Start A Photography Business in 2024 | INSIDER ADVICE

[@MichaelORourkeProd]

After 24 years in the video business, I agree 110% with buy/rent used gear, learn a basic accounting system, and START PUTTING AWAY FOR RETIREMENT EARLY AND OFTEN!!!!!!!!! Always terrific content, Justin! ❤

[@AskMOTT]

Thnaks Michael, the retirement thing is so huge and so many photographers overlook this until it's too late.

[@alexferrercampo7438]

The structured work week hit home. Blocking time for maintaining the business infrastructure is really smart. I've been doing these tasks quite aimlessly.

[@josephdalton1720]

Awesome video, Justin. I transitioned my career to FT writing and photography last year. I was in marketing for 15 years. This is something I have wanted to do since I was 6. Good to hear these lessons. I have a long road ahead and I have to remind myself that it's still a grind. And it will be quite the grind, indeed. But I'm really excited (and occasionally terrified) about it.

[@AskMOTT]

Right on Joseph, wish you the best on your journey.

[@josephdalton1720]

Thanks @@AskMOTT ! I love your work.. been following you for a long time and it's really cool to follow your journey

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Yes, there is way more product than there are consumers. And it is getting worse as digital is getting better and better. A story!? Yes. Otherwise all you have is pictures dropped on the floor. And beware of all the well equipped and half-talented amateurs who will work for peanuts, unsalted. Look at photojournalists as people who tell stories with dramatic images on the fly. Then sit down and ask yourself, "Do I really want to do this for a living or as a hobby?" I could never make it. I am not good enough. Tons of folks are way better. That's life. Pro photo is not glamorous, it is damned hard work. Thanks for reminding the aspiring.

[@CarlosRamirez-nu2hr]

ok

[@sampriest12]

Thank you for this. Much appreciated.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for watching Sam, what type of photography do you shoot?

[@volvo940classic3]

My newest camera is a Fujifilm X100T, otherwise I like to shoot with old cameras like Pentax K100D, Nikon D50 or Konica Minolta 5D. All digital but almost or over 20 years. Usually shoot architecture, buildings in B&W Format or "Film-looking" CCD photos. All these ones except the X100 cost me like 150 EUR in total. They work fine!

[@jddorland]

Good stuff. Gonna save and rewatch to remember/inspire me to do this stuff.

[@Fadabeat]

I loved your honesty and the clarity of your words bro

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you , I appreciate that. Sometimes I’m a little long winded though :).

[@BurtWilliamson]

You are very wise! Great advice for any entrepreneur in any field. Thank you for the kick in the butt!

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Burt :)

[@andreaspretali]

Thank you Justin for the very clear and honest tips! 👍

[@AskMOTT]

My absolute pleasure, thanks for taking the time to comment Andreas.

[@andreaspretali]

@@AskMOTT You're very welcome. I've been watching your videos for a while and find them very helpful and authentic. Keep it up!

[@atogweoghieaga2205]

Thanks so much for giving this wisdom reach advice for free. Anyone who help to future proof your life really really care. I have always love product photography and went all out last year December preparing to go into it and then after much thought and picking a few tools for it, I sat down to reflect on the entire industry, technology evolution and its impact on photography even more with the advent of AI and realize there is no future for product photography so I decided I will pivot towards portrait photography for parents with mature family as I see an opportunity in it in my country and it’s looking good already. Thanks for helping to sharpen my perspective on things. 👏🏾👌🏾👍🏾

[@photobizmethod]

I just saw this comment. Beware of photographing just to make money. Photograph what you LOVE and find your market for that. Me and my clients make great money because we focus on the one thing.

[@ShanygneKing]

This is good, yes structure during the week i need to work on that

[@dangilmore9724]

On the AI front, I get a lot of customers who want non-AI manipulated images. I call it "Non-AI Organic" photography.

[@AskMOTT]

We definitely need a name for pure images and I'm also consdering how to lean in to the fact that I"m not using it for prints and such.

