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How to Build a Blog-Worthy Photo Studio on a Budget

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It’s easy to get lost in the photography world’s endless sea of image stabilization lenses, titanium tripods, extra battery packs, and UV filters. But what gear do you really need to set up a photography studio to meet all your blogging needs? And how can an upstart photographer or entrepreneur find all that gear without breaking the bank? Fear not: I’m here to say that with a little elbow grease, a few tips and tricks, you can piece together a mini studio that produces Vogue-crisp images without the huge price tag.

You may be blogging for business or for fun. You may be a photographer who wants to break into the blogging sphere. Perhaps you are a seasoned blog star looking to switch out some worn gear.  As long as you’re a tight budget and need photography gear, this article is for you.

Here is exactly what you need to build a blogger’s photo studio on a bootstrapped budget. I’ll show you the equipment I use myself or would highly recommend.

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All photos by me 🙂

Cameras

I have a Canon 5Ds which I adore, but it is definitely pricey and not exactly startup friendly. So here are some sensible alternatives, which I have used and loved. 

1. Canon Rebel t5i

Canon’s Rebel t5i (which is priced at $649) is a super starter and well-balanced entry-level DSLR, but its capabilities are on par with the best cameras. And if blogging and product shoots are your main outlets, then it will suit your needs just fine. The list of pros is long for this little camera. With its 360-degree tilt-able touchscreen, good image detail at high ISOs, and fast autofocus, this baby has enough technical headroom for you to really spread your creative wings.

2. Canon Rebel SL1

But if your budget is suuuuper tight and you want to shave off a few hundred dollars, you can opt for Canon’s less tech-packed entry level DSLR— the Canon Rebel SL1 (currently priced at $399).

The downside of this camera is that it doesn’t have a swivel screen, the burst mode shooting isn’t as quick, and it has less cross-type Auto Focus points. Upside is that this camera is two hundred dollars cheaper, and it has a higher effective ISO, meaning you can take photos in low light with less noise (which is when photos look fuzzy).

Lenses

When you are starting out, do yourself a favor and skip the kit lens and opt for a Canon EF 1.8 50mm lens. At just $125, it is a remarkable lens and truly the best bang for your buck. It is a prime lens (which means it has only one focal length and you cannot zoom) but the major benefit of this is that you can maximize available light and get crisp foreground/background separation. You’ll have faster apertures, crisper detail, and a whole lot more of that velvety bokeh (that out-of-focus blur in a photo’s background).

But if you are shooting flat lays all day, every day and need a wider focal length to broaden your angle of view and pack more detail into your shot, then I would recommend this Canon 28mm lens ($149).

Tripods

Everyone who has dabbled in studio photography knows that you will sometimes need to mount your camera on a tripod in order to snap from those impossible angles and perspectives (because you are a photographer not a contortionist). I keep this Targus Light Weight Tripod on hand because it is paper-light and delightfully affordable at $19.

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Bonus Tip

Holding your camera over a flat lay scene can be a major workout. You can save yourself the strain by opting for this insanely versatile Vanguard Alta Pro Tripod at $135. You’ll be able to get that perfect bird’s eye view of the scene with ease, and if you’re as frugal as me, you can just use a lunchbox stuffed full of your rock collection as your tripod weight. Whatever works!

Wireless Camera Remote

A camera remote might be one of the best (and cheapest) accessories around. It allows you to be your own photographer, to step away from the small screen or tiny viewfinder to compose your photos from a different vantage point. Most of all it allows you to completely avoid that micro shake/blur caused by your hand when you click the shutter button (because the slightest movement kinda ruins the shot and it can get frustrating quick!)

Wireless remotes are especially useful in studio and blogging shots because those require a long shutter to capture enough light with a high aperture and low enough ISO so everything looks sharp and perfect.

I use this Amazon Basics controller. It’s the bare bones option, but I don’t need it for anything else. It’s $8 and only works for Canon or Nikon cameras.

But if you have a Sony, Olympus, or anything else Opteka sells remotes for nearly any camera for $8 dollars as well.

Lights + Diffusers

This kit ($121) offers just the big basics you’ll need to get started — two bright lights with diffusing umbrellas attached along with a set of large backdrops to add background behind your shots.

You could argue that diffusers and reflectors are the most important tool in a studio photography kit. They allow you to avoid harsh shadows, and they make photos look bright and clean even on stormy, grey days.

Backgrounds +  Props

Larger photo gear companies typically overcharge when it comes to tabletop backdrops (backgrounds that you lay across a table or the floor). Don’t waste your money. You can DIY your own for just a fraction of the cost.

When it comes to color backgrounds, I typically head to the nearest craft store and pick up some colored paper, or better yet project poster boards (since they are sturdier, stiffer, and easier to set up than paper). This white board ($13) is my go to for most projects.

Also, if you can swing it, I would recommend these 24-inch reflective acrylic boards ($29) that give a lux glean to your snaps.

Finally, Amazon’s Interesting Finds offers some quirky bright objects for staging scenes that you can use over and over again. For example, this shot right here is quite literally half objects I found on Amazon.

