N-Photo

to see your work, you should also take into

account whether any of the people who

‘like’ your page are actually ever going

to be in a position to offer you work.

Deciding where and when you put the

effort into particular marketing avenues

will depend on the type of photography

that you do. Social media can be a useful

tool in areas such as wedding and portrait

photography, where individual people are

looking for a photographer. In these cases,

an active Facebook or Instagram page can

help to drive people to your own website or

even book di rec t ly f rom you r soc ia l media

page. However, there’s no point spending

loads of time building a following on social

media i f you r ma i n work i s com merc ia l or

industrial photography, where you would

be much better off targeting and

networking with potential clients either

directly or through your own website.

Professional bodies and qualifications

When it comes to getting work, there’s no

substitute for experience and the ability to

show that you can do the job, but in many

areas of photography it can help if you have

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a recognised professional body. There are

many associations and professional bodies

t hat spec ia l i se i n pa r t ic u la r a rea s of

photography, and being a member of one

of these can give potential clients and

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your photographic services.

Are you ready for rejection?

It doesn’t matter if you are an established

photog rapher or just st a r t i ng out, you a re

st i l l goi ng to have to dea l w it h people not

l i k i ng you r work or not wa nt i ng to employ

your services. Like any artistic endeavour,

photography is a subjective business, so

you need to be ready for the fact that not

ever yone i s goi ng to apprec iate you r work.

7 KLVFDQEHDGLI ÀFXOWSURFHVVIRUDQ\RQH

new to full-time photography (it’s not easy

for seasoned professionals), but the key is

to not to take this personally, but to keep

plugging away and learning from any

rejection. It’s often not any fault of your

own that you don’t get a particular job,

INSURANCE

COVER

Employers’ liability

“The second most important cover

to look at is employers’ liability

insurance. This is required by law

where you employ anyone. The law

makes no distinction as to whether

you pay someone for their time or

not to class them as an employee.

Don’t think because you don’t pay

someone they’re not an employee –

the law says otherwise! There are

some “opt outs” allowed in law

where you are using others in your

business, but these can be complex

and dependent on the way in which

you have set up your business.”

Insurance is essential to protect

you and your business, and in

some circumstances you are

required to hold insurance by

law. “Everyone thinks that the

most impor tant aspect of their

business that needs insurance

is their equipment” explains

Darryl Roberts from insurance

specialists Aaduki. “But they

wrong!” As Darryl explains

opposite, there are other types

of insurance which are every bit

as important.

You can find out about the

services offered by Aaduki

Multimedia Insurance at

http://www.aaduki.com or by

calling 01837 658880.

Public liability

“The most important cover to

consider is public liability insurance.

Do not work without it. It will protect

you against claims where an

accident has occurred that has

resulted in injury to a third party.

In addition, public liability insurance

covers third-party property damage.

This would cover you if you damaged

someone else’s property while

conducting your photographic work.

It does not cover injury to employees

or damage to someone’s property

where you are given possession or

‘control’ of such property.”

DOS AND DON’TS

Do...

Concentrate on the business

side of things as much as the

photography, as acting like a

professional is the key to making

going pro a success.

Remember that you’ll need to

shoot images that appeal to

clients and customers, not

necessarily ones that you like.

Spend plenty of time researching

the competition in your chosen

field, and try to offer something

unique or different from other

photographers.

Don’t...

Under-estimate the costs

involved with starting out on your

own, and also the ongoing costs

of running a business.

Expect to make a fortune,

particularly in your first year or

two, as it will take time to recoup

your costs and expenses – you

might not even make much of

a profit in your first year.

Expect to be out taking

photographs all the time, as you’ll

spend as much time in front of a

computer screen editing or doing

admin, as behind the camera.

There’s no substitute for

experience... but in many

areas of photography it

can help if you have a

professional qualification

IT’S NOT AN OPTIONAL

EXTRA – IF YOU’RE

GOING PRO, YOU’RE

GOING TO NEED COVER

A s tro n g s o cia l m e d ia p re s e n c e c a n b e a n a d v a n t a ge

if you offer more personal forms of photography

110 March 2016 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

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