In this article, I’m going to cover, step-by-step, how to start a photography business in North Carolina. Don't worry — if you live outside of North Carolina, you'll still find this post helpful. Just be sure to check the local laws in your city and state.

In this guide, I’ll break down five essential factors to help you confidently determine your photography rates. While I’ll focus on portrait photography — specifically headshots, model tests, personal branding, and commercial shoots — the pricing principles I’ll share are adaptable to other photography genres as well.