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Photography · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Building a Photography Business & Brand

Being a great photographer is not the same as being a successful business owner. This course focuses on “The Brand of You.” Students will learn to define their niche, design a visual identity, price their services for profit (not just survival), and create a marketing engine that attracts their ideal clients while automating administrative tasks.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Define a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) and Niche
  2. Design a Brand Identity: Logo, Color Palette, and Voice
  3. Calculate "Cost of Doing Business" (CODB) to create profitable packages
  4. Build a high-conversion website and SEO strategy
  5. Master Client Experience (CX): From inquiry to final delivery
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Entrepreneur Mindset: Artist vs. Business
  2. 02Defining Your Ideal Client Avatar
  3. 03Branding I: Visual Identity & Logo
  4. 04Branding II: Tone of Voice & Copywriting
  5. 05Website Design: Portfolio vs. Conversion
  6. 06SEO for Photographers: Local Search
  7. 07The Money: Calculating CODB
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Pricing Psychology: Packages vs. A La Carte
  10. 10The Sales Meeting: Consultative Selling
  11. 11Contracts & Legal Protections
  12. 12Client Experience (CX) & Workflow
  13. 13Networking & Partnerships
  14. 14Social Media Strategy for Leads
  15. 15Outsourcing & Scaling
  16. 16Final Project: The Complete Business Launch Plan

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Complete Business Launch Plan

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington
  2. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
  3. Worth Every Penny by Sarah Petty
  4. The Photographer's MBA by Sal Cincotta
  5. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
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