Easy Steps on how to Start a Photography Business in Nigeria is a concise guide to the art of photography and the opportunities it provides. If you have a talent for photography, Stechitegist is about to show you how to turn your hobby into a profitable business.
The scourge of unemployment in Nigeria has aided the growth and development of the creative industry, which includes photography.
Photography is an art form, an expression of creativity through images; every photographer should be able to carve out a niche for himself in order to stand out from the crowd.
The photography business/industry in Nigeria is currently very competitive; while new professional photographers emerge on a daily basis, there are quite a few at the pinnacle of their careers.
Ty Bello, Kelechi Amadi Obi, Seyi Charles George, Adeola Olagunju, Aisha Kuta, Ade Adekola, Lakin Ogbunbanwo, Yetunde Ayeni Babeko, Obi Somto, and Jide Adekoya are among Nigeria’s most prominent photographers. There are many upcoming photographers, but Maurice Okon of Made Studios Calabar, I’ned Ekwuyasi, BoboIso photography, and others stand out.
The current trend of professional photo shoots, particularly pre-wedding shoots, has boosted the photography business in Nigeria today; a stroll through the streets of social media, particularly Instagram, reveals a constant demand for photographers despite competition.
How Profitable Is the Photography Industry in Nigeria?
There is a good market for photography business in Nigeria today because every creative industry sector, including beauty, food, hospitality, entertainment, fashion, and media, requires the services of a professional photographer.
The budget for photographers at events is always high; I know photographers who earn up to a million naira per event.
Photography in Nigeria: Photography in Nigeria can be classified as follows:
Event Photography: Photographing events can earn you a lot of money. Almost every weekend in Nigeria, people get married, bury their loved ones, or put on shows. Couples pay professional photographers nearly a million Naira for wedding coverage.
SC George and Obi Somto are two excellent wedding photographers. As a beginner, you can begin as a second shooter with an experienced professional to gain relevant expertise and establish contacts.
As an event photographer, you may also cover fashion shows as a fashion photographer; fashion photography is concerned with capturing the body and role styling in the fashion industry.
This is also very profitable. Yetunde Ayeni Babaeko is a top fashion photographer in Nigeria. Working as a stock and contract photographer is another option for event photographers; this entails getting paid to contribute photos to popular websites.
You’d be on call all the time to provide local content for promotion on various blogs and websites such as Bellanaija, real estate agents, and other potential clients.
Studio Photography: This as the name implies means owning a studio. There are very many photography studios in Nigeria that deliver professional top notch services. Studio24 and Bighstudio are examples of photography studios in Nigeria and of course there are smaller ones.
People troop daily into photo studios for different photo shoots. Celebrities do have shoots for promoting their work, families and different individuals are not exempted from having photo shoots.
The commonest are birthday and pre wedding photo shoots which aren’t cheap. Photographers like Busola Dakolo and Remi Adetiba and Ty Bello are famous for photographing celebrities for promotional purposes and birthday celebrations. The cheapest photo shoots cost about fifty thousand naira, the celebrity photographers charge even more.
Travel Photography: Also known as content photography deals with capturing beautiful places, people and landscape. Instead of charging money to take photographs as with event and studio photography, travel photographers take pictures and sell them to users. A perfect example is Kelechi Amadi Obi
As a professional photographer, it possible to render all kinds of photography services listed above. With the right experience and start up capital, you can live your dreams as a business photographer.
Where To Get Photography Training in Nigeria
Contrary to what many think, photography is beyond taking ordinary pictures, it is an art that requires all trainings and expertise to succeed. The industry is an extremely competitive one; to excel one must get all the knowledge within your grasp. You can get certification and training here:
Shola Animashaun Academy: This training school is owned by one of the best photographers in Nigeria. It is coordinated by skilled level and group specialties at Basic, Advanced and intermediary levels; they provide photography counseling ad free consultancy services for all aspiring students.
They offer courses in Basic photography, studio photography, wedding photography, Photoshop and light room for photographers, fashion and model photography, video editing, photography business and HD/SLR videography.
The school is located at Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos and with seventy to eighty thousand naira; you can register for your desired course.
Obi Somto: As I mentioned earlier is atop wedding photographer who also offers a mentoring and training program in photography fields that include courses in branding, pricing and marketing, portfolio development, photography equipment etc.
The cost of training varies between seventy five thousand naira and two hundred thousand. Fill the registration form at www.obisomtoweddings.com
Studio 24 is currently one of the most reputable photography studios with branches spread all over Nigeria. They offer training courses for beginners and professionals. Find out your suitable course and commence registration with them. www.studio24nigeria.com
How To Start A Photography Business In Nigeria
Capital
Capital required for starting a photography business in Nigeria varies. If you intend to start with a studio, then you will be needing good money for studio space and equipment but if you want to start as a freelance digital photographer, you don’t need to rent studio space and studio equipment, all you need is a good camera like Nikon D800, Canon Eos 50, Olympus E3 etc which may cost about two hundred thousand Naira and professional lenses which also cost one hundred and fifty thousand Naira upwards and a good laptop.
Running a studio will require the above mentioned and other equipment like modifiers, soft boxes, tripods, reflections etc.
In summary, starting up with a studio will cost over a million Naira but without a studio, you will need about five hundred thousand Naira. Where it is impossible to generate your funds, getting a loan from any bank is recommended.
Management Strategy
A freelance photographer can do well with one or two assistants or volunteers but a studio photographer will definitely need more hands.
Location
A photo studio is best located at accessible places and preferably in urban areas. It should be easy for clients to locate your studio. Accessibility is a plus in every business.
Marketing strategy:
Social media is an effective marketing tool which entrepreneurs can ignore at their own peril. Every Nigerian photographer today has social media pages where their creativity is showcased and prospective easily get in touch.
People can only reach you when they see your work and are able to communicate their impressions and criticisms. Build your brand professionally, be timely and maintain good work ethics; exorbitant prices will only push your clients into the waiting arms of existing competitors.
Conclusion
Photography is interesting, intriguing and a challenging art. Interested persons can either get professional training as cited above or locate a good mentor or photography studio and volunteer to work with them as interns. You are encouraged to start from somewhere in fulfilling your vision of becoming a successful business photographer in Nigeria.