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Photography Spark

Business Education for Photographers

Sample Photography Business Plan – 5 Critical Elements

Last updated on July 6, 2019 By Angela Pointon

** This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Opinions expressed are based on the Author’s own experience.

Pen and penciled business plan next to computer

I look at those famous photographers, too. You know, the ones who have tons of gear and who seem to be growing bigger and bigger every year. And sometimes I catch myself thinking, “gosh darn it, how did they get so lucky?”

And then I realize that it probably was only a sprinkling of luck on top of a solid foundation of planning and a bucket of sweat to represent their hard work.

Even though I forget sometimes, I have actually come to realize that so much in business hinges on good planning. And it’s not to say that plans can’t shift and change. They can. But going in feet first with no plan at all can mean rapid disappointment.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. – Benjamin Franklin

As photographers, most of us just want to be behind the camera. If we had all the money in the world, we’d pay someone to do our marketing, respond to emails, do our post-processing, and do our business planning for us. That stuff is all yucky and boring. Being behind the camera is fun.

The good news about planning, however, is that you really only need to lay out a photography business plan once a year and then visit it monthly to ensure things are staying on track (or to see if things need adjusting).

If you plan to start a photography business and have never done a photography business plan before, it probably sounds kinda scary, right? Well, what most of us think of when we think of the words “business plans” are really long, drawn-out documents that take up a lot of time and hard work. But then, they sit on a shelf to rot.

That’s the kind of business planning that I loathe. It isn’t helpful to anyone, except, perhaps, a bank if you’re seeking funding. A solid business plan, and one that actually works and makes a real impact, however, is a business plan that is simple and fits onto one piece of paper.

I’m going to walk you through each step for creating a sample photography business plan as you work on starting a photography business.

1. Know Your Strengths

We’re all good at a lot of things. However, when you’re evaluating your strengths for your photography business plan, you’re comparing yourself to your competitors in the photography industry. So, let’s talk about each of these things for a minute, starting with your competition.

Your competitors are your real competitors . Meaning, they’re the other photographers that your customers are considering when they’re looking for someone like you. So, if you’re a wedding photographer in a really big town, you might have 3-4 actual competitors out of all of the dozens of those doing wedding photography and serving your area. And even though there are other photography businesses, your competitors are only really the select few that your typical client considers.

Now, picturing those few competitors, when you’re thinking about your strengths, you want to be thinking of the strengths you offer that these competitors don’t. Perhaps it’s that you’ve shot at more locations than they have. Or perhaps it’s that you’re more networked than they are. List whatever strengths allow you to shine, where your competitors are weak.

For our sample photography business plan, we’re going to pretend we’re a portrait photographer in Philadelphia. We’ve evaluated our competition and narrowed it down to three. And after careful consideration, we’ve listed our strengths as being: better customer experience, more referring partners for our business, and more connections with Philadelphia non-profit groups.

Why are Strengths Important?

Because when you realize a list of strengths that your competitors do not have, you may see some opportunities for further growth. The key to market significance and capitalization is to leverage your strengths to their fullest

Too many photographers try to match their competition. That just creates more of the same. Leverage your unique strengths, instead, and leave the competition in your dust.

2. Identify Your Weaknesses

So, while strengths are competitive differentiators, weaknesses are holding you back from even more success. Just as we all have strengths to leverage, we also all have weaknesses.

The important thing to remember when thinking about your weaknesses for your own photography business plan is that the weaknesses you list should be things you’re looking to improve before the end of the calendar year. It’s no use listing weaknesses that you have no interest in improving. Think of your list of weaknesses as an alternative version of your to-do list.

When thinking of our sample photography business plan, our fictitious Philly portrait photographer really wants to improve her skills with lighting, the search engine optimization for her website, and her packaging. These are three things that she believes will enhance her business if she can manage to improve them all before the end of the year. As a result, they’re good things to have on her weaknesses list.

Once we know our weaknesses, they cease to do us any harm. – Georg C. Lichtenberg

3. Target Your Ideal Customer

When working on your own photography business plan, your ideal customer might not be the type of people that have hired you in the past. No, this is the opportunity to be super critical and super detailed about the type of person you want as a customer moving forward. They’re the people that make your job easy, don’t ruffle feathers and who are super appreciative of what you do.

They pay what you want them to pay, and they don’t think twice about it. So, while they might not be who you’re working with now, it’s important to document who they would be going forward. And be as specific as possible.

For our sample photography business plan, we’re going to list the following attributes for this Philadelphia-based photographer’s ideal customer (see if any are on your list, too):

the customer lives in Philadelphia’s city limits
is married with at least 1 kid… usually a dog, too
An active lifestyle and seems to really like marathons
both spouses work full-time jobs
their extended families tend to live far away
they commute to work each day via public transportation
they frequently do day trips and go out to dinner on the weekends

While much of the above list seems to have nothing to do with photography, it reveals some interesting marketing opportunities. For example, in this photographer’s case, they’ve identified that most of their customers participate in marathons. So what if they found an opportunity to sponsor a marathon as a marketing opportunity? Perhaps they could take shots of runners crossing the finish line as promotional pieces for their business. Or, since their customers’ families typically live far away, perhaps they can leverage some product sales by marketing special holiday keepsake books that help to connect families through photography that live miles away?

Some really fun brainstorming can come from listing out the commonalities amongst your ideal customers.

4. Understand Your Financials

All good business owners have a keen awareness of their current financial state. They know the revenue they need to bring in each month to make their number, along with their current standings against the goal. While financials can be a scary thing for many creative types, what I’ve found is that awareness actually moderates the fear.

A basic understanding of your photography business financials – including start-up costs and other expenses – allows you to plan better and manage the business better, thus alleviating this general sense of ignorance and uncertainty.

While crunching numbers and determining financial goals can seem like nerd-work, it can actually have a really positive effect on your own personal outlook on your business.

Here’s how I recommend you start:

Determine Your Total Sales Per Month

Grab a calculator and a pen and paper. If you’re an ex-corporate type like me, feel free to open up Excel and do this work there, instead.

You’re going to determine how much in total sales you want to earn for every month that remains in 2017. If you’re a wedding photographer or any other photographer that is booked further out, feel free to start your planning for 2018, instead.

Your total sales generally consist of:

Session fees/month
Average product order amounts per session
Any other miscellaneous fees you charge your clients

If you’ve never done this kind of planning before, you’re probably thinking, “but I have no idea how much I’m going to book from now through the end of the year.” Or, “but everyone orders different amounts of stuff after each session.”

Don’t worry. The lovely part of planning is that we can use rough numbers for now.

To figure out your session fee revenue, determine how many sessions you think you will reasonably schedule between now and the end of the year. Then, figure out how many sessions, on average, you’ll book each month and multiply that number by your average session fee.

To figure out your print and album fees, it might help to look back at the earlier months of 2017, or last part of 2016, and figure out an average print/album order amount and go with that.

Finally, add your monthly session fees to your product order fees and other miscellaneous fees to get an estimated total sales number per month. Remember, a rough starting point is fine. There is an opportunity to refine your estimates later.

Determine Your Cost Of Sales Per Month

For every shoot you book, you have costs. There might be editing costs (if you outsource your editing) or second shooter costs or, at the very minimum, your own costs to the print lab or album company.

When thinking of your cost of sales (otherwise known as the cost of goods sold), consider anything that is variable and only incurred if a client books you. Your business has other fixed expenses (like your website hosting fees or marketing fees), but those expenses fall into another area.

Again, if you don’t know how to figure this out, look back at the earlier months of 2017 and associate your averages from this time period to what you’ll incur going forward. Be sure your cost of sales is a monthly number, as well.

Calculate Your Gross Profit

This is a fairly easy number to calculate. Your gross profit is determined by taking your total sales number and subtracting your cost of sales. You should be left with a positive number, which equals your average gross profit per month.

If the number you’re left with is a negative number, you need to take a closer look at your prices. A photographer should never have a cost of sale higher than the total sale.

Identify Your General Expenses

Your general expenses are the fixed costs associated with running your photography business. They consist of things like:

website hosting fees
accounting and legal fees – manage them using Freshbooks (affiliate)
equipment and computer expenses
studio rent, etc.

In most cases, general expenses don’t vary too much from month-to-month, aside from annual fees or quarterly fees you might pay to keep your business running. For example, I pay my website hosting fee and my email newsletter software fee in an annual payment to take advantage of their annual payment discounts. Therefore, my expenses are abnormally high in the specific month when these two payments are incurred.

Figure out your own personal business expenses per month. Then, add your own compensation to that number. Now, you have a total general expenses number, including the owner’s compensation. If you’re currently running a part-time photography business while still working a “day job,” your owner’s compensation may be $0, and that’s okay.

Obviously, when you’re running a photography business full time and are wanting it to be your source of income, you need to provide yourself with monthly owner’s compensation.

Calculate Your Net Profit

When figuring out your photography business’s financials, the two numbers you’ll find the most enjoyable are the owner’s compensation and net profit.

Net profit is simple to calculate. It is your gross profit minus your general expenses. If you’ve been in business for years, you’re likely to have a positive net profit number. If it’s your first year being a photography business owner, your net profit number might be in the negative, and that’s perfectly okay if you’re planning for the loss.

Many businesses take a year, sometimes more, to get out of a negative net profit (known as operating in the red) and see positive net profits. Smart businesses owners know this ahead of time and save up equity to cover the losses that will be incurred for the first year or so until profits become positive.

If you’re at the point where you’re making money, and you’re left with a positive net profit number, you have a couple of decisions to make. You can either boost your owner’s compensation and take home more income from the business, or you can decide to invest more money into the business to increase its longevity and future success.

There are other potential uses for positive net profit, such as charitable donations or keeping more cash in the business for use later, but investments and bonuses for the owners are typical uses. Investments that photographers typically make are in staff, assistants, new equipment, or an additional marketing strategy.

5. Set Your Goals

The last piece of a solid photography business plan is articulating some goals for the business. When you’re thinking about your goals for the remainder of 2017, review the sections of your business plan that are listed above. They’re loaded with ideas for really strong, growth-oriented goals.

When setting your goals, remember the acronym SMART. What that means is the goals you set should be:

A well-defined goal, so you know your target
A way to measure progress toward your goal
The goal is within reach (although it may be a stretch)
You have the means to achieve the goal (time, resources, knowledge)
A realistic time limit to achieve the goal is essential. Too short and you may get discouraged, too long, and you may lack focus

In the case of the Philadelphia-based photographer we used for our sample photography business plan, she should consider:

making each of her weaknesses a goal to improve upon before the end of the year
leveraging some of her strengths through her marketing plan, such as attending more non-profit group events for marketing and networking, for example
taking a closer look at her financials for opportunities to raise prices and earn more per shoot, lower her expenses and/or invest in some things that will help her photography business grow (this is recommended for all photographers)

To help ensure your success, set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Defining Your Business Plan

Having a plan for the plan is also recommended to help you reach your goals. Start with a simple goal with an x amount of days to complete it. For example, you will have your business plan completed in 60 days.

Photography Services

Have you made a list of the photography services you will be offering? Are you a portrait photographer or do you dabble more in commercial photography? Maybe you do stock photography or even pet photography. All of these are different services, and all require their own set of must-haves and must-determines, including calculating what the start-up costs for your new venture may be.

A solid photography business plan will simplify this and outline the main areas you need to focus on to grow a successful photography business.

You can then enlist any help you feel you will need and create a schedule of times that you have available to work on the business plan. In addition to the elements above that should be included in your photography business plan, you should also be able to define your products and photography services, tune up your website, get social, and follow up with any old clients you may have.

Marketing Strategies

As business owners, you need to come up with viable ways to reach your target audience and get the attention of prospective clients for your business. To do this, you need to determine which channels you use the most and what your marketing budget will be. Are you going to put all or just some of your efforts into different strategies, including social media, SEO, and email?

Define Target Market

When you define your target market, you need to do everything you can to understand your ideal clients in detail. It is only then that you can successfully market to the right audience to grow your business.

Final Thoughts

If you can’t sit down and come up with your business plan right away, set time aside each day to work on it, so it doesn’t become overwhelming. If you choose to skip this very critical step for your photography business, you risk financial ruin and the downfall of what could have otherwise been a very successful photography business with clearly defined goals and objectives.

Planning Made Easy

About Angela Pointon

Angela Pointon is the founder of Angela Pointon Photography and Steel Toe Images , which offers advice and inspiring motivation for photography business owners. Angela's weekly email newsletter is packed with advice for photographers, which can be subscribed to for free here . In addition, she has authored multiple books for photographers, is a monthly columnist for Professional Photographer Magazine, blogs at Steel Toe Images and posts to Facebook , G+ , Pinterest and Twitter .

Photography Business Plan PDF in 6 Simple Steps

Photography Business Plan PDF

When it comes to business plans for photography businesses it’s easy to fall into the trap of writing out a generic style business plan, the same sort of business plan you’d put together for your bank manager or if you were applying for business finance.

However, the one big fault with these business plans for photographers is they don’t give you any real goals or direction for your business, or tackle directly the key issues most normal business plan template fails to address.

For any photographer starting the main concern should be “How I’m I going to stand out in a very over-saturated photography market?”

The best way to stand out and create a desire for your photography services is to specialise or niche your offering.

This can be done by following this simple photography business plan layout, but you need to start at step one and follow it through in order. There’s no point in setting up a photography website or creating your photography social media pages if you don’t know who your ideal clients are and what it is they are wanting.

Creating a Branding Business Plan for Photographers

Whether you’re setting up a studio or going to start out in wedding photography, you need to decide on your main niche and stick to it.

Don’t be a Jack of All Trades and try to cater your photography to everyone. If you want to have multiple offerings, for example then create one brand for commercial photography and a separate brand for your wedding photography , because both sets of clients have completely different needs and expectations.

I’ve created a great little PDF that goes into more detail about photography branding; you can download a copy of the PDF from my free resources page .

6 Simple Steps to Designing Your Photography Business Plan PDF

So once you’ve decided on your niche, whether it be in wedding photography, commercial photography or opening a headshot studio, you then need to follow these steps in order and build an entire photography business based purely around your ideal client.

