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CreativeLive

How to Start a Photography Business

via CreativeLive

Overview

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AFTER THIS CLASS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:

  • Start a photography business
  • Develop the ideal business structure and business plan
  • Research competitors and the market in your area
  • Build a short-term and long-term strategy
  • Create a marketing plan and marketing materials on a budget
  • Confidently conduct an in-person or phone sales session
  • Manage small business tasks from accounting to strategy

ABOUT PYE'S CLASS:

Professional photographers aren't just people with a knack for photography and a good camera -- because launching a small business on nothing but passion is a sure-fire way to fail spectacularly. Layer business savvy, marketing know-how, professional grit and more onto your existing passion and learn how to start a photography business. Take your hobby, vision, and creativity and build a career -- whether you are looking to run a full-time business or just a side gig.

Led by a photographer that's also a certified public accountant, Pye Jirsa, the class teaches the ins and outs of launching a photography business from the ground up. Along with three full days of instruction, Pye shares a 12-week plan to get your business up and running, a business expense calculator and more inside the class workbook. Understand what gear and skills you need before you launch and how to build a portfolio by photographing family members or organizing a stylized shoot.

Stop feeling overwhelmed by the monumental task and tackle one task a day in a 12-week plan. Brainstorm names for your business and learn the different types of business licenses available. Secure a domain name and build a website that's easily searchable. Develop a marketing plan with little investment. Master in-person sales and book your first session.

Whether you want to venture out in portrait photography, commercial work or any other client-based type of photography, learn the "business" in photography business with Pye Jirsa.

WHO THIS CLASS IS FOR:

  • Photographers ready to launch a business
  • New professional photographers looking to grow a young business
  • Photographers interested in working in weddings, portraits, newborns, maternity, families, seniors, engagements or commercial photography

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Pye Jirsa is a wedding photographer with Lin & Jirsa photography -- but besides running a successful photography business, he also has a background in accounting, creating the perfect blend for teaching the ins and outs of running a photography business. Along with working as a photographer and educator, Pye is also one of the founders of SLR Lounge, an online resource for photographers.

Learn from a founder of a photography business that photographs more than 300 weddings a year. Pye's Los Angeles and Orange County wedding photography business has been named among the top 100 wedding photographers by Brandsmash.

Syllabus

  • Class Introduction
  • Common Myths & Unknown Truths
  • The Road Ahead
  • Find Your Passion
  • The Lin & Jirsa Journey
  • Part-time, Full-time, Employed, Partners?
  • Stop Wasting Time & Money
  • Your 12 Week Roadmap
  • Great Plans Still Fail
  • Strategy Vs. Planning
  • Mind Mapping
  • Select a Focus
  • Competitor Research
  • S.W.O.T. Analysis
  • Strategy & Long Term Goals
  • Values, Vision & Mission
  • Effectively Managing Your Time
  • Artistic Development
  • Create Your Plan
  • What's Your Product
  • Luxury vs Consumer Products & Experiences
  • Quick Break for Econ 101
  • Your Target Market & Brand Message
  • What's in a Name
  • Your Client 'Why'
  • Crafting the Why Experience
  • Document the Client Experience
  • Business Administration Basics
  • Book Keeping Management
  • Create the Logo & Branding
  • Portfolio Design
  • Design Your Services & Packages
  • Pricing Fears & Myths
  • Three Pricing Methods
  • Package Pricing Psychology & Design
  • Psychology of Numbers
  • Pricing Q&A
  • Grass Roots Marketing
  • The Empty Party
  • Friends & Family Test Shoots
  • Join Groups
  • Second Shooting Etiquette
  • The Listing & Classified Hustle
  • Make Instagram Simple
  • Your Automated Pinterest Plan
  • Facebook Because You Must
  • Giveaway & Styled Shoots
  • Content Marketing & SEO
  • The Monster: SEO
  • Selecting Your Keywords
  • Testing Your Keywords
  • Grouping Main & Niche Goals
  • Your Content Road Map
  • Content Marketing Q&A
  • Inspiration to Keep Working
  • How to Craft Your Content
  • Internal Linking Basics
  • Back Link Building Basics
  • Link Value Factos
  • Measuring Link Value
  • Link Building Strategy & Plan
  • Link Building Plan: Vendors & Guest Writing
  • Link Building Plan: Features, Directories, Comments
  • Link Building: Shortcuts & One Simple Tool
  • What is Sales? Show Me!
  • Your First Massive Failure
  • The Sales Process
  • Your Second Massive Failure
  • Understand Buyer Psychology
  • Step 0: Building Rapport & Trust
  • Step 1: Identify Need or Want
  • Cognitive Dissonance
  • Steps 2 & 3: Value Proposition & The Solution
  • Step 4 : Close, Make the Ask
  • Step 5: Follow Up & Resolve Concerns
  • Family Photography Hot Seat
  • Business Example Hot Seat
  • Boudoir Photography Hot Seat
  • The Best Sales Person
  • Your Mindset, Vibrations & Frequency
  • Always Positive, Always Affirming
  • The Second Money & Dual Process
  • Chumming the Price Waters
  • Creating Want or Scarcity
  • Timeless Advice on Being Likable
  • Selling Over The Phone
  • Forbidden Words in Sales

Taught by

Pye Jirsa

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