Photography Business Questions

hark

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Pretty soon I will be entering the world of paid photography (part-time) and want to review everything required for a business. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding any of the following - or any other topics I may have missed - I'd appreciate your input. At this time, I won't be using our home for a studio so no need to address home owners policy for that. For now I'd be doing on location photography.

1. Website - this is vital. The problem for me is I might change the name from All About The Light to perhaps something shorter. This will probably be one of the first things I address. Hosting info will also be appreciated.

2. Business and/or Gear Insurance - I looked at the PPA web site, and going through them is a consideration. Unfortunately they don't offer business insurance. So any recommendations or suggestions on both business and gear insurance will be appreciated. I DON'T want to go through my Home Owner's policy with a rider. State Farm really isn't the best insurance out there so it isn't even a consideration. Looking for other companies.

3. Licensing - in the past I went to our local Chamber of Commerce trying to get info on starting a business. The man wanted to write down my info and asked for my business name. I didn't have one yet so he wouldn't give me any info or help. :mad: He could have at least offered pricing info for licensing but....

4. Payment Options - any and all suggestions for this will be appreciated! This would be both for paying through a web site and/or paying in person.

5. Vehicle Insurance - I know I will need to update this to include using my vehicle for a business.

6. Business Cards - first I need to decide on a business name, and if I get a business license number from the county, that would be included.​

So what else have I missed? Any comments or suggestions on the things I've mentioned?
 
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Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Pretty soon I will be entering the world of paid photography (part-time) and want to review everything required for a business. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding any of the following - or any other topics I may have missed - I'd appreciate your input. At this time, I won't be using our home for a studio so no need to address home owners policy for that. For now I'd be doing on location photography.
1. Website - this is vital. The problem for me is I might change the name from All About The Light to perhaps something shorter. This will probably be one of the first things I address. Hosting info will also be appreciated.

2. Business and/or Gear Insurance - I looked at the PPA web site, and going through them is a consideration. Unfortunately they don't offer business insurance. So any recommendations or suggestions on both business and gear insurance will be appreciated. I DON'T want to go through my Home Owner's policy with a rider. State Farm really isn't the best insurance out there so it isn't even a consideration. Looking for other companies.

You need a BOP Business Owners Policy. Your State Farm agent should be able to quote this. It's separate and distinct from your homeowner's policy.

3. Licensing - in the past I went to our local Chamber of Commerce trying to get info on starting a business. The man wanted to write down my info and asked for my business name. I didn't have one yet so he wouldn't give me any info or help. :mad: He could have at least offered pricing info for licensing but....

You don't go to the Chamber for this. You go to your local City hall. If your City doesn't issue business Licenses, then your County almost certainly does. Both/either will direct you to the other if you need both. It's usually a small fee based on gross sales... <--starting out you'll be in the lowest tier. They'll supply you with forms as well as what their requirements are for Business names... There are public notices that need to be filed if you file as a Corp. or use an alias name... usually NOT if you use your real full name... They'll give you all the details.

4. Payment Options - any and all suggestions for this will be appreciated! This would be both for paying through a web site and/or paying in person.

You'll almost certainly need to accept credit cards. You can visit your Bank and they'll be able to give you info and requirements for their accounts. You can also search online for the several clearing houses that interface with your cell phone with CC acceptance...

5. Vehicle Insurance - I know I will need to update this to include using my vehicle for a business.

Tell your State Farm agent that you want business coverage for your car while you're talking to him about your business insurance. He'll explain what you need.

6. Business Cards - first I need to decide on a business name, and if I get a business license number from the county, that would be included.

Hold off until you've been through the City hall business license process because that's going dictate what name you use... In Florida, without complicating the subject, it'll most likely be your real name + photography...

So what else have I missed? Any comments or suggestions on the things I've mentioned?

