investing my gears and business, a bit long

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kenji
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p.1 #1 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

i am thinking of investing some money into my gears and starting a wedding business, roughly $12,000 to $15,000. I am not going to spend all of it for gears. I will use some on building a web site.

Please give advice on how i get started with this money. is it too much or just enough?
Things i am getting are: MacPro computer, LCD Screen.
A 1Dmark III and a 35mm1.4L are coming.

money will be spent on wedding albums, web site, computers & LCD, business cards. that's for sure.

gears question: the 20d is going to be my backup after my 1d arrives. but for the second body,should i get a 1d or 5D (5d for the wide angles and 1d for telephoto) or i should go with 1DIII again for consistency? any gears i miss on my list below?

business question: building a web site, business card, what do i miss?

thanks for taking time to read my post.
any inputs are welcome

The gears i currently have:

Camera: 20D
Lenses: 16-35mm f/2.8L, 24-70mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 85mm f/1.2L ll, 100mm f/2.8 marco,
Flashes: 580EX, 4x580EX II
Others:
L-558R, Expodisc, Whibals, D650AW, Lee holder & soft GND set, Epson P-5000, Custom Brackets Pro-M kit, 6x PW II
G2227, Acratech Ultimate Ballhead with QR Clamp, 2x Bogen 680B, 234, RRS B2 Pro II, 48" Trigrip white, gold, sunlite, softsilver

Jan 19, 2008 at 06:02 AM

lindabrowne
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p.1 #2 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

Hi Kenji,

Besides gear and photography, there's the whole 'business' end to things. It's much more complicated than it seems. Get your business set up properly to begin with instead of scurrying around trying to get it under control when you no longer have the time. Work out a full business plan. After you've worked out the final numbers, figure on less income and more expenses, not to mention more time spent on all things than you probably planned.

How are your people skills, sales skills, etc.? Do you know your equipment inside-out? Lighting, posing, etc. Don't forget market research for your area, including possible clients, other photographers, and vendors you can network with.

Some not so great photographers are very good business people and have long successful careers. Other very skilled photographers might not have the time, patience or skills to take care of clients and business. I know that doesn't answer the gear question (not gears - wrong usage pluralizing it that way), but I hope it helps in some way.

Wishing you much success.

~ Linda

Edited on Jan 19, 2008 at 07:12 AM

Jan 19, 2008 at 07:08 AM

kenji
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p.1 #3 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

thanks for you inputs, that's very helpful.

Jan 19, 2008 at 07:29 AM

FSJ_Guy
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p.1 #4 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

I agree with Linda. You need to have a business plan and be ready for the business side of things. If you don't know the difference between an LLC and an S-Corp (or even know what those are) you have a lot to learn. (I'm not implying that you don't know this already!)

Spend some of that $$ on a lawyer and other advisors and you will have more opportunities to earn $$ for more equipment.

For a website, that's ridiculously EASY to do yourself. Why pay someone

RE a backup camera, I'd get the SAME model as your main camera. Less adapting to do in a crisis.

Good luck with the plunge!

Jan 19, 2008 at 05:28 PM

Italo Campilii
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p.1 #5 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

I am just starting on this business as well and please correct me if I'm wrong, but to cut off the initial equipment expenses, I would go for 2 40D bodies or 2 5D bodies, or a 5D as a main to use with the 16-35 and 40D as a backup for long telephoto such as your 70-200 2.8 IS. I personally love the battery grips so I'd get one on each camera, and buy at least 10-15GB of flash card memory (split them up in 2's or 4's, I never trust anything bigger than 4GB).

Instead of spending $4k on a 1D Mk III, I'd get a MacBook Pro 15" if you're gonna be editing or showing clients on the road, and another MacBook Pro 17" with a cinema display for home editing purposes (unless you're gonna have a studio, then get the whole MacPro + 23" cinema setup). You'll also need your CS for editing and Aperture for faster organization editing and archiving.

I see you've already got the right glass to get started, so all you'll need to spend now is another $6-8k on equipment, business startup costs (rent, furniture, etc), website and legal fees.

I highly agree with Linda and others. A business and marketing plan will be very important prior to getting started with the website and offering your products to the public. You have to get a very good idea of what you're getting into - its an artistic business - and a very competitive one. Not that you don't already know about this, but its always good to keep in mind. Find your niche, explore your plan, define goals, launch your program, expose your work, and you'll see how it all starts coming together soon

Best of luck.

Jan 19, 2008 at 07:00 PM

nle57
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p.1 #6 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

I think instead of throwing away 15k, I'd start working on the portfolio. Nothing gets business and future business than a portfolio. If need be, you can slowly enough gear to assist or do work so you can have something you potential clients can look at. Otherwise it may just be a matter of the old saying "all dressed up and nowhere to go"

Jan 20, 2008 at 06:55 AM

dpmurray
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p.1 #7 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

Don't forget to buy liability insurance.

Jan 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM

jefft
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p.1 #8 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

I would get the 1DMIII and keep the 20D backup and buy a 40D also.I like 2 working cameras plus one back-up. I love my FF 5D and would be worth the extra money over the 40D.
I would save as much as you could and use it for marketing. Spend $1200.00-$1500.00 on a few albums with your best work and some impressive large prints. The albums average 30-50% off using your sample studio discount. Not sure what a Mac cost but I know I do fine with my PC and 4-500gig HD, 4gig of ram for a very low price but you need what allows you to work fast.
I would go with a ready made web site and save the time and money if I did it over again. Same as they talk about on this forum. Insurance is a must.
I know a lot of photographers with a lot more equipment than I use who just can't seem to make it and some just can't seem to use it right. Save some for classes and learn the profession. The more you learn ( myself included) the more I get done with the equipment I have.
Good Luck.

