How to Start a Portrait Photography Business

A portrait photography business provides high-quality, professional photos of individuals and families. Many businesses offer specialized services for things such as school photos, holiday cards, and family portraits. Because of the ability to offer these useful services year-round, portrait photography businesses play a vital role in the communities that they are located in.

You may also be interested in additional side hustle ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a portrait photography business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Portrait Photography Business
  2. Form your Portrait Photography Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Portrait Photography Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Portrait Photography Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Portrait Photography Business
  7. Get Portrait Photography Business Insurance
  8. Define your Portrait Photography Business Brand
  9. Create your Portrait Photography Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your portrait photography business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Portrait Photography Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a portrait photography business?

It is possible to run your business from home. In this case, you would shoot your subjects in your own home studio space or meet them at an agreed-upon location. With this setup, the cost of opening your business will be about $11,000. That cost breaks down to $2,500 for two professional cameras, $1,000 for three different professional lenses, and $1,000 for assorted camera equipment (bags, lights, memory cards, etc.), It will cost about $1,500 to get insurance, incorporate your business, pay for money management software, and pay for annual accounting services. A professional computer and relevant editing software will cost about $2,000, and a professional website will start at around $500. Finally, you’ll want to spend about $500 creating samples of your photography, and about $2,000 on initial advertising.

What are the ongoing expenses for a portrait photography business?

The good news is that your ongoing expenses are small, though variable. Once your equipment is acquired, your primary cost will be the cost of printing photos (if you have not invested in your own high-quality printer) and the cost of travel (if you are going to where the clients are instead of having them come to you). You may also spend money hosting your website, though this is typically less than $100 per year.

Who is the target market?

While you will have a diverse array of clients (and may market yourself towards a very specific niche), the typical portrait photography business market is comprised of young families. They are likeliest to want new photos every year for a variety of occasions, including holidays and birthdays.

How does a portrait photography business make money?

Typically, a portrait photography business offers fixed prices for different photo packages. You may also consider charging extra for special services, such as converting photos into holiday cards. Depending on your business model, you may also consider charging money for travel or even charging a flat hourly fee on top of the specialized package fees.

How much can you charge customers?

Your prices will vary, and may depend on your price structure. If you charge by the hour, you may charge between $25 to $100 or more per hour, and this typically includes providing a set number of different shots, poses, and copies of images. If you charge by the photo, you may charge between $10 to $50 per photo, though many businesses create photo packages that are more attractive to a customer (such as a $300 package that provides multiple poses, prints, and settings, such as outdoor photos).

How much profit can a portrait photography business make?

The exact profit your business makes may vary. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median pay for photographers is just a little over $34,000 per year. However, this number is brought down by both low-paid hourly workers and those who are struggling to pay for expensive studios. If you are willing to shoot from home or on location, then almost all of the money you take in is pure profit, and it’s easy for you to develop a steady stream of clients and create a very lucrative business within your community.

How can you make your business more profitable?

If you are willing to, the number one way to make your business more profitable is to diversify the services you provide. Being willing to shoot local weddings, for instance, opens an entirely new revenue stream. You can also provide less conventional services, such as providing professional photos of people who “cosplay” in various Comic Con-type venues. You may even appeal to younger consumers by explicitly selling a low-priced “Instagram profile” photo that will appeal to their need to look their best online.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your portrait photography business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your portrait photography business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Most states require retail businesses to obtain a seller’s permit. A seller’s permit enables states to record and collect taxes from the sale of taxable goods and services. More information can be found here:

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Trademark Protection

If you are developing a unique product, concept, brand, or design, it is prudent to protect your rights by registering for the appropriate trademarks and copyrights.

Learn more about trademark and copyright protection

The nature of legal requirements in distance education is ever changing, especially in regards to copyright laws. Here is a frequently updated resource, which can help keep you aware of the legal requirements.

Certificate of Occupancy

A portrait photography business can be run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a portrait photography business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your portrait photography business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a portrait photography business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Portrait Photography Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Portrait Photography Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a portrait photography business

Some of your startup money should be spent on local, “traditional” advertising, such as advertising in local newspapers and local radio. You may also look into paid advertisements via social media networks such as Facebook and Instagram. However, don’t overlook how much advertising you can do for free through your own Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can market yourself online, bring in new followers, hold contests, and most importantly, show off your work through these highly visual mediums. In terms of advertising value, it’s tough to beat!

How to keep customers coming back

In addition to the advertising methods mentioned above, make sure you have a wide range of prices. This allows your business to seem accessible to those on a budget while still giving you room to tell them more about your services. For retention, try to get your customers on an email mailing list so you can tell them about your specials and services throughout the year. Make sure you adjust your services for each season and occasion to maximize new and returning customers (people might want to have a spooky group photo in front of a green screen in their Halloween costumes, for instance). Finally, never underestimate the power of offering to shoot pictures of people in public places like parks and then texting them the image. They get a freebie, see the quality of your work, and now have an easy way to contact you!

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Obviously, this business is perfect for photographers. By extension, it is also great for those who have some formal training in photography or have any formal education in photography. Finally, because the job involves interacting with many different demographics, the job is ideal for a “people person.”

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a portrait photography business?

Much of the actual job involves scheduling appointments, meeting with customers, and shooting them in a variety of poses. Part of meeting with customers involves some salesmanship, as you may decide to offer them bigger photo packages. You will also spend time editing, developing, and printing photos, and your downtime is likely to be spent advertising your business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful portrait photography business?

As mentioned earlier, any professional experience as a photographer is very helpful in getting your business running. Being successful at social media can also be a benefit, as it can help with both business networking and offering photography services that appeal to the “Instagram generation.” Finally, any experience you have with digitally editing photos can help you with your future business edits, as these may range from touching up small blemishes to creating mind-blowing backgrounds.

What is the growth potential for a portrait photography business?

The growth potential for this business is modest, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics noting that the field grows by only three percent every year. However, it is very possible to establish your business in a community that has little or no competition, increasing your odds of being successful. Additionally, you can offer services tailored to this particular community, which is a vital key to repeat business.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a portrait photography business?

Attend any local conferences and join local photography groups to begin networking. Consider creating a niche for your business to help set you apart from others. Shoot pictures of friends and family for either a discount or completely free, as this is a vital way to gain experience and create a professional portfolio you can use to advertise yourself.

How and when to build a team

Due to the nature of this business, most photographers start out on their own. When your business is successful to the point that you need to open a standalone studio, or if things are just too busy for you to handle on your own, you should consider building a small team.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading