Questions on website

[kula23]

I have questions that I wanted to know if that is bad idea if I have donate on my website to donate me a money to get things I need to help me out and I give return in to give charity once I sell my work of photos and also when they donate, I can send them a free postersize of my photo works. Is that bad ideas? I noticed some photographer's website have their donate along with credit cards on it to donate them something they need. I am not kind of person would steal but just a though. Let me know if that is bad idea or not.

[dtscds]

I am not sure I understand you question. I hate to be too critical but your wording makes it hard to understand what you are asking.

As a pastor let me say that anytime you are dealing with donating items to a charity, there are a ton of rules that must be followed. If you are asking if someone can donate items to you there is nothing stopping you. However, if the person wants to take the value of the item as a deduction on their taxes--be very careful! Unless you are a 501c3 corporation, or a church, donations to you are most likely not deductible. (Donations to churches ARE deductible even if they do not have 501c3 status.)

Now then, if you are asking if it is a good idea PROFESSIONALLY to ask for donations of equipment--I would say prolly not. If I am looking to hire someone to do work for me, I assume they have enough professionalism to have accumulated the necessary gear to do the job. If I was looking to hire someone to build a house for me and they were out looking for someone to donate a hammer and some nails I would not have much confidence in their ability to do the job.

When ALL you have to sell is your ability, then the image you put forth makes or breaks you. If I am buying a car and the guy selling it to me is kinda flaky, I still have the car. If I am hiring you to photograph my event and you turn out to be flaky, I will quite possibly end up with squat! Your image is EVERYTHING. When I meet with you I need to feel like you are competent and can handle my job and are going to do a great job from start to delivery.

I suppose you could try to get stuff donated and then when you have a well stocked equipment closet you could start trying to drum up business. Maybe folks won't remember you were the one looking for free stuff.

Good luck. I'm sure others who are MUCH MORE experienced in the ways of photography as a business will chime in with MUCH MORE competent advice.

[HeatherLou]

Hi Kelly,
I think I know what your talking about. Your talking about having a link on your website so that whoever happens upon the site, can donate money to you, so that you can buy equipment and so forth?? Is that correct??

I know of a photographer in my town that has a link of that type on his myspace page, if I remember right. And while I can certainly understand that you want a camera badly, (I too have offered to sell my soul for a 5D) LOL. I think that is a bit tacky to ask customers for that kind of donation. The customers are providing you payment for a service, and profit from that is what I use to get new equipment, props and workshops.

I would suggest passing on doing that sort of thing. Stick around on the forum, keep an eye on the buy and sell section, and also check your local pawn shops. Pawn shops most of the time have a layaway plan, and while it wouldn't be the best camera in the world, it might be enough to get your started. Keep your chin up!

[kula23]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

Hi Kelly,
I think I know what your talking about. Your talking about having a link on your website so that whoever happens upon the site, can donate money to you, so that you can buy equipment and so forth?? Is that correct??

I know of a photographer in my town that has a link of that type on his myspace page, if I remember right. And while I can certainly understand that you want a camera badly, (I too have offered to sell my soul for a 5D) LOL. I think that is a bit tacky to ask customers for that kind of donation. The customers are providing you payment for a service, and profit from that is what I use to get new equipment, props and workshops.

I would suggest passing on doing that sort of thing. Stick around on the forum, keep an eye on the buy and sell section, and also check your local pawn shops. Pawn shops most of the time have a layaway plan, and while it wouldn't be the best camera in the world, it might be enough to get your started. Keep your chin up!

Yes that's what I am trying to say about provide for equipments, cameras, etc. I though so that is not such a good idea. It's harder if you only make $700 a month plus you got place to pay and bills. So that part is sucks and make it harder to pay in FULL amount of stuff I need. That's why I am just trying to find a way that I believe there are many ways around. In fact, Walmart now do have Nikon D40 but they are no longer doing layway that would help me. Of course I have went several pawn shop but no luck since they are all FILM. I would rather to have digital to save money from developing and prints. This is my dream to become Photographer. Good thing I asked about this because I was going to put on my new website this weekend but I guess I will get rid of this idea. Have anyone ever had like local owner camera shop ever do layway to get camera? I am not sure if they do that or not. I would love to, though. Let me know. I would never taken advantage that is unnecessary but I just wanted to start my own business and help people out who have disabled like me. Another thing, I would love to lok at Buy and Sell section but I know they ALL wanted to get paid in full so that is problem. I would buy online but sadly my credit is not good anymore. So yea my life is harder than I would it would.

[dtscds]

Okay, so now I am seeing that English is not your native language. I feel like quite a JERK for being critical in my earlier post!
I understand your problem now. In your specific situation I would say to go ahead and try for the donations. The most important thing right now is to get some basic equipment so you can start learning how to take good shots. No one knows if you will have much luck getting the donations but it can't hurt to try. If you never try you will for sure not get any.
So, forget everything I said before and go ahead and try the website idea. I wish you well.

[LoungeLizard]

I think it's tacky and unprofessional - but that's just me.

