[DigitalDarrell]

Someone recently said that there are not many people that are, or are interested in becoming a "professional" photographer, here on PN. It was an interesting observation.

At the suggestion of John H. I have created this new forum, "The Business of Photography." If you are making money with your camera, or have a hankering to do so, let's talk about it here.

[chaswes5]

I will be the first to post on this new thread.

As many of you do, I try to make a buck or two to off set the cost of new toys. I have recently found a niche--some houses in my neighborhood are painted in pastels. These houses are prime candidates for HDR. I shoot them, frame them and knock on a door. I have sold four so far. One to a business and the others to home owners.

I also, have a series of photos at a store downtown. We have a lot of tourist and local stores often display "local artist" work. This is not real lucrative, at a 40/60 split but at least my work is out there.

I occasionally get a small stipend from shooting friends parties, kids, etc.

Next year, I hope to push a little harder on the commercial side. I plan on enclosing part of my house for a studio, etc.

I have procured:

a. A state and county business license

b. A city license

c. A state and county tax ID #

d. A FIEN number

I will be collecting sales tax on my next sale. For the consignment pieces, the store owner collects the sales tax.

It is a curse sometimes to be a Scot-Irish.

If this becomes too much work and not enough fun, or if the Fed Rate moves up (it is now 0-.25%), I will abandon this venture and move back to where I was when I joined this group.

This post has been edited by chaswes5: 24 October 2009 - 07:07 PM

[José]

This is already proving to be an interesting topic. I shoot primarily for fun and have never sold anything. Mostly family and events or places I have visited. Thanks for birthing this topic Darrell, it will be of interest to many, especially those starting out.

[Old Dog New Tricks]

I have shot team and individual pictures for a local girls AAU basketball team. Also shot action and winners at thier tournament. My biggest problem was fulfillment. Getting the pictures delivered was a pain, so I signed up on Zenfolio and get sell right there. I just post the pictures and let them order on line. I costs me a little, but things are taken care of in a more timely fashion.

A year ago I took some shots at a local horse show. I recently met with another stable owner who had seen the work and we are discussing shooting her shows next year. I am looking for events, not normally covered where people would I could sell a few prints to support my bad habits (NAS). "Shee..." has put the brakes on my photography spending.

OD

[Dennis]

When I had my biz, I did weddings/portraits and events on film. Weddings and portraits supported the biz with weddings given most return. Events was my cash cow. I shot ice skating events, mostly pre-lims to the Olympics circa. At most of these events, I was the only photographer. That made a lot of cash for me as the biz was a second job to my first. Then my back energy ended the biz for a while. Actually, it was a combination of my back (I hired my son to do all the lifting) and this one client that stole every image of her wedding. I won the case without going to court and got all my costs and damages. But that and my back, I shut down the biz.

Now I am digital and want to reinvent myself. I have my back condition manageable. I am converting from studio light to flash for weight considerations and mobility. I am still trying to figure out what I want to shoot. So, this new section will be of interest to me.

[Arkayem]

DigitalDarrell, on 24 October 2009 - 07:14 PM, said:

Someone recently said that there are not many people that are, or are interested in becoming a "professional" photographer, here on PN. It was an interesting observation.

At the suggestion of John H. I have created this new forum, "The Business of Photography." If you are making money with your camera, or have a hankering to do so, let's talk about it here.

Hi there.

I am a full time wedding and portrait photographer. I started shooting professionally in 1963 as a part-time newspaper sports photographer. I used an Olympus Rangefinder 35mm film camera and I shot mostly Tri-X 400 and often pushed it to ASA 1600 in my home darkroom.

Now, I use a D3 as my primary camera and a D200 as a backup/second shooter camera.

I won't ever get wealthy shooting weddings, but it pays the bills, and I never get tired of it!

I actually prefer to shoot portraits, but the money is in the weddings.

Russ

This post has been edited by Arkayem: 02 November 2009 - 09:44 PM

[Arlon]

No making money or desire for me but it still might be interesting to hear about..

