Starting a photography business in 2020 may seem like a daunting task. You may feel the industry is oversaturated or you don't know where to begin. In this article, you'll learn the four key steps to take in setting up your photography business for success in the new year.

1. Set up a business plan: A business plan is the most important document to have when you wish to venture into any business. In your business plan, you define the components that will ensure that your business is aligned with your goal (of setting up the business) and ensure your business makes money.

Six components your business plan must have include:
- Catchy and attractive business name and logo
- Talk about your why
- Define your goals, USP and core values
- Your pricing model
- A strong SWOT analysis
- Marketing channels

To save you the many hours needed to draft a full-proof business plan, we created a simple downloadable template and also explain how to use it in this video. Check it out and create your business plan to launch your photography business today. And while you're there, don't forget to subscribe too for more helpful tips and success strategies for your business.

2. Editing software: Photography is an art form. The art of transforming light into beautiful imagery. And as such, you require certain tools to enhance your artwork and bring out its full potential.
There are thousands of editing software in the industry today.
The most popular and most powerful is the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite.
Editing software we recommend include:
- Adobe Photoshop + Lightroom
- Corel Paintshop
- DxO Photolab
We would also advise that you try out other editing software you may have discovered on your own. What is important is to learn the tool (software) in-depth so you can maximize its usage.

3. Equipment: One of the most popular words in the photography industry is Canon. This is majorly due to the popularity of their DSLR cameras. DSLR is an acronym for "digital single-lens reflex". In the digital age we live in, digital cameras outperform film cameras as they have tremendous benefits including storage space, ease-of-use, photo production time, etc.
So, what kind of equipment should you be looking to invest in when starting a photography business.
- A DSLR camera: We would recommend Canon, Nikon or Fujifilm. We would not recommend any specific products as this is highly dependent on your budget and chosen photo category.
- Camera lens: Your choice of lens can make or break your photos. There are different lens types for different phototypes. We would recommend you get additional lenses to capture a wide range of shots such as macro lens (for closeup photography), wide-angle lens (for landscape photos), fisheye lens, etc.
- Photo category-specific equipment: Depending on the photography category you have decided to start with, you may need specific equipment such as tripods, telephoto lens, drones, film, photo printers and scanners, etc. If you have not decided on what photo category you would link to start with, check out this video
- A backdrop, camera bag, memory cards and lighting (if you do not wish to use natural light all the time)

4. Network: It may be surprising to discover that one important factor in setting up your photography business is building your network.
Because photography is such a social art form, you must learn the basics of network building to ensure that you have a steady customer base and continue to get leads and clients for your business.
Check out this video

We'd like to sign off by saying that your business plan, equipment, network and even editing software are only one part of having a successful business.
You must understand that things may not be quite rosy in the beginning, but if you show up for your brand every day with the right mindset and put in your very best, you're on your way to success.
Remember to continually learn new skills and grow as an individual and for your business.
We'll be here all the way!
Thank you for reading.