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Starting a Photography Business

Danie Bester DPC Danie Bester, DPC
Overview
Curriculum
  • 21 Sections
  • 121 Lessons
  • 18 Quizzes
  • 50h Duration
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Your course
1 Lesson
  1. Your course
Module 1: Introduction and self-assessment
10 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Hobby, side business or career?
  2. What clients pay photographers for
  3. The three pillars of photography
  4. The rich photographer's mindset
  5. Why photography businesses struggle
  6. Don't quit your day job yet
  7. Preliminary self-assessment
  8. A few situations to think about
  9. What to do with your answers
  10. Practice: Your starting position
  11. Module 1 quiz
Module 2: Different types of photography businesses
12 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Finding a direction
  2. Consumer photography
  3. Commercial photography
  4. Fine art photography
  5. Editorial photography
  6. Where the categories overlap
  7. Who pays and what they are buying
  8. Photographers to study in each category
  9. Shoot what you love and understand the work
  10. Advantages and disadvantages of the four categories
  11. A real-world example: Hougaard Malan
  12. Practice: A direction to explore
  13. Module 2 quiz
Module 3: Shaping your photography identity and portfolio
12 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Developing a balanced skillset
  2. Gaining experience on real shoots
  3. Making practice useful
  4. Developing versatility
  5. Working for exposure
  6. Choosing equipment for the work
  7. Investing in your development
  8. Developing your visual vocabulary
  9. Building a portfolio
  10. Showing your portfolio
  11. Making room for personal projects
  12. Practice: Bring your work together
  13. Module 3 quiz
Module 4: The roadmap ahead
4 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Using AI as you work through the course
  2. How your plan will develop
  3. The twelve steps through the business material
  4. Meet the case studies
  5. Module 4 quiz
Module 5: Understanding your business and market
6 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Your initial business assessment
  2. Your vision and mission
  3. Case study: first business assessments
  4. Networking and industry research
  5. Analysing your market and target audience
  6. Practice: Your first business assessment and market research
  7. Module 5 quiz
Module 6: Goals and realistic expectations
5 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Setting clear expectations
  2. Why photography start-ups fail
  3. SMART goals
  4. Case study: SMART goals
  5. Practice: Your SMART goals
  6. Module 6 quiz
Module 7: Your USP, strengths and weaknesses
5 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Identifying your unique selling proposition
  2. Case study: finding a USP
  3. Strengths and weaknesses
  4. Case study: strengths and weaknesses
  5. Practice: Your USP, strengths and weaknesses
  6. Module 7 quiz
Module 8: Your first working business plan
3 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Writing your business plan
  2. Case study: business plans
  3. Practice: Your first working business plan
  4. Module 8 quiz
Module 9: Branding your photography business
8 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Your brand strategy
  2. Case study: brand strategies
  3. Choosing a business name and logo
  4. A brand identity that matches your photography
  5. Positioning yourself in the market
  6. Your photographer's biography
  7. Case study: short bios
  8. Practice: Your brand and your biography
  9. Module 9 quiz
Module 10: Business essentials
6 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Don't quit your day job yet: build the business first
  2. Professionalism and presentation
  3. Time management and workflow
  4. Business structure and legal requirements
  5. Real-life success story: Pieter Uys
  6. Practice: Organise your working business
  7. Module 10 quiz
Module 11: Financial planning and funding
7 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Financial planning and budgeting
  2. Budgeting
  3. Cash flow
  4. Paying yourself, and your own safety net
  5. Case study: Bert's three-year projection
  6. Funding
  7. Practice: Your budget, cash flow and funding
  8. Module 11 quiz
Module 12: Pricing, licensing and contracts
7 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Pricing strategies and packages
  2. The client brief and your proposal
  3. Licensing and usage rights
  4. Contracts and legal documentation
  5. Sample contracts and templates
  6. Common contract problems, and how to avoid them
  7. Practice: Your prices and your contract
  8. Module 12 quiz
Module 13: Insurance, risk and protecting your files
6 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Insurance
  2. Keeping people and equipment safe
  3. Protecting your digital files
  4. Protecting your online assets
  5. When something goes wrong
  6. Practice: Your insurance and backup plan
  7. Module 13 quiz
Module 14: Accounting, invoicing and client systems
3 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Accounting and invoicing software
  2. Client relationship management (CRM) tools
  3. Practice: Your records and client system
  4. Module 14 quiz
Module 15: Marketing your photography business
9 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Developing a strategic marketing plan
  2. Building an effective online presence
  3. Using social media for your business
  4. Networking and collaborations
  5. Client testimonials and referral programmes
  6. From enquiry to delivery
  7. When a client is unhappy
  8. Case study: marketing plans
  9. Practice: Your marketing plan
  10. Module 15 quiz
Module 16: Growth and diversification
7 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. The power of diversification
  2. Keeping your core focus
  3. Expanding your income streams
  4. Building a team
  5. Avoiding burnout
  6. Case study: growth and diversification
  7. Practice: Your growth plan
  8. Module 16 quiz
Module 17: A step-by-step plan
5 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. The road ahead
  2. Before you launch: check that it all fits together
  3. Photography business checklist
  4. After launch: compare your plan with your results
  5. Practice: Your launch plan
  6. Module 17 quiz
Module 18: Using AI in your photography and your business
3 Lessons1 Quiz
  1. Part 1: AI in your photography
  2. Part 2: AI in your business
  3. Practice: Your AI toolkit and business brief
  4. Module 18 quiz
Words used in these modules
1 Lesson
  1. Words used in these modules
Continue learning
1 Lesson
  1. Continue learning

This course takes you from 'I think I could do this' to a written plan for a photography business you can run. You will decide what you will photograph, who will pay for it and what you will charge, check whether the numbers work, and put in place what you need before the first client books.

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