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Advice – Photography Business Start Up
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Hi Everyone,
I have been doing photography over the past 3 years and have recently started photographing weddings and some portraits since mid summer last year. I would like to gain some advice if possible. I have been reading and trying to gain information from people about starting up a photographic business but I am a bit lost as to the exact details about getting started. Here are some information I have been told:
– Registered (Limited Company? Private? As Freelance Photographer?)
– Insurance (But with whom?, Plus Camera Insurance)
– Contracts? (Solicitor?)
– Back Up Photographer for Weddings? (If needed?)If anyone on the forum could help me out in any way about what they did about getting started and how I would extremely grateful. I’ve been drip fed information but everything still seems hazy and unclear.
Kind Regards,
DamienHi
– You can either register as a Ltd Company or as a Sole Trader. The easiest and cheapest route is as a sole trader and makes most sense for most people starting out like this. If things got bigger and you think you might end up employing people then a Ltd Company would be the better option. Go speak to an accountant, most will give you the initial consultation for free so you can get some advise. Definitely get an accountant anyway for the first year or two while you are setting up and purchasing equipment as they will help you loads.
– You need equipment and PL insurance at a minimum and maybe PI depending on what you are doing. There are a few different companies offering insurance so just google them and find one that suits you.
– You NEED a contract when offering services to the public. I cant stress this enough, both to protect you and them if and when anything goes wrong. You can either google and find one online and change it to suit your business or get a solicitor to draft one up for you. Whatever you do, do NOT take on a paying job without some kind of contract. One mess up without a contract and you could be in serious trouble if you have the wrong kind of client.
– Surely you have some friends/colleagues who are photographers? If not then you need to get to know some!! I’ve had to go to work half dead one time, I will never forget it. The second time I was sick I had a stand in for me. Much better :) Seriously though, this should be in your contract anyway, what happens if you cant turn up on the day etc. As well as having a back up of everything, I’ve had two cameras give up during a wedding so a backup is vital.
Best of luck!
Thank you very much for all your valuable information. I’m getting things sorted as I write this, insurance companies, accountants etc. Cheers. Extremely helpful :)
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