how to set up a wedding photography business
The complete but concise actionable guide for photography business beginners!
Set up your wedding photography business for success, finally knowing you are on the right path with clear instructions!
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Learn what you need to do, when you need to do it, why… and in what order!
Perhaps your photography business is just an idea at this point. You need help taking it from idea to reality - as you haven’t got time to make mistakes or spend money needlessly.
Or maybe you’ve already dipped your toe in the waters of opening your wedding photography business - but quit or stalled due to overwhelm, confusion and lack of step-by-step information out to guide you.
Whatever point you’re at on your journey to becoming a small business owner, one thing is for certain.
This ebook can give you an exact roadmap of all the boring behind-the-scenes tasks you need to attend to if you want to get your biz up and running.
Once you read this concise, actionable ebook, you’ll know what you need to prioritize at what point of your business journey. And crucially, the order in which to complete each task!
All of this without wasting your time, written by an actual wedding photographer (ah, hi!) who set up my own photography business in California in 2016.
Want to learn the business of wedding photography in the US from the ground up?
Are you wondering how to open a wedding photography business - but struggling to make it a reality?
How to become a wedding photographer - in a few simple steps*
Phew! There is so much I packed into this relatively short ebook of under 20,000 words. It gets straight to the point because I hate reading waffle. I also reflect on some of my own personal experiences and, yes, mistakes so that you don’t have to make them!
As I mentioned, I set up my business in California - the Bay Area to be precise. I moved around a few different cities, so this gave me a ton of insight seeing how it works differently depending on the county/ city.
This ebook is going to have the most value to business owners based in California. But wherever you’re located in the US, this ebook is for you!
Want to find out more about setting up your new business and making it legal, tax-compliant and ready to rock? In the book I go into detail about topics like:
☑ The legal structure for your photography business
The different types of businesses in the United States and which one may be right for you
☑ Understanding what forms you need to fill out with your city or state
The maze of licenses, permits, forms - what you need and what is not necessary
☑ Insurance for liability & equipment
Business insurance is something you may have heard of, but do you need it? Learn what you need to know!
☑ Bookkeeping and banking
When it makes sense to start a business account and the best practices for keeping your bookkeeping up-to-date
☑ Starting a website
With no prior knowledge assumed, I’ll walk you through some basics for beginners plus some more advanced tips
☑ Legally protecting your business with contracts
Where to get your wedding photography contract and a few bonus tips of what it should cover
☑ Design, branding and pricing brochures
How to produce beautiful, compelling brochures when you’re not a designer but can’t afford custom design
☑ Getting set up on a CRM
A Client Relationship Manager is one of the BIG keys to success when it comes to organizing and nurturing your leads, sending out information and more!
I’ll also share with you the right order of how you need to get yourself set up! Sometimes, you need one step to be done before you can get moving on something else.
I definitely made mistakes setting up my business... so can show you the right way! Many of my tips are the ‘what I wish I’d done’ kind of scenario!
* honestly, I was tempted to say ‘easy steps’ but the reality is, this isn’t exactly effortless. It’s hard work. Every step of the process will require a varying amount of time commitment including research and possibly consulting with a professional - for example an accountant, lawyer or designer.
However, while not sugar-coating the process, I also give you plenty of hacks and tips so you’re never spending longer (or paying more) on something when a shortcut is perfectly sufficient. This isn't a 'get rich quick' scheme! This is the blueprint to building a successful, long-term business.
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Your business exists as an idea only. And you’re not even sure that this is what you really want to be doing - perhaps you’re contemplating other career choices too. You want a peek behind the curtain, a preview of what you may need to do if you choose this route.
You are thinking of opening a wedding photography business
Who is this ebook for?
You’ve shot a few weddings and want to take the leap to more-than-side-hustle
You already have the gear, the editing and the social media dialled in. No issues there. But your achilles heel is the business side of things. You want to save as much time as possible with the boring stuff so you can focus on what sets your soul on fire - serving your clients and building your business.
No matter what stage you’re at, you’ll still benefit from learning the actionable tips and best practices. Maybe you already have a good thing going but want to make sure your bases are covered. You have a sneaking suspicion you haven’t done everything you should be doing.
