photo by recep-bg via iStock
Not every investment in your photography business is a good one and this is a difficult lesson that all photographers learn over time.
It’s where people get terms like, “gear acquisition syndrome.” Sometimes photographers run their businesses less like businesses and more like hobbies.
But, here’s the thing. Hobbies are expensive. If you’re serious about getting your photography business to work for you in the long run then you need to figure out how to get it to be the least expensive as possible right now.
Still, there are some investments for photography businesses that you must make. Your photography business isn’t going to make any money if you don’t have a subscription to an editing software, for instance.
To help you figure out which expenses are necessary, and which are not, I’ve put together this list about how to spend your money as a photographer.
A System for Carrying Your Gear
photo by meatbull via iStock
I understand the fact that carrying systems for your camera can get really expensive, really quickly. So, I also understand why so many photographers put off this photography business expense until they no longer can.
But, a proper carrying system, like the Holdfast MoneyMaker, is going to make your life so much easier. This means that you will be more comfortable taking back-to-back shoots, or doing a 12-hour day. It also means that you won’t have to invest as much of your personal finances into things like self-care for an aching back.
In the end, investing in a good carrying system is one of the simplest ways to boost your photography business by making yourself more comfortable.
Personal Education
photo by grinvalds via iStock
Another great way to invest in your photography business is to invest in your personal education, particularly because you can invest your time instead of your money. If you have a great day job that pays you hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, then I guess it’s basically like the same thing.
But, if you are worrying about all of your investments in your photography business and you aren’t worrying about your personal photography knowledge, then you aren’t going to get anywhere as quickly as you would like.
Whether you can dedicate a single hour every week to your practice, or whether you can devote two or three days to it, you need to pick a schedule and stick to it.
photo by MixMedia via iStock
Then, figure out what you think your photography is lacking. There are a ton of online message boards, like the one connected to this site, where you can post your photography and ask for advice. This type of a peer review will help you figure out what you should be focusing on, and what you’ve already perfected.
Whenever you’ve figured out the composition of photos, or posing of models, you can work on your editing expertise or figuring out exactly what all of the buttons on your camera do.
What I mean to say is that no matter how good you are at photography, there’s always something more you can learn.
Learn More:
- Do These Things if Your Photography Business is Slow
- How to Start a Photography Business Without Breaking the Bank
Photography Books
photo by Kemal Yildirim via iStock
One simple thing that you can invest in for your photography business is photography books. Whether you are running your photography business out of a studio, or out of your makeshift home office, photography books make a great addition to your space.
Whenever you find yourself with a little downtime, you can turn to all of the resources found in these photography books. This downtime could be a few hours or a few minutes, but regardless it is enough time to soak up a little knowledge.
I’m also a fan of printed photography books because they are inspirational. They help you to learn what types of photography you really love. Then, they help you to learn how to get your own photography to look like it.
Photography books are also (relatively) cheap, at least in comparison with other types of photography investments you could be making.
Fine Art Prints
One last photography investment you should be making is fine prints, like the ones CanvasHQ creates.
Fine photography prints allow you to hang your work, either in your home for your own personal use or in local businesses for sale. They help you to bring in additional revenue, particularly when your business is really slow. They also help you to learn what you like and don’t like about your own photography.
I’ve invested in photography prints since I first started photography and these pieces serve as a great reminder of where I’ve been and where I’m going. It can be a little embarrassing looking back on old prints, since I’ve grown so much as a photographer since first creating them, but it is also helpful because it reminds me that I won’t ever perfect this craft.
It really inspires me to keep working at it.
I suggest you get your prints off of CanvasHQ for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they’re pretty cheap when it comes to fine canvas prints. Sure, you can get canvas prints for like $10 from Walmart, but they will start to crack and peel within the first year or two of having them on your wall. Prints from CanvasHQ start at $20, but they’re actually designed to last.
In fact, prints from CanvasHQ are of an archival quality, which means that they can be passed onto your children and grandchildren. They’re designed to last over a century.