The Business and Reference section of The Bookshelf contains the books that I’ve read that have helped me develop my business. They provide new ways of looking at what you can do to make a living (or side income) in photography or give you actual examples of the systems, processes and administration needed to run a successful business.
You can purchase the books below by following the links to the Book Depository. These links are affiliate links whereby I get a small commission if you purchase a book while you get the same great price you would anyway. The commissions help to give me the ability to improve this site. Win-win if you ask me!
Purple Cow
– by Seth Godin
TYPE: Big Picture, Marketing
Seth’s most famous book is a quick read that provides an alternate view of marketing your product and/or business. How do you create an experience or image that stops people in their tracks? Perhaps this book will give you some ideas.
I’m a huge fan of Seth’s writing and can wholeheartedly suggest that you follow his blog even if you don’t buy this book.
The Personal MBA
– by Josh Kaufman
TYPE: Business, Marketing, Processes
I don’t know if I’ve leaned so much about business from any other book. Although quite thick, the concepts in this book are presented in easily understandable chunks. It covers over 200 concepts that cover value creation, marketing, sales, value delivery, finance, the human mind, working with yourself, working with others, understanding systems, analyzing systems, and improving systems.
It’s a real powerhouse of business knowledge.
Professional Business Practices in Photography
– by the American Society of Media Photographers
TYPE: Business, Reference, Documentation
This reference book covers a whole of the basics and the nitty-gritty of the industry. Starting out with copyright, it then delves into the differences between assignment and stock photography. It then covers the paperwork and releases you may need before going into marketing, negotiating and customer service.
It is a really great reference book but I can’t imagine reading the whole thing in one go.
Best Business Practices for Photographers
– by John Harrington
TYPE: Business, Reference, Documentation
Another excellent reference book that covers all of the different aspects of running a photography business and being paid for your work. From planning, staffing, pricing, insurance, accounting, contracts, negotiating, and all sorts of legal stuff, this book has it all.
That said, it is mammoth and I can’t imagine reading it from front to back. I generally use it as a reference when wanting more information about a certain aspect of the business.
Fast Track Photographer
– by Dane Sanders
TYPE: Business, Reference
This book is on my shelf after the recommendation of a number of websites. Unfortunately I have not yet read this book, and therefore cannot make a recommendation in this case yet.
However, if this sounds like something you need, it is worth checking out.
The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan
– by Dane Sanders
TYPE: Business, Reference, Documentation
This is the companion to the Fast Track Photographer above. Just like that book, This one is on my shelf after the recommendation of a number of websites. Unfortunately I have not yet read this book, and therefore cannot make a recommendation in this case yet.
The One Minute Manager
– by Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson
TYPE: Business, Management, Teamwork
This super fast read is for photographer who have to manage teams. Whether it be a full time employee or someone who’s on set for just a day, it’s always nice to have quick ways of dealing with issues and getting things done.
The E Myth Revisited
– by Michael E. Gerber
TYPE: Business, Entrepreneurship
If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between a freelancer and an entrepreneur, here’s a great place to start. This book delves into the differences and shows a path to building a business that is bigger than one person (if that’s the direction you want to go).
The Goal
– by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
TYPE: Business, Entrepreneurship, Process Improvement
This book takes a fictional approach in explaining the “Theory of Constraints”. If you apply the lessons in this book to your own photography business, you’re likely to be able to identify and mitigate the things that slow you down and prevent you from reaching your goals.
Even since reading this book, I’m always on the look out for bottlenecks.
