5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Start a Photography Business | ITTO Episode 4

[@slrlounge]

Considering starting your own studio? Check out this workshop for a step-by-step guide to owning a SUCCESSFUL photography business: www.slrlounge.com/store-product/photography-business/

[@stanspb763]

I have never had a job in my life, always created my own and retired 3 times so far, but each retirement lasted only weeks before getting the bug to create a new business. These points 1-4 are spot on, maybe 5 also but a client who has seen your portfolio is likely to select you because they liked your style. The person who succeeds in the business of photography or coffee shops or in my case, recording studios, or restoration shop for classic Italian GTs, tour operator in St Petersburg Russia, electronic repair for pro audio, all businesses started as a one person operation and (except the studio which was purchased as an almost bankrupt business, 3million in debt. Each became successful mostly because the activity or service was an interest of mine but the difference was being creative or passionate about the business part that creative people generally hate. A great cook should resist their friends urging that they open a restaurant, a great mechanic should not open a repair shop, a hobby is better, a musician should not make it a career unless they have even greater skill and passion for the non-music 90%. Don't turn an enjoyable hobby into a business, you will go broke and hate the hobby subject eventually. Start a business because you enjoy and are skilled at running and constantly enhancing a business. The business of business is all the aspects and tasks that are outside the scope of the product or service. Most small businesses fail, the cash runs out due to start up and living expenses burning through the needed operating capital. Start a business only after eliminating all other debt, own your home or living arrangement, taking cash out of the business cash flow to pay a mortgage or car payment is a fast way to kill your own business before it can survive long enough to reach a critical mass of customers. You will have many many competitors so it is best to be highly specialized that allows you to identify and target a narrower customer base. Be realistic about the value of your product and constantly improve the customer experience. If you are not thinking daily, how to improve the customer experience, you will stagnate and your business will die off. Don't invest in any equipment that does not increase your net more than the cost of the item. A real business owner will know exactly how much real impact equipment purchases improve the bottom line but beginners never think about the true return in investment. Buying the latest camera body because you think the client will appreciate the new 50mpx sensor is a fool's mistake. If you do not like working till midnight doing the books, or filling out forms, business is not what you want, you want a job as a photographer. The people who make it as a photographer also would have made it as a coffee shop owner or house painting company because what kills small businesses is not the service but lack of skill in the business part, the 90% part.

[@slrlounge]

Thank you for this response! Glad you found some information in here that you resonate with. The 90% is often overlooked because seemingly abundant passion overrides it, however, that isn't what will fuel the business as a whole. - Pye

[@miguelperez2489]

wow!!! are you expecting the rest of the world to read all this shit? Listen, others don't care.

[@AngelRosario]

Stan SPb by far one of the best business tips (in any industry) I’ve heard in a while. Excellent video, excellent comment! Thanks for sharing!

[@inspiritpages8349]

Great advice! Its like I'm reading a summary of Michael Gerber's book, The E Myth Revisited. The book speaks about exactly the same concerns about starting a business and it shows how to avoid falling into that pit. It's a book I highly recommend to anyone about to start a business.

[@HarshvardhanSaboo]

Every single video made by u is amazing.. absolute gem. Very rare anyone would actually talk about this. U r just next level.

[@Maxmilion6004]

Thank your for that. Think ill keep at the creative part of it for now.

[@IgorTrifonov]

I totally agree with everything. Last year I was still a creative photographer which made this year less busy, this year I started thinking and working more towards my business part of my photography and now I feel better, but I'm not getting so much fun any longer while shooting because 90% I need to work so hard on my marketing and client experience and it's exhausting my creativity so hard. I try to balance everything in my life same with photography business, when I'm working on my 90% I'm a business person only, I'm an expert in the wedding industry, I know everything about wedding and can help my clients with almost every aspect of their special day, during the wedding day I'm a wedding photographer, creative person. Love this video.

[@TNKPhoto]

Great video, Pye. Thank you for sharing this. Really great points that most people don't think about going into it but have to adapt to

[@slrlounge]

Thanks for watching!