Last but not least, you should talk to your tax advisor and/or visit a CPA to get your books setup. He'll also be able to direct you toward the form of business you use based on how much you plan to make... as well as what other assets you may have... Unless a professional suggests you do an LLC, or Corp... I wouldn't be so quick to rush into those... They're just more forms to file and more fees to pay... You can start as a Sole Proprietor until you see how much money you're going to make...

Good luck with your new venture...
 

hark

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Last but not least, you should talk to your tax advisor and/or visit a CPA to get your books setup. He'll also be able to direct you toward the form of business you use based on how much you plan to make... as well as what other assets you may have... Unless a professional suggests you do an LLC, or Corp... I wouldn't be so quick to rush into those... They're just more forms to file and more fees to pay... You can start as a Sole Proprietor until you see how much money you're going to make...

Good luck with your new venture...

Thanks for all of this, Fred, as well as the other info you embedded within my quote. The thing with State Farm is I don't want to use them even for a business policy. When we had a broken pipe in the wall, we found out the hard way that many other companies offer better homeowner's coverage. So I'm guessing other insurance companies would probably offer a better policy for business insurance.

The local Chamber of Commerce is run by the county. There are 3 offices within the county - this local one isn't great though. They are the ones who take care of licensing businesses. They just aren't forthcoming with the info.

I'm in Pennsylvania but will find out about naming a business (or using my name for now) as well as the LLC - which as you mentioned I might not need yet.

Thanks again for the help! :cool:
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I don't know why now, but I always thought you were here in Florida... ;) Maybe it's Marilynne (Sp) that I'm thinking of.

Look in your local phone book (if they have those anymore) or online for a local Independent Agent... They should be able to help you navigate all the insurance questions. They also represent a bunch of different companies to get you a reasonably fair price.
 

Marilynne

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I don't know why now, but I always thought you were here in Florida... ;) Maybe it's Marilynne (Sp) that I'm thinking of.

Look in your local phone book (if they have those anymore) or online for a local Independent Agent... They should be able to help you navigate all the insurance questions. They also represent a bunch of different companies to get you a reasonably fair price.

Yup, I'm down the road a ways from you Fred.
 

hark

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I don't know why now, but I always thought you were here in Florida... ;) Maybe it's Marilynne (Sp) that I'm thinking of.

Look in your local phone book (if they have those anymore) or online for a local Independent Agent... They should be able to help you navigate all the insurance questions. They also represent a bunch of different companies to get you a reasonably fair price.

Thanks again, Fred. :encouragement: Hadn't thought about an insurance broker (if that's what they call themselves). :)
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
That's exactly what you want Cindy... They'll be able to tailor your insurance to your specific needs. Adding a floater to your BOP to cover all your equipment will also be significantly less than paying any association dues to buy their coverage...
 

nickt

Senior Member
I don't have any business knowledge to share. I do have a 'Square' account and card reader. I don't use in much but it works well. 2.6% + 10 cents per trasaction. Many vendors at craft shows and flea markets use Square. You can get a magnetic strip reader for your phone for free or a chip reader for $50. I think in the fine print of the merchant agreements it says if you use a strip reader on a chipped card you might be liable if there is an issue. So it would be good to get the chip reader for your protection. You aren't supposed to use Venmo or zelle for business but a lot of people like using those money transfer services. Younger people especially like Venmo because their credit cards are maxed out and they don't know what a checkbook is. I know a couple small business people that take Venmo when there is no other option.

Will you be doing your own website? I like Namecheap.com to register domain names and I've had a little hosting account with Webhostingbuzz.com for many years. Very excellent up time for a budget hosting company. Even if you hire a website designer, I would register the domain name yourself. If you get a web designer that includes procuring the domain name, there is a chance he will register your domain in his business name. Even if he does register the domain in your name, you might not have the access that you should if the designer disappears or you have a disagreement.
I don't know if this is still going on, but take a look here regarding searching for new domain names:
https://www.lmeservices.com/does-godaddy-buy-searched-domains/

If you are wondering, when you register a name, you get access to a control panel page. In the control panel, you tell it where your website is. There is a spot in the panel for name server addresses. You get the name server addresses from the hosting company, its a pointer to your files. You type the name servers in your domain control panel and that is what ties your domain name to your website files. You can also do a simple re-direct to another website. So if you get a domain name and want to start spreading it around before you get a site, you could point it to a facebook or flickr page or whatever. You can point multiple names to the same website files. I would buy your full name, Cindy____.com, just so you have something locked in, then eventually get your business name too.
 