This is also the time to hit up thrift stores or dig through your attic for interesting knick knacks to populate your shots.

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Memory Card

When you are shooting on a DSLR, the files are large and always end up eating more space in your memory card than you expected. Even when it comes to studio photoshoots, you end up taking dozens of shots just to get that perfect angle.

So allow yourself the luxury of buying a SanDisk SD 32 gb memory card for $15. As a photographer who is chronically running out of space on every device, my opinion is the bigger the better, because running out of memory can really throw a wrench in your workflow.

There you have it! That’s everything you need to set up a killer studio for creating some dreamy images for your blog, Instagram, website and beyond! Get your budget studio set up and get creating those stunning images!

The Power of a Picture

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We lost our beloved 11-year-old lab last year. She was an amazing dog who lived a great big life. She had shown little sign of slowing down in the ten years she had been a part of our family. Sometimes I didn’t believe she was a senior at all.

Then one night she didn’t want to eat dinner. A week later she was gone.

I’ll spare you the details of that week because, if you have lost a pet you love, you probably already understand the anguish. You know what it is like to have that rock drop on you from a thousand feet up and knock you off balance for weeks. You know how hard it is and how much it hurts.

I’m not here to talk to you about that. I’m here to talk to you about why I’m so damn happy that I busted out my camera in her last couple days. And why I will cherish these photos forever.

Maddie died in the middle of the night on our living room floor. The tumor that had been growing on her spleen ruptured and in a few hours she went from being her gorgeous, bouncy self to completely unable to walk. It was midnight and she was fading fast. Taking her to the vet would have meant carrying her to the car, driving her across town in the dark, and hauling her suddenly frail body into an animal hospital that she had never been to. I suspected she wouldn’t last very long and I didn’t want to stress her out more. So we stayed home and within an hour she was gone.

While her final decline was mercifully fast in the grand scheme of things, it was still hard to watch. This is a dog that spent her years climbing mountains and running through forests and suddenly, in a matter of an hour, she had lost control of her body. I crawled into bed after we lost her with the image of her struggle fresh in my mind. It wasn’t what I wanted to remember.

In the blur of the next morning I came across the picture above and realized it was the last one I took of her. It was just the day before she passed and she had been feeling great. When she curled up to take a nap in a sunny spot, one of her favorite things to do, I pulled out my camera to capture it.

She looks like a peaceful, sleeping angel in that picture. And this image has replaced the ones of her struggling. Because the reality is that while her last couple hours were tough, they don’t represent the reality of her final days. Her last week on earth was peaceful – and thanks in large part to this picture, this is how I remember them.

There’s a lot of reasons I love photography and it’s ability to help you shape the way you remember the past is certainly one of them. It can’t change the things that happened or bring back the dog that I loved. But it can impact the way I remember her final days. And for that I will be forever grateful.

12 Ways to Make More Money With Your Photography Business in 2017

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Author pictured above.

This is the year that your photography business is really going to take off. How do I know? Because if you follow many of the tips I’m going to offer below, you’ll be well on your way to a successful 2017.

Do you want to make more money this year? I’m going to guess the answer is “heck, yes!”

Where do you even start? Raising your prices? Starting a referral program? Offering freebies? (wait, that sounds wrong… but it actually works!)

Read on to learn some solid strategies to attract more clients, increase your visibility and grow your brand, and at the end of the day — and year — pad your profits.

1. Offer a Freebie

Offering your services for free may seem counter-intuitive. After all, you’re trying to make more money, not less. Still, if you’re relatively new to the photography biz, one of your most important assets is word-of-mouth advertising. So get out there and work it! You want to generate buzz, and get as many people familiar with your brand as possible. Say you give out freebies to 10 people, and “only” two of these clients decide to purchase a larger package. That’s a 20 percent “conversion rate,” which is actually a fantastic return on investment — and you now have two customers you didn’t have before.

Whatever you offer, whether it’s free canvas prints, free headshots, or free retouching,  just make sure to offer something that is valuable since everything you produce (even for free) is reflective of your brand’s quality. Still, make sure those nifty free goodies are quick to produce and not too expensive  — no sense going into debt for freebies.

2. Book Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are an excellent way to entice commitment-phobic clients. For example, a $50 session might only take you 15 minutes and your client walks away with five finished images. That’s a very satisfied client who’s likely to rave about you to other prospects.

Keep in mind that mini sessions are not a full session at a discount. Gently remind clients that they are scoring a deal, so make sure to streamline these sessions to make it worth your time. One location, 15-20 minutes tops. Don’t offer these quick jobs expecting an immediate payday. Just like freebies, mini sessions are an investment in networking and converting clients into loyal customers.

3. Streamline Your Editing

Using your time efficiently is one way to generate more income. Time saved is money earned. This was actually my first mistake while starting out: I spent way, way too much time in post-production. I would devote three extra hours a day trying to get my color balance and white highlights just right. Avoid my mistake by using Lightroom presets and Photoshop actions. You can automate these programs to overlay filters and customizable edits onto your imports, create your own presets and actions, or (in the true spirit of time saving) you can just purchase preset packages (No shame, here. I’ve always opted for pre-made filters. Hey, it works for those influencers on Instagram!).