[@youareinvitedbyGod]

Thank you for the very important advice before entering photography business. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@AricanTonic]

To begin Sorry for my bad English. I would not believe this before I started my photography business three years ago as a product photographer. Before I started I always use to carry my camera with me and do a lot of pictures. It was more than a hobby it was a passion. I still enjoy photography but today I rarely take my camera for something else that a paid job with a brief from a client. It is no more a passion.... I work a lot. When I have a lot of demands I Have not a lot of time with family because I do everything myself: retouching, shooting, accounting.... But don't get me wrong this is a great experience and I really enjoy it.

[@ahmedaflanprithul5057]

I am graduating this year on another course that i never liked to study. But i hate doing business too and dont have any photography certificate if u know what i mean. But i am extremely passionate about photography! Thanks for showing me that i should keep it that way cuz i would suck at business and thats not my passion at all.

[@slrlounge]

You are very welcome, best of luck with your endeavors!

[@Bitoypalaboy]

Indeed! Great points! That's why I tell people im doing this for fun/hobby.

[@slrlounge]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the content!

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

Re: #5, even well known photographers have this scenario happen with AD’s. They’ll suggest to the creative that they will shoot it conceptually both ways, and when it’s in the can the creatives see the vision the photographer had. I think I saw this with Albert Watson if I’m not mistaken.

[@CJMohommed]

Well said Pye. Thanks for this!

[@slrlounge]

Thanks for watching, Christopher!

[@AnkurTripathi]

Ur content is amazing i like it before watching

[@slrlounge]

Ankur Tripathi Productions thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ske8rboi]

Quite informative 🙃

[@namanrai5676]

Thanks For The Awesome Video Really Appreciate 👍

[@slrlounge]

Maan Brai you’re welcome! Hope you found the informational insightful. Thanks for watching!

[@Noealz]

I do it mostly for fun - I know media is pretty seoul crushing so I just take photos and make youtube videos about it for fun

[@slrlounge]

Noealz Photo good for you! As long as you are happy, keep doing you!

[@kenstav1]

90% crushes the 100%. 90% is hard work that crushes the 100% of the enjoyment of your own fun

[@blunterwun]

How about, make the sacrifices you need to make knowing you're profession, put up the work in your portfolio that you'd like future clients to see, INCLUDING PASSION PROJECTS. Outsource photos in different pages that lower-end clients might want to see to have your bread and butter in the morning, you know, because we don't need people to see ALL your work, & keep a positive outlook moving forward. I've learned much more about what I could do with my camera and lighting by doing paid jobs that weren't as honorable as my personal work. You're just going get better as you learn about LIGHTING AND COMMUNICATING WITH TALENTS AND CLIENTS. Jeeez and you're getting paid for doing it.

[@blunterwun]

Different pages as within your website or portfolio.

[@EktorTsolodimos]

I get the point (#1) of just 10% of the time you're actually taking pictures. It's just a pity it seems so exaggerated to me. I'm a full-time photographer and I'm taking pictures more like 30-35% of the time. So point is made, just semms quite far off of my experience (and probably of many others?).

[@slrlounge]

It may differ for others, especially if you are operating the business with partners, because then you can delegate the work. I think it all depends on how successful you are in establishing your business in the first couple of years, that will eventually lead to a higher percentage of your time shooting rather than focusing on business related tasks. - Pye

[@slrlounge]

Thanks for watching!

[@OlegEvseev]

music is too loud. honestly music isn't necessary to be in such video

[@slrlounge]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@nonvegnani5560]

90% business 10% photography so true...

[@aswinkumar3931]

Nothing is impossible... Jus understanding people need & taste will give success..!

[@slrlounge]

Agreed! Thanks for watching, Aswin! Establishing expectations is so important before starting a business. - Pye

[@luissalazar2021]

Hey Pye I love you Bro

[@BadKarma714]

#DreamsCrushed 😭😥😓

[@slrlounge]

Noooo! That wasn't the intention, but we hope that this helped establish expectations of what it takes!

[@blunterwun]

and if you know somebody that's looking to start a photography business / any business send them this video, with these comments. Please. lol

[@blunterwun]

and please, show me any job, business, or profession that doesn't require stress. lmao.

[@swaygfx]

should've known this was a pitch

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

swaygfx if that’s all you focused on and took away from it then you obviously didn’t need to watch it in the first place!