Sorry but I am sticking with what I say, have a GOOD look around you, weddings? how many guests take cameras? some weddings actually give out throw away cameras to be handed in at the end of the day to get more photos.

It is not the same as when film cameras were the only way of recording events/places and the like, for a lot of people back then developement cost of films were too expensive.

Go to any attraction/ event and see how many cameras are there, my bet is that 80% of people, if not more, have a digital camera with them of some sort or another.

Dreams DON'T bring in money whatever the others say, and even if you were successful starting out is the hardest time of all and you would need a substantial amount of capital to live on until MAYBE you could make a living out of it.

Having gone thru the process of taking over an existing business, I know maybe more than others on here, how much capital you need behind you.To start from scratch I would say that you should have enough saved up to live on for at least a year, and then if things don't work out not only have you lost a year but your job and savings.

As with any business wether taking over or starting from new I can't stress strongly enough to research research and research again and again the competition- business plan- capital expenditure- profit margins- if the time spent is cost effective-loan repayments. On top of that you need legal advice on how to protect yourself against any claims- have a good accountant so the tax man don't take more than they should. Also should you fall ill what would you do?

Anyone running a successful business will tell you it takes around 7 years to get established and well known, because it takes that long in reality

So as you can see its not "OH I am going into photography as a business" there is one hell of a lot to take on board first. Just taking the photos and selling them I hesitate to say is the easiest part.

Ok now for the good news, should you manage to overcome all the hurdles there is nothing like owning your own business, no bosses to tell you when you can pee, no fixed holiday times when suddenly you are told to take a holiday at another time after you have booked it. You can set your own work commitment. The harder you work the more goes into your pocket not someone elses. Being self employed will make you better off but you will have to spend longer hours achieving it.

There is no way would I go back and work for some plank who doesn't have the experience or knowledge, yet tells me how to do my job.

Oh and as a final say, we owe a huge THANK YOU to Dawn ( our manageress) who bore most of the problems running the business when we first took over and finding our feet. Without her and her continued loyalty, and the part time staff at that time, I doubt if we would be in the position we now find ourselves.


Bazza (who has been there and done it.)

Bazza, Nicola is talking about a part time income, while still working, as a semi pro. Not a full time career, giving up the 9 to 5.

She wants to do Wildlife photography, and I think you will agree she is very talented.

She's young, has no kids, I say go for it, better to try and fail, than not bother, because you are determined it is going to fail before you start.

Running any small business is hard, you have to put a lot of slog into it, a good accountant is a blessing, and be realistic about your goals. The guts to go out there and sell yourself and your product, you have to be your agent, your accountant, your boss,your workforce, but I believe , and know it can be done.

Nicola, keep your head in the clouds, but your feet on the ground, is the best advice I have ever been given XXXX Good luck X

MS
I am not doubting her talant, what I want to point out is, should she decide to go full time in photography, the pitfalls in running your own business.
I have several friends that started out exactly the way she plans, keep the main job and have a sideline. What tends to happen is the sideline takes up more and more time until one has to make a choice, main job or changing a hobby into a business. Should she go down the hobby to full time job route these are the things that have to be taken into consideration.

We followed that route to a degree when we made the choice to run our own business, apart from the worry of it being a success or not fell squarely on our shoulders there is no going back.

It is better to be warned by someone who has done it and knows what needs to be considered,than going into something blindfold and stumbling at the first hurdle.

Being young and ambitious is no bad thing, unfortunately age could go against her goals just as much for them. Some may think, her is a person who is determined to get on in the world so we will give her a commission, while others may think the opposite, ie she is too young to have any experience and we are looking for an experienced photographer.

It all really boils down to what others think of your work and if it is commercial enough to sell.

I believe the advice I gave can give a better insite into what can be involved if only parts are considered.

With all due respect to other members, I suspect that few actually run their own business and are only surmising what they would do. There is a lot of difference between wishing and doing.


Bazza

Bazza, I know you mean well it just that it all came across as negative, I am sure if Nicola goes down the part time route, she will quickly learn if there is a market for her type of work. I think finding your market in her area will be the hardest thing.

