Start-up

[My Porsche]

I'm thinking about starting a part-time party photography type thing, but I really have no idea where to start...

I have the equipment stuff down (lenses, flashes, etc) but the business side I'm completely lost...where do I get clients? what do I charge? how do I get the pictures to them? do i have to start an actual company or can i just get paid cash, since I'm 16 and this isn't a full-time deal? So many questions, I really have no idea where to begin. Help, please.

[HotHolly]

I could have pointed you in the right direction, but being 16 throws off the equation a little bit. You could be a 2nd shooter, but your parents permission would still be required. You might want to PM Daniel to see what he does.

I can tell you that you can get clients from friends, family, MySpace, and a good website. That should be a good place to start.

As for setting up a biz, I dont think you can yet due to the age restriction. Your clients would have to make checks payable to you. You charge what you think you're worth. Use Sears prices as a starting benchmark. Do not charge less than a retail chain. You wont make any profit.

You could also look for internship opportunities in your area. You'd get to shadow a pro photog and learn from them.

Good luck!

[kamari]

I'd say you're gonna learn as you go. Your best starting point would be, like holly said, friends & family. Shoot them, give em free photos, and use those to build your portfolio. Your business will slowly start to form as you network with people. Networking is the key to everything.

I know it sounds cheesy but your questions will start to answer themselves as you get to shooting. The client base and price-setting will all fall into place as you shoot more and more. You're still in school so you've got easy access to the seniors, sporting events, dances, proms and other little things. Like Holly said (she's so intelligent, props to Holly!) base prices off of a studio (sears, walmart) but be careful that you are at least making what it's costing you for ink & photo paper. Baseball and soccer season is warming up, work out a deal with the coach to take individual pics of the players during practice and offer them packages. You gotta start somewhere, and your business will develop as you go along. For me that's how it worked, the biz developed as I began doing more work and developing a feel for things...and I still have a loooong way to go. It's not payin the car note, but like everyone else I had to start somewhere.

As far as getting prints, you can start off with low overhead by just having them printed out at a lab for you until you're doing enough that it's profittable for you to purchase your own high end printer. Market yourself with business cards and a firm handshake. Look people in the eye, smile, and assure them thru your confident speaking that you'll deliver a product that they'll enjoy. You don't "have" to start up a company. You can consider this a hobby when tax time rolls around. Just keep receipts of what people pay you and what you spend on equipment. When you are ready to go and file yourself as a business you'll find what you need at (I think it's called) the County Clerk's Office. I hope this helps. Good luck.

[My Porsche]

Thanks guys, that helps alot. So I can technically do it as a hobby, and still get paid? I have a bank account so checks are no problem.

Being a second shooter wouldn't be too bad I don't think, but I'd have to find someone in Houston who shoots Nikon. (So I can use their lenses? Or would I just use one of their bodies and lenses?)

This is starting to sound way more complicated than I thought originally.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by kamari

I know it sounds cheesy but your questions will start to answer themselves as you get to shooting.

That's so true.

And - If you think you're ready to jump in - jump! Start shooting. Be brave and ask for money!

As you go along, you'll have more and different questions. The people in here are more than gracious to help and a lot of it will work out on its own.

A good place to run prints at minimal cost is Sam's Club, if you don't have a good printer yet. They have mail order and 1-hour photo. Their prints are as little as 11 cents for mail order and an 8x10 for 1 hour photo is $1.10 - here in Abilene anyway. That should be a great printing option for you at this point. You can even upload the photos from your home computer and have them mailed to you. You never have to go into the store. No lines!

Anyway, you do have access to a ton of high school kids. Odds are, if you shoot Sweet-16 pics for one girl, and she loves them, she'll show all her friends. In high school word of mouth will be your best friend. News flies fast when your stuck in the same building all day. That works in your favor. Same thing with seniors and sports - as Kamari already mentioned. :o)

Good luck!

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by My Porsche

Thanks guys, that helps alot. So I can technically do it as a hobby, and still get paid? I have a bank account so checks are no problem.

Being a second shooter wouldn't be too bad I don't think, but I'd have to find someone in Houston who shoots Nikon. (So I can use their lenses? Or would I just use one of their bodies and lenses?)

This is starting to sound way more complicated than I thought originally.

You'll want to look at the tax laws - or ask H&R Block or someone that can verify, but last I checked hobby income was capped at $700 per year or less. If you make more than that, you'll have to claim it as income. I would think you could run well within hobby lines your 1st year.

As for 2nd shooting - depends on who you are shooting with. We use different camera systems and each shooter owns his or her own stuff. We don't share. Since you are in a major city, you could rent a camera or lens depending on what you are shooting. Each photog will have you shoot differently, and it will affect what equipment you need. We usually have ours lean towards a prime and focus on getting detail shots, but so far I haven't had a 2nd shooter that takes killer portraits, otherwise I'd give her a whack at that too.

Play to your strong suits and start to grab books about your weaknesses.

[My Porsche]

The only photographer I know personally is Frank (Zepp) so I guess it would be good to contact him about being a second shooter?

[PeteQ]

Before contacting anyone to ask for shooting jobs you should find out what is required from your end. Assume you will make more than $700 and get things in line right out of the gate. As my CPA explained to me (could be wrong, find out from your own source), if a contractor (photographer) pays another (you) more than $650 for services as a subcontractor they are required to send out a IRS 1099 that states how much they have paid. One copy to you, one to the IRS. If the IRS sees you getting money but you don't report it you are going to have problems. Every January a bunch of 1099's arrives from folks I forgot about for something I had done for them....

If you have all your ducks in a row it will make it much easier to find jobs as a second shooter. If you go to someone and they have to think about helping set this all up for you or it is a hassle, they will likely balk. Make it easy for them.....

As for borrowing lenses, etc. Don't go in assuming that will happen. There are insurance issues, etc. Also, having the right gear is part of the prerequisite to getting a job. Just as mechanics are expected to provide most of their own tools, you will be also. You have to make yourself attractive to that person. Why should they pay you and loan you equipment if they can pay Joe Schmo and he has all his. Be competitive, run it as a business from the start and you will have fewer problems.