Eduard

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Thanks for all of this, Fred, as well as the other info you embedded within my quote. The thing with State Farm is I don't want to use them even for a business policy. When we had a broken pipe in the wall, we found out the hard way that many other companies offer better homeowner's coverage. So I'm guessing other insurance companies would probably offer a better policy for business insurance.

The local Chamber of Commerce is run by the county. There are 3 offices within the county - this local one isn't great though. They are the ones who take care of licensing businesses. They just aren't forthcoming with the info.

I'm in Pennsylvania but will find out about naming a business (or using my name for now) as well as the LLC - which as you mentioned I might not need yet.

Thanks again for the help! :cool:

Hey Cindy, as you know I'm in PA as well. When John and I created CWOM, I formed a LLC. I then added an umbrella policy through USAA. You will be providing services, so your situation is different as you will need to cover errors and omissions thus a Professional Liability policy. (Errors and omissions insurance is a type of professional liability insurance that protects companies, their workers, and other professionals against claims of inadequate work or negligent actions.) I'd recommend starting with an attorney that is familiar with creating the LLC and who might be able to guide you in insurance to protect yourself as an individual and the LLC as an entity.
 

elee950021

New member
Pretty soon I will be entering the world of paid photography (part-time) and want to review everything required for a business. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding any of the following - or any other topics I may have missed - I'd appreciate your input.

Hark! I'm new here and this is reply among my first posts. I've been retired from a 40-yr photo business since 2008. I spent a lot of time and learned much from going to the School of Hard Knocks! First thing, as others have recommended, get professional legal and accounting advice. Believe me, in the long run, it will be among the least expensive things you will get for your business.

Most things were covered but don't forget to sign up with your local and state Sales Tax Departments. We had a visit from from the state sales tax department and it wasn't a pleasant experience. And if required to collect, you must send in all taxes in a timely manner or face penalties and interest. Our audit only penalized us for a few bucks!

Be well! Ed
 
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Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Pretty soon I will be entering the world of paid photography (part-time) and want to review everything required for a business. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding any of the following - or any other topics I may have missed - I'd appreciate your input. /QUOTE]

Hark! I'm new here and this is reply among my first posts. I've been retired from a 40-yr photo business since 2008. I spent a lot of time and learned much from going to the School of Hard Knocks! First thing, as others have recommended, get professional legal and accounting advice. Believe me, in the long run, it will be among the least expensive things you will get for your business.

Most things were covered but don't forget to sign up with your local and state Sales Tax Departments. We had a visit from from the state sales tax department and it wasn't a pleasant experience. And if required to collect, you must send in all taxes in a timely manner or face penalties and interest. Our audit only penalized us for a few bucks!

Be well! Ed

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Good advice, hopefully not too late.
 
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hark

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Hark! I'm new here and this is reply among my first posts. I've been retired from a 40-yr photo business since 2008. I spent a lot of time and learned much from going to the School of Hard Knocks! First thing, as others have recommended, get professional legal and accounting advice. Believe me, in the long run, it will be among the least expensive things you will get for your business.

Most things were covered but don't forget to sign up with your local and state Sales Tax Departments. We had a visit from from the state sales tax department and it wasn't a pleasant experience. And if required to collect, you must send in all taxes in a timely manner or face penalties and interest. Our audit only penalized us for a few bucks!

Be well! Ed

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Good advice, hopefully not too late.

