Self-employed as a photographer? What requirements must be met?
The professional field of photography is a good example of how it can work to turn a hobby into a profession. Every photographer - professional and amateur alike - started out in the same way with their love of photography: Go ahead and take pictures and get better and better over time. Working as a self-employed photographer is basically not difficult. The difficulties become apparent when it comes to being able to make a living from photography. At Fotoalbum-Discount, we show you what is particularly important.
To work independently as a photographer, you do not need to have any special training. It is therefore sufficient to know the basic functions of a camera and be able to take a photo. However, you should attend various courses and workshops that prepare you to work independently as a photographer. Even though learning by doing is the order of the day, especially in this industry, it is better if you deepen your professional knowledge through appropriate training and further education and put it on a solid footing. The fact that photography is no longer a protected profession has led to a major change in the industry. Besides the good professionals, there are countless people who may call themselves photographers, but are actually far from being one.
In order to work as a self-employed photographer, you must have a trade licence. The registration is done through the local trade office. When registering, you must also indicate which legal form you choose for your business. Since photographers usually work alone, the sole proprietorship is the most popular legal form. As a sole proprietor, you have a manageable amount of bureaucracy. However, if you fail with your self-employment as a photographer, you are liable not only with your business assets, but also with your private assets.
With creativity into self-employment as a photographer!
In addition to the above-mentioned general requirements, it is of course indispensable to have a minimum of creativity as a photographer. In this profession, an eye for detail and for that certain something is required. Good photographers are artists who arrange the image motif and perfectly stage every single accompanying element. The professional photographer not only looks at the objects themselves, but also has the light, perspectives, blurs, backgrounds and much more in mind. The finished picture is always a total work of art.
If you want to work successfully as a self-employed photographer, social skills are of great importance in addition to professional skills. If you don't want to specialise in landscape or animal photography, contact with people is essential. Whether it's wedding photography for your personal photo album, portrait or business photography - especially in the early days, the people you photograph will in most cases also be your clients. To ensure a professional and satisfying cooperation, it is indispensable to really listen to the customers' wishes. Individual solutions and suggestions make the customers satisfied and the photographer successful.
A good feeling for photography is the basis for a successful self-employment as a photographer, but unfortunately this is not enough to stand on safe ground financially in the long run. If you want to hold your own and be successful in a highly competitive market, you have to make a name for yourself and stand out from the crowd. Most photographers succeed with the help of an unmistakable "signature", a very special style that is immediately recognisable when you look at the photos.
Another important success factor for self-employment as a photographer is good marketing. Since digitalisation, most photographers focus on social media. These are an effective and at the same time free way of presenting your photos.
Self-employed as a photographer without a photo studio?
If you want to work as a self-employed photographer, you first have to invest a lot of money in high-quality equipment, especially in the early days. Cameras, lenses, tripods, memory cards, etc. are expensive purchases, but they are necessary if you want to successfully gain a foothold as a professional photographer.
Things are a little different, however, when it comes to having one's own photo studio. What was an absolute must for every photographer just a few years ago no longer plays a major role. Young photographers in particular consciously decide against having their own studio: to save money and to remain flexible. Classic studio photography has lost popularity among clients. People who have their photos taken prefer urban, natural and even completely extravagant environments. So if you want to work as a self-employed photographer, you can confidently save the costs for a studio. And if a customer does want to be photographed in front of the classic photo canvas, there is always the option of renting appropriate premises at short notice.
