Book excerpt: ABOUT THE BOOK For most photographers, having their own business is a dream come true. If photography is something that you are passionate about, it is possible to setup a thriving business – but it isn’t easy. Planning, setting up, and marketing a photography business requires patience and hard work. The following information outlines the steps to starting a photography business. It may feel like an overwhelming task at first, but if you take the time to make a solid plan, things will be much smoother in the future. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK Before you open the business, be sure that you have everything you need in terms of equipment. If you're just starting out and you don't have the funds to purchase state-of-the-art camera equipment, then don't. As long as you have the basics you will be fine, and you can purchase more expensive equipment later on when your business is established and you're making a profit. It is not the use of fancy equipment that makes customers happy, but rather the photographs themselves. Bill Westheimer, who has photographed many famous people and bands, stated, "When you buy a 1/4-inch drill bit, what you really need is a 1/4-inch hole. Clients don't need photographers, they need photographs." Aside from camera equipment, think about any other equipment you may need. For example, if you're a portrait artist you may need backdrops for your studio. Additionally, computers and software are often needed in digital photography. If you work from home you may need to set-up a home office, which requires furniture. All of these things are important and should be considered so that you can properly budget for them... Buy a copy to keep reading!