Build your brand based around your clients
Create a desire for your brand by knowing what your clients want
Develop pricing packages that suit your client’s needs
Design a website that solves a problem for your client’s
Post social media content that your clients will totally love
Track your goals weekly; be consistent, because consistency produces results.

Step 1. Photography Business Plan – Branding Your Business

If you want to be the Go-To Photographer that one everybody is talking about, then your brand must be based around your clients. Your brand is everything your potential clients think, feel and believe about your photography services.

A great way to get a real idea for your brand is to look at other service providers in your niche. Look at the leaders in the field, the Go-To Service Providers, check out their styles, colours, fonts and wording on their business websites and social media pages.

For example, if you have a wedding photography business look at some of the premium bridal shops and the high-end wedding venues. You’ll notice their brand probably has a feminine touch to it, light and bright colours, often using soft pastels and slightly scripted fonts. It rings with a feeling of romance, love and emotion, this is what appeals to a bride and this is what a bride searching out a wedding photography business will be looking for.

If your business plan is to set up a headshot studio or a studio for commercial photography then your brand will need to take on a corporate look. Check out some of the leading business service providers in your area like IT companies and business networking groups. You’ll notice their message is one of help, how they help their customers, solve a problem in their everyday business. The language on these types of websites is more direct, straight to the point wording, standard fonts, with prominent colours of blues, oranges and whites.

Step 2. Photography Business Plan – Creating a Desire for Your Services

To make your services sound appealing to a potential client your wording has to connect with them and offer a solution to their needs. You need to understand what is important to your customers and make a point of highlighting this right from the start.

Get your message out there plain and simple. Your customers don’t look at your images the same way another professional photographer does. Your wording needs to tell them what they want to hear to help them make that all-important decision to book you.

Let’s take a wedding photography business for example, most brides will be looking for emotion in the photographs they see. They can’t assess your images from a photography standpoint, but they can relate to pictures that show tears of joy, laughter and heartwarming emotion because that’s how they imagine their day will be.

Plan out your website wording carefully. Address all the areas that are important to a bride, she wants to feel relaxed, she wants everyone to have fun, she wants images captured in a hassle-free way, but with the attention to detail that will guarantee every special moment is recorded.

Step 3. Photography Business Plan – Pricing Your Services

Too many professional photographers focus on selling their time instead of selling the end solution, especially when it comes to commercial or even studio photography.

The problem with selling time, hourly rates or daily rates is it doesn’t address the customers need.

For example, a restaurant owner isn’t wanting a half days worth of photography. What they really need is attention-grabbing images to use on their website and social media that will draw people into their restaurant and put money in the tills.

By creating a series of packages that solve a solution then this appeals more to the user because it’s giving them exactly what they want. You could create a monthly social media packages that include 31 high impact images and an attractive banner photo, enough for a full month worth of engaging posting on Facebook.

With pricing, your business plan should be to have a series of 3 or 4 packages, each increasing in value, but the higher the price the better value for money the package appears.

This type of business plan for pricing is used frequently online, especially by service providers. You’ve probably seen it many times before and always been attracted to the higher packages because the deal looks better, think of SKY TV for example.

Step 4. Photography Business Plan – Designing a Website that Solves Your Customers Problems

We’ve already discussed how your brand and wording should be a solution to your customer’s needs and this is really important when it comes to your photography business website.

Most professional photographers opt for a portfolio style website with very little text and no “Call to Action” buttons that encourage visitors to “Book a Call” or “Schedule an Appointment”

The average website visitor will hit the back button in under 2 minutes if the website they have visited doesn’t appeal to them.

Your text needs to connect with your visitor immediately and give them a clear “Call to Action” to do something, like book an appointment or check their wedding date is still available.

One of the best ways to layout your photography business website is in the Storybrand format. If you’ve never heard of Storybrand check out the book below just click on the image to see it in Amazon.

It’s amazing and makes so much sense, this website and my other website Focus on Marketing are both designed in the Storybrand format, its a MUST for photographers wanting to stand out, I can’t recommend the book enough.

Finally, remember that if you want to start ranking on Google then a website with limited text is going to massively work against you.

In order for you to start showing up in the searches, you’ll need to have your keywords in the headlines, subheadings and body text of your website. If your site is a photography studio portfolio-style website the same as many photographers use then that’s not going to help you rank on the internet. What’s the point of having a flashy beautifully designed business website if no one can find it on Google?

Step 5. Photography Business Plan – Posting Social Content Your Followers Will Love

If your social followers have taken their time to like your page, then it’s up to you to keep them engaged and coming back for more on a daily basis. Social media is essentially a storytelling platform, especially on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Many photographers post content as if they were sharing with other photographers, talking about the camera, lenses, shutter speeds and f-stops used in the image they upload. This is usually of no relevance whatsoever to your followers.

What your followers want to know is a simple “Who, What, Where, When and Why”. Think of this next time you create a post. Look at your image and tell a story, who is in it, what are they doing, where are they, when was it taken and why. This approach creates far more engagement than simply popping up a post with a load of hashtags and your camera settings.

Always post content with your followers in mind, don’t overdo the sales posts, keep them to 1 in every 10 you make.

Don’t just talk about yourself, share news, tips, advice and what’s on-trend in relation to your niche. For example, if you’re a pet photographer you could share funny pet stories, dog training tips, reviews of local dog groomers or dog walkers and great dog walks in your local area etc.

You can use your social media page as a tool to network and make connections with people who already serve your potential customers. Over the years I’ve built some great relationships with other businesses that have helped me to connect with potential customers for my business through their own social media and network.

I had a fantastic joint venture going with a bridal dress business who I’d reached out to through Facebook. The owner referred me over 30 weddings per year on a commission basis and if she ever needed any photography for her business I would happily do it for free.

Step 6. Photography Business Plan – Track Your Goals, Be Consistent.

When it comes to business you’ve got to have goals if you want to get ahead. You need to have a clearly defined set of goals for your photography business and make those goals a huge part of your business plan going forward.

Your business goals need to be big ones, there’s no point in setting average goals, you have to push yourself if you want your photography business to be a success.

Most people set goals once a year then rarely look at them again. Each year I set my 10 big 12-month goals then break those goals down into trackable 90-day goals I can work on each week.

I always print out my goals and have them pinned to my office wall, it’s no good just having them as a PDF or Word Document hidden away in a file on your desktop that you rarely look at. You need to keep reminding yourself where you are heading and take small steps each week to get to the bigger picture.

I’ve put together a Goal Setting PDF that explains my 12 months and 90-day tracking routine you can download a copy of the PDF at my free resources page

Over the years I’ve worked with 100 photographers from around the world to help them develop their businesses. By far the photographers that achieve the greatest level of success are those who have a defined photography business plan and then work on their goals every single day.

Even something as simple as posting to social media or adding new connections to your LinkedIn Profile on a daily basis added up over weeks and months makes a huge difference.

I hope you’ve found this Photography Business Plan PDF blog post useful, you might also like to read my blog on How to Get Your Photography Noticed which covers some great tips on social media and joint ventures with other businesses in your niche.

Remember I’m always here to help, and if you’re serious about taking your photography business to the next level why not book a Free Business Advice Call with me by filling out the contact form.

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Photography Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their photography businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a photography business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today. It can be used to create a photography studio business plan, or a commercial photography business plan or a plan for any other type of photography business.

Download our Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template here >

What is a Photography Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your photography business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Photography Business

If you’re looking to start a photography business or grow your existing photography business you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your photography business in order to improve your chances of success. Your photography business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Source of Funding for Photography Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a photography business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for a photography business is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Below are the 10 sections of an example photography business plan:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write since it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of photography business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup or do you have a photography business that you would like to grow.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the photography industry. Discuss the type of photography business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of photography business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

Portrait photography : this type of photography business photographs people ranging from models to famous personalities on red carpets or at magazine shoots to graduation pictures, family portraits, and professional headshots for business people, aspiring models and actors.
Product photography : this type of photography business typically requires both artistic and technical expertise to adequately showcase consumer products.
Wedding and event photography : this type of photography business usually involves photographing everything from posed portraits to people and their candid moments to the venue and the food at weddings and other events.
Commercial photography : this type of photography business creates images for commercial purposes, such as advertising, marketing or instructional brochures or publications.

In addition to explaining the type of photography business you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

When and why did you start the business?
What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, prestigious clients, etc.
Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the photography business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the photography industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards documentary-style event photography, it would be helpful to ensure your plan calls for instant cameras for guest contributions, or a drone, etc.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your photographer business plan:

How big is the photography business (in dollars)?
Is the market declining or increasing?
Who are the key competitors in the market?
Who are the key suppliers in the market?
What trends are affecting the industry?
What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your photography business. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your photographer business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: celebrities, expectant and/or new moms, engaged couples, schools, online retailers, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of photography business you operate. Clearly schools would want different backdrops, pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than engaged couples.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most photography businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other photography businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes amateur photographers and DIY-ers with smartphones. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who needs photography uses a professional photographer.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other photography businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be photography businesses offering similar services in a nearby location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

What types of customers do they serve?
What services do they offer?
What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
What are they good at?
What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

Will you provide superior photography services?
Will you provide products or services that your competitors don’t offer?
Will you make it easier or faster for customers to book your services?
Will you provide better customer service?
Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a photography business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of photography business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products and services you will be offering. For example, in addition to portraits, will you offer a documentary video of the shoot?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the menu services and packages you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your photography business. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your photography studio located next to a high-traffic retail development, or inside a mall, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.

Promotions : the final part of your photography business marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

Making your photography studio’s storefront (if applicable) extra appealing to attract passing customers
Advertising in local papers and magazines
Social media marketing
Reaching out to local bloggers and websites
Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., package discount when booked through partner wedding planner)
Local radio advertising
Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your photography business such as serving customers, procuring supplies, scouting new photoshoot locations, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 100th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.

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Management Team

To demonstrate your photography business’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the photography business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 10 customers per month or 50? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your photography business, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 product photography contract, that would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, equipment rentals, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During that 180 day period, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a photography business:

Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
Cost of equipment like cameras, lights, film, backdrops and props, software, etc.
Cost of ingredients and maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
Payroll or salaries paid to staff
Business insurance
Taxes and permits
Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your studio design blueprint or location lease.

Photography Business Plan Summary

Putting together a business plan for your photography business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the photography business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful photography business.

Download Our Photography Business Plan PDF

You can download our photography business plan PDF here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my photography business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Photography Business Plan.

Where Can I Download a Photography Business Plan PDF?

You can download our photography business plan PDF template here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Photography Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Photography Business Plan Outline

Photography Business Plan Home
1. Executive Summary
2. Company Overview
3. Industry Analysis
4. Customer Analysis
5. Competitive Analysis
6. Marketing Plan
7. Operations Plan
8. Management Team
9. Financial Plan

Start Your Photography Plan Here

Photography Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Photography business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Photography business.

Below are links to each section of a sample photography business plan. It can be used to create a wedding photography business plan, a commercial photography business plan, a portrait photography studio business plan or any other type of photography business plan.

1. Executive Summary 2. Company Overview 3. Industry Analysis 4. Customer Analysis 5. Competitive Analysis 6. Marketing Plan 7. Operations Plan 8. Management Team 9. Financial Plan

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What is a photography business plan.

A photography business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your photography business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Photography Businesses?

There are many types of photography businesses depending on the style of photography and target market. The most common and profitable type is event photography. Other types are stock photography, family/baby photography, travel, school, photojournalism and social media photography.

No matter what type of photography business you plan to start, you need a solid photography business plan. You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Photography Business?

The primary source of revenue for photography businesses are service fees for photoshoots and video, licensing fees and photo editing. Other revenues are also generated from product sales like prints, albums, cards, wall prints and canvas.

The key expenses for photography businesses are equipment expense, advertising, transportation, and labor or professional fees.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Photography Studio Business Plan?

Photography businesses are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings and credit card financing.

This is true for a wedding photographer, pet photography business, commercial photography business, a portrait photography business or any other type of photography services.

Download your plan in word or PDF to share with investors.

What are the Steps To Start a Photography Business?

Starting a photography business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Photography Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a photography business that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, data on the photography industry, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. You can quickly complete your photography business plan using our Photography Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your photography business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your photography business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Photography Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your photography business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your photography business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Photography Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your photography business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your photography business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful photography business and photography business planning:

How to Start a Photography Business

Where Can I Get a Photography Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free photography business plan template PDF here . This is a sample photography business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Home » Blog » How to write a successful photography business plan.

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How to write a successful photography business plan.

Whether you want to know how to open up a part-time photography business , start a photography business or take your existing one to the next level, the best place to start is with a plan. A photography business plan is a document that outlines what you hope to accomplish with your business.

As your business comes to life or goes through change, you can use a business plan to measure your progress and re-calibrate your professional goals. In addition, if you are planning to pitch your business to potential investors for brand partnership opportunities, a business plan is one of the documents you can use to help bring credibility to your business.

However, learning how to start a photography business the right way doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Taking the right steps to showcase your photography services beyond your online portfolio website can set you off on the right foot and continuously help you attract the caliber of clients you want.

Why you need to make a photography business plan.

Running a small business is hard. You may have heard the lifespan statistic that 20% of small businesses fail in their first 2 years, 30% fail in their first 3 years, and 50% fail after operating for 5 years. While this number is discouraging, the number one reason for the small business mortality rate is the lack of financial planning.

This is why using available tools is essential to your business’s long-term success and to your ability to grow your business. A business plan is critical in keeping you on track with your business goals and identifying where your business is lagging before, during, and after growth.

The main components of a photography business plan.

While you can customize the components of a photography business plan to suit your needs, the standard components are:

Executive summary
Business description
Product or service portfolio
Target market
Competitive landscape
Marketing approach
Operations & logistics

These elements work together to provide you and your possible stakeholders with a fulsome portrait of your business and its potential. We will go into further detail about these individual components in the following sections.

Write an executive summary.

The executive summary is a 50-250 word section at the start of your photography business plan that focuses on big-picture goals and outcomes of your company. This section summarizes the entirety of the document and should serve as the “elevator pitch” for your company, and its unique position to succeed. A good question to ask when compiling your executive summary is, “What are 3-5 things I want my clients to remember me by?”

Some of the elements to include in your executive summary are your experience, your specialties (ex. commercial photography , landscape , or wedding photography ), and key components of your business that contribute to your success, such as your marketing efforts or a unique angle you bring to the industry.

