I can never start a business like this, Can I?

I've been into photography for a long time now and have always thought of start doing this properly (as a part time business). But 99% of my pictures are of people who don't want them anywhere on the internet (Facebook, Websites etc).

I know how to market but I don't have anything to show because of this. I've even (lol) shot a wedding or two (yes, for free) so I can put my work up but they don't want it on the web.

I'm not sure what to do about this. How can one start a business if there's nothing to show? can't market myself at all.

Moin wrote in post #15876518
I've been into photography for a long time now and have always thought of start doing this properly (as a part time business). But 99% of my pictures are of people who don't want them anywhere on the internet (Facebook, Websites etc).

I know how to market but I don't have anything to show because of this. I've even (lol) shot a wedding or two (yes, for free) so I can put my work up but they don't want it on the web.

I'm not sure what to do about this. How can one start a business if there's nothing to show? can't market myself at all.

...first principals first. start from the end. If you want to start a business: start putting together a business plan. Crunch the numbers, do some forecasts, set some goals. As you start this process: the answers to many of the questions you have about starting a business will solve themselves.

Trust me on this. Start from the end. Decide how you want your business to look. Then you will figure out ways to get images for your portfolio. What you are asking is something that every photographer that is in business has asked themselves and they have all answered the question in different ways. Some shoot for free. Some offer discounts to allow images to be displayed in the portfolio. Others convince families and friends to pose for them. There are many different thing you can do. But start at the end: start with a plan. Then work the plan and adjust it as you need to.

What about that 1%?

Get friends who are willing to be models for your portfolio, with the expressed purpose of the final images being used to advertise yourself.

Failing friends who will do it for free, try searching out people looking to start a career in modelling.

If that fails, make the investment and hire experienced models from an agency.

Go into the shoot with everyone understanding that the images will be for your use to help expand your business. (And nothing says you can't give/sell copies to the people in the photos too)

Moin wrote in post #15876518
I've even (lol) shot a wedding or two (yes, for free) so I can put my work up but they don't want it on the web.

If you want this to be a business you need to start acting like a business person. You don't press the shutter button until you have a signed contract that details what both parties will get from the deal. They get photos for free, you get the right to display those photos as part of your portfolio. If they don't agree and sign you don't shoot their wedding.

or you charge for it. Dan's right, treat it like a business, with a written contract- it's a business transaction, so something for something.

so you are basically doing TFP shoots... without you receiving what you should be? Start having them sign TFP contract/releases.

TFP = trade for prints ( just in case you did not know what it meant)

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15876886
You don't press the shutter button until you have a signed contract that details what both parties will get from the deal. They get photos for free, you get the right to display those photos as part of your portfolio. If they don't agree and sign you don't shoot their wedding.

This ^ ^ ^

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15876886
If you want this to be a business you need to start acting like a business person. You don't press the shutter button until you have a signed contract that details what both parties will get from the deal. They get photos for free, you get the right to display those photos as part of your portfolio. If they don't agree and sign you don't shoot their wedding.

Exactly as above, thankfully I learned very early on

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15876886
If you want this to be a business you need to start acting like a business person. You don't press the shutter button until you have a signed contract that details what both parties will get from the deal. They get photos for free, you get the right to display those photos as part of your portfolio. If they don't agree and sign you don't shoot their wedding.

This^
If you can't negotiate image usage for customers getting free pictures, how will you possibly convince someone your images are worth four figure sums?

You're blaming your 'customers' for your shortcomings. If you believe your images are worth buying, you must believe you have the right to something from a free shoot.

Saying yes to everything when one is starting out is actually a pretty good rule of thumb. What you're beginning to learn is that for your own development you ought to be able to say 'no' when it's clear that you are no longer getting what you need out of the deal. At this stage you need photos to market yourself with.

I completely agree with the suggestions to start using a contract (even if shooting for free) and to build into that contract your ability to use some of the images from the shoot. For some of your couples this may be a deal breaker -- and I'd argue it should be for you as well. For others, a little bit of negotiation may make it worth your while. I'd had several couples who weren't keen on that portion of my contract; when I explained that I'll be making great images of them and that I'd give them 'veto power' if there were any particular images they didn't want published, they were sold. My experience is completely different from yours with about 90% of my couples presuming that I'm using the resultant photos in my portfolio.

I don't currently have a photo business but going by what the OP said, I should not of been able to have the photo business I did before the Internet. Life is not dependent on the Internet, it is just another tool, not the only tool you have to use.