[james23p]

I occasionally shoot weddings and events. This year I shot 3 weddings and 7 events. Plus I did the local football games for aseveral schools and yearbooks and the local paper. But all in all it is still a hobby for me. I might be doing a weekend Santa shoot for the county this holiday season.

Jim

[C.L.Extreme]

I started into photography in school and really got out of it after I was out of school, then stepped back in when digital became a useful tool. I did a few seniors and a wedding here and there and the next thing I had a list of people calling me and trying to book my service. So I went out on the smallest branch of the tree I could find and went for it. it's been almost 2 years now and I am supporting my family with wedding, seniors, and action events (motocross and rodeo). I had to do a few photo shoots that I really didn't care for. But he you have to do that when you work for someone else as a employee. As one guy told me your living the dream and if you can make it now you can make it from now on.

I have to agree that money is in the weddings, but but portraits are helping make to pay the bills. I love the action events but for a money maker they haven't really paid off yet I always break even or a little ahead. but it does get a lot of free advertising for me.

Trying to be a full time photographer and have it provide for the family take a lot of work, and being your own boss take some dedication too.

[Paul Lan]

Photography is my main if not only hobby,friends and people had asked me to shoot weddings, money is not the factor for me to shoot a wedding, so whatever they could pay me i will try to do the job, all i wish is that the client is happy of my works, that's how also from mouth to mouth i get clients call me. i could do a wedding for free also if the person could not pay for that. i have given many pics for free also. once, during the actuel President of China visiting Mauritius, i have been able to took some pics of him shaking important businessman personality, i have given all these pics for free, they wish to pay me, but i know these pics are priceless but my heart tell me to give it for free!!!

[biblunny]

I make a small amount of money doing jobs for an agency at weekends, in doing so i have met a lot of experienced old hacks (Newspaper staff and freelancers) who are extremely upset at the amount of people who give there pictures away for free, They reckon it has killed there industry, why would papers or anyone else pay wages to a photographer when they can get an image for free, even if the image is of a poorer quality, it still goes in before a freelancer wanting paid for his pic.
After listening to them i tend to agree and have some sympathy for them, This may lead to another topic but I think that Newspapers and other publications putting themselves on the internet for people to browse for free may have had a bigger effect in relation to job losses etc than free pictures, How many people dont pay for there local paper now!!! and just browse on line.

[photojazz]

Ahh, I made a few bucks last year and will get a few euros for photoging the Fasnet events next month.

Guess I have to get legal now.

[Rick Paul]

While I still hold a day job, and my income from photography so far could not support my family, I do now consider myself a full-time pro. I work on my business 7 days a week, often pulling more than 40 hours a week on the photo job..!

I started making money in Stock Photography with Darrell's help. From there I expanded into portrait and wedding photography. My business has paid for my Nikon D3, and I feel quite proud that I purchased that camera for the business, and it was paid for by the business! I'm now working towards my second pro body, while also investing in other aspects of the business. The business has been "paying the bills" for 9 months or more without having to "invest" from the home account.

I'm taking a slow, measured approach to my photo business. My day job allows me to do that. I have a business plan for income and expenses that I'm following. Basic plan is to double my business each year in the early years. I met my goals in the 2009, and I'm well on the way in 2010.

And my only employee (my wife) is off making money for me today, shooting a bridal shower!

[Old Dog New Tricks]

I had to turn down a job shooting hockey for a team this week because of my Census work. Hope they come back to me for other work.

OD

[markus5]

I made my living as a photographer from about 1982 to 2007
Great times, Great clients, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Baxter Healthcare,Costain and many others
Walked away from it 2008
Now a beach bum in Okinawa
Happier for it!

[photojazz]

In 2008, I started charging for my photog duties and made a few Euros. Last year not much photog work as I was playing a lot with my band. This year I have four paid jobs booked so far. My first is a 50th Bday party in June, a Bridge opening celebration in July, Fasnet events in Oct and November.

Pretty happy with these scheduled jobs.