YourDreamTale
A Practical Business Plan to Start Your Own Photography Business, YourDreamTale.com

A Practical Business Plan to Start Your Own Photography Business

Novice photographers and aspiring photography students underestimate the importance of photography business plan, cost analysis, and marketing plan. All these elements are indispensable to be successful in the business of photography as in any other type of business.

The purpose of this guide is to help you identify the steps and considerations you should have when designing and setting up your photography business. This guide isn’t intended to replace the consultation of a professional in the field; however, it is certainly an excellent resource to start your journey of starting a business in photography.

Importance of Writing a Photography Business Plan

Not having a well-defined business plan is like driving a car to a destination without using a map or GPS system. You think and trust that you will reach your final destination, but you lack a real indicator that can show the route of your journey if you are really going in the right direction.

Elements of a Business Plan

Creating a photography business plan doesn’t have to be a complicated task. You can achieve a complete and effective one if you ensure you include the following key elements:

Vision and Mission Statements

The mission of a company is a lasting statement of the object, purpose or reason of being the company. Unlike the vision, the mission statement answers to the question ‘What is our reason for being?’ while the vision answers to the question ‘What do you want to be?’

A good company mission must be clear, concrete, motivating and possible. Ask yourself the following 3 important questions in this regard;

  • What is your reason for being?

  • What is your dream as a company?

  • Why will you be the best in the world?

The mission of a company is a lasting statement of the object, purpose or reason of being the company. Unlike the vision, the mission statement answers to the question ‘What is our reason for being?’ while the vision answers to the question ‘What do you want to be?’

Answering to these questions will help you identify how you want your photography business to be in the next few years. There are few elements that could help you in this regard such as defining the field or market where you operate, which niche you will serve, and type of experience you want your customers to experience when receiving your products and/or services.

Stages of Achievement

The long-term and intermediate-term goals aren’t achieved overnight. So it’s very important to know and set intermediate and short term goals. You must define short-term achievements that will help you stay on track and always close the gap between the present and the future destination.

 

Marketing Plan

To establish your photography marketing plan, the first thing to do is to have clearly identified the following:

  • Whom you specifically serve

  • Who your customers are

  • Your customers’ age and gender

  • Geographic location

  • Purchasing power

Depending on your market you might have a few more points to consider.

Then you must define how you will contact these customers i.e., where they live, what places they visit, what organisations they belong to, where they buy, where they gather, which magazines they read, how you will present your business to the potential customers as an attractive choice and what makes you different from your competitors.

By answering these questions, you can define your market strategy and what potential means you have at your fingertips.

Prices & Cash Flow Plan

Establishing a cash flow plan is vital. Many photographers who start their companies see themselves sooner or later living from project to project and never leave the financial hole. This is because they didn’t establish a cash flow plan and correct prices. Creating a cash flow plan is not difficult as you can start by estimating the annual or monthly expenses of your business. With this calculation, you can forecast the minimum amount of cash you need to sustain. Knowing this, you can establish with certainty the price of your products and/or services correctly.

I hope this guide will serve you and encourage you to begin the process of defining your business plan and start your day on the right foot. I recommend that you review your photography business plan at least once a year, and you can evaluate the progress you have made and make the necessary adjustments.

Ellie Singh

Ellie Singh is a professional web designer and app developer at Website Valley. She is a Rewarding Freelancer & Web Entrepreneur serving new entrepreneurs launch their first effective online business.

Add comment

Dream Quotes

I\'m a dreamer. I have to dream and reach for the stars, and if I miss a star then I grab a handful of clouds.
— Mike Tyson

Instagram

Instagram has returned empty data. Please check your username/hashtag.

Share Your Story

Yourdreamtale.com Ad Image, Yourdreamtale.com

Follow us

Feel free to be a part of YourDreamTale. Drop dream stories at [email protected]. If you have any other queries you can mail us at [email protected].