Questions about running a photography business. May include topics such as pricing, legal, licensing, contract, or others.
5
votes
5answers
3k views
What is a reasonable formula for depreciation of photography equipment?
I've recently started a company for my photography pursuits and am trying to lay down accounting terms on how will equipment be depreciated to help planning cash flow for sustainable balance sheet.
...
0
votes
3answers
256 views
What are the legalities of accepting payments as a freelance photographer?
Someone I know has been into photography and has recently expressed interest in freelancing.
There are a lot of questions she has, but the most pressing one is how to get paid. I have advised her to ...
12
votes
3answers
580 views
Suggestions for photographers / videographers to best work together at the same event?
I want to get a wedding photographer's perspective on videography. It seems like there can exist a natural tension between the two, as they are both under pressure from the bride to shoot the same ...
9
votes
8answers
2k views
Where can I get 4x5″, 5x7″, or 8x10″ color sheet film (or other hard-to-find exotic film) processed?
Where can I get XYZ exotic film processed? See below!
Background:
I've got a 4x5" view camera, and I'd like to shoot some color negatives on it, for printing in a color darkroom that I currently ...
3
votes
2answers
429 views
How to become a camera dealer for Canon/Nikon? [closed]
I have a small studio. I want to sell DSLR cameras.
What criteria is there to become an authorized camera dealer for companies like Canon, Nikon?
9
votes
4answers
1k views
What software would help me sell prints during an event?
I'm looking for suggestions and advice on event photography software designed to help photographers sell prints on site using viewing kiosks and a main printing computer, hopefully staffed by one ...
-1
votes
1answer
61 views
How to handle existing gear if you start your own business from financial site? [closed]
I am planning to open my own studio this year. As I purchased a lot of stuff in the past years, all the pro camera, lens, lighting gear, etc. I do not need to buy a lot of stuff to open my business. ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Wedding photography business website software [duplicate]
I have been running my own wedding photography business for a couple of months.
One thing I'm struggling with is how to create my website so that clients can purchase packages and photos from me.
I ...
17
votes
2answers
348 views
How do I approach bricks and mortar galleries to sell my photography?
After setting up an online gallery to sell my artwork I was thinking of approaching photography galleries in London to sell the artwork. Now the problem is I have never approached a "real world" ...
5
votes
2answers
140 views
As a documentary photographer, do you pay people you photograph?
I wonder if there is a best practice or rule to handle the payment of people you photograph for documentary purpose. Especially extreme cases like, e.g. a child living on the street.
-3
votes
1answer
86 views
How can I find and hire an intern for website-specific photography?
I've built a fairly high ranking site on Google and am planning to expand it this year. I would like to have an exclusive photographer, but would like a trial period with someone before I consider a ...
3
votes
3answers
214 views
Using software/service to schedule photo shoots
Just wonder if anyone uses any sort of online software or service to schedule your photoshoots. Such that clients (and prospective clients) can see which dates & times are currently available for ...
5
votes
1answer
129 views
Is it worth submitting photography/artwork to online galleries?
After recently releasing my own gallery of artwork, I was wondering business wise whether or not to start submitting my photography/artwork to online galleries such as Etsy and EBay's art shop. The ...
2
votes
1answer
134 views
What type of photography sells well to business?
My question is really aimed at anyone who has an opinion or has experience selling prints to business. I focus mainly on urban landscape photography in London and want to focus on selling my framed ...
5
votes
4answers
222 views
How/where do 'local' newspapers get their images?
I was wondering how regional and local (i.e. smaller papers without in-house photographers) newspapers get their images, for example of an event or award ceremony?
I have never seen a paper here in ...
2
votes
3answers
716 views
How to accurately / competitively price prints when digital images are already paid for?
My wife is a wedding and fashion photographer (as well as some family and maternity). We've been traditionally giving our High Res images as a part of the package price to our customers. Now that ...
