TREVON BRANCH PHOTOGRAPHY

The first piece of equipment you need to start a photography business is a good camera. There are plenty of options out there to consider.

Some work better in certain situations than others, so you’ll want to do a lot of research on what models will work best for your particular niche.

Trevon Branch photography of Pennsylvania

A tripod is also an essential piece of equipment, since it can help you keep your camera steady and allow you to take many pictures of each subject without moving the camera around.

When you’re transporting your camera from place to place, you need to make sure it’s protected. So invest in a good camera bag that you can use to keep your camera from getting broken or damaged.

Lighting is an essential element of any good photograph. And while natural lighting is usually preferred, you’ll also likely want to invest in some studio lighting for when there isn’t sufficient sunlight.

It may also be necessary to register your business with your local or state government. Look into any business licenses that might be required for photography businesses in your area.

In addition, you might consider purchasing some business insurance or a policy that protects your equipment in case it gets lost or damaged.

When you get new clients, you’ll likely want to get them to sign a contract so both sides understand what is expected. You can create or find contract templates to use with each new client.

And you also need a way to collect payments from clients. So you can set up a payment system online or have a mobile payment platform to offer clients.

Digital photos can take up a lot of space on your computer. So it can be a good idea to invest in an external hard drive you can use to store all of those large files when not in use.

When printing out proofs or marketing materials, you’ll want to make sure that your photos are high quality.

There are plenty of different lenses you can use to get different types of images on your camera. So it can be a good idea to invest in some different lenses to improve the quality of your photos.

Depending on what types of photos you plan on taking, you might find it necessary to purchase or create some backdrops that you can use for studio or portrait photographs.

It can also be a good idea to have a variety of different props on hand. The types of props you choose can depend on your niche. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you probably won’t want the same props that a pet photographer uses. But having a few different options can be a good idea.

You might also find it necessary to rent or purchase some studio space for your photography business, especially if you plan on having clients travel to you for photos.

Alternatively, you might be more interested in starting a photography business where you travel to clients. In that case, you’ll need some reliable transportation in order to get to and from your shoots.

While you aren’t likely to use a smartphone or mobile device as your main camera for your photography business, it can still be a good tool. Since social media can be a great tool for sharing photos and shots, it can be useful to have a smartphone that can take decent photos for those purposes.

Once you’ve taken your photos, you’ll also need a software program that lets you edit and fine-tune those images. Programs like Photoshop and Lightroom can be good investments for photographers.

That also means that you need a computer you can use to actually edit and store those digital photos.

In addition, when you take photos on your mobile device, it can be helpful to download some photography apps that you can use to improve your mobile photos.

You should also sign up for some social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram so that you can share your photos and updates with potential customers.

A professional website can also be a helpful tool for a photography business. So purchase a domain name that fits with your business and branding.

