5 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Photography Business
So you started a photography business—congratulations! But what does starting a business even mean? Does it mean you told some friends and family? Did you start offering sessions for free to build your portfolio? You bought some business cards? You designed a logo? Or you started an Instagram account?
While all of these are exciting parts of starting your photography business, there are likely some steps that you have missed or will need to take to make it legitimate, professional, and ultimately profitable. It’s easy to overlook crucial details in the excitement of beginning your photography business journey, but these mistakes might lead to confusion, inefficiency, and a lack of professionalism.
As a professional photographer for over seven years in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have spent a lot of time finding my way in the industry and overcoming many of these mistakes and obstacles. This is why I am in a unique position to share them with you and guide you through these common pitfalls—and how to avoid them. At Woodall Creative Co., I help new and seasoned photographers alike navigate the process of setting up their businesses for success, and I love seeing how small changes can make a meaningful difference.
This blog will guide you through the five most common mistakes photographers make when starting their business and how to set your business up for success from the beginning.
1. Not Having a Website
The very first thing I did when I was starting my photography business was invest in a website. The great thing is, this can be a very small investment with a very big impact. Common website builders like Squarespace and Wix start as low as $16 per month, while a more robust and customizable system like Showit is still only $23 per month.
Beyond the investment in your business and brand, a website truly is your way to establish your online presence and credibility. In the age of social media, it may be tempting to start your business by just creating a free social media profile on Instagram or TikTok. However, the problem with this approach is that you do not own the content or the medium. If the platform goes away (as we have seen is a possibility lately), your business’s online presence will cease to exist.
A website is the first place most customers will go to learn about your business and has the ability to be optimized to show in search results for your ideal client.
Get started by creating a simple website showcasing your portfolio, services, and pricing.
A note on pricing: I highly recommend showcasing your starting prices on your website. This does one very important thing for your business: it pre-qualifies your leads because they will know your prices—it attracts and repels the right clients.
You can truly start your site with just three pages:
- Home page – Sharing about yourself, your business, and your unique approach.
- Services page – Showcasing your services, pricing, and portfolio.
- Contact page – Ensure it includes a booking feature, either through integrations with the best booking apps for small businesses like HoneyBook or directly on the site.
Get a free month of Showit when you sign up using this link.
2. Not Having a Way to Book Clients Easily
When you are just starting out in your photography business, your number one priority is to book clients. Your clients are going to want a seamless, professional booking experience.
Often, when just starting out, you don’t have a booking system or CRM (Client Relationship Management) software, so you are stuck with something basic—a contact form on your website and back-and-forth emails to schedule sessions. While this approach may work in the short term, once things pick up, you may find yourself missing emails or inquiries, and thus missing out on booking paid clients.
Another common mistake is using a social media platform as your booking medium. Similar to what I discussed above about having a professional website, utilizing your DMs to book is unprofessional and will often leave you without paying clients.
Getting Started With Booking Apps
There are some easy ways to get started with booking in a more professional way, some of which will be an investment, while others may be available for free or at a limited cost.
- Google Workspace: If you use Google Workspace as your business email provider (a great yearly investment that allows you to have an @yourdomain.com email address), you can also utilize their booking feature. The business standard option at just $14 per month gives you access to create a booking page, link a Stripe account to collect payments, and automate email reminders to clients.
- ShootProof: An all-in-one solution that can be your gallery delivery service, contract & invoicing provider, and booking site. You can start with their smallest gallery plan at less than $10 per month and add booking for just $4.99 per month. Use this link to get started for free: http://shpr.ws/wmW
- HoneyBook: My go-to tool when you’re ready to make a bigger investment in your business. HoneyBook is an all-in-one CRM that allows you to book clients, create custom proposals and invoices, automate follow-up emails, and streamline your client experience. Sign up using my referral code to get 30% off your first year!
