Week 11: How to Start a Photography or Video Business (Manitoba, Canada)
Learn the fundamentals of starting your own business
This lesson focuses on building a real, legal, and sustainable creative business in Manitoba, Canada — not shortcuts or gimmicks.
What You’ll Learn This Week
Lesson 11 - We shift from technical skills to business foundations.
Starting a photography or video business can feel overwhelming - but it doesn’t have to be. In this lesson, we break the process down into clear, manageable steps so you understand what actually matters when getting started.
By the end of this lesson, you will understand:
How to define your creative focus (photo, video, or both)
How to choose a strong, professional business name
How to secure your domain and online presence
Which website platforms work best for beginners
How to start building a portfolio with real-world work
What pages every creative website should include
How to legally register your business in Manitoba
The difference between sole proprietorship, partnership, and incorporation
How business write-offs work (and what you can claim)
When you do — and don’t — need to charge GST or PST
Which basic tools you need to stay organized
How to market yourself consistently without burnout
This lesson is about clarity, confidence, and realistic expectations.
Lesson 11 Downloads
These are the digital versions of the handouts you’ll receive in class. Download and save these to your computer for easy reference.
If you misplace your printed handout, this is your backup copy.
🎥 Lesson 11 Video
This is your Lesson 10 video walkthrough. Watch this before class to prepare, or revisit it afterward to reinforce what we covered in the studio.
Take notes as you watch. Don’t worry about mastering everything at once - we’ll build this skill together through hands-on practice.
Week 11 Action Plan (No Formal Assignment)
There is no required assignment for this week.
Instead, this lesson gives you a real-world action plan you can move through at your own pace.
Your suggested goals after this lesson:
Decide what type of work you want to focus on
Brainstorm and narrow down a business name
Check domain and social handle availability
Start outlining what your website will include
Learn how business registration works in Manitoba
Understand what expenses you can track as write-offs
Get clear on GST rules so you’re prepared as you grow
📌 Important:
You are not expected to launch a business immediately. This lesson is about understanding the path - so when you’re ready, you know exactly what to do.
When your assignment file is added here, you’ll also find:
Full instructions
What to submit
How to export your files (if needed)
✅ Download the assignment below once it’s available.
Next Lesson
When you're ready, continue on to the next lesson.