Explain your company in a business description.

While you may have a clear vision for your business inside your head, being able to succinctly express it to clients and stakeholders is key to your professional success. When compiling your description, it’s important to be as specific as possible.

First, learn about different organizational structures and the associated terms that come with the territory. Are you running a sole proprietorship, partnership, an incorporated company, or another type of business?

Second, your business description should also outline additional details including the history of your business. It gives possible stakeholders an idea of what your business is about and how it began.

In addition, you want to share your business’ mission statement. Because you will go into more details about the offerings and other aspects of your business, it’s best to keep your company description simple and provide only a high-level overview.

Describe your product and services.

This is the place to talk about the types of photography services and products you offer, and the ones you plan on expanding into in the near future.

As part of your product and services description, provide a comprehensive pricing model. Your pricing model should cover the types of sessions, services (shooting, editing, formatting) you offer, and their associated fees. For example, do you offer mini photography sessions or 2-hour shoots? Is there a sliding scale for editing services, color correction, or airbrushing? Do you handle the physical production of photos, or is the handoff done digitally?

A competent photography business relies on the client’s clear understanding of your “menu” of skills and services.

Lastly, detail the types of services you offer and the types of products you want to focus on that bring you the most income.

Determine your target market.

Targeting your customers is no simple task, as small business owners want to serve everyone. Nevertheless, it helps you to focus on your customers who need your products. You’ll end up wasting money marketing your product to people who don’t need it or have any interest in it.

Understanding your target audience means researching your local market to identify where demand exists. You can search forums and Facebook groups to see what kinds of photographers people are hiring and how much they’re willing to pay.

For example, a professional wedding photographer should join relevant local event planning and vendor groups on social media to build connections and promote their wedding photography services. Keep in mind that a wedding photographer often has to travel to a location to shoot the wedding, and make sure to factor it into your project estimates.

While a target audience looks different for everyone, it’s important for your photography business to have a few areas of specialty that help build up credibility and steadily bring in clients.

Conduct a competitive analysis.

As you conduct research on your local market, you will start to discover there are a number of different photographers that offer similar services as you. To create a thorough competitive analysis, take the list of competitors, and evaluate them in different areas. Conducting this analysis will help you determine what sets yours apart.

When looking at your competitors, consider the following questions:

Are my product offering and pricing model as straightforward as theirs?
What is their tone of voice (ex. humorous/expert/familial)?
Who is their target audience?
What do they bring to the table that I do not, and vice versa?
How can I differentiate myself from them?

To help you understand how your business is perceived, you can seek the help of a brand marketing professional. To take a more DIY approach, you can send your portfolio website to a roundtable of friends and colleagues and ask them how they would describe your business. Collecting these adjectives and looking for common threads can help you understand how your business is perceived and use these findings to your advantage in your marketing efforts.

Conducting a thorough competitive analysis can help you determine your own competitive edge and stay abreast of the competition. As a best practice, get into the habit of conducting a competitive analysis on an annual basis to stay informed about how your industry and your local market evolve over time.

Detail your marketing strategies.

In marketing, there is a saying that goes, “hope is not a strategy.” Yet many organizations allow an “if you build it, they will come” mentality to drive clients toward their marketing efforts.

In reality, a continuous funnel of new and repeat customers is what ensures their long-term success. This is why continuous marketing efforts are the number one way to ensure a consistent workload. Your marketing should work in tandem with a greater marketing plan that aligns all your efforts.

Because stakeholders and investors know the importance of marketing, they will look for a comprehensive and proactive marketing strategy when evaluating your business plan. This is why it’s important to outline the various marketing mechanisms you plan to use in your marketing plan.

Your marketing strategies encompass your marketing programs and your photography portfolio.

Marketing programs.

Marketing programs mean any platforms, channels, or mechanisms you use to promote your company and attract customers. These may include email marketing campaigns, direct mail initiatives, local photography directory memberships, trade shows, your social media presence, and any paid social media advertising campaigns.

Photography portfolio.

Your online photography portfolio is an essential part of your marketing toolkit. After you make your potential customers aware of your business with your marketing programs, they will seek out a digital presence to explore your abilities as a photographer and to see if there is a fit. A portfolio experience can make or break a client lead, which is why it’s important to invest in a portfolio website that represents the unique offering your photography brings to the world. You can learn how to build a portfolio website the right way with our helpful guide.

One place for everything from proofing to selling.

Share and sell your photos directly from mobile-friendly, interactive online galleries designed to impress your clients.

Think about operations.

While service businesses like photographers traditionally have fewer logistics than brick-and-mortar ones, it’s still important to consider the day-to-day logistics and expenses when compiling your business plan.

The operations portion of your photography business can include details like information about where you conduct work. Many photographers choose to conduct business out of a home studio or office, holding a majority of their sessions at outdoor locations, client homes, and occasionally utilizing a professional studio. Meanwhile, commercial photographers almost always rely on a professional studio to conduct their business.

Because different types of photographers have different operational needs, stakeholders will look for this information in your business plan to help assess the overhead cost of the operations. Understanding your operations also helps you to plan for potential opportunities in the future.

Draft your financial plans.

This portion of your photography business plan is important to understanding the overall factors in the cash flow of your venture. Cash flow refers to the amount of money going in and out of your business.

While compiling this section of your business plan may take the most time, it’s important to get it right to have an accurate understanding of the amount of money it takes to run your photography business, and which investments (ex. new lenses or editing software) are feasible within your business profits.

If you are a new business owner getting into photography, this section of the plan is where you outline the equipment you hope to invest in and what types of services it will be used for. Consider that as a professional photographer, you may need to invest in two copies of every item in case of malfunction. Some photographers, who may be just starting out, may use rental equipment to help them offset the costs of duplicates. However, the cost of renting can add up, which is why purchasing may be the cheaper option in the long run.

As a photographer, you are investing in hardware and software that is imperative to your job. To protect yourself, consider insuring your photography equipment and professional computer in case of theft. You can outline your insurance policy coverage and its cost in the financial portion of your plan.

Create a timeline.

For photographers, a timeline is a management tool that helps you keep your business goals on track. Some of the key activities to include in your timeline are marketing, financial, investing, and operational in nature.

In your timeline, consider setting goals for when you expect to pay back for the items listed in the financial portion of your plan. Calculating how many completed photography sessions it would take to cover the cost of the item can help you calculate this date.

It’s important to remember that timelines don’t need to be complicated. You can simply write down the task and the date by which you hope to complete it in sequential order. To help you stay on track, you can put reminders in your email calendar that notify you when you are nearing the anticipated completion of a task, as well as your personal deadline for its completion.

Putting your photography business plan together.

Compiling a photography business plan is an important step in starting your business and in evolving an existing one. While our photography business plan outline contains all the elements to run a successful photography business, there is nothing like drawing inspiration from what’s out there. A tried and tested photography business plan sample can give you the guidance you need to brainstorm the ins and outs of your business.

While all photography business plans are slightly different, most professional photography business plans are clear about their vision and how they want to get there. We’ve collected sample photography business plans from some of the best and most successful photographers in the industry and made readily editable templates for a fast and comprehensive photography business plan.

If you are just starting with your venture and feel a little lost, be sure to check out startup costs for your photography business and three business questions new photographers often ask . These guides give you the important information you need to get started on turning your photography dream into a viable business.

Photography business plan examples.

A sound business plan will set you on the path to success as a photographer. Whether you are a studio photographer, wedding photographer, or anything in between, these industry-specific photography business plan examples will help you kickstart your career.

Photography studio business plan.

If you run a photography studio, the most important element of your business plan is the photography business description. This segment in your photography studio business plan consists of a thorough description of all of the activities you engage in and the services you offer.

By keeping a detailed checklist, you can be clearer with your clients about the studio photography services you offer and market your business accordingly. Our guide to photography marketing shows you how to attract new clients the right way, without spending a dime.

Wedding photography business plan.

Creating a wedding photography business plan is a crucial step in better understanding your market and the opportunities you can leverage with your skills and experience. If there are any specific photography services you offer that other wedding competitors don’t, make sure to include them in your business plan.

If you are looking for a place to start, a simple Google search will provide you with a range of wedding photography business plan samples to work from, which can be tailored specifically to your business.

Now that you are armed with your photography business plan, you can attract better clients and be prepared for the future with a firm grasp of your competitive edge and industry shifts. Don’t forget that along with a solid business plan you need a beautiful website portfolio to show off your work and start getting clients.

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10 Things to Include in Your Photography Invoice to Get Paid Faster

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Cheryl is the Director of Content Strategy at Zenfolio and the Owner/Photographer at Portraits by Cheryl and Seniors by Cheryl in Raleigh, NC. Cheryl has mentored countless new photographers looking to build successful photography businesses.

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What Is a Photography Business Plan?

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How to Write a Business Plan for Photography?

Photography business plan template.

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Business Plan Template

A Photography Business Plan is a business plan that was specifically developed for a photography business. The purpose of this document is to present information about a photography operation, what will be its target market , financial background, goals, strategies, and other details.

Individuals can use a Business Plan for Photography when they would like to create a photography enterprise and want to find funding for it. Therefore, they prepare a document that will show how profitable it will be in order to apply for a loan at a bank or to convince the investors.

Photography business plans can be adapted for different types of photography. For example, a drone photography business plan is suitable for those individuals who would like to start a drone photography business and want to research the market specifically for this service. If you are looking for a business plan for your enterprise you can check out a Photography Business Plan template which can be downloaded below .

Writing a Business Plan for Photography can be complicated yet fulfilling. Completing it will help you understand which steps you need to take in order to succeed in this business. There are no strict rules that would apply to compiling a business plan, nevertheless, make sure you did not miss on including any of the important information about your enterprise. Your plan can include sections similar to the ones described below:

Information About the Operation . At the beginning of your business plan, you can designate the name of your future photography operation, whether it will be specialized on one (or several) types of photography or not, its mission, and more.

Goals and Strategies . Here, you can state which goals you plan to achieve with your enterprise and how you are going to do it. If you want to show how your company will be developing you can include a timeline with milestones that your business can reach during a specific period of time. You can also describe marketing and distributional strategies you would like to apply for the development.

Market Analysis . This section shows whether your company will be in demand and what it takes on the market. It can be divided into several parts, which can be:

Industry Outlook . Here you can research the industry, what are its main tendencies, where it is headed, and similar aspects.
Competitive Analysis . In this part, you can list your main competitors, and provide details about their main benefits and drawbacks.
Target Market . This section is supposed to contain information about who will be your target customers, how many of them are on the market, and which services you are able to offer them.

Haven't found the template you're looking for? Take a look at the related templates below:

Generic Business Plan ;
One-Page Business Plan ;
Consulting Business Plan .

Download Photography Business Plan Template

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Photography Business Plan Template

About this Template

Contents of the template.

This Photography Business Plan Template includes:

An Executive Summary that provides a snapshot of your business and its potential.
A detailed Business Description that gives insight into what services you offer and your business structure.
Market Analysis to understand industry trends, your target customers, and the competitive landscape.
A comprehensive Marketing Plan for brand positioning and promotional strategies.
An Operational Plan outlining the day-to-day workings of your photography business.
A Financial Plan with revenue streams, cost structure, and financial projections to map out fiscal health.
An Appendix for any additional supporting documents pertinent to your business.

Why Use This Template

Using this template can be beneficial because:

It provides a structured format that ensures you cover all essential areas of business planning.
The template is tailored specifically for photography businesses, saving you time on format and content creation.
It streamlines the planning process, making it easier to communicate your vision to stakeholders and potential investors.
It can be a vital tool for internal strategy development and when seeking financial support.

This Template is Used when:

Starting a new photography business and needing a comprehensive plan to follow.
Looking to secure funding or investment for your photography business.
Refining and restructuring your existing photography business model.
Preparing for a launch or expansion of your photography services.
Wanting to professionally present your business strategy to partners or collaborators.

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10 Key Steps for Writing Your Photography Business Plan

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A surprising number of photographers never write a photography business plan. If you plan to embark on a career as a freelancer, you need a plan. A business plan is a road map to success. It outlines your business-related goals and how you intend to achieve them. There is no need to have a very formal business plan. But the components of a traditional business plan can help you be more specific about your goals. This way, you are more likely to achieve them.

The Components of a Photography Business Plan

Create an executive summary.

The Executive Summary is where you define your photography business . What will be the legal structure of your business? Will you be operating as a sole proprietor? This is an overview of your business. It lays out how your business will meet the needs of your target clients. It’s helpful to write out a mission statement for your photography business. You should have tangible objectives and the keys to success.

Write a Product and Service Description

Overhead shot of a person making an illustrative photography business plan on a white desk

Consider Your Target Market

Assess the Competition

Overhead shot of a person holding a coffee cup at a table with plants, camera, lenses and other photography equipment

Develop Key Marketing Strategies

A barista pouring coffee into a v60 filter at a busy cafe

Consider Your Operations Strategy

A laptop, film and camera set up on a wooden desk to prepare a photography business plan

Plan the Financials

A photo studio set up as part of photography business plan

SWOT Analysis

An overhead shot of three small bowls of nuts and dried fruit on a metal surface

Make a Timeline

Preparation and goal setting are crucial to success in any business. A plan for your photography business can make all the difference. Start today by working on your photography business plan. If you can set aside 30 to 60 minutes a day, you’ll finish before you know it. And then you’ll be far ahead of most photographers, who have no plan whatsoever! Now you’ve worked out how to make your business plan, check out our posts on how to price your photography services or use social media marketing next!

Don't bother with copy and paste.

Get this complete sample business plan as a free text document.

Commercial Photography Business Plan

Start your own commercial photography business plan

Flash Commercial Photography

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Flash Commercial Photography, located in and serving Rochester, NY, will serve small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits for all of their studio photography needs by creating beautiful shots that serve the client’s needs, offering excellent service and flexibility with a personal touch, and offering value-added services related to photography. Founded and directed by veteran freelance commercial photographer Matte Flash, Flash Commercial Photography intends to raise $53,000 by adding limited partners to the business in order to open a studio space, hire staff, and undergo a new marketing campaign.

Sales and profits from the business are projected to rise steadily, from $356,000 revenues and $50,000 profits in the first year to $750,000 revenues and $99,000 profits in year 5. Gross margins and net profit margins will be relatively steady at 75% and 13% respectively.

