I’m interested in starting a small (on location) photography business. I have several small digital cameras, but would love some opinions from owners of different brands. Would mostly be for group/single/wedding photography. Stills and action.

A pro who is ready to start their own business would already know exactly what they need and have the skills and experience to back it up. You clearly do not.

Please be realistic and learn the ins and outs of photography and business before jumping into making money. It’s not as simple as you’re making it out to be.

I’m currently in the process of starting my own digital photography business and I’m looking for a laptop that can accommodate everything I will need which is most likely Photoshop CS4, a few other programs and of course I need something that will be able to store a good amount of pictures and things.

I’m really trying not to go over a budget of about $1200 so I was thinking about the Studio XPS 16 by Dell. Let me know what you think about that one and definitely suggestions on Hard drive size and memory and whatever else, all suggestions are well appreciated.

Almost all photographers I know around here all have Macs. I don’t what it is about macs but it seems like it’s just so easy to organize all your photographs and just looks like a great laptop for it. I suggest maybe checking out Macs and see how you like them.

I defiantly would prefer getting SLR; however as a beginner and obviously someone that has not accomplished this goal yet, I don’t know what would be the best buy for what I’m trying to do. My goal is to basically travel around, take nature & portrait photography and sell to whoever I can. My question is: will SLR slow me down if I’m going to do a lot of hiking and moving around? Also, would I need to set up my tripod every shot? On the business of things, are people still interested in buying film? I figured because more people are using digital some may have certain prerequisites?

Please enlighten me on the matter!

And if you want to be really helpful, help me figure out what body camera I should get [:

I have no idea how this photography business works (as you clearly see)

I guess you have never hiked with a camera before.

I carry a dSLR with battery grip, a super wide angle lens, a macro lens and a 24-85 mm lens when I hike. I carry at least seven memory cards, one in the camera and a sixpak in a holder. I also carry one battery charger I use to charge the batteries when at the motel before the next days hiking adventure.

Basically you will want to learn how to use your camera before taking it on a hike or any traveling adventure.

It will take you a minimum of a few weeks sitting with your camera in your lap and the user manual in hand to learn how to use the camera without fumbling all over the place trying to use it, so buy it in plenty of time before you intend to use it

At this time, the most purchased dSLR cameras are the Nikon D5100 and Canon 600D. Both cost under $1,000 and have all the features a proficient photographer will require,.

I have this big urge to buy a film & digital camera-do a couple of photoshoots with some people i know & start advertising to do some small shoots or take some pics at a party of some sorts. I dont plan on it being super huge but just something to get me started. Any suggestions or advice?

Yes you can start a business with little equipment. Come up with a name for your business or maybe use your own name. Get a business license, cost is about $20. Take pictures of family and friends, pets, places, etc. Create a business facebook page and start posting your pictures and then as you start to grow and improve you can create a business website.

I am a amateur photographer, still learning all the aspects of photography and the how-to’s and what to do. I have my own photo studio in my house, but I am have trouble with a number of things. Advertising my photography. Outside of my photo studio I take event photography, but I do not think that anybody is willing to pay someone when they already have a digital camera. Comments, suggestions, please be constructive.

There are ways to get payed at event photography.
Sure digital cameras are carried by everyone now of days. But remember this "ITS NOT THE CAMERA AS MUCH AS IT IS THE PERSON TAKING THE PHOTO".
I take club photos, low light, fog machines, strobeing/flashing lights. Its a task for point and shoot cameras to produce a great photo under those conditions. I take 150+ photos to promote the club on their web sight and on their social sights. The first two times I only did friends of mine, posted on the clubs social sights and promoted having a great time. The club owner offered me free cover for as many as I needed and a open bar for myself and my assistant (my wife). The photos increased his patronage, I then was taking photos of people dancing, drinking, posing, ect… Posting high quality small images on the sights but promoting my web sight and links to where a high quality image can be downloaded or printed and delivered (for a cost of course) But that took off Halloween, People bought those photos up like hotcakes! 324 photos and sold everyone at lease twice, some (group shots) sold over 10 copies. So yea event photography pays. Plus I like the club and the girls :0

I do go to the local Fair and take photos of the competitors, showmen, and general ambiance of the fair. Local papers have published my work and provided me contacts for doing photo work for clubs and organizations. I Last Feb I took photos of 3 venders, 2 were selling their vending trailers and wanted good photos to make it easier to sell, and the 3rd wanted to use the photos to promote how modern all its equipment was and get others to inquire about having units built for them.

