication. I also recommend having a set of templates you can copy and paste for various inquiries so you one, don't have to rewrite the same email over and over again, but also so you can deliver a consistent experience to all.
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CONSULTATION
seeing if we're the right fit
Because I know I'm not the right photographer for everyone I feel that it's SO important to have a phone consultation prior to someone booking with me (especially for brides and grooms). That way we can get to know each other and I can determine if I can deliver what they need. By putting yourself out there and offering to speak with potential clients you're further building upon their trust in you and also delivering a more personalized experience right from the start.
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PLANNING
locations, wardrobe, style, and more
My client experience is very hands on and I want my clients to feel completely taken care of. That is why I do all the planning myself, whether it's for a portrait session or a wedding. First, I have custom questionnaires I send to all my clients to better understand them, their goals, and their vision for their session or wedding. Afterwards we have second consultation focused entirely on the session or wedding so that every detail is accounted for.
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DAY OF
making the day go smoothly
Because I've already gotten to know my clients from phone calls, questionnaires, and emails I can arrive on location feeling like I have already met them! Establishing a relationship before working with your client will not only help them relax and feel comfortable in front of you, but it will help you capture a more authentic version of them.
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DELIVERY
creating a consistent end product
Because I've already gotten to know my clients from phone calls, questionnaires, and emails I can arrive on location feeling like I have already met them! Establishing a relationship before working with your client will not only help them relax and feel comfortable in front of you, but it will help you capture a more authentic version of them.
BUSINESS MUST HAVES
FROM WEBSITES, CLIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, AND MORE
There's a lot that goes into running a business on the back end. Below I've broken it down with some of my favorite systems and recommendations for similar programs to help you lay the ground work for a thriving business!
Showit
Square Space
ProPhoto for Wordpress
WEBSITE
Dubsado
17 Hats
HoneyBook
CLIENT MANAGEMENT
Pass
ShootProof
Pixieset
GALLERY DELIVERY
Lightroom
Photoshop
Photo Mechanic
EDITING
Play It Brave Podcast
Goal Digger Podcast
PODCASTS FOR CREATIVES
Mastin Labs
Refined Presets
Noble Presets
Archetype Process
PRESETS
I'm just going to say this and keep it simple and sweet. Back up your images. In at least two if not three places. When you are working for clients, the last thing you want is to loose their images. Get a few hard drives, invest in a cloud based service like BackBlaze and make sure your work is secure.
BACK IT UP
Getting your Clients to dress in "your" style
providing wardrobe, suggested places to shop, and mood boards
One of the most important things for me in my client experience and branding is ensuring that my sessions and weddings are all consistent.
While some of that simply comes with time as you build a recognizable brand, there are many things you can do to ensure your clients arrive in style (and by style I mean, YOUR style). First, I only share work that exemplifies my signature romantic style. I assist my clients in getting that signature look by having them fill out their style questionnaire, sending them a "session guide", and by offering complimentary wardrobe and styling. Inside the session guide I give tips on where to shop, what colors look best, what to wear, and where to shoot. By giving my clients so much direction, I'm ensuring I have control over what they wear, where we go, and consequently what the final images will look like.
When just starting and finding your signature style, the best way to do that is with free shoots. Yes, I said free. I know when you go into business the end goal is to make money. However, if you want to build the portfolio of your dreams and attract paying clients that want what you're selling, you need to SHOW them exactly what you'll be delivering.
Not all paying clients will be okay with you taking full creative control over their session in the beginning. But if you have three to five shoots that show a signature style, your paying clients will trust you when make recommendations because they most likely hired you because of those "styled shoots". Just be sure to set rules with these non-paying clients, still have them sign a contract, and make sure they understand your marketing goals.
STYLED SHOOTS
When it comes to setting up a business it can be intimidating knowing where to start. Below is a little check-list for when you're ready to get legit!
- Pick a business name
- Register with the state if you're using a fictitious name
- Get liability Insurance (I use Hiscox)
- Request an EIN from the IRS, become an LLC
- Set up a Business Bank Account
- Purchase a domain name and setup your website
- Invest in a CRM to streamline your client experience
- Sign up for a Gallery Delivery System
The not so fun part like paying taxes
The not so fun part like taxes
getting legit
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PHOTO JOURNEY!
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers (almost) everything you need to know to prep for starting your own business! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation, please feel free to email me melissapiontkowski@gmail.com.