Starting a Photography Business: Part 2 – Researching the Idea

The idea was the easy bit now I needed to start doing something about it, the biggest thing for me to find out was, how do I get featured on Google?  I knew to be on search engine pages would be crucial. Unfortunately it isn’t as simple as just sending Google a message to say, “Hi guys just created a wonderful website over here, please list me if you don’t mind!”

As I was doing some research about how to understand Google I came across a well written easy to understand book that has become my bible.  “Get into bed with Google” by Jon Smith.  I cannot recommend this book enough; if you read it you will find yourself armed with a wealth of knowledge to make your site friendlier to search engines and help you root out any unscrupulous web designers when you come to find one.  I’m not on sales commission here I’m just so very grateful I happened across it

Maybe I should let you in on a secret here, research is my thing, I love it! It’s where I bounce up and down with a big grin on my face clapping my hands.  So with that in mind you may find that the avenues I went down when researching the business were more exhaustive than you might need.  Sometimes it can turn up a real gem and if you aren’t already on Twitter head over and sign up for a page.  There are some great people on there giving out tiny little titbits, give it a whirl, at worst you can make some new friends.

The internet is such a valuable research tool, remember though to also get out there and speak to people. Your local chamber of commerce is a great source of free business information, they can supply you with an armful of paper covering every part of your business from tips on pricing, copyright, website rules and regulations and all important tax information.  They can be a great source of neutral support and advice.

One of the great things about any industry is there will be trade shows, in the UK we have a big one each March called Focus on Imaging.  They are great fun and a fantastic chance to look at products close up, to have a play with new cameras and meet your suppliers. The format of how to display my photos has changed radically, initially I was going to have them printed onto canvas, but I was concerned about how exposed to their environment they are so I started to think about ultra modern acrylic frames, my business was going to be cutting edge!

I’d looked up my proposed supplier on the hall map, headed straight to their stand and was stunned.  They had the best display of all the stands, simple and effective, all their ranges were up on one wall.  Yet as I stood and looked at the sleek acrylic frames I was amazed how different they looked in actuality than on their site.  For me they were too intrusive, too brash.  I was staggered to realise the frame style that for me was head and shoulders above the rest was the traditional wooden frame and mount.

So suddenly it was all systems go to find the best supplier of frames, did I want them to be from sustainable sources? Yes!  How many suppliers do that?  What type of paper did I want the prints on photographic paper or fine art paper?  What colour frames did I want to offer?  The list of questions was seemingly never ending, which is great for me who loves research!

Now I know you are thinking right, we’ve covered so much yet the most crucial thing for setting up an online site, web development hasn’t been covered.  Well, that’s because it is such an important subject, there’s much more to it than just going with the first web design company you see that it really requires a column just focusing on web developers and design, and so next week I’ll be doing just that, and I’ll be giving you recommendations for reputable web designers.

Notes

• Get a book or find out as much information as you can about search engines.  If you don’t want to buy one, try your local library, it’s what I did initially with Get into Bed with Google.

• Go to your local chamber of commerce of local council to see what business help is available to you

• Sign up to Twitter.  Beware what name you choose if you are going to have it represent your business at a later date.  Big ears is fun but you might only attract Star Trek fans to follow you.

• Find out what trade shows operate for your industry and when they take place and sign up for a national trade magazine to keep up to date with your genre.

• Research all the suppliers you can and go and meet them and see their products before making a firm decision.

• Start looking at websites to get ideas of what you like about a particular design and if it might work for what you want.

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Ruth Bayley

Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife. Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.

However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.

Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes. It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.

www.healingwithphotography.co.uk