The keys to success for the business include:

Establishing Flash Photography as flexible to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses
Offering a range of additional services, such as printing, photo editing, framing, and production of photos in a variety of digital formats
Making businesses feel at home in our studio and a part of the creative process

Commercial photography business plan, executive summary chart image

Flash Commercial Photography seeks to enter the top three commercial photography providers in the Rochester, NY metropolitan area within five years. We seek the following objectives within that five year period:

To be in the top three commercial photography studios in terms of market share
To exceed $900 thousand in annual revenue
To support five full-time staff

Flash Commercial Photography seeks to serve small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits for all of their studio photography needs by creating beautiful shots that serve the client’s needs, offering excellent service and flexibility with a personal touch, and offering value-added services related to photography. Flash intends to offer personalized service to make it easy for small businesses to outsource their photography needs.

Keys to Success

Making businesses feel at home in our studio and part of the creative process

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Flash Commercial Photography will be based in a conveniently-located studio space within half an hour of downtown Rochester, NY. The company was founded by Matte Flash in 1999. For more than ten years, Flash has operated as a freelance photographer specializing in commercial shoots, establishing a reputation among small businesses as a professional and talented photographer. Over this time, Flash’s business has steadily grown, including a variety of returning clients who rely on Flash for their product photography for pamphlets, brochures, websites, and other marketing collateral. Flash has operated without a devoted studio during this time, traveling to client sites and setting up a studio space wherever possible.

Company Ownership

Flash Commercial Photography was established as a sole proprietorship in 1999 and is currently being re-established as a limited liability partnership to facilitate the participation of investing partners. Currently, all shares of Flash Commercial Photography are owned by Matte Flash.

Start-up Summary

Start-up expenses include the legal fees associated with re-incorporating the business, permits associated with a studio space, and the build-out of the studio space. Marketing includes a promotional campaign to alert customers and potential customers to the services and capacity Flash Commercial Photography is adding. Rent includes two months of studio rent to cover the build-out period and two additional months for a security deposit.

Long-term assets include additional photography equipment (cameras, tripods, backdrops, flashes, lighting) that must be purchased.

Commercial photography business plan, company summary chart image

Start-up

Requirements

Start-up Expenses
Legal	$2,500
Stationery etc.	$1,000
Insurance	$1,000
Rent	$8,000
Marketing	$10,000
Studio Build-Out	$2,000
Total Start-up Expenses	$24,500

Start-up Assets
Cash Required	$15,000
Other Current Assets	$1,000
Long-term Assets	$30,000
Total Assets	$46,000

Total Requirements	$70,500

Services to be offered include the following:

Rental of the studio space to subcontractors when time allows

In the future, as additional staff are are added, there are plans to offer graphic design services for the photos taken, and to expand to a multi-room studio to allow for multiple shoots simultaneously.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The market for commercial photography includes all businesses and non-profits. For Flash Commercial Photography, the target market is small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits (those with under 500 employees) based within a 15 mile radius of Rochester, NY.

In the past two years, the market for commercial photography in Rochester, NY has contracted due to the recent economic downturn. It is estimated by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce that commercial photography has shrunk from $5.7 million to $4.5 million annual revenues since two years ago. Small and medium-sized businesses which formerly used large commercial studios can no longer afford their rates. This has created an opportunity for smaller photography studios with lower overhead and prices to serve this market and seize market share in time for a market upswing.

Market Segmentation

Very Small Businesses: These businesses are generally run by their owners. Photography needs tend to be for their basic marketing collateral (signs, menus, pamphlets, brochures, websites, newsletters, etc.). These businesses generally begin by taking these photographs in-house, but, over time, determine that this method produces sub-standard results. They then seek inexpensive freelance photographers who can quickly handle their needs.

Small Businesses: These businesses have ongoing and regular needs for photography of their products and services, such as quarterly catalogs. They appreciate establishing relationships with vendors who understand their way of working, allow them access to the creative process, and reduce the stress of creating marketing materials. They prefer to work with one vendor for all photography needs and will be reluctant to change that vendor once it is found. However, they do continue to check the prices of their vendor against competitors to make sure they are getting the preferred mix of quality and price.

Medium Businesses: These businesses have marketing departments which outsource photography to photo studios. They have a higher volume of photography needs than smaller businesses and pay great attention to the quality of the images as well as the price. Volume discounts may be needed to retain businesses in this category.

Commercial photography business plan, market analysis summary chart image

Market Analysis
		Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Potential Customers	Growth						CAGR
Very Small Businesses	10%	1,000	1,100	1,210	1,331	1,464	10.00%
Small Businesses	15%	500	575	661	760	874	14.98%
Medium Businesses	20%	200	240	288	346	415	20.02%
Total	12.81%	1,700	1,915	2,159	2,437	2,753	12.81%

Target Market Segment Strategy

Larger businesses in the Rochester area are served by large studios who can send photographers to the client site or set up shoots with little notice. These businesses require photography vendors with the capacity to shoot in multiple locations at the same time.

Smaller businesses, on the other hand, are comfortable working with smaller photography studios. They are generally unhappy with larger studios, as they find they are not a priority compared with the larger clients of the studio. They want the same level of service, scaled to the needs and budget of their business, and only a smaller studio can provide this.

Medium and small businesses can provide ongoing work. However, without serving very small businesses, Flash will miss out on capturing smaller customers before they grow. Working with very small businesses can also provide a wide base of customers, making the revenue streams of the business less susceptible to the loss of any one customer.

Service Business Analysis

The commercial photography industry is characterized by local photo studios which serve cities or small regions. Very few businesses grow beyond this geographic range. Within a local market, such as Rochester, NY, there are dozens of photo studios in operation. Businesses seek photography vendors through referrals, internet search, and the local yellow pages. Photography studios generally base their charges on the time of the shoot as well as the number of edited photos provided.

Specific competitors for Flash Commercial Photography include:

Redwood Studios – Established 5 years ago and operating a small studio, this company focuses on product photography only

ImageMakers – Established 10 years ago, this company does not operate a studio, but uses student photographers to offer lower-priced on-site photography shoots

Flash Photographers – Established 3 years ago, this company subcontracts all of its photography work to freelance photographers, acting as a broker between these freelancers and clients. This leads to a lower level of quality assurance, and some client dissatisfaction

Competition and Buying Patterns

There are very few barriers to entry into the commercial photography business. At the low-end of the market, freelance photographers with inexpensive digital cameras start work officially and unofficially every day. However, at the high end of the market, quality photographers working with the best equipment and a studio space are protected by the capital required to purchase equipment and to rent and build out a studio.

Customers among small and medium-sized businesses seek low prices, but will not sacrifice quality. The best quality is obtained in the controlled environment of a studio, with well-trained photographers and high-quality equipment. Customers choose between photo studios based on their websites and portfolios of work, as well as the personal assurances of the salesperson they work with at the studio that their needs will be taken care of.

Word of mouth is extremely important for this business. While the product of the work becomes very visible, it is important that customers feel so strongly about the experience of working with their photo studio that they talk about it to other businesses and contacts. These referrals are extremely helpful in generating business.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

To build its reputation as a quality choice for commercial photography in the Rochester, NY market, Flash Commercial Photography will focus on small and medium-sized businesses. These include:

Medium Businesses (200 to 500 employees)

To reach these target markets, Flash will use email marketing, business networking, and web marketing to find clients and to ensure that clients find Flash. The CEO, Matte Flash, will sell to clients, and both he and an additional team of assistant photographers will be assigned to client photo shoots in the Flash studio and, when needed, at client sites.

Competitive Edge

Flash Commercial Photography has a competitive edge from the reputation of Matte Flash in the business community as a high-quality photographer who is easy to work with and attentive to the needs of clients. Flash will continue to develop this competitive edge by training additional photographers with his signature style of photography and high attention to customer service.

Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy for Flash Commercial Photography is based on the belief that using a few marketing tactics extremely well is preferable to using many marketing tactics with moderate success with each. The following are components of the initial marketing campaign:

Email Marketing: Emailing a new business announcement and then monthly newsletters with details on new packages, the development of the studio, and new hires to past clients and other targets in the business community. Newsletters will include helpful tips on how to use photography and this will be used to gain permission from marketing departments at prospective client businesses to be sent the newsletters. Within these emails will be calls to action to encourage business referrals.

Business Networking: Matte Flash will promote the business through the local chapter of BNI (Business Networking International), the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rochester Business Owner’s Association. Through these meetings, Flash will introduce his company’s work to other business owners, share leads on business, and receive both exposure and qualified referrals. To encourage members of networking groups to use Flash’s services so that they are educated referrers, Flash will offer a 25% discount on services to members of the networking group on their first purchase.

Web Marketing: Flash Photography will purchase search engine advertising with Google Adwords around commercial photography keywords for the Rochester market and gear its advertisements towards the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, Flash Photography’s website will be optimized for higher search engine ranking under these keywords.

Sales Strategy

The company’s sales strategy is to utilize the experience of Matte Flash as salesperson. Flash will be able to assure clients of what the company and its photographers can accomplish as all will be personally trained by him.

To increase the closing rate of prospects, Flash will meet clients at their businesses whenever possible to go beyond phone conversations. He will use a portfolio of images and testimonials. Flash will use Salesforce.com as a tool to manage the sales process, and to train additional salespeople when the time comes.

The scheduling and fulfillment of services will be administered by the office manager, who will use Salesforce.com and QuickBooks to manage clients and capture information related to orders. Standard procedures for order fulfillment will be created by Flash and checked on an ongoing basis.

Sales Forecast

Sales for photo shoots are expected to drive the business and will grow with the growing staff. Additional photographers will be hired to meet the need first as part-time and then as full-time staff.

Supplementary revenue streams will be photo editing services and printing and framing of images. Finally, off-hours for the studio will be rented for events of other purposes to create a steady monthly stream of revenue.

Commercial photography business plan, strategy and implementation summary chart image

Sales Forecast
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Sales
Photo Shoots	$206,332	$256,841	$300,000	$370,000	$450,000
Photo Editing	$55,345	$69,759	$90,000	$120,000	$150,000
Printing and Framing	$23,321	$29,524	$50,000	$70,000	$100,000
Studio Rental	$71,638	$36,000	$36,000	$40,000	$50,000
Total Sales	$356,636	$392,124	$476,000	$600,000	$750,000

Direct Cost of Sales	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Printing and Framing Cost	$17,491	$21,743	$37,500	$52,500	$75,000
Other Cost of Sales	$53,495	$58,819	$71,400	$90,000	$112,500
Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales	$70,986	$80,562	$108,900	$142,500	$187,500

The promotional marketing before the opening of the studio is in a two month period in which an initial Web marketing and email marketing campaign will take place, directed by the CEO, with some help from the part-time administrative assistant, and marketing vendors (a Web marketing specialist). Furthermore, ads will be placed to specifically highlight the studio as a rental option for other uses.

Constant Contact will be used to maintain email marketing with announcements about the studio opening, new staff, and new services.

Milestones

Milestone	Start Date	End Date	Budget	Manager	Department
Sign Lease on Studio	9/30/2009	9/30/2009	$0	GC	Operations
Hire Part-Time Staff	11/1/2009	11/1/2009	$0	GC	Operations
Train Part-Time Staff	11/1/2009	12/31/2009	$0	GC	Operations
Open Studio For Business	1/1/2010	1/1/2010	$0	GC	Operations
Web Marketing Campaign	11/1/2009	12/31/2009	$8,000	GC	Marketing
Email Marketing Campaign	11/23/2009	12/23/2009	$1,000	GC	Marketing
Rental Studio Marketing	11/15/2009	12/31/2009	$1,000	GC	Marketing
Totals			$10,000

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Matte Flash will act as CEO of Flash Commercial Photography. Flash has extensive industry, sales, and operational experience. Immediate hires will include one part-time assistant photographer and one part-time administrative assistant.

The CEO will be responsible for sales and marketing, management of all staff, and fulfillment of client services.

The first part-time assistant photographer will be Timothy Smith, a recent graduate of the School of Visual Arts and an accomplished photographer new to Rochester. The assistant photographer will assist on shoots during training and begin to take the lead on photo shoots over time. He will move to full-time within one year if sales projections are met.

The administrative assistant will be responsible for bookkeeping (accounts payable and receivable), scheduling of shoots and labor, and fielding calls for rental of the studio and initial sales inquiries. He or she will execute marketing campaigns (update website, print brochures and portfolios, etc). He or she will offer customer service to answer basic questions by phone or email.

Personnel Plan

Flash Commercial Photography will begin its expansion with one part-time assistant photographer and one part-time administrative assistant, with the understanding that both positions will grow to full-time shortly. Each year an additional assistant photographer will be added.

Personnel Plan
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
CEO	$60,000	$60,000	$60,000	$60,000	$60,000
Assistant Photographer	$33,736	$48,000	$49,920	$51,917	$53,993
Administrative Assistant	$19,019	$28,344	$40,000	$45,000	$50,000
Assistant Photographer 2	$0	$13,942	$15,000	$30,000	$31,200
Assistant Photographer 3	$0	$0	$0	$15,000	$35,000
Assistant Photographer 4	$0	$0	$0	$4	$15,000
Total People	3	3	4	6	7

Total Payroll	$112,755	$150,286	$164,920	$201,921	$245,193

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The launch of the business will be financed by the founder’s investment and credit and by investments from limited partners. In exchange for $53,000 investment in the business at startup, limited partners will receive 49% ownership shares. The initial funding requirements are modest for the business.

The growth of the business, beyond the first year, will be financed by the free cash flows generated by the business. This will allow for the expansion of staff to include additional photographers, the ramping up of marketing expenditures, and the resulting increase in sales. Only one photographer will be added per year in order to make sure that there is time for adequate training of new staff.

Start-up Funding

Funding for the business is in part from personal loans, credit cards, and cash investment by the owner, Matte Flash. The remainder of funding will be from one to three limited partners in the form of equity investment.

