The word "photography" was created from the Greek roots (phtos), genitive of (phs), "light" and (graph) "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", Together meaning "drawing with light". I love to call it light literature. Professional photography is highly competitive, but there are a number of steps small business owners can take to stand out in a crowded marketLightLiterature:

Photography is a crowded market, but once you know the ropes the business will bring its own rewards. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesMy name is Adib Vun and I established my photographic studio in 2007, and I have to admit that it was a steep learning curve in the beginning. Taking pictures is only a small part of the professional photographer's business. There are a multitude of other things that need to be addressed to make your company successful. And, in a fiercely competitive market, in which anyone can buy a camera and call themselves a professional photographer, your experience, credibility and business acumen will be stretched and challenged in the early days. It started out as a hobby, I like taking photos and develop my skills by reading books and watching tutorials. I never consider it as a job in the future as a business until I dropped out of university to pursue my love towards my successful photography business

photography. My photography business turns success because of following.

Choose a specialisationFirstly, I chose an area of that I can be an expert in photography. Choosing an area of photography to specialise in is one way of distinguishing yourself in a crowded market. In the early days there is little option but to take every job going, even if you are not so familiar with the subject matter or conditions. You say yes to any inquiry that comes your way for any budget. Most photographers do this until they establish their name and reputation.

Once I am known for my expertise, it can be reflected in my charges. In the beginning, equipped with nothing but a camera and a passion to succeed, I charged as little as 70 to 150 for an hour-long session, which only just covered my food bills and the next bit of kit. Now, that kind of price would not cover the huge number of studio overheads rent, insurance, rates, salaries, equipment and equipment maintenance.

Invest in the right equipmentNext thing I did was I invest in the correct equipment. A bad workman may blame his tools, but a good photographer knows that the right quality equipment can make a big difference to his results. This is my principal investment, and it pays to buy the best you can afford. I did my research and work out how to allocate my budget to get the most useful equipment. As my business grows, I was able to afford better. I thought about which camera and lenses will be most appropriate for my chosen area of specialisation and then select a computer and photo editing software. Of course, these are the bare minimum that I can afford last time. Later,I decided to rent a studio and what sort of lighting I required.

Insurance and other incidentalsFor me, it was the non-photographic elements of setting up the business that I found most challenging. Getting to grips with all the different insurance policies I needed took some time. I have indemnity and liability insurance from one company, my equipment is insured on a different policy, while my building insurance is with yet another company. My public liability covers accidents with clients and their property while working with them simple accidents, such as tripping over a tripod or lighting stand could put you seriously out of pocket if a client sues.But that is only part of it. I decided to operate as a sole trader. For many photographers turning professional like me before will be the first time they have had to deal with payroll, VAT and tax. I found a trusted accountant recommended to you by a friend.

Building a portfolio builds credibilityBefore I charge a professional fee for my photography, I need to convince potential clients that I have the skill and experience to deliver the job. To do this it's vital that I have a professional-looking portfolio, weighted towards my area of specialisation. Professional presentation of my work is critical, and if I was not prepared to throw good money at it,I would not stand out in the theatre of presentation to my clients. I could expect to pay anything from 400 to 1,000 for a handmade portfolio book or a loose-leaf box, a solid leather or fabric box that for loose photographs/prints; and the prints themselves could set you back a further few hundred pounds. If you expect people to pay top dollar, you need to be able to show them they will receive high-quality results. It took me years to build my photography portfolio, and it's still a work in progress. Building, editing and refining portfolios is an ongoing process throughout an entire working life as a photographer.

Marketing onlineAs well as being an expert photographer, I learn all about search engine optimisation and social networking to promote your services. I was very lucky to get to the first pages of Google for a large number of keywords in a little over a year and pretty much stay there building on the quality of work I produce.

Professional photography is a highly competitive industry. The chances of success will be multiplied if you know your craft and if you take the time to gain experience working for someone else. I discovered facebook and especially Instagram is a good platform for my online marketing. However, once you know the ropes, running your own photographic business is a challenge that will bring its own rewards.

Inconclusion, photography is not about taking picture but it is my passion driven in my blood. It bring me happiness so when it does that I can be successful because the key to success is happiness. Lastly, in my opinion a photograph is not created by a photographer. What they do is just open a little window and capture it. The world then writes itself on the film. The act of the photographer is closer to reading than it is to writing. They are the readers of the world.