You already have a business but you’re not sure you’re doing everything right
You have a business but have buried your head in the sand about the non-sexy topics
Taxes, insurance, contracts and CRMs scare the sh!t out of you. So you’ve gotten by on a wing and a prayer. Now is finally the time to get over those scary mental hurdles and protect yourself and be proud of having a legit business.
You are a resident of the United States
This ebook deals specifically with opening a photography business in the United States (and is even more pertinent to California-based folks!). You may still find this ebook useful if you are based in another country! However it’s intended specifically for US-based businesses, with much info being exclusively applicable in the US. I know it’s a bit confusing because of my accent.
Visit the shop
Visit the shop where you'll find links to my other informational ebook.
You can also book a one-on-one consultation with me if you're prefer personal mentorship.
Need more help?
...that fell in love with the business side of things! I’m Zoe Larkin, a wedding photographer and content marketing enthusiast. A while ago, I decided it was my mission to create as many high-quality, practical resources as possible, to help not only brides but other photographers, too.
Starting a wedding photography business was not what I expected. I created this guide because it’s the resource I wish existed when I was brand new to business.
There’s no shortage of information about how to use your camera, how to edit photos, how to get clients, but there was one area I found severely lacking.
How to set up the business side of things in a way that leads to sustainability, profitability and efficiency.
Before you dive into the juicy, fun topics, let’s get the ‘boring’ stuff working for you - no more overwhelm!
For aspiring wedding photographers, by an established wedding photographer...
Your guide, Zoe of Zoe Larkin Photography!
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What form does the ebook take?
It’s a text-based electronic book that can be read on Kindle or other e-reader. It is delivered immediately! The ebook can also be read via pdf if you prefer, so can be accessed on a laptop, desktop or smartphone. There’s no fluff or unnecessary photos in this ebook. It gets straight into the content!
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take to get my business off the ground?
I can’t make any promises or guarantees about a timescale, I’m afraid. Every step has a rough time estimate where it was possible to do so. But due to the huge unknowns of research time and the work you’ll need to implement, it’s impossible to give a definite idea. But as a rough guide, I would say at least couple of months.
Do you offer refunds if I’m not happy with my purchase?
Of course! If you read the ebook and find that it does not deliver on what was promised, contact me and I’ll give you a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
What makes you qualified to write about starting a business?
So, I’m not a business guru per se, but I do have first-hand experience starting a business myself. On top of that I’ve committed myself to a TON of research for subjects I didn’t know myself. I’ve always loved disseminating ideas and info through writing (just take a look at my massive blog library!) so the process is very familiar to me - and I’m good at it!
Do you have any other resources like this?
The ‘How to Start a Wedding Photography Business’ ebook is actually my first ebook targeted towards other photographers. I hope to bring out more resources in the future.
My particular areas of expertise are in SEO for photographers and other social media and digital marketing topics. Basically, this won’t be the last business/ marketing resource I bring out - but it is the first. Future topics will be covered in a video course format. Check out my YouTube channel, too!
I’m open to suggestions if there are particular topics you’d like covered. I would love to hear feedback on your experiences with this ebook, too!
Just out of curiosity, how long is this ebook?
The ebook comes in at just a smidge under 20,000 words! It's all useful stuff too, I promise. I offer helpful tips throughout that will save you time and move the needle for your business. In 8 X 5 format, it's 99 pages long, all text!
Buy the ebook 'How to Start a Wedding Photography Business' NOW!
xo,
Zoe
This is it! The ultimate helpful resource you've been waiting for, that will help you start your wedding photography business!
In this ebook, I will take you through everything you need to know to start your wedding photography business. From naming your business, filing the correct forms with the state or city, deciding on a legal structure, accounting, banking, CRMs, contracts - I got you!
This is one purchase you'll make that will actually move the needle when it comes to setting up your wedding photography business in the United States the right way, and avoiding costly and time-wasting headaches.
You will get the ebook in .epub, .mobi and .pdf formats so you can choose the one that works best with your e-reader, Kindle, computer or other device.