[@dangilmore9724]

@AskMOTT I use the term "organic" meaning I don't alter images in any way that isn't done in a darkroom with film or alter the image in a way that would not be acceptable in journalism. No generative fill or cloning.

[@alivafaei9483]

Man It was helpful! Thanks!

[@AskMOTT]

Right on Ali, thanks man.

[@kelleyb80]

Just saw your photos in the New York Times HCM coffee story. They were really good!

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Kelley, that was a fun story to shoot. I'm about to do an episode about that assignment soon.

[@konstantinosS300]

Excellent content and presentation! Thank you !!

[@Freddd95]

I don't consider AI that much of a threat to photographers really, because most people value what is real and authentic, and only a photographer with a camera can capture that. Except maybe stock photography and some product photography, to a certain extent, but there's lots of other things for photographers to capture :)

[@debraiversen9214]

This was a great video. Very informative.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Debra , happy that you liked it :). If you have any questions for me ask away.

[@visualsciencelabkirktuck3834]

Well done. Real.

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[@wbynan]

Hey Justin, I am a LA based videographer looking to film more travel work (in Southeast Asia) is there anyway I could connect with you to get more advice on how to make it happen?

[@AskMOTT]

I do offer coaching here if you’re interested www.askmottbyjustinmott.com/photography-coaching

[@karlmuud]

@@wbynan Aye! Stump up dude. Lend a hand! 😉👍😉

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Awesome content and very timely for me after 21 awesome years working on a newspaper the company decided their reporters armed with an iphone was more valuable then employing dedicated staff photographers who are also dab hands at shooting video so now I'm unemployed but have a lot of contacts and some good kit so I'm going to go freelance I did my first shoot today it went well two jobs a week like that pays me more than 6 days a week on the rag. Now the downside I have very limited understanding of the business side of things so cheers for the advice on here 📷👏

[@AskMOTT]

Such a bummer Paul, I remember when I first realized I need to expand beyond editorial photography when a write for the NYT started traveling on assignments with me with his DSLR and was asking me advice. I was helping and then I was like , wait , why am I giving him advice on how to make me redundant.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

@@AskMOTT exactly right mate the industry is screwed but I'm looking forward to going out on my own see if I can make a buck 📷

[@alleynemedia]

What was the link to your print please? Where is it hosted?

[@wbynan]

+ how do you recommend getting into hotel videography?

[@AskMOTT]

That’s a bit complicated for the comments section but maybe I’ll do a film episode about it Will.

[@AskMOTT]

If you have a photography business question, ask me here and I'll either answer here or in my mailbag series.

[@hedwigdelafuente3938]

Love the video!

[@eljin00]

Excellent video as always Justin, Google incorporated AI in their Google Photos App to pick what it thinks is " the good Shot " and misses every time, AI only coallates to replicate thats It.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Eljin :).

[@VasilWho]

I'm actually positioned below your idea of a poor starter. All I own is a Nikon D7100 (no built-in stabilization) + 2 primes (the cheapest Nikkors), and a half-broken old tripod (otherwise heavy and sturdy, like something made in USSR in the 60s). No lights, no soft-boxes, no gimbals. Just bought the cheapest Lav microphone the other day to plug it into my Nikon (the adapter cable to connect the mike to my old smartphone, costs 4 times the mike itself, can you believe it). And on top of that, I'm a lousy amateur photographer, and still preparing (psychologically and gear wise) to even try shooting video for the first time with this cumbersome DSLR. Do you think I can do something meaningful with all that "advanced" gear, or should I just drop the dream to make a living, and actually thrive on photography/videography/film-making one day?

[@samchuks]

How do a beginner wedding Photographer on a budget create content regularly attract clients without portfolio?

[@1ABAmedia]

a74... mid range... there are working professionals on iPhones

[@danfiorephotos]

Justin - well said & great advice, from someone thats actually experienced building a successful photography business. Thank you!

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Dan, how are things with you ?