Making a Business Out of Portrait Photography

Many photography hobbyists know that you can spend literally thousands and thousands of dollars for your equipment and supplies, just to take some pictures of your vacation or trips with friends. However, if you are interested in actually making some money from this hobby, you might consider starting a business of portrait photography. There is some additional equipment you'll need of course, but for the most part, if you already have a good camera and a place in your home that you can use, then you may be ready to get started with portrait photography. How to go about doing this?

You will need some good lighting for portrait photography; there's no getting around that. Your typical flash just won't do. Trilights as they are called are easily available at your photography supply store or online. There are many different models to choose from but most are pretty much the same. They are on adjustable stands with a backing that looks something like an umbrella. For portrait photography, you will also need some backdrops that won't reflect the light or interfere with your shot. Many people use a plain white or black sheet for this. These are fine for simply portraits where you are just posing the subject, and of course a black backdrop is better for black and white photographs, which is a favorite choice among many for portrait photography. If you really want to dress up your portrait photography, consider investing in some additional backdrops. If you've ever seen portraits done at a professional photographer's studio, you'll see backdrops that are nature scenes, outdoor scenes, different colors for children such as pink and blue, and so on.

You may also want some props for your portrait photography. The best pictures, especially those of children, are typically dressed up by having the subject holding or interacting with something. You will need something for them to sit on, so a stand of some sort, and this should be of different heights for the children's portraits. Toys, large blocks, umbrellas for the girls, stuffed animals, and so on are all good accessories to have for portrait photography.

To produce some very high-quality pictures, get creative with your shots. Portrait photography should be very expressive for the subject you're shooting. If it's parents and a young child, have them all playfully interact. If it's a couple, you can have one kissing the other's cheeks, or try a profile shot where they're looking very lovingly at each other. With a baby, try having it between the two or held in the one person's arms while they stare at each other, or have one hold the baby very close to them. For children, they might be throwing a ball into the air. The point is that the best portrait photography will get away from the standard poses of the subject just sitting there, staring at the camera. Anyone can take standard shots like this; you want your photography to really stand out from the crowd.