Just Started Your Photography Business? Here’s What to Focus on First
Starting your own photography business is exciting, overwhelming, and honestly a little chaotic all at the same time. Once you’ve officially launched, the next question becomes…now what?
When I first started my photography business, over a decade ago, I quickly realized there’s so much more to becoming a successful photographer than just taking pretty photos. Building a portfolio, finding clients, managing contracts, workflows, galleries, and marketing your business all come with a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes.
I promise, you do not have to figure it all out perfectly from day one.
I’ve rounded up the tools, systems, and strategies that genuinely helped me grow from a brand new photographer into a fully booked photographer in the hustle and bustle of New York City. So if you’re wondering how to start your photography business without a background in business or marketing, these recommendations will help you book your first clients, streamline your workflows, and look more professional online.
P.S. If you want to skip ahead, I’ve included a full roundup of all my recommendations at the bottom of this blog post.
Build Your Portfolio and Find Your First Clients
When you’re first building your photography business, having a clear photography niche will help you stand out and attract the right clients.
Families? Newborns? Branding? Motherhood? Weddings and engagements? The more clear you are on your ideal client, the easier it is for people to remember you and refer clients your way.
Photography is a personal business built on genuine connections, so be sure to take advantage of local networking opportunities like community events, volunteer opportunities, and offering low-budget sessions. Don’t be afraid to tell people you’re a photographer or promote model calls to build your portfolio and connect with potential clients.
Caveat: Make sure those sessions align with the type of work you want to book in the future since these images will become the foundation of your portfolio.
As your business grows, focusing on local SEO, setting up a Google Business Profile, and creating SEO-optimized content will help clients actually find you online.
Set Up the Systems That Make You Look Professional
One of the biggest mistakes I see photographers make when first setting up their business is trying to manage everything manually. Between collecting payments, scheduling sessions, sending contracts, invoices, and proposals, it can quickly eat up hours of your time. And every hour you spend manually managing admin work is time you’re not spending growing your business or booking more sessions.
As a veteran photographer, I can confidently say that having systems in place early on not only makes your business feel more professional but also saves you a ton of time and helps your photography business become more profitable from the start.
The first thing I recommend is having a contract for every single project, even with friends or family. Your contract should clearly outline image usage rights, timelines, expectations, and the scope of work so everyone stays protected and on the same page.
I cannot recommend HoneyBook enough as a CRM for photographers (use my referral link for 30% off). It manages contracts, invoices, proposals, questionnaires, workflows, and automations all in one place. For example, once a client pays their invoice, HoneyBook can automatically send their questionnaire or session prep emails without you having to remember a thing.
For gallery delivery, I personally use both Pixieset and Pic-Time. Pixieset is incredibly user-friendly for proofing galleries, while Pic-Time offers a beautiful print shop experience for clients.
As your business grows, you’ll also want to invest in business insurance. I use Professional Photographers of America (PPA) which connected me with insurance through The Hartford to help protect both my equipment and business.
Keep Showing Up Online Consistently
Consistency online will keep your photography business visible and growing over time. Social media is a great way to share your work, connect with potential clients, announce mini sessions, and remind people that you’re actively booking. But one of the smartest things you can do early on is build an email list.
I personally use Flodesk for my newsletters because it’s easy to use and creates beautiful, professional emails without needing any design experience. I regularly send my email subscribers updates about mini sessions, model calls, seasonal promotions, or upcoming availability.
And this is worth repeating: if Instagram or Facebook disappeared tomorrow, how would you reach your clients? Your email list is something you actually own, and it’s one of the best ways to build long-term trust with your audience.
Your website matters too. Consistently updating your portfolio, writing blog posts (creating content around locations and venues is one of the easiest ways to improve your local SEO), and focusing on local SEO can help clients actually find you when they’re searching for photographers in your area. You do not have to do everything perfectly, but continuing to show up consistently online will make a huge difference in growing your photography business over time.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve covered my top recommendations for starting a photography business, remember that growth does not happen overnight. Building a successful photography business takes consistency, patience, and a willingness to keep learning along the way. You do not have to have everything figured out right away, but putting the right systems in place early on will make a huge difference in how confidently and professionally you grow.
If you’re looking for the tools mentioned throughout this post, here’s a quick roundup:
- HoneyBook (30% Off Referral Link)
- Flodesk
- Pixieset
- Pic-Time
- Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
At the end of the day, there’s no single “right” way to grow your photography business. Photography is a personal business built on genuine connections, work you’re proud of, and the resilience to consistently show up online. Keep showing up and your clients will follow.
And if you’re still wondering how to actually make those first connections, find potential clients, or host successful model calls when you’re just getting started, don’t worry. I’ll be diving deeper into exactly how I built my portfolio and connected with my first clients in an upcoming post.
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