Start-up Funding

Start-up Expenses to Fund	$24,500
Start-up Assets to Fund	$46,000
Total Funding Required	$70,500

Assets
Non-cash Assets from Start-up	$31,000
Cash Requirements from Start-up	$15,000
Additional Cash Raised	$0
Cash Balance on Starting Date	$15,000
Total Assets	$46,000


Liabilities and Capital

Liabilities
Current Borrowing	$5,000
Long-term Liabilities	$5,000
Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills)	$2,500
Other Current Liabilities (interest-free)	$0
Total Liabilities	$12,500

Capital

Planned Investment
Owner	$5,000
Limited Partners	$53,000
Additional Investment Requirement	$0
Total Planned Investment	$58,000

Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses)	($24,500)
Total Capital	$33,500


Total Capital and Liabilities	$46,000

Total Funding	$70,500

Break-even Analysis

The break even for the business is high, as the salaries of staff are relatively fixed.

Commercial photography business plan, financial plan chart image

Break-even Analysis


Monthly Revenue Break-even	$22,228

Assumptions:
Average Percent Variable Cost	20%
Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost	$17,804

Projected Profit and Loss

Gross margins are expected to remain consistent, as most costs of the business are not direct costs of sales. The greatest cost of the service is labor, which is part of salaries and not cost of sales, for example.

In year 2, profit is expected to drop as capacity is increased to prepare for growth. This will rectify in future years as sales come in line with the payroll expenses.

Pro Forma Profit and Loss
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Sales	$356,636	$392,124	$476,000	$600,000	$750,000
Direct Cost of Sales	$70,986	$80,562	$108,900	$142,500	$187,500
Other Costs of Sales	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Cost of Sales	$70,986	$80,562	$108,900	$142,500	$187,500

Gross Margin	$285,650	$311,562	$367,100	$457,500	$562,500
Gross Margin %	80.10%	79.46%	77.12%	76.25%	75.00%


Expenses
Payroll	$112,755	$150,286	$164,920	$201,921	$245,193
Marketing/Promotion	$36,000	$36,000	$50,000	$60,000	$70,000
Depreciation	$6,000	$6,000	$6,000	$6,000	$6,000
Rent	$24,000	$25,200	$26,460	$27,783	$29,172
Utilities	$2,400	$3,000	$3,500	$3,800	$4,200
Insurance	$2,400	$3,000	$3,500	$4,000	$4,500
Payroll Taxes	$18,091	$22,543	$24,738	$30,288	$36,779
Other	$12,000	$14,400	$17,000	$20,000	$25,000

Total Operating Expenses	$213,646	$260,429	$296,118	$353,792	$420,845

Profit Before Interest and Taxes	$72,004	$51,134	$70,982	$103,708	$141,655
EBITDA	$78,004	$57,134	$76,982	$109,708	$147,655
Interest Expense	$458	$0	$0	$0	$0
Taxes Incurred	$21,464	$15,340	$21,295	$31,112	$42,497

Net Profit	$50,082	$35,793	$49,687	$72,596	$99,159
Net Profit/Sales	14.04%	9.13%	10.44%	12.10%	13.22%

Projected Cash Flow

Cash flow is expected to be positive after the first month of operations. This is due to the fact that Matte Flash has a proven track record and can hit the ground running with continued work for existing clients. Cash reserves in the company will be increased over the first year to prepare for additional expansion in year two.

Pro Forma Cash Flow
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Cash Received

Cash from Operations
Cash Sales	$71,327	$78,425	$95,200	$120,000	$150,000
Cash from Receivables	$261,059	$310,351	$374,897	$471,273	$589,443
Subtotal Cash from Operations	$332,387	$388,775	$470,097	$591,273	$739,443

Additional Cash Received
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Current Borrowing	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Other Liabilities (interest-free)	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Long-term Liabilities	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Sales of Other Current Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Sales of Long-term Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Investment Received	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal Cash Received	$332,387	$388,775	$470,097	$591,273	$739,443

Expenditures	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5

Expenditures from Operations
Cash Spending	$112,755	$150,286	$164,920	$201,921	$245,193
Bill Payments	$174,582	$198,957	$251,206	$314,216	$393,059
Subtotal Spent on Operations	$287,337	$349,243	$416,126	$516,137	$638,252

Additional Cash Spent
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing	$5,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other Liabilities Principal Repayment	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment	$5,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
Purchase Other Current Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Purchase Long-term Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Dividends	$0	$0	$21,588	$30,054	$40,476
Subtotal Cash Spent	$297,337	$349,243	$437,714	$546,191	$678,729

Net Cash Flow	$35,049	$39,533	$32,383	$45,082	$60,714
Cash Balance	$50,049	$89,582	$121,964	$167,046	$227,760

Projected Balance Sheet

The business is projected to show growth in retained earnings (which allow for dividends to be paid) as there are not substantial additional capital expenditures needed after the launch. There will be healthy growth in net worth over the first five years of operation, as additional debt is not required to fund the business.

Pro Forma Balance Sheet
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Assets

Current Assets
Cash	$50,049	$89,582	$121,964	$167,046	$227,760
Accounts Receivable	$24,249	$27,598	$33,501	$42,228	$52,785
Other Current Assets	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000
Total Current Assets	$75,299	$118,180	$156,466	$210,274	$281,546

Long-term Assets
Long-term Assets	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000
Accumulated Depreciation	$6,000	$12,000	$18,000	$24,000	$30,000
Total Long-term Assets	$24,000	$18,000	$12,000	$6,000	$0
Total Assets	$99,299	$136,180	$168,466	$216,274	$281,546

Liabilities and Capital	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5

Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable	$15,717	$16,804	$20,991	$26,259	$32,848
Current Borrowing	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other Current Liabilities	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal Current Liabilities	$15,717	$16,804	$20,991	$26,259	$32,848

Long-term Liabilities	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Liabilities	$15,717	$16,804	$20,991	$26,259	$32,848

Paid-in Capital	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000
Retained Earnings	($24,500)	$25,582	$39,787	$59,420	$91,539
Earnings	$50,082	$35,793	$49,687	$72,596	$99,159
Total Capital	$83,582	$119,375	$147,474	$190,015	$248,698
Total Liabilities and Capital	$99,299	$136,180	$168,466	$216,274	$281,546

Net Worth	$83,582	$119,375	$147,474	$190,015	$248,698

Business Ratios

The business will spend more than the industry average on advertising, for example, in order to promote the competitive advantage of the company on the Web. The overhead reflected by Selling, General & Administrative expense is lower than the industry, as the business will make use of digital tools, reducing the costs of equipment and supplies.

Ratio Analysis
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Industry Profile
Sales Growth	n.a.	9.95%	21.39%	26.05%	25.00%	-1.13%

Percent of Total Assets
Accounts Receivable	24.42%	20.27%	19.89%	19.53%	18.75%	20.28%
Other Current Assets	1.01%	0.73%	0.59%	0.46%	0.36%	59.10%
Total Current Assets	75.83%	86.78%	92.88%	97.23%	100.00%	83.86%
Long-term Assets	24.17%	13.22%	7.12%	2.77%	0.00%	16.14%
Total Assets	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Current Liabilities	15.83%	12.34%	12.46%	12.14%	11.67%	40.82%
Long-term Liabilities	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	36.82%
Total Liabilities	15.83%	12.34%	12.46%	12.14%	11.67%	77.65%
Net Worth	84.17%	87.66%	87.54%	87.86%	88.33%	22.35%

Percent of Sales
Sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Gross Margin	80.10%	79.46%	77.12%	76.25%	75.00%	75.47%
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses	66.05%	70.33%	66.68%	64.15%	61.78%	36.59%
Advertising Expenses	10.09%	9.18%	10.50%	10.00%	9.33%	0.94%
Profit Before Interest and Taxes	20.19%	13.04%	14.91%	17.28%	18.89%	6.66%

Main Ratios
Current	4.79	7.03	7.45	8.01	8.57	1.49
Quick	4.79	7.03	7.45	8.01	8.57	1.38
Total Debt to Total Assets	15.83%	12.34%	12.46%	12.14%	11.67%	77.65%
Pre-tax Return on Net Worth	85.60%	42.83%	48.13%	54.58%	56.96%	104.64%
Pre-tax Return on Assets	72.05%	37.55%	42.13%	47.95%	50.31%	23.39%

Additional Ratios	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Net Profit Margin	14.04%	9.13%	10.44%	12.10%	13.22%	n.a
Return on Equity	59.92%	29.98%	33.69%	38.21%	39.87%	n.a

Activity Ratios
Accounts Receivable Turnover	11.77	11.37	11.37	11.37	11.37	n.a
Collection Days	29	30	29	29	29	n.a
Accounts Payable Turnover	11.95	11.90	12.17	12.17	12.17	n.a
Payment Days	28	30	27	27	27	n.a
Total Asset Turnover	3.59	2.88	2.83	2.77	2.66	n.a

Debt Ratios
Debt to Net Worth	0.19	0.14	0.14	0.14	0.13	n.a
Current Liab. to Liab.	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	n.a

Liquidity Ratios
Net Working Capital	$59,582	$101,375	$135,474	$184,015	$248,698	n.a
Interest Coverage	157.10	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	n.a

Additional Ratios
Assets to Sales	0.28	0.35	0.35	0.36	0.38	n.a
Current Debt/Total Assets	16%	12%	12%	12%	12%	n.a
Acid Test	3.25	5.39	5.86	6.40	6.96	n.a
Sales/Net Worth	4.27	3.28	3.23	3.16	3.02	n.a
Dividend Payout	0.00	0.00	0.43	0.41	0.41	n.a

Long-term Plan

The profitability of the company will increase in absolute terms with growth. However, the gross margins and net profit margins will not increase dramatically over time as the additional growth in revenues requires additional direct labor. To maintain the reputation of the company, this labor cannot be performed by less skilled, lower-wage photographers.

As revenues grow and additional photographers are hired, the CEO will focus a greater percentage of time on sales and prospecting. This will allow for steady growth in revenues while the brand of Flash Commercial Photography becomes established in the market. A larger studio space with multiple rooms can be leased after a critical mass of utilization has been achieved with the current space. This will allow for continued growth.

Sales Forecast
	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
Sales
Photo Shoots	$15,383	$15,691	$16,005	$16,325	$16,652	$16,985	$17,325	$17,672	$18,025	$18,386	$18,754	$19,129
Photo Editing	$3,683	$3,831	$3,984	$4,143	$4,309	$4,481	$4,661	$4,847	$5,041	$5,243	$5,452	$5,670
Printing and Framing	$1,739	$1,774	$1,809	$1,845	$1,882	$1,920	$1,958	$1,997	$2,037	$2,078	$2,120	$2,162
Studio Rental	$1,023	$5,027	$6,163	$6,651	$7,075	$7,162	$7,436	$7,494	$7,162	$6,344	$5,705	$4,396
Total Sales	$21,828	$26,323	$27,961	$28,964	$29,918	$30,548	$31,380	$32,010	$32,265	$32,051	$32,031	$31,357

Direct Cost of Sales	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
Printing and Framing Cost	$1,304	$1,331	$1,357	$1,384	$1,412	$1,440	$1,469	$1,498	$1,528	$1,559	$1,590	$1,622
Other Cost of Sales	$3,274	$3,948	$4,194	$4,345	$4,488	$4,582	$4,707	$4,802	$4,840	$4,808	$4,805	$4,704
Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales	$4,578	$5,279	$5,551	$5,728	$5,899	$6,022	$6,176	$6,299	$6,368	$6,366	$6,395	$6,325

Personnel Plan
	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
CEO	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
Assistant Photographer	$2,000	$2,120	$2,247	$2,382	$2,525	$2,676	$2,837	$3,007	$3,187	$3,378	$3,581	$3,796
Administrative Assistant	$1,500	$1,515	$1,530	$1,545	$1,560	$1,576	$1,592	$1,608	$1,624	$1,640	$1,656	$1,673
Assistant Photographer 2	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Assistant Photographer 3	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Assistant Photographer 4	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total People	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3

Total Payroll	$8,500	$8,635	$8,777	$8,927	$9,085	$9,252	$9,429	$9,615	$9,811	$10,018	$10,237	$10,469

Pro Forma Profit and Loss
		Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
Sales		$21,828	$26,323	$27,961	$28,964	$29,918	$30,548	$31,380	$32,010	$32,265	$32,051	$32,031	$31,357
Direct Cost of Sales		$4,578	$5,279	$5,551	$5,728	$5,899	$6,022	$6,176	$6,299	$6,368	$6,366	$6,395	$6,325
Other Costs of Sales		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Cost of Sales		$4,578	$5,279	$5,551	$5,728	$5,899	$6,022	$6,176	$6,299	$6,368	$6,366	$6,395	$6,325

Gross Margin		$17,250	$21,044	$22,410	$23,236	$24,019	$24,526	$25,205	$25,711	$25,898	$25,685	$25,636	$25,032
Gross Margin %		79.02%	79.95%	80.15%	80.22%	80.28%	80.29%	80.32%	80.32%	80.26%	80.14%	80.04%	79.83%


Expenses
Payroll		$8,500	$8,635	$8,777	$8,927	$9,085	$9,252	$9,429	$9,615	$9,811	$10,018	$10,237	$10,469
Marketing/Promotion		$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000
Depreciation		$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500
Rent		$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
Utilities		$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200
Insurance		$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200	$200
Payroll Taxes	15%	$1,275	$1,313	$1,352	$1,393	$1,435	$1,478	$1,522	$1,568	$1,615	$1,663	$1,713	$1,764
Other		$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000

Total Operating Expenses		$16,675	$16,848	$17,029	$17,220	$17,420	$17,630	$17,851	$18,083	$18,326	$18,581	$18,850	$19,133

Profit Before Interest and Taxes		$575	$4,196	$5,381	$6,016	$6,599	$6,896	$7,354	$7,628	$7,572	$7,104	$6,786	$5,899
EBITDA		$1,075	$4,696	$5,881	$6,516	$7,099	$7,396	$7,854	$8,128	$8,072	$7,604	$7,286	$6,399
Interest Expense		$76	$69	$63	$56	$49	$42	$35	$28	$21	$14	$7	$0
Taxes Incurred		$149	$1,238	$1,596	$1,788	$1,965	$2,056	$2,196	$2,280	$2,265	$2,127	$2,034	$1,770

