Is a childrens photography business all fun and games?A childrens photography business can be a rewarding and fun business, but you need to know the rules of the game to be successful. On the photography business and wedding photography business pages, developing a niche is emphasized and it is no different in this arena. Children's photography has become a very diluted field with the proliferation of digital cameras and the so called it "do-it-your-selfers." Most of these wannabe photographers do not have a clue about lighting and creative control of a camera. This is what will separate a professional from an amateur. Providing photographic services for any age group requires proficiency behind the camera as well as clever and unique product lines. Having a signature product that cannot be found anywhere else will put you in the spotlight. (be the Coach purse of your industry) The location of your business can affect your profitability. Home businesses have their pros and cons but they can get you off to a good start. Click on home business for more information on designing up a home business space. FINDING YOUR NICHE IN A CHILDRENS PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS Traditional Childrens Portrait Studio Traditional portraits are classics that do not go out of style. Originality is the key here so your work does not look like another studio's work. Lighting is crucial in a classic portrait, so make sure you have been educated on the types of studio lighting and can invest in the lighting equipment that is required to do a good job. I recommend the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) for your education needs. Classical portraiture should have a timeless look. This is achieved through appropriate clothing and background.Make sure you have had a consultation with your client so they know in advance what type and color of clothing is needed to match the background. I often have the client choose the background so there are no surprises. A well planned session will result in a more profitable one. Children under age five have a short attention span, so it may be necessary to offer short breaks and have lots of toys and noise makers to attract their attention. Patience is the key here. If you do not like working with this age group (I find it the most challenging) then find some other work. I usually have the child warm up in the play room for a few minutes. I always get down on their level and sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Children can be very clingy with their parents at this age. Peek-a-boo behind the light box seems to always work to bring out expression. Limited edition portraits are a way to bring uniqueness to your sessions. Offer a creative setting for a limited amount of time to create demand for your product. For example you could offer a day at a pond with live ducks, or you could rent or design a Victorian setting and offer clothing. A good resource on limited edition settings is from Cindy Baxter Studios. 
I prefer to have children showing expression (expression sells) rather than a solemn look, but that is a matter of opinion. I also prefer to have children well-lit rather than an under-lit dramatic look. You will need to experiment and see what works and sells best for you. A more eclectic type of portraiture is the extreme close-up, cropping off the top part of their head. This imagery can warm the hearts of the parents (and sometimes of the photographer) because it shows the essence of childhood through their eyes. It is a wonderful portrayal of childhood.
This is a much more playful type of photography than traditional photography by capturing the spirit of the child in an outdoor setting. I have found this type of photography to be a win-win environment. The kids have a better time outdoors, not being confined to the four walls of the studio, the parents are not stressed, and I am able to capture the spontaneity of the childhood years. Your equipment is very important and you need to understand how to use the manual controls in an instant. You will have to use fast shutter speeds. I also recommend a fill flash set-up to add catch lights to the eyes. A fast lens will enable you to blur out the background for a selective-focus look. Your camera's focus system should be understood so you can capture the action shots in an instant. This type of photography is conducive to a home photography business because a studio set-up is not required. Depending on where you live, you can conduct these sessions throughout the year on a seasonal basis.Summer beach portraits are always popular, as well as portraits in the leaves for the fall. Learn how to create collages using Photoshop or another design program. I highly recommend John Hartman's Quick Mats program.
Starting a children's photography business does take time to build. In order to be successful you will need to brand your business with your own identifiable look and market it. Don't quit the day job yet; it typically takes a few years to get off the ground. For examples of children's portraits please see my website at:
www.lightscapesphoto.com
|
