How do I Start a Boudoir Photography Business in 2022?
Are you Looking to open a Boudoir Photography Business, and want to know what steps to take?
TOP 5 TIPS
-Business Name
-Tax Information
-Camera Gear
-Shooting Location
-Learn all you can about Boudoir Business
***Start Shooting!!***
First Step to Starting a Boudoir Photography Business - Create Your Business Name
This maybe hard for some, while others may already have their name ready to go!
When choosing your Company name Remember:
You want this name to Represent YOU
Some Ideas: Use your name or derivatives of your name, maybe use a word that means something to you. It’s okay to be creative, but also remember this name will be attached to you
You need to do research to see if that name is taken, (ex. If you use your name, make sure someone else doesn’t already have a website with your name)
Check your Area to see other Photography Studios/Companies in your area (you don’t want to sound similar to another company and accidentally send them business when people stumble upon their page)
Make sure there is not any Copyright Infringements with your Boudoir Business (You would not want to name your company “VictoriasSecrets” even if your name was Victoria, you would get sued)
Second Step to Starting a Boudoir Business- Decide if you want to start your company as a Sole-Proprietor or LLC?
Why is this important? You want to be ahead of your Tax information, rather than back tracking at the end of the year!
As A Sole-Proprietor, you will run your company with yourself as the only employee, under your social security number.
What is a Sole Proprietorship? (site source Nav Technologies, https://www.nav.com/blog/llc-sole-proprietor-18376/)
When a business operates as a sole proprietorship, it simply starts doing business without forming a separate legal entity. This is the most common business structure used by small business owners in the U.S.. It is also the most risky. Here are some key takeaways to think about when considering a sole proprietorship:
No required paperwork apart from industry-specific licenses
No annual state filings
Simplified tax filing
No liability protection
Difficult to obtain financing in the business name
Harder to build business credit
What is an LLC? (site source Nav Technologies, https://www.nav.com/blog/llc-sole-proprietor-18376/)
An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, is a legal business structure for operating a business. It is popular with many business owners due to the ease of setting it up, the fact that it is often cost effective and easier to maintain than other business structures such as S corps or C corps, and because it can provide asset protection. Here are some key takeaways to consider when forming an LLC:
More market credibility
Liability protection in the case of certain lawsuits and commercial debts
More financing options
Some paperwork
Annual state filings
Tax advantages and disadvantages
To Read more on Advantages vs Disadvantages of Sole Proprietor vs LLC head to Nav https://www.nav.com/blog/llc-sole-proprietor-18376/
AMorgan Studios main camera for 2022
Third Step to Starting a Boudoir Business- Pick out what gear you are going to use!
Before you Buy all new equipment:
Start by picking a brand: Canon, Sony, Nikon
Determine your budget for equipment It WILL add up fast!
You can always rent before buying to test it out beforehand, I use Lensrentals.com (I have used them for years, fast shipping, perfect packaging and offer insurance on every purchase)
The First Items you want are: Camera Body, One Main Lens, and Memory Card
Unless you have an unlimited budget, don’t take out a massive loan and go out and buy $25,000 worth of equipment! You don’t need it right away, and you want to make sure you like how you are shooting with the simple things first! You also don’t want to start out in that much debt! This job can get expensive!
Maybe you already own equipment, you are just switching genres of photography! Test out those lenses and see if they are right for the genre of Boudoir. If you are coming from architecture and have wide lenses, that will not work now! Or maybe you were a wedding photographer who shot with their 70-200 lens, unless you have a long studio, this lens will not work very well for you indoors in tight spaces or for close ups.
AMorgan Studios- Reveal Room inside our Studio
Fourth Step to Starting a Boudoir Business- Create a Plan for where you want to Shoot!
Do you need a studio to start… No
Do you need a plan of where you want to shoot… YES!
Making a plan will help you start booking clients, they don’t want to hear “I don’t know” when you are trying to book their session!
Ideas for Places to do your shoots if you don’t have a Studio:
A Bedroom/ Garage/ or Empty Room in your home
A Hotel or Air BnB
A Shared space (can be rented by the day or by the hour)
When Should you get a Boudoir Photography Studio?
When you have enough saved up to pay the rent/utilities/and props for the studio for at least 3 months (again please don’t take out a loan)
When you have clients lined up! (if you are just starting out, get some clients lined up before considering renting a space unless you have the funds disposable)
When you find a studio with an overhead price less than what you make a month. (it’s okay to grow and get a larger boudoir studio when you have more boudoir clients)
Fifth Step to Starting a Boudoir Business- Learn, keep learning and never stop! Take Boudoir Photography Classes!
Best Boudoir Classes to take, whether a boudoir guide/boudoir video course/ to be the best boudoir photographer you can be:
Boudoir Posing
Contracts
Editing
How to control light to get the images you want
How to make money with boudoir, pricing, packages, add ons
Hire a mentor
Do Phone calls with photographers who are making money doing boudoir photography
This might seem crazy and like “duh” information. But posing a couple out in a park vs a woman who is in lingerie alone on a couch is VERY different!
NOW GO START SHOOTING!!! The more you shoot, the easier the posing and lighting will be!!!
If you need help with anything above! Contact us at AMorgan Studios 508-847-7066, we will set up a personal Mentor Session for you!