1
vote
2answers
184 views
Question about selling (licensing) my photos (stock sites vs my own website)
I am hobbyist photographer and take different types of photos such as landscapes, architectural photographs, historical sites, fireworks, food and utensil photographs and abstract and experimental ...
1
vote
2answers
260 views
Who takes the photos for Groupon?
I'm very inspired by Groupon's photography from all their advertisers. They are very clean, professional and elegant. How do they create such a personal photo for a business's advertisement? Do they ...
3
votes
4answers
235 views
How to manage model information?
I am hobby photographer shooting people. Most of my communication with models is done by email but I found impossible for me to effectively manage my models.
I need to somehow keep track of:
What ...
19
votes
4answers
2k views
What are some good places to sell photo prints online?
What are some good places to sell photo prints online? Is it possible? What aspects depend on country, laws, or copyright restrictions?
9
votes
2answers
279 views
How could I make the most money from a sensationalist picture?
Assume I, a photography amateur, took a really sensationalist picture (or small video) for which exists really high demand immediately. Assume virtuall all media companies are really eager to buy my ...
2
votes
1answer
234 views
Other than stock photographs, how can I have my photography fund itself? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the best way for a hobbyist to start generating income from photos?
I am an amateur photographer. I have been learning photography seriously for quite some time ...
5
votes
4answers
261 views
Starting out professionally in landscape / nature photography
How does one start out to become a landscape photographer as I assume the basics are to make a website, flickr, twitter accounts with a solid portfolio on them. However, how does one get assignments? ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
How do I break into a higher end market segment for wedding photography?
Like I believe many photographers, I started my professional work doing mainly lower priced gigs to (maybe) foolishly get my foot in the door, earn experience, and a full portfolio.
Now once I start ...
5
votes
1answer
237 views
How to keep track of image licenses sold?
When selling licenses to images, how to keep track who has bought what rights to what images? Accounting seems to kind of track this information, but it still needs some way to to connect images to ...
23
votes
7answers
1k views
Should pro photographers learn to work around amateurs at events?
This issue is most prevalent in Wedding photography. An example would be when a Wedding photographer has to avoid family members or other guests who are aggressively taking pictures around them ...
7
votes
1answer
140 views
How to licence out photos to postcard or gift suppliers
I am a London-based photographer and I focus on landscape & building photography. So being based in London that means I tend to focus on many of the cities landmarks and tourist attractions.
I ...
30
votes
5answers
859 views
What is the best way for a hobbyist to start generating income from photos?
What is the best way for me to look into the feasibility of selling my shots (hopefully including some sort of feedback on my technique) and examples of places where I can have someone manage the ...
1
vote
1answer
147 views
How about a Photography equipment Lending Business [closed]
Is photography equipment lending business seems to worth doing it??
If so what are the downsides in it?
What are do's and dont's and the things to look out when starting a business like this?
Will ...
6
votes
2answers
999 views
Is it poor etiquette for a second shooter at a wedding to present that work without mentioning the primary business?
I just shot a wedding that I was hired for, and I brought my friend who is also a photographer to second shoot for me. I'm fine with a second shooter using the images they take at my wedding for their ...
19
votes
7answers
12k views
How much should an amateur charge for a portrait session?
I am fairly new to photography and have done a few high-school senior sessions of friends here and there. I have been getting more and more requests to photograph families, seniors, etc. and am ...
9
votes
2answers
151 views
What is the production volume for film over the last decade?
How many rolls/sheets of film has Kodak/Fuji/the-whole-industry produced each year for the last ten years?
What has the revenue been?
I've tried googling for the answer but a summary of this ...
4
votes
2answers
522 views
A Marketing Firm wants to buy non-exclusive rights for one of my photos, what should I charge?
I was contacted by a marketing firm in Canada requesting that I give them a quote for non-exclusive rights to one of my photos. The the firm does marketing for the company that makes exterior ...
16
votes
7answers
1k views
How to respond to requests to commercially use one's photos without compensation?
I am an amateur photographer and every now and then, I get an email along these lines:
Hi there, I really like your photo of X [LINK] and would like to use it in my/our magazine/brochure/website. ...