Ed, thanks for the info! It's greatly appreciated. :) Brent, his info isn't too late. Due to Covid19, I didn't get started like I anticipated.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
Since you replied that you've been in a holding pattern due to COVID-19, I have a few things to add:

RE: Website - Take a look at Squarespace. A great option for people who don't want to be a part time web designer while trying to run a business. Prices are reasonable, tons of modern templates to choose from. Very easy to use.

RE: Business name - Using your own name is always the best option, so definitely toss that hat into the ring. However, a lot of people don't have a cool sounding name. Joe Edwards Photo is a lot more marketable than Archibald Horowitz Photo...know what I mean? If you go another route, just try to keep it short. Under 14 letters for the website name is ideal, but it's getting harder to do that these days. Also keep in mind that .photo is an available domain extension (instead of .com). A great option for photographers.

RE: Insurance - State Farm sucks LOL. Definitely shop your insurance around with an independent agent who has a stable of companies to choose from for better rates. Talk with an agent about your situation, especially since this is a part time gig for now. You definitely want to make sure you're protected, but you probably don't really need a commercial policy at this point. A separate inland marine policy to cover your equipment should be all you need, and is WAY cheaper. All that said, Nationwide used to have a "mini policy" for photographers, but I'm not sure if they still do. If you do jump in with both feet, definitely make sure you get personal liability coverage. People will sue for anything these days.

RE: Business cards - 100% VistaPrint. They're cheap and great quality. They have templates you can download (PS, AI, etc) and sky's the limit for your designs. I've used VistaPrint for lots of stuff and have never been disappointed. Design today, order tomorrow, and you usually have your order within a few days. Highly recommended.

RE: Other stuff - The deciding factor in a lot of this will be how far you take it. You need to set up a DBA in order to get a business bank account and a lot of other stuff. It's kind of that official first step to being a "real" business. An LLC is probably your best bet - keeps business finances separate from personal. Talk to a lawyer about setting one of those up, it's fairly cheap and straightforward.
 
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STM

Senior Member
Are you already a member of PPA? If not, then I strongly suggest you join. Having their logo on your website is a good idea and boosts your credibility. Also, look into the PPA CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) program. It too will add to your credibility. it was actually a lot of fun when I went through it.
 

Hannah Shia

Senior Member
I suggest starting with a business plan. It will greatly help you with sorting out all the necessary steps, evaluating your competitors, etc. Really, it's not so hard to create one when you have a plan (this one is good for photography) to lay out your goals and timelines!
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
I would not suggest a web site yet, more important things to do when you can have a free page on Facebook that will build followers a lot faster than a web site.  But getting the domain is essential for your email account before even setting up your business license. I have 27 active domains with Godaddy.com. <br>

