Being self- employed can lead you to have a nervous break down.

So how do you prevent yourself from seeking therapy from a professional?

I hear from many people just starting out in the business and it seems they all want to save money by doing their own accounting. I’ve been a Toronto photographer for almost 9 years now and get the same questions from photo assistants etc year after year. ” Why should I hire an accountant or book keeper ? I can do it myself. ” The question is would you fix your own car if it was broken? would you put a cast on your arm if it was fractured ? No. So make sure you hire a professional to take care of your taxes. There is a reason these people are certified. It’s so you won’t be.

Now that you’ve done that you just have to make sure you don’t avoid paying your taxes. Sure the tax man won’t physically break your legs for not paying up but they will emotionally break you down. If you are having problems call them immediately and make arrangements… be honest with them and you will end up helping out your case in a much more positive way. If you don’t call you may find your bank account frozen or worse ( I don’t think I have to get into the worse case scenario ).

Yes it’s easy to procrastinate when it comes to taxes. You miss one year then two then next thing you know you’re way behind schedule. Things can get out of control easily. Did you spend all that HST you collected on a new lense ? Did you not save up money for your year end return? You probably told yourself “ I will just pay it from that next big photo job I’m going to get next month.“ The problem is sometimes that big paying job doesn’t come. Then your stuck.

I always find that if you keep up to date with your paperwork this can all be avoided. Keep an extra account and deposit your tax money in it and these problems can be avoided.

Here is a link found interesting. Even though its American most of it is similar to what tax rules are in Canada.

The 7 Common Tax Mistakes Made By Photographers from PhotoShelter.com on Vimeo.

A PhotoShelter interview with Matthew T. Whatley, the “Tax Ninja,” talking about the common tax-related mistakes made by photographers and other artists.

I shot this a few weeks ago for The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. Its a portrait of Hadi Mahabadi from Xerox to illustrate a story about whether Canada was falling behind in technological innovation and inventiveness. The magazine’s photo editor Clare Jordan asked me to come up with a funny & interesting image. This can be a challenge for any photographer especially when you have to come up with something unique…but in this case it worked out well. I figured an old cell phone from 1993 would do the trick nicely. Keeping it simple is sometimes the best route.

Have you ever had a blurry photograph you wish you could fix? Well according to Adobe they are going to soon have a deblurring filter in an upcoming version of Photoshop.
This is just a sneak…they haven’t committed to when it will be released.
See video below.

In my last posting I mentioned how photographers lower their rates and become bottom feeders. On the flip side what happens when you have a client who wants to nickel and dime you? makes empty promises to you or always wants something for nothing? ( usually when you don’t have a contract with them ) This video pretty much sums up what it would be like in the real world if they did these things. Hilarious.

Are you whats known in the photo industry as a ” bottom feeder ” ?

A few months ago I provided a quote for a client ( 1/2 day job ) and waited for them to get back to me. When they did I was politely told my quote was too high. Apparently they were working with a photographer who had a rate that was less than half what I was quoting them. I was appalled. I understand that competition is a part of running a business however, should photographers be so competitive that they are pretty much working for free?

So how do you respond to this kind of issue ? Hang up the phone and get upset ? Tell the client sorry I can’t work for that rate and leave it at that ? or do you cut your rate lower to match theirs? The correct answer is to ask your client the question ” so what are you getting less of ? ” Competition is fine but there is a point where it becomes ridiculous. Some photographers grab any work they can and do it for the lowest rate possible. By doing this they are not only having to work more for less they are also harming the industry itself.

We all know what the going photo rates are in any city and there will be always someone working for nothing. However by working for nothing they probably aren’t using an assistant, have liability insurance or use proper lighting and have the experience to do the job properly. By asking the client the above question your making them think?

Anyone who has worked in the business hiring photographers knows what good photography costs and when someone undercuts those rates alarm bells should be going off. Then again some businesses don’t care and do you really want to work for them anyway? especially if they don’t care about the quality of the photography being shot. Your job as a photographer is to inform the client of your value. So when you quote a job or do an invoice you should be including not just your rate but also your value in line items ie: an assistant, digital archiving fee for editing the images and storing them on your server, possible retouching etc. ( along with the price of course )

I have spoken to a few photographers about this and some don’t have a clue. Understandable I guess as they don’t usually teach you in photo school how to run a business. Its up to you to educate yourself.

