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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
02-08-2017, 04:29 PM
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that would be a relief for those operating in the USA. So many stories are told in our facebook communities of photographers not realizing they need licencing to operate... those that shoot in the national parks and town sites like Jasper and Banff really get in trouble....One was banned for 12 months!
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
02-08-2017, 04:06 PM
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Wow... to the OP... very bad idea of how to start out.
I highly suggest finding your local models and photographers facebook group, join it, and get in on the fun. You will do a lot of TFP work. This is free work where you shoot for the model and provide an image or three and in turn the model models for you for free. Sometimes you can even get hair and makeup artists involved to do work for free too!
You will build your skills and your negotiation abilities (because even though it's free trade work you will still need to negotiate some garbage here and there) and you will find it very rewarding. It also builds your connections in the community and can help you out later on down the line when you want to try out some new techniques for your business on someone that's not paying your bills.
When you actually go start your business you need to own it and make it yours. I had to restart my plan this year due to my 2016 being completely garbage... but here is how I'm going into it:
5 year plan with goals set out
first year plans set into 12 month, 6 month, 3 month, 1 month goals
hire a business consultant/manager/adviser
market to the clients YOU want
charge as if you have been in business for years
you will need:
-a business licence for the municipality your operating in. a business licence for any municipality you are providing services in. (ie: you live in Ardrie, AB and use it as your office, but you primarily serve clients in Calgary, AB. you will need a business licence in both municipalities). Nothing is more embarrassing than shooting a client and bylaw officers coming up and asking for your licence that you don't have!
-2 million dollar limited liability insurance. keep in mind they can still take your house if you get sued... but a lot of venues require this from the photographer to do business. YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS ANYWAYS if your shooting models, events, or anything where someone can trip over your tripod.... a friend of mine did't have insurance, was working a charity event, clocked a kid in the head with his camera and gave him a bruise. he got sued by the parents for negligence.
Just because you got a camera and people say you take pretty pictures does not mean your ready to charge and provide services. it's a different animal. I have failed twice. I'm doing this a third time and I'm going to make it work because I'm setting a proper foundation before I take my first client.
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