No matter which platform you use to start your photography business, when looking for the best booking apps for small businesses, features like calendar syncing, payment integration, and customizable forms will be key to creating a professional appearance for your clients.
3. Not Starting Your Photography Business Bank Account
The third biggest mistake I see new photographers making is not having a business bank account.
When you are first starting your photography business, you will likely be registering your business as a sole proprietorship (don’t worry, we’ll get to that next), but this means that all you need is a separate bank account in your name. It doesn’t have to be in your business name, but it does need to be completely separate from your personal checking and savings accounts.
Why? Because mixing personal and business finances complicates taxes and budgeting. A business bank account ensures that all client payments and business expenses are kept separate, making tax time much easier.
In addition to opening a business bank account (separate from your personal account), you will also want to start keeping account of your income and expenses. For the first 5 years of my business, I did this through an excel spreadsheet. Nothing fancy, but clear descriptions of deposits collected from my clients, and expenses with descriptions. In addition, I kept all of my receipts for expenses for the year so that I could ensure my end of the year profit & loss statement was accurate.
All of the booking apps I described above will provide you with reports that you can pull throughout the year to help you with determining your income. Expenses will need to be reported separately. HoneyBook integrates directly with quickbooks which is very helpful as well.
At some point it will be time to switch to an accounting software like Quickbooks, or start working with a dedicated accountant for your business. However, if you are not someone who is good with keeping track of numbers and receipts, it might be worth your time to invest in something like Quickbooks at the beginning.
4. Not Registering Your Business Correctly
Ok, now we can get to registering your business. There are multiple ways in which you may need to register your business, however the two most common are:
- A DBA (Doing Business As) or Fictitious Business Name registration (renewable every 3-5 years).
- A local business license (usually renewed annually).
Why is this important? Most importantly, operating without proper registration can lead to fines and legal issues. Secondly, it alerts your local area to your business. And finally, it allows your clients to know that your business is legitimate.
Check this guide for specific requirements by state.
Most importantly, research what’s required for your state, county, and city and ensure you are compliant.
5. Not Starting With Photography Business Insurance
You may think, “I’m just starting my photography business, why would I need insurance?” Here’s why:
- It protects your gear if it’s damaged, lost, or stolen. Your gear = your livelihood. Without it, you’re not a photographer.
- It protects your assets in case of a lawsuit or injury at a session. While it’s unlikely that a major injury happens while on a session, or you get sued, insurance is there to protect you.
- It is good business practice—some venues require proof of insurance to work on-site. You are providing a professional service, and when you don’t have insurance, that professional service is just less professional.
What To Look For In Photography Business Insurance
When looking for photography business insurance you will want to find insurance that includes the following at minimum:
- Indemnification coverage which would include: equipment malfunction, unsatisfied clients and data loss.
- Gear coverage which would include: Cameras, lenses, other photography equipment. And also includes data processing equipment such as your computer and hard drives.
- General Liability coverage which would include: Injury, damage to premises (fire, lightening, explosion), medical payments, products or completed operations.
A few options for insurance include:
- PPA (Professional Photographers of America) – Insurance add-on to a yearly professional membership.
- Hiscox – Offers photography-specific insurance plans.
- Thimble – Comprehensive plans and ishort-term coverage for one-off shoots or venues.
Setting Yourself Up for Success When Starting a Photography Business
Starting a photography business is an exciting journey, but avoiding these common mistakes can help you build a strong foundation for long-term success. When you take the time to invest in a website & set up a seamless booking system. When you open a dedicated business bank account, register your business, and get insurance, you will ensure you’re running your business professionally from the start.
While it might feel overwhelming, remember that every step you take toward creating a legitimate business will pay off. With the right systems in place, you’ll save yourself time and stress and present yourself as a professional. This will make it easier to attract and retain your ideal clients.
Are you looking for guidance on setting up your photography business the right way? Download my free Photography Business Starter Guide
And, when you’re ready, reach out to me directly for support in setting up your business for success!