4. Partner with an Influencer

Speaking of… social media influencers attract a massive following because they have captured some sort of zeitgeist. There are many reasons to work with influencers: They will help you tailor your message with their insider experience.They are typically cheaper than a proper advertising campaign. And they’ve already established trust with their cult fans. With their quasi-celebrity stamp of approval, they help make your brand more effective and trustworthy. If all goes well, their fans will be tempted, and artfully encouraged to become your fans.

5. Offer Word-of-Mouth Incentives

In the world of creative services like photography and graphic design, referrals are king. They provide “social proof,” or evidence of your value based on someone else’s opinion. Some people who totally ignored my business suddenly came calling after their cousin, or teacher,  or sorority sister put their stamp of approval on my work. So don’t be shy, and openly encourage your clients to vouch for your business. But remember to reward them accordingly with a discount or free prints. Even if you can’t offer an incentive, give them a shout out on good ol’ social media. Public flattery is always a good idea; it’s free, and takes just a few hot seconds.

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6. Update Your Website

For the majority of customers, your website is their first impression of your business. It is the online equivalent of a storefront and customers will decide your value and trustworthiness within seconds. Your website needs to communicate your capabilities, your personality, your brand, availability, and some ballpark of your fees. Always make sure it is painfully easy to locate that golden “book me” button. Also, invite friends and clients alike to test the usability on your website, whether they get lost navigating around your portfolio, or whether certain wording is a major turnoff. Then make the appropriate alterations. If you aren’t a software developer in your free time (I am most definitely not; numbers and HTML scare me), then it would be best to start with a WordPress or Squarespace template. You can put up a professional-looking site in mere hours with these services; no coding required. If you can afford one, it’s worth hiring a website designer to customize your online portfolio.

7. Improve Your Marketing Automation

Automation tools are gifts from the tech gods. With of these tools, you won’t waste your time sending emails and texts with every new submission or booking. Establish automated responses and then fill in the gaps with personalized content when necessary. Schedule your blog posts, newsletters, social media updates to go out when your audience is online. For instance, if each task takes just one minute, at my current rate of over 7,000 tasks per year, that’s about 14 working days back in my pocket for more shooting, post-production, Netflix binges, whatever!

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8. Spread Your Content

Having multiple points of contact with your brand is vital. It increases brand awareness and adds another layer of trust to your product. It is the Web equivalent of leaving breadcrumbs for customers to follow back to your booking site. You need to scatter your work across all platforms—Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ (if only to improve your SEO), magazines, and blogs like this one! (There are some tips to get published in your dream magazines.) You don’t just want views, you want attention from people who are interested in your service. Compose a content calendar to help yourself brainstorm what promotions, content and platforms you are posting on for a given day or week. Also, remember to set up specific, measurable goals to help yourself determine if your efforts are successful or need adjustment in the future.

9. List on Deal Sites

Sometimes folks aren’t brand-loyal, they are deal-loyal. Thus, coupons are a way to introduce them to your business. Listing photo discounts on sites like Groupon is a simple way to expand your clientele and dip into that frenzied coupon crazed market. Fair warning though: Set up an enticing deal, but not one that’s so cheap it devalues your brand or isn’t worth your time.

10. Advertise on Social Media

When it comes to advertising, it’s a given that you’ll turn to social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. Why? Because their image-driven formats are perfect vehicles to showcase photography businesses, and because your target audience is already on these networks, waiting to be wowed. And because it’s almost impossible these days to stand out with “organic” traffic alone. You need to boost your presence with paid advertising. Make sure to target your ads to specific audience groups so your photos are landing in front of qualified leads, so you don’t waste money  marketing to people who have no business learning about your business.

If you’re new to Facebook advertising, our Facebook Ads Academy for Photographers is the guide you need to transform your business!

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11. Bundle Together Package Deals

Rather than book one shoot – book two, three, five! Aim high, because the worst someone can say is “Eh, no.” Use a discount to peak their interest. For example, you could offer a newborn shoot that is paired with a photoshoot for the child’s first birthday, or you could book engagement snaps along with wedding photos. In the end, bundling several shoots into one package is really just a photographer’s version of a short-term subscription service. Less courting and more commitment and money from your clients. Sounds dreamy, right? Also, your clients will love the simplicity and discount you’ll give them for upgrading to a package.

12. Shoot for a Cause

Shooting for a charity or nonprofit is a brilliant way to increase exposure while messaging to clients that your brand has heart. Back when I was starting out, I routinely offered free photography and videography to a nonprofit that helps the homeless population in downtown San Francisco. Why? Because it was a cause I cared about and I had a valuable skill that could contribute to their marketing. In turn, I was able to count the organization as a bona fide client and showcase my work.

Most people get stuck on trying to drum up fast money-making schemes. The secret is that your greatest chance for success is routinely implementing a series of small changes, like these strategies, over a long period. So test, try and explore. Have any of these tips worked for you? Did I leave out any illuminating advice? Let me know in the comments below!