Step Two: Seperating Military looking to Start Business

Hello all. I am due to separate honorably from the Military in about two weeks and am looking to pursue a photography career. My focus would be more on portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography. I currently own a 30D Canon with a kit 35-128(or so) lens, numerous strobes, battery pack for on location shoots.

I have done various shoots and seen on my zooomr @ www.zooomr.com/mikepra​ttphotography. I would like to know the next step that I would need to do to get things moving. I mean everything from logo design and everything forward. If anyone can help or point me in the right direction, please let me know. Thank you very much for your help!

MikePrattPhotography wrote in post #5890305
Hello all. I am due to separate honorably from the Military in about two weeks and am looking to pursue a photography career. My focus would be more on portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography. I currently own a 30D Canon with a kit 35-128(or so) lens, numerous strobes, battery pack for on location shoots.

I have done various shoots and seen on my zooomr @ www.zooomr.com/mikepra​ttphotography. I would like to know the next step that I would need to do to get things moving. I mean everything from logo design and everything forward. If anyone can help or point me in the right direction, please let me know. Thank you very much for your help!

I think the first steps would be to figure out how you want to set up your business for tax purposes, which will depend on where you are from. The next thing is probably to get some liability insurance. It would probably be worthwhile to get a professional web site and logo designed and set up for you.
A lot of things will really depend on your local market.

Unless you're stuck in the '70s, you need a new business card if you want to be taken seriously.

Good advice: What advice would you offer a new pro photographer?

Getting a business license as Sole Proprietor or LLC

Mike you can certainly do anything you want in life ....but if you thought the military was tough and paid little you are in for a shock......photography is a brutal business. You might want to start out getting a paying gig at a newspaper or something to get you started.

You used a "good" title, so be sure to look at the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom-left of this page, too.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR INPUT!!! I am looking into all of it. I really appreciate it! Thanks again!!

Get your own domain name and website, and good cards. If you think your portfolio needs work use modelmayhem.com or that other similar site to find models for TFCD. Have a backup plan so you don't go hungry.