Want to start a photography business as a 15 year old?

If you are short on money this would not be a good idea. It takes thousands of dollars and considering that 75% of photography businesses fail before they make a profit, chances are that you will lose your investment. If you need money, get a job. A photography business is far more likely to cost you money than earn you money. Edit; The going rate for portrait photography can be anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour, so $15 isn't even close to what most pro's charge. I think you should spend some time researching the business side of photography before you decide to dive in head first. Edit: It is not true that minor cannot legally sign contracts. The law states that minors have the right to terminate a contract. However in order to do that they would have to refund any money they received. For instance, if a minor took a deposit to shoot a wedding, they would still have to show up and shoot it if they failed to refund the deposit prior to the wedding day. This uncertainty is why people to not normally choose to enter contracts with minors. That is not the same as saying minors cannot enter into legal agreements because they can and do all the time. Minors can have a business license, insurance, copyright and patents, and just about any other matter of contract.

The thousands of dollars Tim is referring to involves a quality DSLR (preferably two), lighting, and quality lenses (not the cheapo kit lens either) for starters. I have friends who shoot outdoor portraits with just their camera and a flash and do well but they're very limited in their ability to grow. Odds are good also these people do not have the proper insurance or business license to do what they do. Not smart but I'm not going to judge them. At 15 you cannot legally sign contracts so weddings will be out of the question. Getting insurance is also out of the question. Your parents can assist with some of this but you will still need to be 18 to handle most business related operations. Photography as a business is much more than posting pretty photos to a web site and getting clients or buyers. The shooting side itself is a lot of fun but the business side is usually anything but. I strongly recommend you keep learning and growing as a photographer and put the business idea aside until you are a legal adult. @ Tim: Thanks for correcting me. I read somewhere that legally they could not. Hmmm. Learned something new today. =)

Pertaining to the discussion about minors and contracts and such, it tends to be a moot point. The PUBLIC'S negative perception about working with a 15 year old will stop you dead in your tracks. Also, consider, there are plenty of adults who are good photographers who fail miserably as a business. They are two different things. I frankly doubt that at 15 years of age you have any true business experience or have even taken any serious business courses at school. There are hordes of clueless clowns going around with a camera calling themselves "professional photographers" now a days. Don't be yet another one. Find another way to try to earn some money. Take business courses in school and continue to learn and hone your photography until you can call yourself a REAL pro. steve

You cannot just "become a photographer" because you think it will be fun. You need to not only spend money on a decent DSLR but you must learn how to use it. You need to learn what aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are and how to use them together. I'm 33 and starting my business and have been studying for almost a full year now and still have lots to learn. I can't think of one person who would hire a 15 year old photographer. Ever. Go get the book Understanding Exposure. If you can understand that book and apply it to a DSLR - great...practice. However you can't just 'start' a business. You need to register your business, get a license, a federal tax ID. Have you ever even filed taxes from a regular job?

You must be 18.

you can't do it on the side because then you will have to start claiming taxes on your earnings. What if you don't make all your money back? then your screwed.