Five Ways To Tell If A Photographer Is REALLY In Business

Came across this article today. And, well, I’m always looking for blogging content. With the affordability of digital cameras these days, everyone thinks they are ready to charge to take pictures. Just last month, at a dinner outing with my mother and grandpa, I overheard two women sharing prints that one of them took at our local Botanical Gardens. Sure, flowers. Simple enough. They don’t move. They don’t fuss. And, you certainly don’t need to get them to pose. Don’t get me wrong, if you can shoot flowers and make it look completely artistic than the traditional snapshot, you have got something special going on!

As the waitress approached the table of these two ladies, she complimented her on these photos. Yes, I looked over my shoulder, and even I could have taken those (Ha, did you get that? Just because I’m a photographer doesn’t mean I’m creative and expert enough to photograph flowers). The woman’s friend quickly said, “I told her she should use that camera to take pictures of families and children.”

And, so this is how it all starts. It’s like the awful show, American Idol. You know, in the beginning where these people torture you with their off-pitch sounds and bad notes. “But, but, but! My mother told me I was an amazing singer.” Oh, sweetie. That’s nice.

My other favorite thing to hear from a client, “your camera takes great pictures.” Hmmm. Well, if that’s all it takes, I should be making millions! Kinda like how your oven bakes a great cake?

I digress. This article though, does help the average person understand that there is more to hiring a professional photographer than just taking great photos (or having a fancy camera-a-bob-doo-hickey). I figure, I’ll answer them for you all!

1. How long have you been in business?

I formed my LLC on June 29, 2005. However, I wasn’t exactly taking photos then. I am a graphic artist and at that time, started my company for selling my digital scrapbooking designs. I believe it was probably the following year or 2007 when I started getting more serious about taking pictures for a living. You see, I studied a little photography when I was in college at Georgia Southern University in 1994. I had to take film photos and I did that for the college newspaper. I would spend each week in the darkroom – this tiny closet and develop the film. Fun times. My fingers smelled from the chemicals.

Once I decided to go digital and take photos of families, I was either charging a small disk fee or doing exchanges for portfolio building. I put up a simple website, but never got any business off of the site at that time. It was simply friends of friends that agreed to let me charge them very little to take photos and give them a disk of images. I don’t dare put any of those images up now. Awful. Just awful.

2. Do you have a place of business, a business license, a business phone and Yellow Pages listing, and a Web site?

Okay, let’s address the Yellow Pages listing. This is a bit old school, wouldn’t you say? I mean, I don’t know that we even have a book in this house! I disagree with that part. But, I do have a place of business. I operate my office out of my home. However, the city that I live in does NOT allow home studios. You should really check with your city before doing this. It isn’t that operating a studio in my home is some sort of hazard or anything. It’s simply that they do NOT want you to have people coming and going a lot from your home, increasing traffic in front of your house.

I think this is silly. I am NOT a huge studio. If I were, then of course I would have a commercial location for that. I’m lucky if I have one or two people a month. That’s what boutique photographers are. Enough of my high horse here. Yes, I have thought about cheating the system and just doing it, but my neighbor is the nosey neighbor that tattles on everyone for everything, so I would SURELY be reported as fast as I was reported for leaving my recycling can in front of my garage for more than a day.

I do have a business license because of the above…in my city, I do NOT need a license just to operate a business out of my home. BUT, I do if I have commercial space. Yes, because of the above, I do have a commercial space. That is frankly, wasted money. But, it does house all my pretty furniture. And, each year, I get my annual fire inspection, my extinguishers recharged, and I go up to city hall and pay my fee. Just to get another little sticker that says I am in business for another year.

And, I do have a business phone. In fact, I have a separate cell phone. I bought a refurbished iPhone. Why? Because senior kids text. A lot. They would rather do this. And, you can’t do that from a regular home phone. Plus, I need to be able to TURN OFF MY business phone after a certain hour, or they will text or call at the strangest times.

3. Do you carry business insurance?

Yes, I do! I use The Hartford for my business insurance through a broker, Hill and Usher. That’s about all I can tell you about it. I am fortunate and cursed to have a mother that is in the insurance business. I simply said to her that my landlord requires X coverage. And, what else do I need. She told me, I translated to the broker and now I have insurance that I pay quarterly. I really should be more educated on insurance. It’s the same with cars. I just ask and she tells me. I have no idea what any of it means. But, I am protected.

4. Do you have employees or use assistants?

I WISH I had an employee. I cannot afford to pay one. But, I do pay my mother in milkshakes for being a shooting assistant.One day, I dream of one day having a paid employee. I do not have an intern because I have read that if one DOES work that benefits your business, you must pay them a wage. Well, if I am to teach you, you have to do some of the work. I don’t like that rule.

5. Will you provide me with a written estimate that clearly shows all the fees and expenses (subject to a standard 10-percent variance) that I will be charged if I decide to use your services?

Duh! Of course I have a price menu and am HAPPY to discuss it all with you and quote you through my online payment system and manager, Tave.com. I keep everything in there. My customers can log in, review the quote and make a payment there using any major credit card. Yes, I have a merchant account for credit card payments and do NOT rely on PayPal. They have cheated me more than once and I don’t trust that company for these larger purchases.

So, there you have it! A little insight on my business. Now, can you ask yourself these questions and answer them all?

I don’t like a blog post without a photo! We are looking for Class of ’12 senior models by the way! CONTACT ME!