There’s more to running a photography business than picking up a camera and snapping images. Take a look at the costs of going pro, and you’ll have an idea of what it takes to keep your business in the black.
Portrait Studio LIGHTS & BACKDROPS
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
PORTRAIT SESSION REVENUE
$200
$250
Costs for Everyone:
CAMERAS:
$2,000 - $4,000
LENSES:
$1,150 - $2,400 STUDIO
$300 / month BAGS & GEAR:
Photo
nue ve
ckage Re Pa
$500 - $1,500
$387
PRINTING MEMBERSHIP:
$49 / month
Totacl osts yearly
0 $13,13
LENSES
$1,150
$587
Average revenue / client
MAC COMPUTER:
$1,299
HOW MANY SESSIONS TO… Break Even: 23 (1 every 15 days) Make minimum wage: 51 (1 every 7 days) Earn median photog salary ($28,490): 72 (1 every 5 days)
Wedding Photographer
BACKUP HARD DRIVES:
$170
PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE:
$119 / year
BUSINESS SETUP
INCORPORATING:
$100 - $200
ACCOUNTING SERVICES:
52.9%
of photographers specialize in weddings
Event attire
$200
$300 / year
ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE:
$129
INSURANCE:
$450 - $686 / year LEGAL FEES TO DRAFT CONTRACT:
$1,184
Sample portfolio
$1,000
E
LEAS
DOMAIN NAME:
$112
front
Store
th
on m / 0 ,00
$1
WEBSITE MAINTENANCE:
$96 / year
LENSES
2,400
Total sts a e y rly co
$2,814
BUSINESS TRAINING
$27,730
Average revenue / client
PRICE-SETTING GUIDE:
$149
BUSINESS SKILLS COURSE:
$500
HOW MANY WEDDINGS TO… Break Even: 10 (1 every 5 weekends) Make minimum wage: 16 (1 every 3 weekends) Earn median photog salary ($28,490): 21 (1 every 2 weekends)
The Big Picture 69
%
of US photographers are self-employed
85
%
MARKETING COURSE:
$799
TOTAL
$9,530 $14,780
go out of business within 3 years
BEAT THE ODDS: aim for profits of at least 35% of gross sales