Net Profit		$349	$2,889	$3,723	$4,172	$4,585	$4,798	$5,123	$5,320	$5,285	$4,963	$4,746	$4,129
Net Profit/Sales		1.60%	10.97%	13.32%	14.40%	15.33%	15.71%	16.33%	16.62%	16.38%	15.48%	14.82%	13.17%

Pro Forma Cash Flow
		Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
Cash Received

Cash from Operations
Cash Sales		$4,366	$5,265	$5,592	$5,793	$5,984	$6,110	$6,276	$6,402	$6,453	$6,410	$6,406	$6,271
Cash from Receivables		$582	$17,582	$21,102	$22,396	$23,197	$23,951	$24,461	$25,121	$25,615	$25,806	$25,640	$25,607
Subtotal Cash from Operations		$4,948	$22,847	$26,694	$28,188	$29,180	$30,061	$30,737	$31,523	$32,068	$32,216	$32,046	$31,878

Additional Cash Received
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received	0.00%	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Current Borrowing		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Other Liabilities (interest-free)		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Long-term Liabilities		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Sales of Other Current Assets		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Sales of Long-term Assets		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
New Investment Received		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal Cash Received		$4,948	$22,847	$26,694	$28,188	$29,180	$30,061	$30,737	$31,523	$32,068	$32,216	$32,046	$31,878

Expenditures		Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12

Expenditures from Operations
Cash Spending		$8,500	$8,635	$8,777	$8,927	$9,085	$9,252	$9,429	$9,615	$9,811	$10,018	$10,237	$10,469
Bill Payments		$2,916	$12,540	$14,321	$14,974	$15,378	$15,756	$16,009	$16,336	$16,578	$16,665	$16,569	$16,539
Subtotal Spent on Operations		$11,416	$21,175	$23,098	$23,901	$24,463	$25,008	$25,438	$25,951	$26,389	$26,683	$26,806	$27,008

Additional Cash Spent
Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing		$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417
Other Liabilities Principal Repayment		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment		$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417	$417
Purchase Other Current Assets		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Purchase Long-term Assets		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Dividends		$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal Cash Spent		$12,249	$22,008	$23,932	$24,735	$25,296	$25,842	$26,271	$26,784	$27,222	$27,517	$27,640	$27,841

Net Cash Flow		($7,302)	$839	$2,763	$3,454	$3,884	$4,219	$4,465	$4,738	$4,845	$4,700	$4,407	$4,037
Cash Balance		$7,698	$8,537	$11,299	$14,753	$18,637	$22,856	$27,322	$32,060	$36,905	$41,605	$46,012	$50,049

Pro Forma Balance Sheet
		Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12
Assets	Starting Balances

Current Assets
Cash	$15,000	$7,698	$8,537	$11,299	$14,753	$18,637	$22,856	$27,322	$32,060	$36,905	$41,605	$46,012	$50,049
Accounts Receivable	$0	$16,880	$20,356	$21,623	$22,399	$23,137	$23,624	$24,267	$24,754	$24,952	$24,786	$24,771	$24,249
Other Current Assets	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000
Total Current Assets	$16,000	$25,579	$29,893	$33,923	$38,152	$42,774	$47,480	$52,589	$57,814	$62,857	$67,391	$71,783	$75,299

Long-term Assets
Long-term Assets	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000
Accumulated Depreciation	$0	$500	$1,000	$1,500	$2,000	$2,500	$3,000	$3,500	$4,000	$4,500	$5,000	$5,500	$6,000
Total Long-term Assets	$30,000	$29,500	$29,000	$28,500	$28,000	$27,500	$27,000	$26,500	$26,000	$25,500	$25,000	$24,500	$24,000
Total Assets	$46,000	$55,079	$58,893	$62,423	$66,152	$70,274	$74,480	$79,089	$83,814	$88,357	$92,391	$96,283	$99,299

Liabilities and Capital		Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6	Month 7	Month 8	Month 9	Month 10	Month 11	Month 12

Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable	$2,500	$12,063	$13,823	$14,462	$14,853	$15,223	$15,465	$15,784	$16,023	$16,113	$16,018	$15,997	$15,717
Current Borrowing	$5,000	$4,583	$4,167	$3,750	$3,333	$2,917	$2,500	$2,083	$1,667	$1,250	$833	$417	$0
Other Current Liabilities	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal Current Liabilities	$7,500	$16,647	$17,989	$18,212	$18,186	$18,140	$17,965	$17,867	$17,689	$17,363	$16,851	$16,413	$15,717

Long-term Liabilities	$5,000	$4,583	$4,167	$3,750	$3,333	$2,917	$2,500	$2,083	$1,667	$1,250	$833	$417	$0
Total Liabilities	$12,500	$21,230	$22,156	$21,962	$21,519	$21,056	$20,465	$19,950	$19,356	$18,613	$17,684	$16,830	$15,717

Paid-in Capital	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000	$58,000
Retained Earnings	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)	($24,500)
Earnings	$0	$349	$3,237	$6,960	$11,132	$15,718	$20,515	$25,639	$30,959	$36,244	$41,207	$45,953	$50,082
Total Capital	$33,500	$33,849	$36,737	$40,460	$44,632	$49,218	$54,015	$59,139	$64,459	$69,744	$74,707	$79,453	$83,582
Total Liabilities and Capital	$46,000	$55,079	$58,893	$62,423	$66,152	$70,274	$74,480	$79,089	$83,814	$88,357	$92,391	$96,283	$99,299

Net Worth	$33,500	$33,849	$36,737	$40,460	$44,632	$49,218	$54,015	$59,139	$64,459	$69,744	$74,707	$79,453	$83,582

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How to Write a Photography Business Plan and Nail It

Julia Ronen
Jul 17, 2017

Woman with business plan - featured image

Photographers, designers, bloggers – as artistically inclined people, we are undoubtedly good at creating. Planning, on the other hand, well that’s not necessarily our forte. Unfortunately, a camera or a paintbrush is not exactly the best tool to help you build a successful business. However, in order to do what we love for a living (which is a great accomplishment in itself!), we have to master not only our trade but also the art of managing a small business. Luckily for you, creating a photography website has already been taken care of.

While it may appear intimidating in the beginning, with the right set of tools, you can grasp the hang of it pretty quickly. Just like any other new creative technique you acquired – all you need to succeed is the desire to learn.

This is where we would like to chip in our 5 cents to help our photographer friends take the first step in starting a photography business . Remember, behind every successful photographer is a well thought through business plan. Let us walk you through creating a photography business plan that will set your foot on the right path – the one that leads to success:

So… What is a business plan exactly?

To put it simply, a business plan is a guide that outlines your business’ goals and how you plan to achieve them. It’s created by the business owner on a yearly basis and serves as a reference for any managerial or financial question that may come up during the year. In case you plan to raise funds for your business or negotiate a loan from the bank, a concise photography business plan will make you look professional and sincere in all your intentions. On top of that, the plan will serve as a personal target to achieve, a reference to follow up on your accomplishments, and a guide on where you need to concentrate your efforts in order to do better next year.

With that being said, it doesn’t have to be as long as your exposure settings during night time. The document’s length is up to you, but the principle of “less is more” is a great guideline to start with. After all, you’re not building a groundbreaking start-up company in Silicon Valley, but a traditional photography business, that probably has a lot in common with other businesses in the field – so your readers will most likely know what to expect.

business plan outline written with chalk on a board

First – wait a second (or two)

Before getting down to some hands on calculations, there are a few things that need to be taken care of. The first of which being you – so take a deep breath (literally, it’s important!).

Now, you have some serious thinking (and writing) to do. In order to position yourself in the highly competitive world of commissioned photographers, you’ll need to define your services, target audience, and business goals. Is this sounding all too much? Not if you follow these steps:

Do some industry research

Do some groundwork on your competition, especially in the geographical area where you plan to operate:

What kind of services do they provide?

Does anything set them apart from the crowd?

What do their online assets look like ( photography website , Facebook business page , Instagram , 500px, etc.)?

How much do they charge? Do your best to find out by browsing their site or asking for an estimate.

What do their clients have to say about them? To find out, simply “Google” your competitors’ name and browse the reviews.

Identify your target audience

Your target audience are the people that are most likely to hire you. They will be the focus of all your marketing efforts. To identify your audience, try to think about the following questions: Who are your clients? What is their approximate age, marital status, income status, where do they live? What are their needs and how can you meet them? Why would they choose you over a competitor? The more information you have, the more accurate your marketing strategy will be.

Define your product and services

With that information in mind, you can start to develop your game plan. Try to define your product and services in the most detailed way possible. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, there’s much more to your services than just wedding photo shoots. First, you probably provide your service in several differently priced packages. Secondly – you also have a physical product – the photo album, and perhaps a USB stick for the client: every item should be listed for budgeting purposes.

Find your niche

Everyone provides high-quality photos and services. Undoubtedly, you do too. So how will your photography business catch the eye of the tiger, e.g. potential clients? Based on the market research you did, try to come up with something that will set you apart from other photographers in your locale. It can be a unique photography style , a special photography package, a delicate personal touch , or any other exclusive idea your brainstorming session will produce. That “little something” that makes you different will be very useful in marketing your photography business.

Know thyself

As you make plans for the coming year, think of your strengths and weaknesses, and use both to leverage yourself. How? Well, strengths are obvious: for example, if you’re a people’s person, you’ll probably excel at marketing your services. As for weaknesses – set a goal to work on the ones you’d like to improve so that your business can benefit from it. For instance, you might consider yourself a technophobe when it comes to creating a photography website or promoting your business online. So one goal for the coming year could be improving your knowledge about online marketing terms , SEO for photographers , and everything you need to know in order to create a great photography website .

Set the right price

The price of your services is a key element, on which your entire photography business plan is based on. Remember the market research you ran four paragraphs ago? The price range of photography prices in your area should be your first indicator. You need to make sure that your final price is positioned within that scale according to your level of expertise.

On the other hand, your price needs to secure your monetary goals for the year. What amount of income do you plan to bring home? Is it a full-time job, or a side gig? How many sessions do you think you could secure per month? What is the price that can give you a net profit on top of your expenses and dedicated time? Bear in mind, that some questions can only be answered after you’ve earned some mileage as a professional photographer. In the meantime, here is a great reference to what photographers of different expertise levels charged in 2016 .

Set your goals

If the business plan serves as an orientation map through the year, then it must have a clear destination. Remember, a good “destination”, or objective, is an achievable one. The more defined and the more realistic, the better. When choosing a target, think of how you can measure its success. If it ain’t measurable, it ain’t pleasurable.

Now let’s get to business (plan)

Now that the theoretical part is done, it’s time to talk numbers. The purpose of this part is to understand the financial side of things, and mostly – to obtain your net profit. Here’s a step by step guide to calculating your earnings for the upcoming year:

01. Define your total sales per month . This includes both your booking fee and product sales. Think of the average amount of gigs you get per month, and multiply by the average amount of money you earn from each job.

02. Costs of sales per month – include all your expenses on getting the job done. This can include a second shooter, print lab fees, and average travel expenses to and from the event. Note that these are not your fixed costs (we’ll get to this below).

03. Time for gross profit ! ‘Total sales per month’ minus ‘costs of sales per month’ will give you this number.

04. To figure out your monthly net gain, calculate your general business expenses, i.e. fixed costs . These expenses are constant and do not add up per photo shoot. For example, they can include marketing expenses, accounting, equipment, hardware, and taxes. Definitely skip hosting and web-design fees, as you can easily make an impressive photography website for free! Divide the number you get by 12 – these are your fixed costs per month.

05. It’s the final countdown: your gross profit minus monthly fixed costs will generate your net profit .

About that net profit

If you’re just starting your business, take into consideration that many businesses take a year, sometimes more, to get out of a negative net profit. That means that you need to plan ahead and prepare some savings to survive that first year. If you end up having a nice net profit, you have two choices: keep it to yourself (that’s why you were doing this in the first place, right?) or invest it in the coming year to grow your business even further. A nice net profit will give you the option to do both, depending on your business goals of course.

That’s it, you’re ready to go. Good luck with the new exciting journey! Now that you have a detailed map, the road to success is clearly marked.

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Photography Business Plan

Photography has been a part of everyone’s life since the 19th Century. We all loved the photos we see coming out of the dark rooms and the change from negative to something vibrant and priceless. However, due to the current world’s technological feats, photography businesses became more irrelevant and insignificant. Nonetheless, it is still a growing industry with its advantage in quality and convenience but at a lower rate than other business industries within the arts and culture section. That’s why, if you want to stand out within this industry, an exceptional business plan is necessary, and we provide you Photography Business Plan Samples that will surely keep you relevant. Hop in and check our guide below as well and see create your document fast.

10+ Photography Business Plan Examples

1. photography business plan template.

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3. Commercial Photography Business Plan Template

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What is a Photography Business Plan?

A Photography Business Plan is a document that people within the arts and culture industry use to start a photography business, either as a photographer in fashion , event, or freelance photography. This document is essential for the company or for the founders to ensure that what they are doing will become an investment and not a liability.

What are the most profitable photography fields?

Photography, in itself, is art. It is a field that captivates people’s emotions and imaginations, but it ensures that memories and history are told to the next generations. However, as sacred as it may seem, this art is also a business for some. Here is the list of the most profitable photography styles to help you earn your keep using this craft.

Social Media

Let’s go with the most profitable photography field. Undeniably, social media marketing is way beyond the marks of basic photography. It involves marketing within the photography itself. Some samples of this type of photography are creating social media ads, doing a corporate photoshoot for social media exposure, and other things. You are not limited by anything in this department, and sure can do more.

Event photography is all about capturing moments and memories. This is one of the most critical functions of photography since its creation. We see this from the photos of the two world wars, historical revolutions, and other events with great importance. However, since people nowadays don’t need many photographers to capture these moments, event photography is now more on weddings , conventions, concerts, and other events. However, this type of photography is still vibrant and growing, so you can be sure that you can still earn your way through this area.

Portrait photography is also an excellent way to earn money within this industry. Baby pictures before the 2000s were not beautiful at all. They were shot by people in the family and hence lacked the creativity and art that photography demands. That’s why, today, we see families asking professional photographers to create portraits of their families and children, and hence an excellent avenue for a business that specializes in this area.

Travel Photography is a type of photography that captures places, culture, tradition, and all those little things that make traveling worthwhile. This type of photography is best suited for bloggers who have a considerable following to provide travel funds. Social Media influencers are also good with this type of photography.

