You have decided to start a family photography business but where do you go from here? Here are a few tips to help you get started. Having spent years as a family photographer before building my commercial business, I learned a lot of things along the way that I wish I knew then!
"Photographing families can be fun and challenging all at the same time. But it allows you to be creative and attract the clients that are looking to get away from your typical posed family photography." -- Darleen Prem
1. Don't give away your photography. As with anything new the temptation to give away your images will get the best of you. Magazines and other outlets will be happy to use your photos but in the long run you devalue your talent. That is not to say that you don't share images on social media to get your name out there, but approach with caution when giving away your images to media outlets.
2. Ask your friends to help you out. Your friendship circle can help you build a portfolio of great images for social media and your website. From babies to high school seniors your circle of friends will be happy to loan you their kids in exchange for the images. It is a great way to practice building your skills without the pressure of a paid job.
3. Develop your own unique style. Decide up front what kind of style you want to go with. For me my niche has always been more candid photography and more black and white. As a family photographer you have to be versatile but you also want to have a photography style. Once you develop your own unique style of photography, you will attract clients that are searching for that "look". My clients are not hung up any particular pose, they are looking for a unique and fun shoot each year.
4. Don't get stuck on poses. You do need to pose families to some degree but don't get stuck on any one look. Mix it up. You want your portfolio to show that you can be creative and provide a family session that will be unique from others.
5. Don't drag your studio lighting outdoors. Unless this is the style of photography your looking to do, a good flash and the right outdoor lighting is all you will need. Some photographers like to drag all their lighting gear outdoors. And that is fine if your looking to do posed outdoor photography. I personally like the ability to float around and catch "moments", but that is my particular style.
6. Get a release signed up front. If you plan on using the images on a website, it is always a good idea to have your clients sign a release especially when it involves children. You can find a simple release form on most photography sites. Here is an example https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/model-release-form-template/
We will be covering these things and more at our #woodstockphotographyworkshops this fall. Please share our blog and check back on our website for our upcoming classes being announced soon @darleenpremphotography and www.darleenprem.com.
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