I've got a compact camera and can take my own photos

- why should I pay you to do it?

Another common question I get asked from photographers who want to start their own photography business and target the consumer market which includes weddings, portraiture, schools (dance and sport) and many other aspects of what we call social photography is how do they deal with this argument? This is a real put off for some people, they wont even consider starting their own photography business because they think that all potential customers have this attitude.

On the face of it , it seems really tuff. Virtually all households have a at least a compact camera, many with digital compacts and then at weddings, there is always uncle Johnny, he can take the pictures, right?

Modern compact cameras are improving all the time, the images are sharper than they were, but this is just the tip of the iceberg and is just the apex of what puts people off from starting their own photography business.

So why should anyone employ a professional photographer anyway?

Here are the main reasons why.

Composition

Camera's themselves cannot correct a badly composed shot. Heads cropped out. Eyes closed. Inappropriate facial expression. Subjects Looking the wrong way. Hidden features. Subject not in shot. Missed opportunity and missed frames. Wrong lens used or on at the time it was needed. Poor use or understanding of light. Poor choice of background or including too much background.

The list is almost endless. Don't blame the tools – the tool just allows the tradesman to achieve a finished result, blame tradesman instead.

As we all know this is where the skill and attitude of the professional photographer is so important. There is a definite art to composing shots well. A skill that a happy snapper does not necessarily have, but the photographer does. Most People are prepared to pay for good quality images, sharp, in focus and nicely composed.

Zooming / cropping

Compact cameras have a minimal zoom feature. Modern Digital cameras often boast a higher zoom , but is often a digital zoom rather than an optical zoom, that is, the glass elements that move in the lens, don’t offer a great deal of zoom capability.

This reduces the chance to quickly pick out a subjects face in a portrait or at an event, vital for good composition of the frame in general.

Most compact cameras also don’t have a very wide field of view, even at the widest end of the zoom lens, often it is no wider than 30 to 35mm and will not allow for a wide shot at events where there are large parties or groups of people.

Additional services

People cannot reproduce all settings wit h their own camera or props. Photographers are able to provide backdrops, scenery and settings as well as other issues such as fancy dress clothing

Bedroom portraits are surprisingly popular and not easily shot by the subject or their partner. Sepia tint photos and special effects, again, not easy for the end user or subject to produce are all things that set the photographer apart from the amatuer.

You can also use image editing software , such Adobe’s Photoshop to provide special effects, repairs to old or damaged images, make enhancements to pictures and much more

Ultimately , People pay for extra services

Print size & Print quality

Most Compact cameras don't produce high quality large prints. Even more modern Digital compacts, usually only have a low pixel count. If you want high quality images at large sizes, then you need to use a camera with a higher resolution that the average compact camera. That’s where you, the photographer come in. Most Pro digital cameras, now have a pixel count of at least 12Megapixels or higher

If people want sharp, large size prints, they will pay you for professional photography services.

Reliability

This is more obvious in the wedding market. It is a one-time special day that people do not want to risk missing on film. Most professional photographers that shoot weddings will have wedding insurance to cover the worst case scenarios as well.

On the whole, I have found many photographers to be overall, very reliable people. I think this is mainly due to the fact that if they don’t turn up to take the picture, they are not likely to get paid, often photographers are required at events at particular times and no show = no pay, so why wouldn’t you be reliable?

Convenience

This is of particular relevance to schools and sporting cubs and just about any organisation where there are groups of people involved. It is so convenient to let a professional take shots of the dancers or players for a small fee, rather than trying to do a decent job yourself with your compact camera. It usually works out much more cost effective as well, with a large group of people, often with the cost per sitting coming down to under £10.0 per subject, good value for a professionally shot image, I think anyone would agree. With today’s modern Digital professional cameras and bulk printing orders, school photographs often work out even cheaper than this.

People pay for convenience.

So, these are a few great reasons why people, despite owning a camera, will pay you to take photographs in consumer markets, the market we know as social photography, but there are of course, many more reasons, too many to list.

But, being able to offer these things is only a part of the equation for success as a professional photographer. As important as this is your ability to market/sell what you are offering so people will buy from you. The marketing side of photography is arguably a bigger part of the business than the photography itself.

My book details a exactly what are the most effective ways to market your photography business and is a big kick start for anyone wanting to start their own photography business and is available online now.

Copy write Billy Bonds 2005