I've decided to go pro!

[Tzetsin]

Someday....

somewhere between then and now I need to work on the business side of my education. Anyone have any advice here?

My education has been primarily online. Are there any resources that you could recommend where I could go and find out what I need to learn, and where I can go to learn it?

I'm (not so) slowly building up my kit, I love portraiture, but end up doing more landscape because I'm typically in a situation to do it. Because i shoot alot of landscape, Has anyone any recommendation as to the viability of selling landscape / location based photography?

I'm pretty sure i have the "photography" portion of my education covered, I'm not good enough for sales just yet, but time and practice will cure that. The internet is RIDDLED with people teaching how to shoot this or that, how to use this or that blah blah and so on, but damned if i can find ANY good resource on the business side of photography. Hell i'm even willing to PAY. yes, i know that is an alien concept these days, but I will happily pay for education lol.

I read and checked out the asmp site, but wonder if its designed to be an education resource, or its just for current professionals? (not aspireing) professionals? Also, it seems to be american only, is this the case?

Looking forward to your replies.

-Jason

[Jim Bryant]

There are International ASMP chapters you could join. Yes, you'd learn tons about the art of photography business from ASMP through books and such.

[NathanFranke]

I'm in the same boat as Tzetsin. Is the ASMP generally open to ignorant upstarts? I've gotten burned by the last few professional photographers I've tried to learn from, so I'd like to avoid similar outcomes. I saw your other post, Jim, and it looks like they cover everything I'd need to know. I just don't want to pay money to get the cold shoulder shaft when I've already gotten it for free elsewhere.

[imsailorgirl]

There is actually going to be a workshop starting tomorrow with Tamera Lackey about business at Creative Live, (home | creativeLIVE)

[Jim Bryant]

You have to get a member to sponsor you and have to submit a portfolio. There's three type of memberships: General Member or Associate Plus Members and student.
Here's the bennies: http://asmp.org/articles/membership-faqs.html, http://asmp.org/benefits-update,
http://asmp.org/links/1

[Tzetsin]

I'm not sure i'm ready to hit that yet TBH. I shoot all the time, but I'm still learning with intent. It seems like the asmp is for more established photographers. If i've got to get a sponsor and have a portfolio to start, its already more than I've got. I could create a portfolio if i had to, but I dont personally know any photographers that I could hit up for a sponsorship. I've tried to contact local photographers, just to chat, but they're pretty tight lipped with newbies. Its a very small city with a lot of competition already. There is a camera club... sorta, it "exists" technically, but I've never gotten any kind of response from the organization.

[mokka]

selling landscape photography is pretty tricky. Partly because the landscape doesn't change (much), photos don't go out of date so the number of photographs people are selling of a particular view just goes up and up and up. If you're in an area with particularly stunning landscape you may find there are thousands of alternatives out there, it can be difficult to find a unique viewpoint or approach and you may spend long periods of time simply waiting for the weather to take a more interesting turn.

secondly a lot of amateurs take mostly landscape photos, particularly in picturesque areas and prefer to print and frame their own photos for display, many of them are very skills too and even if you can take better photos they'll often not see any point in paying for a photo of a subject they can take themselves. this is a mixture of pride and prudence. They want to show the picture to their friends and say 'I took that' and also it's cheaper to use their own photos.

[RELum]

My wife started her jewelry business a little while back. Prior to that I took a course at a local college while I was in Hawaii: Business law for Small Businesses. It was VERY informative and helpful. I would highly recommend a similar course to anyone looking to go into business for themselves.

Russ

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by RELum

My wife started her jewelry business a little while back. Prior to that I took a course at a local college while I was in Hawaii: Business law for Small Businesses. It was VERY informative and helpful. I would highly recommend a similar course to anyone looking to go into business for themselves.

Russ

Thank you, I'll check that out. sounds like it would be an important part of business for sure.

As for selling landscapes, I hear what your saying and agree. the reason i do alot of landscapes now is because i'm in the position to do it already. kinda like taking a picture of the taj mahal because you work there, not because you find it interesting. I'm thinking of location photography for stock and assignment for later on though. It'll be alot of work, but make for an interesting life.