Photography and business

Articles about the business side of photography – how to be a pro photographer

Keith often gets asked about becoming a professional photographer.

As he usually says, it’s more about business acumen than photographic skills… and has written a number of articles specifically covering different aspects of setting up and running a photography business.

This page indexes all our business related articles and links to a few external sites that Keith has found helpful in this area.

Keith is always happy to answer questions about anything on the site – it’s often where he gets inspiration for all our articles.

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More specialist index pages

• Keith’s photo blog
• Keith’s photography videos
• Index for all of Keith’s videos [600+]
• Articles and Reviews
• Colour Management
• All about using tilt and shift
• Equipment Keith uses
• Photography book reviews

For even more detail, check the category listings and search box at the right of the page

Articles reflecting business aspects of photography

• 7 Grand ideas – key questions for a successful photo businessSeven key questions you need to address about your professional photography business from the standpoint of your clients and potential clients. You may not like it but they are looking at your offerings and asking "What's in it for me?"
• OK, what’s special about your photography businessTo get your photography business noticed you need to stand out from the crowd. Remember to market the benefits you offer as opposed to features. There are lots of similar businesses out there - you need to find the unique points that differentiate your business from the others.
• 5 ‘M’s – Marketing for photographersWhy are professional photographers so bad at marketing? Some things they should consider to improve the performance of their business. Just make it easier, they all begin with the same letter.
• Photographers – are you of value to your clients?As a professional photographer, do you know the value of your photographic work to your clients? Do you make the mistake of trying to sell your business features rather than the benefits clients will get from using you?
• CMYK – beyond the inkjet printAs a photographer with work in books and magazines, it helps to know the basics of large CMYK printing and how it affects the reproduction of your images. A guide for photographers
• CMYK for photographersThere is usually no good reason for photographers to work with CMYK images. Article looks at some of the things you need to consider if you need to use CMYK.
• Using a professional photographer – free guideFree guide to choosing a professional commercial photographer. Questions that you should consider asking your commercial photographer
• Photography training directoryPhotography training directory - professional photographers who offer photography training and courses. Submissions welcome

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Some of Keith’s personal views about photography

• We have two pricesWe have two prices: free and full price. Being asked to do work for free is a regular hassle for many photographers. Why I insist on being paid, until I find a shop exchanging photo credits for food.
• How to be a professional photographerSome of Keith Cooper's thoughts and observations for those wanting to become a professional photographer. Things it's worth knowing about. Yes, you can be a pro photographer, but it takes more than photography skills
• Usability – Making your web site visitors’ lives easierWhy considering usability can really help make your web site visitors' lives easier. Happier visitor make for a better and more successful site.
• Pictures at an exhibition – preparationProblems, considerations and issues encountered when showing and displaying an exhibition of large photographs by Keith Cooper. Making it work for your photographs

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Keith’s photo business videos

These are videos embedded in articles/reviews.

For a full index of all videos on YouTube, there is a categorised index page here:

Index: All of Keith’s YT videos

• Video: Limited edition printsVideo: Limited edition prints of your work - are they really worth making and are they even relevant to the print market you are in? Who wants to buy them?
• Video: working as an architectural photographerVideo: working as an architectural photographer - Is it a job for you? Looking at the business and photography aspects of being a professional architectural photographer
• Video: Selling prints from your archiveVideo: Selling prints from your archive? Seems a good way to make some money... You've lots of photos and a good printer. Just how difficult could it be
• Video: The print quality triangleVideo: The print quality triangle - Are you looking for a cheaper high quality printer for photos/art? What factors limit your choice and how do you decide what matters
• Video: Sell your fine art printsVideo Keith looks at what you need to consider if you want to sell your fine art prints into the 'fine art' market. Could your hobby become a business? (7m 40s)
• Video: So, do you need a large printerVideo: Do you need a large printer. Some of the things to consider before getting a large format printer - it's about far more than bigger sheets of paper (21 mins)
• Video: Showing prints at galleriesVideo: Keith looks at showing prints at galleries and what you need to know and ask about if you want to exhibit and maybe sell your own photos at galleries (19m 08s)
• Video: Selling your printsvideo: Keith looks at if you can make money from selling your prints of your photos and artwork? What do you need to know? (10m 36s)

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Lighting, colour and web use of images

• CMYK – beyond the inkjet printAs a photographer with work in books and magazines, it helps to know the basics of large CMYK printing and how it affects the reproduction of your images. A guide for photographers
• CMYK for photographersThere is usually no good reason for photographers to work with CMYK images. Article looks at some of the things you need to consider if you need to use CMYK.
• Room lighting for image editingPaying some attention to the lighting levels and decoration in the areas where you edit photographs has a beneficial influence on quality and consistency
• Better pictures for your web siteSimple steps for improving the quality of photos used on your web site. Things that can make a real difference.
• Saving images for web useSome of the things to consider when saving images for web use - how care with resizing and basic sharpening can give them a bit more punch

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Books and reviews for photographers with a business

• Book Review: The photography exercise bookBook review and video: The photography exercise book by Bert Krages. Training your eye to shoot like a pro. Subjects to study and photograph that will help train your photographic vision and produce the photos you want (and know why)
• Book review – Marketing and promotionBook Review: The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion (Maria Piscopo) Reviewed by Keith Cooper, professional commercial photographer and author of many of our business related articles. Includes short video review
• Book Review: Starting Your Career as a Freelance PhotographerBook review: Starting Your Career as a Freelance Photographer (Tad Crawford, Chuck DeLaney) Just how do you run a photography business. What things do you need to address? How will you market and sell your services, and make your business last.
• Book Review On Being a PhotographerKeith Cooper reviews the book 'On Being a Photographer: A Practical Guide' by Bill Jay and David Hurn ISBN-13: 978-1888803068
• Book Review Make money with your digital photography Erin ManningKeith Cooper reviews Make money with your digital photography by Erin Manning, a comprehensive guide and introduction to the business of photography

Training – for companies

Training other people to take better photos means I have to reflect on my own work and practices – never a bad thing to do every so often.

These are aspects of training that I provide (on location, not at our offices) as part of Northlight’s business.

We also have a training directory that is freely available for any professional photographer who offers training.

It’s arranged by location, so as long as you are a pro photographer, a free link is available

Useful external resources for photography businesses

• Model releases and commercial use – Great article by Dan Heller about why most of what you hear on the internet about the need for releases is rubbish
• http://www.danheller.com/truisms.html
  Some very pertinent information that Keith regularly points out to the many people who ask him about becoming a professional photographer.
• Business Link UK government advice and support for setting up your own business
• Business in Canada – useful advice, not just for Canada
• US Small Business Administration