From time to time, we photographers will actually get paid for shooting! WOW, what a concept! Our drop a dollar down the hole hobby/obsession actually made us a buck!
But here is the thing, whether you’re shooting a family outing or a wedding; if someone is serious about paying you, then you MUST get them to sign a contract.
- Contracts protect you and your client from misunderstandings about the scope of the work.
- If there is a dispute with the photos you shoot, then you always go back to the contract. End of story.
- NEVER break the rules in your contract. Once you break one rule in it, your contract is worthless.
- There are some unscrupulous people out there that will always want your stuff for free. And our investment in time, equipment and talent is something that should not be taken lightly. We paid a price to get to where we are, they didn’t. So pay up bucko!
To date, the best bang for the buck book is Business and Legal Forms for Photographers. You can get it online, or at any bookstore.
If someone refuses to work with you because you insist on a contract, then you definitely do not want to be shooting for them. (Trust me, I have been there.) They will end up costing you more time, money and emotion in the end.
Some scams they will play are the “Gosh, I love your stuff, but I don’t have the cash to pay for it.” Later on, what you’ve shot is no good and they can’t believe they ever agreed to pay you for the work that you did.
Folks, we all need to get paid. Why not get paid for what we love to do!
Oh yea, one final note: The second you get paid a dollar, or get reimbursed in any other way, like a night in a great hotel, all expenses paid….. YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER! Don’t ever go back to being an amateur again! That is how it started for me.
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