sylvar: (HIMYM: The Finger Thing)
[personal profile] sylvar
I've realized that I really enjoy photography and I want to explore turning it into a side business. I've got a Federal EIN and a state sales tax certificate on the way, and I'll pick up a county occupational license soon.

The stack of library books about the business of photography all seem to assume I want to be a copyright baron. I don't. I'd prefer to sell my services as a wedding/event photographer and provide my customers with CDs and a written license to do as they please with the images.

I need to figure out what legal forms to use so that I don't lose my shirt if I get sick the day before the wedding and Bridezilla sues me for malpractice. Perhaps one of these books will have sample wording.

Also, I need to get in some serious practice. I bought the digital camera I've been lusting after, but I need to know its limits: How many shots can I get in 60 seconds? How long until the flash recharges? How long until I run out of battery power for the flash and/or camera?

Then there's my limits. How long can I run around the room before I need water and a protein bar, and can I snarf them discreetly without missing a shot or smudging the gear? Can I stay focused for hours on end? Can I remember to get all of the standard shots (waist-high individual shots of each attendant, ceremony stuff, kissing, rice, etc.) and actually pull it off with no do-overs?

Of course, that's wedding photography -- it's an entire sub-discipline. I'd also enjoy selling rights to stock photos, selling framed prints of nature shots, maybe a bit of pro-am stringer photojournalism... the nice thing about a sideline is the freedom to dabble.

I suspect the best thing for me to do is photograph a street fair and figure out my limits. Tropical Heatwave is this weekend... hmm...

On the other hand, if anyone needs an event photographer and wants to give me a chance, let's talk!

Date: 2006-05-19 03:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magnoliafly.livejournal.com
Most wedding photographers require that a dinner be provided for them if they are photographing at the reception too. They get fed anyway, I know we fed mine.

I think I just threw out a copy of his contract but if I happen to run across it and I kept it I'll scan it for you. It was a simple one pager, required a deposit to secure the date and he did exactly what you're talking about, free license to re-print if necessary. I would have preferred some more candid shots of the wedding itself, and the wedding party, black and white stuff... but you get what you pay for. He wasn't particularly creative.

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