Jan 20, 2008 at 08:19 PM

kenji
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p.1 #9 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

is there books focus on wedding business?

Jan 28, 2008 at 05:04 PM

nickwsu
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p.1 #10 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

FSJ_Guy wrote:

For a website, that's ridiculously EASY to do yourself. Why pay someone

, I read that and just had to look at your website

exactly what I expected. And thats exactly why you pay someone. Or buy a cheap flash template.

Jan 28, 2008 at 05:43 PM

sboerup
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p.1 #11 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

Buy John Harrington's "Best Business Practices for Photographers". You need business sense, not gears.

Jan 29, 2008 at 01:01 AM

Mike Mahoney
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p.1 #12 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

kenji wrote:
i am thinking of investing some money into my gears and starting a wedding business, roughly $12,000 to $15,000. Things i am getting are: MacPro computer, LCD Screen.
A 1Dmark III and a 35mm1.4L are coming.
Camera: 20D
Lenses: 16-35mm f/2.8L, 24-70mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 85mm f/1.2L ll, 100mm f/2.8 marco,
Flashes: 580EX, 4x580EX II
Others:
L-558R, Expodisc, Whibals, D650AW, Lee holder & soft GND set, Epson P-5000, Custom Brackets Pro-M kit, 6x PW II
G2227, Acratech Ultimate Ballhead with QR Clamp, 2x Bogen 680B, 234, RRS B2 Pro II, 48" Trigrip white, gold, sunlite, softsilver

You have enough equipment .. how do you intend to learn how to shoot weddings? .. apprenticeship or second shoot?

That is a more important question than what gear to buy.

Jan 29, 2008 at 01:14 AM

kenji
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p.1 #13 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

yeah, i know. I will look for any possible chances. but, most wedding photogs don't take unexperienced shooters or assistant.

Jan 29, 2008 at 06:03 AM

cwebster
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p.1 #14 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

kenji wrote:
yeah, i know. I will look for any possible chances. but, most wedding photogs don't take unexperienced shooters or assistant.

But paying clients will? I don't understand your logic.

Paying clients don't care what gear you have, they care about your demonstrated ability to deliver the results they are paying for.

You seem to think you can jump into being a professional photographer by buying some equipment, but not paying dues and learning the trade. Good luck with that. Let me know when you have your "going out of business" sale so I can buy your gear.

Jan 30, 2008 at 12:21 AM

ChrisDM
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p.1 #15 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

You'll need a business license, DBA, insurance, an accountant, marketing materials, advertising, networking groups (Chamber of Commerce, trade organizations etc) etc... Unfortunately the photography business is more about business than it is about photography...

Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com

Jan 30, 2008 at 02:43 AM

sboerup
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p.1 #16 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

ChrisDM wrote:
You'll need a business license, DBA, insurance, an accountant, marketing materials, advertising, networking groups (Chamber of Commerce, trade organizations etc) etc... Unfortunately the photography business is more about business than it is about photography...

Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com

+1. 95% business. In the end, you're just another retailer with another product.

Edited on Jan 30, 2008 at 03:15 AM

Jan 30, 2008 at 03:15 AM

kenji
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p.1 #17 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

cwebster wrote:
kenji wrote:
yeah, i know. I will look for any possible chances. but, most wedding photogs don't take unexperienced shooters or assistant.

But paying clients will? I don't understand your logic.

Paying clients don't care what gear you have, they care about your demonstrated ability to deliver the results they are paying for.

You seem to think you can jump into being a professional photographer by buying some equipment, but not paying dues and learning the trade. Good luck with that. Let me know when you have your "going out of business" sale so I can buy your gear.

I didnt say anything about paying clients. I just want to have all essential equipments and wait for more chances, actually, i have shot 2 weddings and third one coming in this summer. i only see this as a part-time job, but i want to do it professionally, and right now, i am also learning the business behind it.

Edited on Jan 30, 2008 at 06:36 AM

Jan 30, 2008 at 06:35 AM

ChrisDM
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p.1 #18 · investing my gears and business, a bit long

kenji wrote:
cwebster wrote:
kenji wrote:
yeah, i know. I will look for any possible chances. but, most wedding photogs don't take unexperienced shooters or assistant.

But paying clients will? I don't understand your logic.

Paying clients don't care what gear you have, they care about your demonstrated ability to deliver the results they are paying for.

You seem to think you can jump into being a professional photographer by buying some equipment, but not paying dues and learning the trade. Good luck with that. Let me know when you have your "going out of business" sale so I can buy your gear.

I didnt say anything about paying clients. I just want to have all essential equipments and wait for more chances, actually, i have shot 2 weddings and third one coming in this summer. i only see this as a part-time job, but i want to do it professionally, and right now, i am also learning the business behind it.

Kenji, it is unfortunate that you got such an immature reaction to your very responsible post. Of course you didn't say anything about "not being willing to learn the trade"... But most importantly I admire you for asking these important questions. In fact your willingness to learn is a sign of your future success... I doubt there was a day when the poster above knew everything, and apparently he wasn't smart enough to ask questions either. Best of luck to you.

Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com

Jan 30, 2008 at 01:34 PM


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