Freelancing

[xm310x]

Hi guys,
I've always been interested in photography and recently purchased my first dSLR. A few friends want me to photograph their kids playing sports, party, ect and are willing to pay. I have no idea how much to charge or even where to start. I would like to have a side thing where by word of mouth I will do little projects here and there. Should I start a website with my pictures? I know some people have their own company but I don't necessary want to do this full time. Any suggestions or ideas where to start?

[Jim Bryant]

I really don't want to come off as rude, but are you experienced in sports photography and have the fast f2.8 lenses to take pictures in low light environments? If, not,you might want to practice a lot before charging folks. If you blow a job, word will quickly travel through the coconut telegraph and your reputation will be shot to hell. You might want to go into Everything you wanted to know about photography thread and read.

[nokiN]

Originally Posted by xm310x

Hi guys,
I've always been interested in photography and recently purchased my first dSLR. A few friends want me to photograph their kids playing sports, party, ect and are willing to pay. I have no idea how much to charge or even where to start. I would like to have a side thing where by word of mouth I will do little projects here and there. Should I start a website with my pictures? I know some people have their own company but I don't necessary want to do this full time. Any suggestions or ideas where to start?

Your profile has no location for you and this is an international forum, so I'll assume you're in the US.
First, you need to visit your local City Clerks office and discover what you need to do to establish a legally licensed or registered business.

Second, get together with your insurance agent and find out about business liability and indemnity insurance. You may need an inland marine policy to insure your camera equipment since you'll be using it for income.

Third decide if you will use the accrual or the cash method of accounting and set up your accounting system. You may want to schedule a consultation with an accountant. You will need to register your business with your state government and learn the requirements for collecting and forwarding state sales taxes. Many states have 'drop-a-dime' program whereby competitors, and others, can get a % of the fines and penalties levied against those legal, and illegal, businesses that do not collect and forward state sales taxes.

Fourth decide what type of business you want to establish, a sole proprietorship, a limited liability corporation (LLC), or a sub-chapter S corporation. Each has different federal and state reporting requirements.

Of course you'll need a business bank account so your personal and business monies are not co-mingled. You'll need contracts that are enforceable where you are doing business, and you'll need formal written permission from anyone that pays you to take their photos to use those photos for your self-promotion and self-publishing.

Your pricing will need to based on your non-reimbursed business and cost of goods sold expenses. don't forget that your salary and retirement income contributions are part of your non-reimbursed business expenses.

Good luck with your new venture.

Oh, don't forget to learn how to do photography!