Controlling the which is usually done on digital cameras by putting your camera in A or aperture priority mode and dialing in the F-stop. On some point and shoot cameras, you may have to go into a menu to alter the F-stop. I have my cameras set to A – aperture priority mode 95% of the time. First – to improve your pictures don’t try to get everything in your picture! Get closer to your subject and check if there is anything in the view that doesn’t need to be there. Ask yourself what is important in the picture and what do you want to show or communicate. Sometimes just moving in closer or a little to one side can result in a significantly better picture. Simplify as much as you can. Important Camera Accessories A camera bag will protect your gear and help you carry your equipment. The size and type of bag depending on the size of your camera, how many lenses and accessories you own or intend to purchase in the future. Look for something that is rainproof and comfortable to carry and ideally does not advertise that you are carrying expensive camera gear. Tamrac, Lowepro, Kata, and Crumpler are well-known brand names for camera bags. Lens cloth or paper is important to clean your lenses. Some photographers prefer to buy a lens pen with a brush and soft cleaning chamois. All lenses should have a lens cap that is placed over the lens when it’s carried in your bag. It’s a good idea to use proper lens cleaning fluid and always put the fluid on the lens paper, not the lens before cleaning. Blow or brush away any grit off the lens before cleaning it with paper so you don’t scratch the lens surface. Never place a high-pressure air can nozzle close to your lens – keep it at least a few inches away. Never touch the mirror or shutter on the inside of your SLR camera! Keep your fingers off the lens surface or acid from your skin will etch your fingerprints into the lens coating permanently. Extra Batteries are essential if you plan to take a lot of pictures. Every photographer should have at least one spare battery for their camera. Two may not be enough if you shoot in cold weather. If you are going on a special trip, I recommend 3 batteries. I carry 4-6 with me just in case. Tripod – Do you Need One? Some cameras show overexposed regions by flashing on-screen – use exposure compensation to reduce the exposure and flashing areas. File type to store your images: JPG is the most common file type and usually comes in S, M, L sizes – always choose L the Largest file for best quality (Some cameras call this size FINE – bigger files are better). If your camera offers different quality settings always pick the maximum quality – you can easily reduce an image in size, but we can’t always enlarge a JPG file without degrading the image. All digital SLR cameras offer the ability to shoot a RAW file format, unfortunately only a few compact cameras offer this feature. RAW files are bigger than JPG files and the quality of the images after processing is better (more data and colors). RAW files, however, must be processed in software before you can print the files. RAW files permit you to enlarge your images 0% or more and it is possible to modify exposure and white balance afterward – you get a second chance to improve the exposure! Most cameras will also permit you to shoot both RAW and JPG files simultaneously. the picture shows a histogram from the underexposed image, middle – proper exposure, right – overexposed image. See your manual on how to call up your histogram and evaluate exposure. Some cameras show overexposed regions by flashing on-screen – use exposure compensation to reduce the exposure and flashing areas. File type to store your images: JPG is the most common file type and usually comes in S, M, L sizes – always choose L the Largest file for best quality (Some cameras call this size FINE – bigger files are better). If your camera offers different quality settings always pick the maximum quality – you can easily reduce an image in size, but we can’t always enlarge a JPG file without degrading the image. All digital SLR cameras offer the ability to shoot a RAW file format, unfortunately only a few compact cameras offer this feature. RAW files are bigger than JPG files and the quality of the images after processing is better (more data and colors). RAW files, however, must be processed in software before you can print the files. RAW files permit you to enlarge your images 0% or more and it is possible to modify exposure and white balance afterward – you get a second chance to improve the exposure! Most cameras will also permit you to shoot both RAW and JPG files simultaneously. RAW is best if you want high quality and flexibility. JPG files are easier to work with, smaller, and can be taken to be printed as is. Currently, the file extension for RAW files varies between camera manufacturers and at this time there is no one accepted Standard (Adobe is trying to set . DNG as the standard). RAW files must also be processed in software before they are placed within a web page, printed, or sent by email. RAW is best if you want high quality and flexibility. JPG files are easier to work with, smaller, and can be taken to be printed as is. Currently, the file extension for RAW files varies between camera manufacturers and at this time there is no one accepted Standard (Adobe is trying to set . DNG as the standard). RAW files must also be processed in software before they are placed within a web page, printed, or sent by email. Storage Cards – come in a variety of shapes and sizes, writing speeds, and total memory size. the number of photos you can take with a particular card is usually indicated on your camera. I recommend having at least one extra card. If you are planning to shoot a lot e.g. on a vacation or at a wedding get more. A question I often get is “Should I spend more money on getting a faster card”? Generally no as your camera has a built-in memory buffer. Faster cards are better for those shooting HD video or those shooting many photos in bursts of – images. 5Storeage cards come in a variety of types and shapes, the most common are Compact Flash and SD cards. You should own at least 2 cards so you don’t run out. color space refers to the number of colors your camera will store. RGB stands for small Red Green Blue which is the best setting for those shooting only JPG file format. Adobe RGB is a bigger color space and is a better choice for those that process their images using Photoshop or other image editing programs before having them printed. Images taken with sRGB look more vivid straight out of the camera because the camera processes the files for you.