Contacting Car Clubs is a sure fire way to making friends and making money. I have many friends in the car clubs now and if i need a specific kind of vehicle for a shoot all I need to do is ask. That’s nice.

I am not one for the home studio, not saying its a bad thing. I do run my business out of my house but I do lease a small storefront. Lease rates around me for the past 2 years is cheep. I’m paying only a third of normal square footage rates. Electricity is off unless I’m there, water is part of the lease. The other shops look out for my space and do hire me to take photos for them. I am looking to purchase a tow behind trailer to convert into an small portrait studio to travel to the customers.

Nursing homes and assisted living homes. Just saying………… Work is out there you have to look for it, think outside the box.

I am wanting to purchase a high tech digital camera to start a photography business. I know there are many opinions and options about the best digital cameras on the market, but what I need to know is other’s opinion on what camera offers the best bang for my buck? Personal experience with cameras would be wonderful!

hahahahahaha

Oh boy, I love these questions.

You are going to start a photography business but have no idea about which equipment to get.

Boy, you will go far.

Go and buy a Hasselblad kit and associated accessories.
Don’t worry that you know absolutely nothing about photography, you will have a top of the range camera so you are bound to take great pictures and make your fortune.

Alternatively – GROW UP. Take the next few years to learn the business and trade and then IF rpt IF you are good enough you will maybe know a little bit and be able to THINK about starting a business on your own.

I just received a project for my digital photography class which is to create a collage using as many photos as possible. The collage is supposed to be of something which interests me. I am a business student and I am taking this class as an elective. Business/accounting/finance are my most prominent interests? Any ideas on what sort of pictures I should include?

Considering business/accounting/finance are your most prominent interests, I do think that you can choose some pictures linking to those field, like the successful businessman all over the world, some famous accountants you may interest, or people have a great influence worldwide. Of course, you should classify them in different files to make them clearly.
To make the photos more interesting and attractive you can use a collage to customize your photos. You can have a try the Collage Maker, which is free on the app store. You can easy to make beautiful collages within a few seconds. If you are a Mac user, you can go to the App Store to install it for free.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/collage-maker/id434548368?mt=12

Hope it is useful and helpful to you.

I’m a teenager and I’m very confident in my skills. I don’t need to worry about the quality of my photography. People love it.
Now I just want to make a small business out of it, part-time. I’ve already researched what to do in the business, although, I don’t have a lot of money to spare for it right away.
My main question is: Can I start my business just having my Kodak Easyshare digital camera? It’s brand new, and it takes amazing pictures. I’m just worried about people thinking I’m a huge amateur for not having a big expensive Nikon or Canon camera. I can’t afford one right now, though if my business takes off, I’ll be able to buy it later.
What is your advice for me?
(Help from a real photography would be great!!)
photographer*
I don’t plan on going pro at all right now, especially since I’m only a teenager. I’d just like to make a few extra bucks taking beautiful pictures xD

Off course you can, I mean you are confident, your "camera" takes amazing pictures and people love your work.

Go for it – you will end up rich and famous.

Here is an example of what I’m looking for (just click the link below). Looking for business cards, cd stickers and cd case covers to go inside of the hard case to help with advertising my business. Thanks for any help!

http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=121_123

www.sassy-designs.net
www.designaglow.com
www.photographercafe.com
www.etsy.com
www.ukandu.com
www.simplycoturedesigns.com
www.paperiebotique.com

Or click any image you like and it will take you to the website:

http://www.google.com/search?q=photography+marketing+templates&start=10&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=707&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=YN0ETveBNobWgQfHlI2bBw&ved=0CEIQsAQ4Cg

Hi, I am just about to finish my first year of college, I am studying Art, Photography, Media and ICT. i am dropping Art at the end of my first year and picking up Digital Art, I am really interested in Photography and I would like to do something with my A level when i get it, can you suggest any career’s or business’ i can go start, other than a photographer please and i don’t really want to go to university thank you

Let me just say, it may be easy to register a company, however everything else is far harder, and you there is an extremely steep learning curve. Without an serious injection of capital to start up it’s very difficult to get a business off the ground, it’s all well and good having a business but you do need to go do all the PR work to bring in the customers if you want it to blossom.

I’ve been fortunate with my startup, as I’ve had some great advice, and accountants, but even then I’ve had no income for nine months, so don’t expect to make much profit for the first year or two.

I would say try to find an internship with a Graphic Design firm, and see where that goes.