But, I think going part time is the safest way for her to do this, nothing ventured and all that. It isn't easy running your own business, it is hard to do , the pay can be lousy at times but it is very fulfilling too, and I think it is an ideal time for her to test the waters, before she settles down

Bazza, I am sure Nicola will take on board all your advice too and you are right people do go into things blindly sometimes XXX


Nicola- Try the BFP, they are a great resource for freelancers, they also bring out a yearly book filled with editors names etc, agents, publishers, for things like magazine submissions etc. www.thebfp.com

Also ask Daisychains about websites, as I think a good online portfolio would be a great idea. DC is a whizz with websites

MS

One has to be aware of the negatives before looking at the positives.My previous employment entailed going into all sorted of business, what I did discover over a period of 20 years is that a lot failed for not being aware of what could happen in the future.
They blindly expanded or overreached their financial means and suffered from collapse.

My 49 years of dealing with the general public teaches one something that can't bet taught in books. All I can say as a general guideline is before indulging in any form of business, be it part time or full time, be aware of the pitfalls that can unexpectedly occur. With that in mind it should lead to running a successful business.

Bazza

During my working life I have started up 4 different types of businesses, two were all out, plan, get finance, do projection and jump in with both feet and 120% of your time. The other two were born from what was a hobby and they grew from that although neither have ever been able to provide a full 100% of my income.

Think it is more the type of photography you have chosen that may be the main problem to your ambitions and you will need to research the outlet for such work and if it is possible for you to get work perhaps as an assistant to a photographer established in this field. Even if you can find such a position it will not be well paid and may require you to be away from home a good deal.

Think I would suggest you try to become proficient in one of the other photographic fields and earn from that to support your real love of the outside and wildlife at least for a few years. Perhaps you should consider social events like Weddings and special gatherings or may be portraits. If you can become good at taking weddings it is lucrative and perhaps boring, but if it is a means to an end then that may be the way to go.

Thanks all, definitely a lot to think about!!

I'm definitely going to carry on building up a portfolio, with an emphasis on quirky, local wildlife shots. I've already got a website, but it's not really much use on a commercial basis, as it only links to american print companies for a start, so it's more of a gallery of things I've done for my own interest and for people to enjoy, rather than as somewhere to purchase prints.

http://nbroadbridge.zenfolio.com/

Am also going to get involved with more local exhibitions and possibly craft fairs, I've got a few friends who own crafty shops so will have a word with them about maybe displaying a few framed prints. It's a start, even if it doesn't lead anywhere, I'm having a lot of fun at the moment!

I found a good spot for photographing pied flycatchers today while out on a rare fieldwork day, they're a Wales speciality, so will be returning early one morning with my camera!

Good luck - I think it'll be nearly impossible to take it much further than selling a few prints locally or occasionally to the wider audience, but hey - no-one ever got anywhere without trying!

xx

Everyone here definitely speaks with reason. I got started with my "hobby" about 7 years ago. I couldn't afford to purchase the cheapest photo package of my daughter's senior pics. That first senior spurt I did 7 of her friends. All went successfully and then I would get referral calls. Not only did I get referral calls for seniors but for weddings too. I did my best to turn down my first wedding call because I had zero experience with it. But the father of the bride would have no part of it. He said, I honestly doubt that of all the photos that will be taken that there won't be any nice ones. So, I did it....this year I told my husband that I don't want to take on weddings anylonger because I am a nervous wreck before each one. I also make my husband on edge. They are so much pressure! But I do think that one could make good money by doing them. I have a full time job working in the plastics industry and I shoot when I can. I haven't ever made any money from photos that comes even close to my salary. I personally, even after all this time still lack so many key essentials. I'm only speaking the truth (ouch, the truth hurts). I really never meant for it to become something that I pushed. I honestly don't "promote" myself anywhere near what I should if I wanted to have it blossom into something. So this is important...it takes a lot of time and effort. I say that if you want to pursue it then do it in your off-time. (I am rambling I know). But I say go for it! But keep your 9-5 job. I never dreamed how much work is actually involved in photography. Well, I wish you best of luck for sure! I started with a free website so that I could learn from that the basics and then go from there. If you wanted to try and sell your prints you can post them on ETSY and then promote through social media like Facebook and so on. I have many togs that sell through Etsy. Okay....now that I have written a dissertation I think I'll end on that note. Good luck!