Common Cents

If you are a staff photographer or a freelancer and you are not reading Mark Loundy's Common Cents column monthly, you should be. Loundy is a long time photographer's rights and better business practices advocate. He has many years of experience and knowledge of issues that affect photographers. He kindly shares his knowledge to help educate us on the ways of the business world in both his Common Cents column and on many Internet photography forums.

His latest column talks about having the "warm and cozy" feeling of a staff job, taking freelance gigs on the side for low rates because it is only "fun money". Then you have the cold harsh reality of losing your job due to staff cuts. All of a sudden, that "fun money" is not enough to pay your bills. You try and raise your rates, but your clients balk and you can't pay the rent.

His point is learn to do business the right way. Figure out your "Cost of Doing Business," use contracts, charge a fair rate, and learn about licensing your images to clients. These are all things that will help you make an actual living from being a photographer if you ever lose your "warm and cozy" staff job. Now I am no saint or expert about the photo business, but I am also trying to learn how to do things the right way, and I hope you do too.

A good place to learn is the NPPA Independent Photographer's Toolkit.