Do you have a specialty or target audience? If they are young, instagram is essential, if a wider age group of 20s up, Facebook is effective. If you are on Instagram you will reach a lot more people if you upload a new image/meme daily.  The highest paid photographers in the world are not even photographers so consider creating a YouTube Channel about your specialty if you have an engaging personality.
There are a number of people with limited photographic skills who receive several million dollars a year in ad revenue directly from YT plus a lot directly from manufacturers to push a brand or put down another.  Your ad revenue is based on views and how long people stay on the channel and the economic bracket of the viewers so products advertising that is directed to adults in upper middle class or higher brackets can earn a lot more per viewer than say a teen with a Try on Haul site that has 3 million views.<br>Every minute spent developing your on-line presence is more important to your income than every minute of your photography.   Keep your costs down by avoiding expensive bodies and lenses, a Z6 is more than enough for any commercial work you are likely to get. A compatible back camera will be insurance.  Your post processing skills or arrangememt with a like minded editor who is a master in PS could be a better use of your time if not very skilled in post processing when you start.  <br>
Try to keep the domain name as short as possible, which is possible with one of the second tier top level domains, .com is assumed by users, while .biz or .photo. Start searching now, really, in the next 5 minutes. There are  over 1500 top level domains and a number of them related specifically to photography, pictures or images so a lot of choices exist if nothing works in ,com for your prefered name.  Do not allow a hosting company to control your domain, register it yourself, I use Godaddy.com and it is simple to manage your own domain.  If you collect any user info or have any hackable data on your server, get a hosting account that includes free SSL certificate which saves you $50 a year or more. I have one VPS, Virtual Private Server on inmotionhosting.com where I have a number of web sites and have had very good luck with them after a number of serious problems with hosting companies that merged or went out of business and I lost  lot of data.
A VPS is just like having your own server which you can add as many sites and email services or databases as you want. It is shared by 3 other counts, but each completely separated and their own operating system for each.  I also have a my own server in a data center which is overkill. Renting rack space for your own server is not very cost effective.    Once things get going you can think about a web site. The most popular way to have an updatable no-code site is using Wordpress that is the foundation of about 30% of all web sites. There thousands of templates available to make the site look professional without coding. Wordpress is a one button install on Inmotionhosting.com but other hosts have that function as well.  I prefer to code my own because it can be a lot lighter in server load and so faster opening new pages which gives some advantage in Google ranking. Google in not as important as it was 15 years ago. Your sales can be entered there in your shopping cart application that is also free plugin for Wordpress, but your site is not going to generate many organic sales anymore.  After seeing your work on instagram or FB, or chatting with you on Whatsapp, they will complete the booking on the web site. Buyer trends have been away from sales decisions on web sites have changed a lot over the last twenty years.<br>
<br>Before even thinking about your business you really need to think about your customers, who are they, how do they respond, what is their price range sensitivity, why they are not being served now, why you have an advantage that they are interested in....you can be better or have cooler services but that does not matter, only their perception of your advantages matter which is why social media is so effective for interacting with the target audience. Your only value is what your customers value your service for.  And unless you have a known audience, where you know real clients and their needs or perceived needs.   Who is the competition and what advantages and disadvantages do they have, What is the size of the current demand for the service,  and how can you influence the scale of demand?   How narrow of a niche can your focus on and still make a living. A generalist is usually very inefficient but a narrow range specialist can build a client base faster with less work.

Don't have too many options on your web site, specialize and if you have another specialty, create another web site so the site is targeting that specialty. For example if you do weddings, only promote wedding photo services but your business head shot business clients should have a web site devoted to that specialty.  Your real estate work should be on its own web site.<br>Set a goal of becoming an expert in the customer preferences of the market you focus on, go talk to them,interview people to see what they really want instead of starting a business of a service hoping that you guessed right on the market.  Don't just ask friends, ask strangers, which is effective with social media. 

Do not mix a profile for your self and your business on social media because anything you post or your friends post can trigger someone in the hyper sensitive extreme division society you are in now. If over the last few years you have made just 4 statements of preference or lack of whatever, each one of those statements is likely to turn off 1/4 of the the population. If you posted you hate peanut butter, someone in your inner circle is going to reject you over it but when talking about a potential market in the millions turning off a few hundred thousand by such an innocuous post. <br>Good luck and start with the domain search and your market research now before even designing your business goals.
 
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TaylorBlake

New member
Photography is a great domain for discovering new connections and new people. As you've said, you are fortunate because you already have experience and it will easier for you to start again. I have been a photographer for a couple of years now and I must admit that I've had some amazing experiences. I've decided to try a new domain related to advertising photography and I must admit that it is something else. I am often shooting events or portraits, so this kind of experience was something new that really got me out of the comfort zone!
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard TaylorBlake. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Also, you might want to go to
New Member Introductions
Introduce yourself to the community! Say Hi
 

Cligerson

Banned
The majority of people who start out in photography aren't in it for the money—at least not at first. Photography, like other kinds of art, is an artistic project. For many people, determining how to generate money with photography without much research or experimentation is difficult. There is no such thing as a yet another formula for success. The suggestions below make it simple to begin learning your skill, commercialize some photographs, and retain your full-time work. I would suggest you to rent a studio, first of all and you could get help from these guys osdoro.com.sg.
 
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