Stock photography is all about creating value in everything. A bottle in a basket, a torn shirt, even an old watch can be sold as a stock image. The possibility is limitless. Photographs from this are sometimes sold to companies, graphic designers , and people with creativity that can use these images as backgrounds, illustrations, etc. However, because of the need for these pictures being undervalued, then you need to take many photos to ensure that you can earn more.

Documentary

Documentary photography is like travel photography but differs significantly as they usually use photos in this industry as supporting documents for a story or an article. However, as a photographer, you can be sure that you’ll earn enough here as you’re not working alone. Sometimes a company hires you for a project , and that’s good.

How to Create a Photography Business Plan

Whether or not you are new to creating a business plan , it doesn’t matter. What we’re going to mention here are just general tips that can get you started. However, take note of these things as they will help you much.

Step 1: Executive Summary

This is one of the essential elements in creating a business plan. Why is that? Because with an excellent executive summary, you can be sure that your investors will become interested in your work and their investments . So make sure that you make it right.

Step 2: Marketing and Operational Plan

After your Executive Summary, you should note that you have a marketing plan and an operational plan ready. In this way, your investors will be caught in a quagmire in which they willingly jump, which could, in turn, increase their trust in your business. By doing this, you also ensure that your small business will have better commercial value because you will have connections.

Step 3: Company and Team Profile

Sometimes you don’t need this. However, if you still want to improve your company’s credibility, this is an excellent way to go. With a highly detailed company and team profile, your investors will increase trust, knowing that the men and women doing the project are credible and professional.

Step 4: Financial Plan

Why do you think you create a business plan? Of course, it is to know how the business will grow and how you can gain something from the initiative. So, a financial plan is necessary to support your claims and improve your business.

Is a photography business profitable?

Yes and No. You see, a photography business is not all about just taking pictures. It is a business first and foremost, so you should make sure to do all the company sides. Editing, finance, and other things are necessary for the industry to be profiting

Is photography a profitable business?

Of course, as mentioned earlier. Although this business loses its relevance in the typical days, it’s worth as a luxurious art is more prevalent. Therefore, if you want to do this business, you can be sure that it will be an excellent business.

How do I sell my Photography?

If you plan to sell your photographs, then many websites in the market, accept stock photos, such as iStockPhoto, 123RF, and Shutterstock. These websites will help you gain money by providing them with random images that people may want.

The current photography industry is filled with new and exciting things. We see drones being used in events, table shots done at weddings, and other things. However, the secret to keeping your business relevant and not short is the people. That’s why it’s good to use a template, but ultimately the people will decide. So, create art and become an artist—the world will follow.

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

Create a study plan for final exams in high school

Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.

Business Templates
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FREE 10+ Sample Photography Business Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word | Google Docs | Pages

There are many events that need the services of photography studios, such as birthdays and weddings. Photography services help people to have quality documentations of the events that they’re celebrating. Photographers play a vital role in capturing every special moment in a social gathering through the lenses of their cameras. With those in mind, now is the perfect opportunity for you to launch your commercial photography business. But before that, you have to devise a business plan. Well, not to worry, our Sample Photography Business Plan Templates can make things easier for you! View each of them below.

Photography Business Plans

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There are many other photography studios out there that have been operating for many years. Most of them have already established a strong trust and bond with their clients. That said, marketing your new photography business will be a challenge. But it’s one that’s overcomeable. You can make your studio a stand out in no time by building a unique brand for it. So here are some photography business ideas to achieve that.

As a startup photography business, it’s ideal to keep your focus on one niche. Choose a niche that’s your passion. It could be wedding photography , aerial photography, fashion photography, etc. Having a single niche will enable you to attract a significant portion of the photography market. That’s because it shows that your studio specializes in it, the fact that it’s your only focus. You can expand to other genres of photography once your business gains wider popularity.

Knowing the needs of your target clients will enable you to tailor-make your photography services to meet their every expectation. And that, of course, help your business to start strong and build a reputable brand. You can study your clients through target market analysis .

Social media is prominently the best marketing platform today. Most people are on social media. Because of that, it’s an excellent place to raise brand awareness for your new photography business. So, create a social media account for your studio. In it, you can post your photography portfolio to show people a preview of how you take shots.

Another excellent marketing platform to build your brand is an official website. So you should consider investing in making one. Through it, you can post blogs or videos that are appealing to your target clients. And you can also showcase your portfolio in it. The primary benefit that a website brings is that it establishes your authority in the photography market. Having a website makes your studio more trustworthy and legitimate.

As we’ve implied earlier, you need to have a business plan before launching your photography business. It’ll give you a better sense of direction in making your business a runaway success. So take some time to read our quick, basic guide in writing a photography business plan outline.

The executive summary is the introductory section of your business plan. It should be an overview of your envisioned photography business and your plans for it. Although we listed it as Step 1, you can draft it once you’re done with the other components of your business plan. That way, summarizing it will be easier.

It won’t be a complete business plan proposal if it doesn’t contain your business profile. That consists of your studio’s name, mission/vision statements, goals, and services. Mainly, you have to talk more about your photography services. Give readers of your business plan a sneak peek of what they’re and how they’ll benefit your clients. And for that, you can include your photography portfolio.

Next, you have to explain how you’re going to market your studio. Of course, you can use the tips we shared with you earlier in building your brand. And you can convey your marketing tactic through a separate marketing plan .

You can’t begin your preparations without a budget. So in your photography business planner, there should be your startup budget plan. In making it, cover all the expenses that you need, such as for camera equipment, lighting equipment, rent, utilities, office supplies, etc.

Yes, there is. As long as you’re promoting your studio on the best marketing platforms and you’re reaching out to the right clients, your business can grow. Plus, there are many events, occasions, and other social gatherings that need photography services.

These are genres of photography that generate the biggest profits:

Fashion photography
Event photography
Family/portrait photography
School photography
Corporate photography
Wildlife photography
Social media photography

According to Salary.com , earn $41,000 to $83,000 annually, the average being $65,878. So when you’re hiring photographers for your studio, you can offer them a salary package around that range. You can hire photographers who are currently in the freelance photography industry.

You’re just one business plan away from bringing your envisioned photography studio to reality. So start writing it now with the support of our business plan templates ! Pursue your passion for photography and make bank while you’re at it.

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Just like in capturing the best memorable shots for your customers, photography plan will always capture the viability of one’s business. Similar to other business make up, photography will require some budget to come up with professional high quality photography . This is why you need a good simple business plan , written in word, excel or pdf the soonest time possible.You may also see Plan Templates .

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Photographe : Modèle de business plan rédigé gratuit

vous êtes Photographe et vous voulez rédiger un business plan, société facile vous offre un exemple de business plan gratuit

Besoin d’aide pour faire votre business plan ou votre prévisionnel ?

Faites appel à un expert pour vous accompagner dans la réalisation de votre projet.

Business plan PRO , Délais rapides , Tarifs attractifs

Business plan photographe : Résumé opérationnel

Aperçu de l'activité.

(Photographe service), situé à Nanterre et desservant cette ville, répondra aux besoins des petites et moyennes entreprises et des organismes à but non lucratif en matière de photographie de studio en créant de superbes clichés qui répondent aux besoins du client, en offrant un excellent service et une grande flexibilité avec une touche personnelle, et en proposant des services à valeur ajoutée liés à la photographie. Fondée et dirigée par Nathalie, photographe commercial freelance chevronnée, (Photographe service) a l’intention de lever 53 000 € en ajoutant des actionnaires à l’entreprise afin d’ouvrir un studio, d’embaucher du personnel et de lancer une nouvelle campagne de marketing.

Les ventes et les bénéfices de l’entreprise devraient augmenter régulièrement, passant de 356 000 € de recettes et 50 000 € de bénéfices la première année à 750 000 € de recettes et 99 000 € de bénéfices la cinquième année. Les marges brutes et les marges bénéficiaires nettes seront relativement stables à 75 % et 13 % respectivement.

Les clés du succès de l’entreprise sont les suivantes :

Établir (Photographe service) comme étant flexible par rapport aux besoins des petites et moyennes entreprises.
Offrir une gamme de services supplémentaires, tels que l’impression, la retouche photo, l’encadrement et la production de photos dans une variété de formats numériques.
Faire en sorte que les entreprises se sentent chez elles dans notre studio et participent au processus de création.

(Photographe service) cherche à entrer dans le top 3 des fournisseurs de photographie commerciale dans la région métropolitaine d’ici cinq ans. Nous poursuivons les objectifs suivants au cours de cette période de cinq ans :

Faire partie des trois premiers studios de photographie commerciale en termes de part de marché.
Dépasser les 900 000 € de revenus annuels
Faire vivre cinq personnes à temps plein

(Photographe service) cherche à servir les petites et moyennes entreprises et les organismes à but non lucratif pour tous leurs besoins en photographie de studio en créant de magnifiques clichés qui répondent aux besoins du client, en offrant un excellent service et une flexibilité avec une touche personnelle, et en proposant des services à valeur ajoutée liés à la photographie. (Photographe service) entend offrir un service personnalisé afin de permettre aux petites entreprises d’externaliser facilement leurs besoins en photographie

Les clés du succès

Établir la flexibilité de (Photographe service) par rapport aux besoins des petites et moyennes entreprises

Offrir une gamme de services supplémentaires, tels que l’impression, l’édition de photos, l’encadrement et la production de photos dans une variété de formats numériques.

Faire en sorte que les entreprises se sentent à l’aise dans notre studio et fassent partie du processus de création

Business plan photographe : étude de marché

Le marché de la photographie commerciale comprend toutes les entreprises et les organismes à but non lucratif. Pour (Photographe service), le marché cible est celui des petites et moyennes entreprises et des organismes à but non lucratif (ceux qui comptent moins de 500 employés) situés dans un rayon de 15 km autour de Nanterre.

Au cours des deux dernières années, le marché de la photographie commerciale à Nanterre s’est contracté en raison de la récente récession économique. La Chambre de commerce estime que les revenus annuels de la photographie commerciale sont passés de 5,7 millions de € à 4,5 millions de € depuis deux ans. Les petites et moyennes entreprises qui faisaient autrefois appel aux grands studios commerciaux ne peuvent plus se permettre leurs tarifs. Cette situation a créé une opportunité pour les petits studios de photographie, dont les frais généraux et les prix sont moins élevés, de servir ce marché et de prendre des parts de marché à temps pour une reprise du marché.

Stratégie des segments de marché cible

Les grandes entreprises de la région sont desservies par de grands studios qui peuvent envoyer des photographes sur le site du client ou organiser des prises de vue avec un faible préavis. Ces entreprises ont besoin de fournisseurs de services photographiques capables de prendre des photos dans plusieurs endroits en même temps.

Les petites entreprises, quant à elles, sont à l’aise avec les petits studios de photographie. Elles ne sont généralement pas satisfaites des grands studios, car elles trouvent qu’elles ne sont pas une priorité par rapport aux gros clients du studio. Ils veulent le même niveau de service, adapté aux besoins et au budget de leur entreprise, et seul un petit studio peut leur offrir cela.

En outre, les grandes entreprises confient souvent une grande partie du travail de retouche photo à leur département marketing. Les petites entreprises apprécient la capacité d’un studio photo à prendre en charge ce travail, car leurs services de marketing ou de conception n’ont souvent pas la capacité de s’occuper de ce travail lorsque de nouveaux supports sont développés.

Les moyennes et petites entreprises peuvent fournir un travail continu. Cependant, si Flash ne s’adresse pas aux très petites entreprises, il ne parviendra pas à capter les petits clients avant qu’ils ne se développent. Travailler avec de très petites entreprises peut également fournir une large base de clients, rendant les flux de revenus de l’entreprise moins sensibles à la perte d’un seul client.

Analyse de l'activité de service

L’industrie de la photographie commerciale est caractérisée par des studios photo locaux qui desservent des villes ou de petites régions. Très peu d’entreprises se développent au-delà de cette zone géographique. Sur un marché local, il y a des dizaines de studios de photographie en activité. Les entreprises recherchent des fournisseurs de services photographiques par le biais de références, de recherches sur Internet et des pages jaunes locales. Les studios de photographie basent généralement leurs tarifs sur la durée de la séance ainsi que sur le nombre de photos éditées fournies.

Segmentation du marché

Très petites entreprises : Ces entreprises sont généralement gérées par leurs propriétaires. Les besoins en photographie sont généralement destinés à leur matériel de marketing de base (panneaux, menus, dépliants, brochures, sites Web, bulletins d’information, etc.) Ces entreprises commencent généralement par prendre ces photos en interne, mais, avec le temps, elles constatent que cette méthode donne des résultats de qualité inférieure. Elles recherchent alors des photographes indépendants peu coûteux qui peuvent répondre rapidement à leurs besoins.

Petites entreprises : Ces entreprises ont des besoins constants et réguliers en matière de photographie de leurs produits et services, comme des catalogues trimestriels. Elles apprécient d’établir des relations avec des fournisseurs qui comprennent leur mode de fonctionnement, leur permettent d’accéder au processus créatif et réduisent le stress lié à la création de supports marketing. Ils préfèrent travailler avec un seul fournisseur pour tous leurs besoins en photographie et sont peu enclins à en changer une fois qu’ils l’ont trouvé. Cependant, elles continuent à vérifier les prix de leur fournisseur par rapport à la concurrence pour s’assurer qu’elles obtiennent le meilleur rapport qualité/prix.

Entreprises moyennes : Ces entreprises ont des départements marketing qui sous-traitent la photographie à des studios photo. Elles ont un volume de besoins en photographie plus important que les petites entreprises et accordent une grande attention à la qualité des images ainsi qu’au prix. Des remises sur le volume peuvent être nécessaires pour retenir les entreprises de cette catégorie.

Business plan photographe : stratégie et mise en œuvre

Pour asseoir sa réputation de choix de qualité en matière de photographie commerciale sur le marché, (Photographe service) se concentrera sur les petites et moyennes entreprises. Celles-ci comprennent :

Les très petites entreprises (moins de 20 employés)
Petites entreprises (20 à 200 employés)
Les moyennes entreprises (200 à 500 employés)

Pour atteindre ces marchés cibles, (Photographe service) utilisera le marketing par courriel, les réseaux d’affaires et le marketing en ligne pour trouver des clients et faire en sorte que les clients trouvent (Photographe service). Le PDG, vendra aux clients, et lui et une équipe supplémentaire d’assistants photographes seront affectés aux séances de photos des clients dans le studio, et si nécessaire, sur les sites des clients.

