Embracing the business side of a photography business....

For those of you out there pursing or operating a successful photography business.....how many actually embrace and enjoy the business side of things? I've been in business now for about 8 years and at first I didn't really care for the actual business side of things......but I've actually grown to the point that I really enjoy it...almost as much as the actual photography. I really enjoy crunching numbers, maximizing profits and production. Creating plans that create additional profit is almost as fun as playing in Photoshop with a favorite image. Networking and advertising is something I actually get excited over. I enjoy trying to best my last years numbers and coming up with ways to make sure that I do. I love the challenge and I think that my focus on the business side of the equation has helped me grow immensely.
That said, as a photographer, are you really embracing the business side of things or do you consider it a necessary evil?

Good question. I am in Sales and Business Analystics for my day job. My photog business was an experiment and I love it. You have to be careful though.....The Business side is VERY important for success...but you cannot bury your head in numbers like we can in sales With the photog industry we are dealing with people.

To answer your question, I love it! ha

I enjoy marketing, mostly because it consists of getting our best and favorite images in front of our target market, which is exciting. I don't care for the accounting and numbers really until its done and I see a good amount of black on the bottom line!

I enjoy the marketing, buying expenses, and seeing my profit part. But when it comes to taxes and calculating all the numbers not so much. Overall I like it because it's about building what is mine.

I enjoy the business side tremendously.

I absolutely hate anything to do with business, so I just sell stock images. I do not want to be a businessman - ever. But I do want to be a full time photographer, very much.

Paperwork, forms, etc are so abhorable to me that every year, my car registration lapses . . . because I hate - HATE - filling out the little form and mailing it in (or doing the same thing online).
Taxes, delinquent for 8 years because I hate doing anything that deals with finances and record keeping. It is hard for me to understand how anyone could like such things, but I guess it takes different types of people to make the world go 'round.
Invoicing/billing for things - how horrible! You mean I actually have to sit at a computer for 3 or 4 minutes and think about what I am typing, just to get my money?! Forget it!
Selling stock, my $ gets put right into my PayPal account, and I never have to write a quote, send a bill, or deal with a customer.
All I ever want to do is pursue wildlife with a camera, and selling stock has enabled me to spend more time doing just that, and less time doing the business-related tasks I hate so much.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15863776
I absolutely hate anything to do with business, so I just sell stock images. I do not want to be a businessman - ever. But I do want to be a full time photographer, very much.

Paperwork, forms, etc are so abhorable to me that every year, my car registration lapses . . . because I hate - HATE - filling out the little form and mailing it in (or doing the same thing online).
Taxes, delinquent for 8 years because I hate doing anything that deals with finances and record keeping. It is hard for me to understand how anyone could like such things, but I guess it takes different types of people to make the world go 'round.
Invoicing/billing for things - how horrible! You mean I actually have to sit at a computer for 3 or 4 minutes and think about what I am typing, just to get my money?! Forget it!
Selling stock, my $ gets put right into my PayPal account, and I never have to write a quote, send a bill, or deal with a customer.
All I ever want to do is pursue wildlife with a camera, and selling stock has enabled me to spend more time doing just that, and less time doing the business-related tasks I hate so much.

Well put rant. I feel the same way in my business thats why I figured out how to make more money to hire a book keeper, accountant and inventory manager.

I wish I embraced the business side, I envy those that do. Marketing and networking I love and I am good at.

I enjoy a lot of the business things. I enjoy marketing, branding and selling. Accounting, not so much.

I was a Small Business and Marketing Consultant for years before picking up photography again. I enjoy the business side, and having a strong foundation in business means the ability to make a proper margin and return for the work I do.

I fear those who don't embrace the "numbers" side of any business is doomed to be part of the 85% of failed business ventures.

I'm learning quite a bit as this is my first year of photography business with no business background. Surprisingly I really enjoy it & also surprisingly I'm on the black (I thought it would take me a couple years to make any profit!)!

i_am_cdn wrote in post #15866278
I fear those who don't embrace the "numbers" side of any business is doomed to be part of the 85% of failed business ventures.

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