So the next time you end up in this situation ask that question to your prospective client ” What are you getting less of ? ” Better yet ask this ” If you were getting your house built or having plastic surgery, would you go with the lowest quote? ”

HostGator promos

pingback

I don’t think its any different whether you’re a Toronto photographer or a freelance creative anywhere else in the world. We all come across a client from time to time who wants something for free. What do you do? I have gotten the ” Well if you give it to us for free you will get lots of publicity. ” or the infamous ” If you shoot this for us for free everyone will know and you will get lots of work from it. ” Here is a great video from a freelance writer that pretty much sums up how he deals with it. FUNNY and informative. Still sadly there are a lot of amateur creatives out there still giving their work away for free. ( warning some swearing )

If your in the creative services industry and have ever had a client not pay you… or come up with excuses as to why they can’t pay … this video is great and very informative. Mike Monteiro gives a great humorous lecture on how to run your business whether you’re a self employed photographer, designer or art director.

2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. from San Francisco Creative Mornings on Vimeo.

If I had a word of advice to any would be or working photography assistants it would be ” get off your ass and start promoting yourself.” When I say promote yourself I don’t mean making phone calls to us ( photographers ) in the middle of the day when we are most busy. I mean sending along some marketing material via web… something interesting and something that I will remember other than a) your resume ( which usually I never read and just dispose of especially when its riddled with spelling errors ) b) your web site ( while I love photography I’m not hiring you as a photographer I’m hiring you as an assistant ).

In the spring I came across an email promo from James Burger www.jamesburger.com/assist who is a New York photo assistant. It was a humourous photo with him in it showing off his muscles. Ok.. yes it sounds super cheesy BUT it was the first time I have EVER received something that was different and interesting. ( see below ) It was funny… it showed me a photo of himself ( important ) and it showed me he could be creative and different.

Isn’t that what operating a business is all about? Standing out from the crowd? Well it worked and I remembered the piece. Too bad I can’t say that about many Toronto photo assistants. You want to get hired …. be unique. While I don’t mind a cold call phone call here and there from someone looking for work ( hey I have to make them myself ) but STOP sending me resumes…… LOL.

A great promotion mailer I received from New York photo assistant James Burger

Marketing takes three points of contact usually before someone will hire you. Usually a phone call or meeting in person helps.

Running your own business isn’t easy and I’m willing to help anyone who comes along who I see some talent in. I have worked with many photo assistants in the past and I’m currently working with a few now. Some have been great some have been bad. Some listen and take criticism… some can’t. The ones who listen and accept criticism are the ones who are going to go far. We are all artists and we all have fragile egos and yes age is a factor. When your young you usually are trying to rush to the top. However you can’t do that without the tools and experience. Too many people are in such a rush these days that I can tell they don’t really want to be a photo assistant… and if your heart isn’t in it get a job at Starbucks please. Your not working with photographers to pass the time you should be working with them to learn from them and gather as much information as you can before you head out on your own. The ones whose heart isn’t into it I usually pass on.. note: your easy to read.

Recently I was working with two young assistants who decided the raise their rates to only day rates and no half days. Fine I can accept that, however if I’m going to pay someone a full day rate ( for a half day job ) you better be pretty experienced. When I have the choice to choose from hiring someone who is 22 or someone who is 34 and been in the industry for 10 years, the more experienced one is usually going to win out each time.

I’m constantly asked from the photo students at a colleges where I’ve given lectures in the past rules you should follow when assisting a photographer. Here is a short list:

1. When your working with a photographer – listen and learn

2. Dress appropriately and ask the photographer your working with before each job how to dress. Do not wear ripped jeans regardless. Don’t dress like your on your way to a concert or beach party.

3. If the photographer happens to make a mistake during a shoot NEVER mention it aloud in front of the client. The same goes for giving your advice. We all make mistakes but your job isn’t to embarrass him/her in front of the client.

4. If you break something on the set own up to it. Same goes for making a mistake.

5. Find out what the photographers comfort zone is with regard to how he/she likes to work. Some photographers don’t want you to talk to the client or give any advice them, while some don’t mind ( just remember to give advice if asked for and quietly to the photographer only )

6. This is my biggest pet peeve… TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE while on a shoot… and don’t take calls while your working. Nothing is more rude. If you have to make a call or text wait till there is a break in the shoot and ask the photographer or first assistant permission.

There you have it…. if anyone else has any suggestions please add them to the comments section in case I missed it.

UPDATE – I totally forgot to give Toronto Photo Assistant Warren Hrycun a mention for his promo I received recently *( see below ) Great job ! http://warr3n.com/

Toronto Photo Assistant Warren Hrycun showing his creative skills in marketing