4
votes
1answer
219 views
How do I formulate an estimate for photographing a private school's 180+ K-5th graders and their 30+ faculty and staff?
I have been invited to submit a proposal/estimate for school portraits including 180 or so young children and 30 or so adult faculty and staff.
I do not know if prints will be involved, but would ...
5
votes
4answers
292 views
What are some good places to sell photo prints online, with a focus on Europe?
There's already good links at What are some good places to sell photo prints online? – but they are mostly US-centric, and since I am targeting mostly people in Europe (especially Germany) – I'd ...
30
votes
4answers
1k views
Are stock photo sites a viable source of income?
I'm considering uploading some of my photos to a stock photo website as a way of getting a few $$$ back from what's essentially been a hobby for me.
Is this a sensible step, or am I likely doomed to ...
4
votes
1answer
262 views
Do any stock photography sites pay 100% of sales out to photographers?
I've come over from Stack Overflow to see if anyone here uses stock photography/microstock sites and knows if any of the many out there currently give 100% of sales to photographers?
Obviously ...
2
votes
1answer
306 views
Where could I find a partner to outsource defining photo clipping path?
I know how to cut out images in Photoshop CS5 myself. But I think it's a perfect job to Outsource to get more time to other stuff. But where to turn? Any recomendations?
I estimate that there only ...
21
votes
5answers
622 views
How do I know if I'm ready to turn professional?
I love photography.
I love capturing beautiful images and preserving precious memories.
I believe that I have a gift for this - one which I have worked hard to hone and grow over recent years.
I am ...
1
vote
3answers
325 views
How to ask a photographer for proof of insurance in the US?
I am wondering from both sides of the table, how or what to ask a professional photographer in regards to insurance, and what document is typically produced by a photographer?
Specifically I want to ...
-3
votes
2answers
200 views
How could I earn money without the administrative headaches?
I have a day-job that I don't intend to leave to pursue photography professionally, but I would like to be able to earn some money from my photography.
I've already invested in equipment, so I'm ...
6
votes
3answers
254 views
How do you attach asset tags to camera equipment?
For all you pros out there, how do you handle asset tags on your equipment? It seems easy to apply them to computers, notebooks, external hardrives, and even camera bodies, but how do you handle ...
4
votes
3answers
150 views
What should I consider when setting up photo sessions at 3rd party location?
Now that fall is here, I am considering approaching a local farm/apple orchard/pumpkin patch to set up a day of portrait sessions -- where families can come to the farm for a specific time frame and ...
4
votes
2answers
680 views
Do I need to copyright or license my photos to sell as cards?
I would like to sell my pictures as cards. Do I have to get my photos licensed, or is it better to copyright everything to the fullest extent? I don't want to give up any of my rights to the photos.
4
votes
2answers
397 views
Any ideas for a photo booth props at a market?
I am putting together a farmers' market/flea market photo booth. I was hoping someone could give me some ideas for props that are cheap and easy. This is just a trial I am running locally.
5
votes
2answers
324 views
How do Facebook & Google's new photography features impact professional photographers?
Many photographers, including me, have moved their portfolio sites to SmugMugPro from private servers/domains.
How do FB's new "portfolio" frontpage and G+'s new hub for photographers change how pro ...
22
votes
8answers
2k views
How can I make extra money with photography?
I have photos in Getty Images, in Shutterstock, Imagekind and I recently added some to RedBubble, but I'm not having the expected results.
Does anyone have some history of success selling photographs ...
4
votes
2answers
697 views
What items can I write off as expenses for a new photography business?
I am looking into starting a new business for photography and wanted to see if theres a clearly defined list if things I can write off for it. I'm assuming I won't make any money for a while either ...
12
votes
4answers
353 views
Suggestions for a photo sales & printing vendor?
I'm beginning to seriously think about selling my photos online ... as prints, greeting cards, etc.
Can anyone recommend a site that does a good job of handling the sales translations, printing, ...
