Photography Business Must Have List
I’ve Seen it So Many Times
Have you ever known anyone like this?
They buy a “nice” camera and decide to become a photographer. And they take good pictures! They follow their dreams BEFORE they set-up systems and a legit business. And about a year after they “start” their business, they realize it’s A LOT of work and they decide to close-up shop.
I know SO many photographers who have done just this. Because being a photographer isn’t all about taking pictures – in fact that’s a very small part of what I do!
A business needs to be run like a business! Shocker – I know!
So, as a photographer, I’ve put together my photography business MUST HAVE list! And I hope this helps.
Photography Business MUST HAVE List
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A mentor. I lucked out and found a photographer who is also an amazing business guru! Sabrina Gebhardt and all her classes and mentoring sessions are the absolute BEST! I did an in-person mentoring session with Sabrina in the summer of 2019 (man does that feel like a lifetime ago!). Invest in in-person mentoring when it’s available again! You won’t regret it! And then I did two rounds of her online Mastermind. Both were outstanding! And her mastermind and retreat Root to Rise. Use the code NATASHAS for a discount!
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Client Relationship Management Software. I use Dubsado! There are a lot of other CRMs out there, but I personally love Dubsado. It keeps all my clients and inquiries in one place. It literally takes my clients from inquiry to booking to final thank you! It’s a lifesaver!
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Lightroom & Photoshop. Yes, I use both! I was a Photoshop only gal until a little over a year ago. Once I switched to Lifestyle Sessions, I needed to be able to edited on average 50-75 images from each session and Photoshop was just too slow. I still import photos to Photoshop to fix baby acne and a few other things, but I’m now a Lightroom girl!
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Branding Photo Session. A MUST!!!! Seriously, don’t put it off. You need professional pictures of YOU! Yes, you can do some pictures with a tripod, but hiring someone takes the whole experience and end result to a different level! I have used several branding photographers and I recommend booking someone who specializes in it!
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A good calendar. Whether it’s online or paper – you need something to keep your days in order. I’m a paper/pencil kind-of girl – so I love my Erin Condren calendar. I like to be able to look at my whole week and it allows me to do just that!
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An assistant who doesn’t sleep on the job (like my pup Georgie!)…joking! But in all seriousness – hire help if you need it!
My photography business MUST HAVE list might look a little different than yours, and I’d love to know what’s on your list! So, please leave a comment and let me know what your MUST HAVE business items are!
photo credit: Pamela Wandrey Photography
Natasha Sewell is a family and newborn photographer plus a photographer educator and mentor. She captures family’s joyful chaos in the place they are most comfortable – home. Natasha serves Washington, DC and surrounding areas and specializes in maternity, baby, and family photography.