[kula23]

Originally Posted by dtscds

Okay, so now I am seeing that English is not your native language. I feel like quite a JERK for being critical in my earlier post!
I understand your problem now. In your specific situation I would say to go ahead and try for the donations. The most important thing right now is to get some basic equipment so you can start learning how to take good shots. No one knows if you will have much luck getting the donations but it can't hurt to try. If you never try you will for sure not get any.
So, forget everything I said before and go ahead and try the website idea. I wish you well.

Don't worry. I am hearing impaired and I know my English isn't perfect so I born and raised in Tampa, FL LOL I had bad experienced in my old school how they treated me and didn't improved well in my grammar. I am just being honest what I plan to use a donation for. I am in middle of the bridge if I should do or not. I don't want people thinks that I am taking money and buy whatever I want but I have limited with people helped me what I need for my vision problem, etc. I would do basics equipment even though I do have film but you can't practice on it since you gonna buy a film and develop the pictures to look at. It's kinda waste of money and I used ALOT of practice to make perfect picture on my previous Nikon D80 and did successfully on it than film camera.

[kula23]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

I think it's tacky and unprofessional - but that's just me.

At least I was honest and asked before I do anything unprofessional. But thanks for your thinking is good idea or not. :)

[CaptainTom]

Heather said (I too have offered to sell my soul for a 5D) LOL

.

I have offered my body for a 5D. Perhaps you would be more successful

[kula23]

LOL I wish that was easy to do that way.

[toverman]

I've seen personal blogs with the "donation button." If it's something you are considering, at first at least it probably wouldn't hurt.

As for affording equipment, most of us at one time or another feel your pain. I've tried hard to buy as I go, and it's mostly worked. I can't say charging something is a wonderful idea, but B&H Photo is one online retailer among many that offers "Bill Me Later," basically a short-term interest-free deal when you pay it off before the term expires. For example, if you spend more than $750 you have six months to pay off your bill before interest kicks in. As far as practice goes, you'd have to shoot an awful lot of film before it approached the cost of a digital SLR (even a used one).

On the other hand, what kind of photography are you interested in? If it's portraits, you might consider getting a part-time job (if your schedule allows) at a studio (even Picture People, etc.) to up your income and gain some experience. If it's weddings and the like, see if there are pros who need an assistant or shooter (and can let you borrow equipment).

Good luck!

[kula23]

Originally Posted by toverman

I've seen personal blogs with the "donation button." If it's something you are considering, at first at least it probably wouldn't hurt.

As for affording equipment, most of us at one time or another feel your pain. I've tried hard to buy as I go, and it's mostly worked. I can't say charging something is a wonderful idea, but B&H Photo is one online retailer among many that offers "Bill Me Later," basically a short-term interest-free deal when you pay it off before the term expires. For example, if you spend more than $750 you have six months to pay off your bill before interest kicks in. As far as practice goes, you'd have to shoot an awful lot of film before it approached the cost of a digital SLR (even a used one).

On the other hand, what kind of photography are you interested in? If it's portraits, you might consider getting a part-time job (if your schedule allows) at a studio (even Picture People, etc.) to up your income and gain some experience. If it's weddings and the like, see if there are pros who need an assistant or shooter (and can let you borrow equipment).

Good luck!

I would love to do this type of payment "Bill me Later" but they are based on credit so my credit are ruined and it's impossible for me to get it. That makes it HARDER. I live in small town (Lubbock). I tried to find a job for part time in Photography but couldn't find one that will let me gain experienced. I would love to Landscape Photography to travel and sell to magazines or whoever need landscape photos. I also wanted to try wedding but I been told it is kinda hard because you have to be fast since I have eye problem but that doesn't' stop me to be a photographer since I do take good pictures. I am curious, have B&H ever do like down payment so that I can show them that I will pay them off? I a not sure if there is more ways for payments.

[toverman]

Check out www.bhphoto.com. There may be another way, but I found more information on the "Bill Me Later" (a separate service not part of B&H) by actually putting something in your shopping basket. You don't have to buy it, but pretend to buy something and the "Bill Me Later" icon will come up somewhere on the page. Then you can see if it's right for you. It's like a credit card, but is a little different. Approval (or rejection) is almost instant.

Wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. You might try something a little less pressure-inducing first. I used to live in Lubbock, and though it feels like a small town it's actually quite large. I believe there's even a photography club (at least one) out there. If it's something you really want to do, there are ways to do it.

[kula23]

Originally Posted by toverman

Check out www.bhphoto.com. There may be another way, but I found more information on the "Bill Me Later" (a separate service not part of B&H) by actually putting something in your shopping basket. You don't have to buy it, but pretend to buy something and the "Bill Me Later" icon will come up somewhere on the page. Then you can see if it's right for you. It's like a credit card, but is a little different. Approval (or rejection) is almost instant.

Wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. You might try something a little less pressure-inducing first. I used to live in Lubbock, and though it feels like a small town it's actually quite large. I believe there's even a photography club (at least one) out there. If it's something you really want to do, there are ways to do it.

I could called Bill me Later and find out if they can allow me do little large down payment cuz I have tried before and I always get rejection many times. Yea I been told there is Photography Club in Lubbock, I think it's called South Plain Photography. I will join once I get my camera and join there and I am sure I will get alot of helpful tips for job and such. I, myself, considering myself a city girl since I used lived in Tampa, FL.

[bellavistapro]

Just put a donation button on your myspace page and done!