Avantage concurrentiel

(Photographe service) dispose d’un avantage concurrentiel grâce à la réputation de Nathalie dans le monde des affaires, en tant que photographe de haute qualité, avec lequel il est facile de travailler et qui est attentif aux besoins des clients. La société continuera à développer cet avantage concurrentiel en formant d’autres photographes à son style de photographie et à l’attention portée au service à la clientèle.

Stratégie de marketing

La stratégie de marketing de (Photographe service) repose sur la conviction qu’il est préférable d’utiliser quelques tactiques de marketing extrêmement efficaces plutôt que d’utiliser de nombreuses tactiques de marketing avec un succès modéré pour chacune d’entre elles.

Stratégie de vente

Pour augmenter le taux de conclusion des ventes, (Photographe service) rencontrera les clients dans leur entreprise chaque fois que possible pour aller au-delà des conversations téléphoniques. Il utilisera un portfolio d’images et de témoignages. L’entreprise utilisera Salesforce.com comme outil pour gérer le processus de vente, et pour former des vendeurs supplémentaires le moment venu.

La programmation et l’exécution des services seront gérées par le chef de bureau, qui utilisera Salesforce.com et Quick Books pour gérer les clients et saisir les informations relatives aux commandes. Des procédures standard pour l’exécution des commandes seront créées par Flash et vérifiées en permanence

Prévisions des ventes

Les ventes de séances de photos devraient être le moteur de l’activité et augmenteront avec l’accroissement du personnel. Des photographes supplémentaires seront embauchés pour répondre aux besoins, d’abord à temps partiel, puis à temps plein.

Les services d’édition de photos et l’impression et l’encadrement des images constitueront des sources de revenus supplémentaires. Enfin, en dehors des heures de travail, le studio sera loué pour des événements ou à d’autres fins afin de créer un flux mensuel régulier de revenus

Extension de cils

Business plan photographe : prévisionnel financier.

Pour faire la partie prévisionnelle de votre business plan, vous trouverez ci-dessous une liste des dépenses que vous devrez identifier.

Vous devez estimer les montants des apports pour chaque futur associé.

Les apports peuvent être en numéraire (en argent) ou en nature (ex : un immeuble, un véhicule)

La somme des apports va constituer le capital de votre société

Subventions

Les subventions sont des sommes, qui vous seront versées par une entité publique (un État, une collectivité territoriale, ou un organisme public) à titre ponctuel ou reconductible en vue de vous aider pour la réalisation de votre projet.

Charges d’investissements

Ci-dessous, quelques exemples de charges d’investissement :

Dépôts et cautions versés
Frais d’établissement (toutes les dépenses que vous avez effectué pour créer votre société)
Fonds de commerce
Brevets, licences, marques, procédés, logiciels, droits d’entrée
Matériel industriel
Matériel de transport
Matériel de bureau et matériel informatique
Construction
Installations générales, agencements, aménagements divers

Vous allez peut-être embaucher des salariés ! pensez aux salaires

Charges d’exploitation

Ci-dessous, quelques exemples de charges d’exploitation :

Les frais de télécommunication (internet, téléphone)
Fournitures de bureau
Les achats de marchandises que vous comptez vendre
Les achats de matières premières pour fabriquer vos produits
Dépenses d’énergie (électricité, gaz, carburants…..)
Publicité et communication

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LUMAGRAFX PHOTO STUDIO BUSINESS PLAN "We lead, they follow"

2020, LUMAGRAFX PHOTO STUDIO BUSINESS PLAN "We lead, they follow"

LUMAGRAFX is derived from LUNDA, MATTHEWS and GRAPHICS as in GRAFX. Matthews has worked as a photographer and freelance portrait photographer in Mufulira and Kitwe for six years. He has found that personal customer relationships are the key to repeat business and will open Lumagrafx Photo Studio in Chililabombwe.

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methaodos revista de ciencias sociales

Jitka Cirklová

In this paper, the construction of an ideal image of the self will be discussed within the theoretical framework of “Representation”. Drawing more on Hall’s concept of representation I would like to concentrate on the practices of “stereotyping”, drawing out the links between representation and stereotype that are closely connected with the production of mass culture, consumerism, institutions, and social media. Photos from galleries and museums and heritage locations taken and shared on social media can be understood as a commodified presentation of the tourist experience of an attractive location that has come into existence in order to narrate an ideal trip. After a picture is shared on social networks, the process of the commodification of an illusion starts − an illusion that was shared and presented as a personal authentic proof of the visit to the location and experiencing a unique moment. Often one particular image from a museum is massively reproduced and becomes a form of ...

methaodos.revista de ciencias sociales

Beth Buggenhagen

Young women who live in the improvised urban spaces on the outskirts of Senegal’s capital city, Dakar, extemporize their respectability in a time of fiscal uncertainty through personal photography. The neighbourhood of Khar Yalla, is an improvised, interconnected, and multilayered space settled by families removed from the city center during clean up campaigns from the 1960s to the 1970s, by families escaping conflict in Casamance and Guinea Bissau, and by recent rural migrants. As much as Khar Yalla is an improvised neighbourhood, it is also a space of improvisation. When women pose for, display, and pass around portraits of themselves at key moments in their social life, whether in the medium of social networking sites or photo albums, they reveal as much as they conceal the elements of individual and social life. They index their social networks and constitute their urban space not as peripheral, but as central to the lives and imaginations of their siblings and spouses who live abroad. Photographs actively shape and construct urban spaces, which are often loud, unruly, and fraught spaces with vast inequalities and incommensurabilities. How women deal with economic and social disparity, within their own families, communities, and globally, is the subject of this paper.

Sidney Cheung

David Marcou

Richard Vokes

Gilles de Rapper

Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies

Gary D . Saretzky

Audiovisual Media and Identity Issues in Southeastern Europe, Eckehard Pistrick, Nicola Scaldaferri and Gretel Schwörer (Ed.) (2011) 210-229

Anouck Durand

The aim of this paper is to present the first results of an on-going research project on the social uses of photography in communist Albania. If we are interested in official and propaganda photography, we would like to focus here on a less known aspect of photography in Albania, family photography. Social sciences have long been interested in the relationship between family and photography and it is established that photography tells a lot about family forms and kinship relations. Family albums are narratives; they tell the story of the family and produce an image of the family. We would like to question this image in the context of communist Albania, in which both photography and family were subject to political representations and practices.

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Photography Business Plan [Free Template]
Our photography business plan template will help you get started. Download the template and follow step-by-step instructions to draft your business plan in no time! → Download Now: Free Photography Business Plan. And though photography lets you fulfill your passion, it attracts a lot of competition due to its ease of entry.
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Sample from Growthink's Ultimate Photography Business Plan Template: According to IBISWorld, the American photography industry had revenues of $10 billion last year spread over 92,000 businesses. This averages to $109,000 in revenue per business per year. The industry employed 167,000 people, earning $4 billion in wages, roughly $24,000 per ...
Sample Photography Business Plan
5. Set Your Goals. The last piece of a solid photography business plan is articulating some goals for the business. When you're thinking about your goals for the remainder of 2017, review the sections of your business plan that are listed above. They're loaded with ideas for really strong, growth-oriented goals.
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Develop pricing packages that suit your client's needs. Design a website that solves a problem for your client's. Post social media content that your clients will totally love. Track your goals weekly; be consistent, because consistency produces results. Step 1. Photography Business Plan - Branding Your Business.
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Get the most out of your business plan example. Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample. 1. Don't worry about finding an exact match. We have over 550 sample business plan templates. So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details. Your business is unique and will differ from ...
Photography Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]
Photography Business Plan Template. Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their photography businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning.
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Starting a photography business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.. 1. Develop A Photography Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for a photography business that outlines all aspects of the venture.
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Why you need to make a photography business plan. The main components of a photography business plan. Write an executive summary. Explain your company in a business description. Describe your product and services. Determine your target market. Conduct a competitive analysis. Detail your marketing strategies.
Photography Business Plan Template
A Photography Business Plan is a business plan that was specifically developed for a photography business. The purpose of this document is to present information about a photography operation, what will be its target market, financial background, goals, strategies, and other details. Individuals can use a Business Plan for Photography when they ...
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A Photography Business Plan Template is a strategic blueprint that outlines the key components of launching and running a photography enterprise. It serves as a roadmap, detailing every aspect from market analysis to operational workflow, guiding photographers through the process of setting up and managing their business effectively. Our ...
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Here is a sample timeline: Conclusion Preparation and goal setting are crucial to success in any business. A plan for your photography business can make all the difference. Start today by working on your photography business plan. If you can set aside 30 to 60 minutes a day, you'll finish before you know it.
Commercial Photography Business Plan Example
Founded and directed by veteran freelance commercial photographer Matte Flash, Flash Commercial Photography intends to raise $53,000 by adding limited partners to the business in order to open a studio space, hire staff, and undergo a new marketing campaign. Sales and profits from the business are projected to rise steadily, from $356,000 ...
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Here's a step by step guide to calculating your earnings for the upcoming year: 01. Define your total sales per month. This includes both your booking fee and product sales. Think of the average amount of gigs you get per month, and multiply by the average amount of money you earn from each job. 02.
Photography Business Plan
Step 2: Marketing and Operational Plan. After your Executive Summary, you should note that you have a marketing plan and an operational plan ready. In this way, your investors will be caught in a quagmire in which they willingly jump, which could, in turn, increase their trust in your business.
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BUSINESS PLAN [YEAR] John Doe 10200 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA, 92683 (650) 359-3153 [email protected] https://upmetrics.co. Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Business Overview 5 Introduction 5 Products and Services 5 The Market 5 Financial Path To Success 5 Units Sold v/s Revenue Chart 6 Chart 6
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A detailed manual that will walk you step by step through all the essential phases of starting your business. A complete photography studio business plan PDF template. This fill-in-the-blanks template includes every section of your business plan, including Executive Summary, Objectives, SWOT Analysis, Marketing Analysis and Strategy, Operations ...
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Step 4: Make Your Startup Budget Plan. You can't begin your preparations without a budget. So in your photography business planner, there should be your startup budget plan. In making it, cover all the expenses that you need, such as for camera equipment, lighting equipment, rent, utilities, office supplies, etc.
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Photography Business Plan Template - 12+ Free Word, Excel, PDF Format Download. Just like in capturing the best memorable shots for your customers, photography plan will always capture the viability of one's business. Similar to other business make up, photography will require some budget to come up with professional high quality photography.This is why you need a good simple business plan ...
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Hopefully the answer to that is YES! This is where you will put that information. Here's an example of what that might look like. Current assets: Canon 5d Mark iii $3000. Canon 5d Mark ii $2000. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens $1400. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II USM Lens $1600. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens $1000.
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2020, LUMAGRAFX PHOTO STUDIO BUSINESS PLAN "We lead, they follow". LUMAGRAFX is derived from LUNDA, MATTHEWS and GRAPHICS as in GRAFX. Matthews has worked as a photographer and freelance portrait photographer in Mufulira and Kitwe for six years. He has found that personal customer relationships are the key to repeat business and will open ...
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operate, and profit from your freelancing photography business.Keep in mind that. is document will change and grow just like your business will. It doesn't have to be a 50 page document and c. even be as simple as five pages or less when you first begin. Drafting a business plan requires serious and careful t.
Simple Wedding Photography Business Plan 2020 (PDF
Let's play with some maths on the pricing plan. Let's say you need a salary of $30,000 in order to make this business work for you. This means your total sessions and product sales need to be ...
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A business plan sells the viability of a business venture, outlining why it will be profitable. It includes details on the business concept, market analysis, operations, financial projections, and strategies for success. What are the 3 main purposes of a business plan? 1.To clarify your plans for growth 2.To understand your financial needs 3.To ...
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Sample Photography Business Plan – 5 Critical Elements

1. Know Your Strengths

Why are Strengths Important?

2. Identify Your Weaknesses

3. Target Your Ideal Customer

4. Understand Your Financials

Determine Your Total Sales Per Month

Determine Your Cost Of Sales Per Month

Calculate Your Gross Profit

Identify Your General Expenses

Calculate Your Net Profit

5. Set Your Goals

Defining Your Business Plan

Photography Services

Marketing Strategies

Define Target Market

Final Thoughts

Planning Made Easy

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Photography Business Plan PDF in 6 Simple Steps

Photography Business Plan PDF

Creating a Branding Business Plan for Photographers

6 Simple Steps to Designing Your Photography Business Plan PDF

Step 1. Photography Business Plan – Branding Your Business

Step 2. Photography Business Plan – Creating a Desire for Your Services

Step 3. Photography Business Plan – Pricing Your Services

Step 4. Photography Business Plan – Designing a Website that Solves Your Customers Problems

The average website visitor will hit the back button in under 2 minutes if the website they have visited doesn’t appeal to them.

Step 5. Photography Business Plan – Posting Social Content Your Followers Will Love

Always post content with your followers in mind, don’t overdo the sales posts, keep them to 1 in every 10 you make.

Step 6. Photography Business Plan – Track Your Goals, Be Consistent.

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Photography Business Plan Template

What is a Photography Business Plan?

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Photography Business

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Executive Summary

Company Analysis

Industry Analysis

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Marketing Plan

Operations Plan

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Photography Business Plan Template

Photography Business Plan

Photography Business Plan FAQs

What Are the Main Types of Photography Businesses?

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Photography Business?

How Do You Get Funding for Your Photography Studio Business Plan?

What are the Steps To Start a Photography Business?

Where Can I Get a Photography Business Plan PDF?

Please select the country/region in which you do business.

How to write a successful photography business plan.

Why you need to make a photography business plan.

The main components of a photography business plan.

Write an executive summary.

Explain your company in a business description.

Describe your product and services.

Determine your target market.

Conduct a competitive analysis.

Detail your marketing strategies.

Marketing programs.

Photography portfolio.

One place for everything from proofing to selling.

Think about operations.

Draft your financial plans.