This is true of any job that you sell your services. I am a plumber that is self employed for the last ten years of twenty years of plumbing. How I run my business now is much different from ten years ago. Funny you said out loud that you couldn't afford your own services. I had that as an epiphany the other day and kind of smiled to myself.

Yes 👍 I would be interested in a photo business course. The insight of the successful is only so useful… we often learn best from mistakes, mischance and misfortune.

Ages ago (film days), I shot a few weddings as a side gig. My work was pretty good. But I clearly didn't price myself at a level to attract clients who'd make all the work worth my while. One groom wanted to renegotiate after the event, before I delivered the album sets he contracted for. I stuck to my guns. Two years later I sold him the negatives just to be rid of him, something I swore I'd never do. But I kept the deposit. I just shoot for myself now.

This is a relief because I have a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 from 2013 and after watching tons of photography videos I'm all self-conscious about shooting with a crop sensor camera. To hear people talk, you shouldn't even ask to be paid for your work unless you're working with full frame or mirrorless gear, and only topline lenses (Canon L series, etc.). I'd be interested in learning more about a photography business in terms of a) starting off as a side hustle, b) business model for location shooting (I don't want a studio), and c) monetizing different genres (street, documentary, travel, event, abstract etc.) There are lots of channels out there with advice on setting up a portrait business if you're doing a lot of staging, studio light setups, props, etc. But for the more organic variety of portraiture, there's crickets. Thank you!

Wow, thank you, Alex. This is incredibly timely. I'm at point where more and more people are approaching me about commercial and portrait photography (including my fulltime employer where I do something quite different) Your advice and experience is appreciated and I look forward to the possiblity of a course like the one that you describe. Thanks for the promo code on Studio Ninja.

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

as an amateur photographer I am making zero money but I do enjoy photography and your KZfaq videos

Excellent episode, useful information. Thanks Alex!

Yes pls, do that course👍🏻

Thanks you so much for all you pearls of wisdom! I am a photography who started at college as a mature student at 39. I just finished my HNC and returned this term to do my HND. It feels as though I started in the wonderful world of photography a bit late in the game. I've always been more artistically driven but never considered actually trying utilize that part of me and try to start a buisness or at least get a job that could allow me to express this part of my nature. I understand that I have so much to learn, but I really get so much inspiration and knowledge from you're video's. I completely resonate with your philosophy and understanding regarding photography, you're personal journey and experiences. Your a huge inspiration for so many of us, thanks you and keep up the great work.

Thank you. That made me think about some things.

Beautiful!Thank you!

Superb advice Alex! And btw your portraits in this video are stunning! 👏

Great video, super excited about your course

Oh thank you, I would be happy to wee your course. I'm seriously considering starting my own photography business.

Definitely! I’m in!

Oh yes, most certainly interested in the course you mention

Man, what a timely video for me. I'm a long time hobbyist that started from scratch a couple months ago, re-educating myself with plans to start a business. I keep being asked when I'm going to start, and my answer has been not until I'm 100% comfortable and confident using the camera, lighting and producing a result I'm happy with, so that I can 100% focus on the client and not be thinking about camera stuff. I can't even think about pricing at this time, I don't think my work is good enough to give away yet LOL and that's OK with me. Alex, the nuggets you dropped today, like you always do, are gold for me and I have a zillion more questions LOL. I am definitely interested in a course on this from you!

Thank you!

I am just now in the process of putting together everything for a pet portrait photography business. So your video called out to me big time👍 thanks and keep putting out the great content!

I need to hear that, thanks man.

These are great advises! I been really thinking about starting a side business with my photography. It's currently a hobbie, i do hope to see how far I can go. More videos on the business side would be wonderful.

Hi Alex, yes I am very much interested in your knowledge about running a photography business, keep us posted on that course, I want to subscribe. Thank YOU ever so much for posting your video's, a welcome breath of fresh air amongst all the gear related KZfaq photography channels. Best from Holland.

I would love to learn how to start a photography business from the ground up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

I actually added this video to my "Photography Tips" playlist, even though you didn't give any "photographic tips". I'm hoping one day to start a business, and this video was excellent!

Alex, love your videos and advice. Please count me in from the uk.

very informative 10mins+ on the various side to running a photography business. Cinematography (T stops) is a expensive business and (worth) can vary greatly. working on getting more clients, marketing points useful, impressed with new sony a7r V (8K) and very stills output. trying to keep costs down at the moment. thought provoking and useful.

I've only ever done weddings as a favour but it can be stressful as it is such a responsibility. One wedding I was given a long list of shots including the instruction not to photograph "him" with "her" as they were exes. The other consideration, what do you do if it is chucking it down with rain? (Not mentioned here). You can take group shots indoors but where? And on such days light levels go through the floor - and into the cellar. Then you get know-alls sticking their oar in or people tugging at your coat during the indoor shots as they can't see the bride etc. One wedding photographer told me his tripod mounted Hassleblad was knocked over! Yikes! Then there's getting paid. Excellent advice here, way beyond my humble level. Excellent videos. Robin Witting

I’d be interested in learning more!

That was super informative, thank you. Definitely warrants a re-watch (or 3). Add me to a list of people that would be interested in your course about starting a photography business from the ground up!

Interested in the course!

I’d love to attend a course on starting a photography business.

the secret trick: a shoot map. 🙏👍👌

Nice

I would be seriously interested in knowing more about the business side of photography

An online course and/or an e-book would be great.

Please do a course on the art of "seeing"

Good life lesson. Id like to transition into a photography business but I'm the wrong side of fifty so may not be for me however some nous wouldn't go astray. Big lesson from this is that we must avoid be led a merry dance

Thank you for this video. Yes, I would be interested in a course. 3-years in to my business and I recognise some of the pitfalls. My goal is to grow my business but struggling - advise would be valuable.

Value your time and art. :)

A photography business course sounds good.

Would love a course. I’m in the beginning stages of starting my business and it’s a little overwhelming. I want to do it right and save myself as much headache as possible.

one questions: if you would have plenty of money and not have to care about income stream: what would you do differently in terms of your a) KZfaq videos and b) your photography/photographic art? Would you retire and slump into „the universe“?

I would be interested in you doing a course on photography business

Would love to do a course with you on how to build a business

I took a 6 week class in starting a photography business. It concentrated on the marketing aspect so I’m still lost concerning the money side (accounting for ex). And the marketing strategies haven’t been super effective. I need help

I do care about professionalism not about money, isn’t it unbelievable. Yes it is. And I do care a) about your inspirations (slime) and b) about beauty

..and by the way: your videos are not priceable, they are for free for me as an amateur but worth a ton

i like listening to you. you can also talk about wild animals, i dont care.

My advice to beginner familiy portratists is to, first consider the client's home. Second, practice your landscape photography. Offer clients' happy places, Place your subjects in the landscape to photograph them. Find your local parks, and photograph them. Use these when your clients don't have a clear idea of their own places. Take a bus trip around your area, several perhaps. Travel end to end, photographing interesting locations with your phone. Do have GPS enabled, so you can review the snaps and go and have a closer look. Charge by the half day, you are not going to do any of these in under an hour. Include travel time from your home in that period.