AboutDavid Barry Expertise I have a lot of experience in most traditional forms of photography, so I`m quite knowledgeable about things like camera types and formats, techniques, exposure, film types, colour, filters, lighting, standard colour and black and white developing and printing.
I do not make recommendations about brands or models, and I am not a camera technician so I may not be able to tell you what is wrong with your equipment if it`s not working .
I also know a little about digital photography and imaging with scanners and digital cameras, so ask me and I will answer if I can.
Experience Experience in the area
I have been seriously involved in photography for over 25 years, including about 4 years as a professional, as well as 2 years providing administrative service to government photographers, requiring interpreting photographers' requirements and trade technicalities for those unfamiliar with such.
I have successfully trained several beginners in photography, helping them to become competent in basic techniques.
Organizations belong to:
None at present, but have been in about 4 camera clubs, having won or had placings in 2 club competitions.
Publications:
A lot of my photos have been in educational / training manuals, books and some photography magazines, as well as 2-3 dozen images been on the Web so far.
Education/Credentials:
Completed 4-year diploma in professional photography technique at Sydney's Technical College
Awards and Honors:
3 placings and / or merits in camera club competitions.
Expert: David Barry Date: 7/10/2006 Subject: report on photography business
Question Hello,
I'm a college student taking a business class this summer. Our teacher assigned us businesses to research based on our hobbies and I like to take photographs so she gave me Photography based businesses (photography studios, wedding photographers, portrait photographers, commercial photographers).
I did a google search and found this website. I don't want to take up too much of your time but I would love it if you could answer a couple of questions for me.
*Why did you open a Photography based business?
*How did you get started? Did it cost alot?
*How did you get your first clients?
*Do you advertise? Where? Is that expensive? Does it work?
*Do you make postcards? Where do you put them? Do they work?
*What is the most important thing you did when you first opened?
*Is this your only job?
My paper has to be about starting a new business. Like, things you did to help you have a thriving business. So if there is anything else you would like to include on things you did to get started that would be most helpful.
My dream is to one day open a boutique/photography gallery. I like taking photos but it's just a hobby, not my main interest. I think it would be fun to show the work of photographers I really like.
Thanks so much for all your help!
Ciao,
Danielle Howard
Answer Firstly, I do NOT have and never have had a photography business. I only worked for a few years as a photographer in a government department. But there are some similarities in what you want to know and the situation in which I worked, so I will answer as best I can.
*I did not open a business, but I started working in photography (25 years ago) because originally I thought it would make an interesting and worthwhile career. I did not doit just for the money, but largely because of my interest like yourself.
*I got started (30 years ago) by taking photos for friends and family of their important occasions (birthdays, weddings etc), but also I liked photographing landscapes and buildings (still do).
I enrolled in a college course to gain a photographic trade qualification certificate (now it's a diploma level course). In the beginning it was relatively inexpensive because I was able to borrow my parents' camera and in those days such courses were partly funded by the government. But as I gained more experience and started to buy a lot of my own equipment and got really involved, naturally the costs built up.
*My first 'clients' were friends and family wanting me to shoot their weddings, 21st birthdays etc, but when I finally got the 'real' photography job in the government, my 'clients' were automatically provided as part of the job.
*No I never advertised because I didn't need to; as in the previous question, my 'clients' came to me automatically because of the nature of the place where I worked - I was the official photographer of the place and they had to come to me.
*In my present role as an amateur (recreational) photographer, I have started to make calendars, not postcards, and given a few away, but haven't sold any (yet). I also like to decorate my office space with poster-sized prints which has attracted some flattering comments from my work colleagues. They seem to work in drawing attention and receiving praise.
* The most important things I did in the beginning were practise, practise, practise..., learn, learn, learn..., study books and works of photographers whose pictures I admire.
*Although my trade course did cover some basic aspects of business, I don't remember much about those things. It was mainly book-keeping (accounting), and legal things like copyright & basic legal rights and obligations to customers and suppliers. Most of the business side of things of my job were done by other people. It might be a good idea to ask one of the other experts about this area.
Maybe you need to concentrate on learning about gallery and museum practices; I'm sure that some courses in visual and fine arts cover this.
