A successful photographer must pay close attention to all of each business obligation and must find a balance that keeps his or her business thriving. It takes more than just talent to get ahead in the marketplace. Strong business skills are just as important. Best Business Practices for Photographers covers the essential business topics that professional photographers need to know in order to succeed. It does not focus on taking pictures, starting a photography business, or selling photography, but rather explains how photographers can meet important business objectives. Instead, it covers the focal points of best practices--best practices in interacting with clients, best practices in negotiating contracts and licenses, best practices in business operations. This book provides a roadmap for successfully navigating these, and many other issues, facing photographers today.
Best Business Practices for Photographers
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John Harrington has built a photography business that has been successful, with income having risen ten-fold since he started. He is a teacher that can communicate to an audience. He has spoken in the past at courses and meetings of The NPPA's Northern Short Course, The White House News Photographers Association, Smithsonian Institution, Corcoran School of Art and Design, American Society of Media Photographers Capital Region, University of Maryland, Northern Virginia Community College, Trinity College, and the Northern Virginia Photographic Society. He has worked for over 16 years as an active photographer in Washington DC and around the world, working with both editorial and commercial clients. Editorially, his credits have included the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, The National Geographic Society, USA Today, People, MTV, and Life. For corporate and public relations clients, John has successfully placed images with the wire services (Associated Press, Reuters, Gannett, Agence France Presse, and UPI) over three hundred times. Commercially, John has worked with well over half of the top fortune 50 companies, and even more of the top 500. Ad campaigns for Seimens, Coca Cola, General Motors, Bank of America, and Freddie Mac, to name a few, have been seen worldwide.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Here's a well written photography book that most photographers will not want to read. That's because it's aimed at professional photographers who already have at least a little business experience under their belt. Moreover, it's aimed at assignment photographers, rather than studio or fine arts photographers, although some of the people who shoot in these genres may benefit from discussions of things like rights, pricing and insurance. It's all business, with no photographic technique or vision (although Harrington certainly does describe business techniques and vision). Finally, even though it's an excellent book, it does not deal with every aspect of the business of photography.
The author begins by reminding the professional photographer that he is in business. There is a brief discussion of equipment in which the author urges the readers to get the best equipment he or she can afford, and a warning that the professional had better consider the logistics of every job.
In another part Harrington discusses working with assistants, employees and contractors as well as pricing, including consideration of factors like retirement accounts and insurance. He discusses hiring accountants and lawyers. To me, the meat of the book is in the discussion of contracts. Besides furnishing the reader with samples of his own documents, he explains essential provisions. There are also chapters on infringement and enforcing contractual rights. There's a brief tour through archiving images, although the essence of Harrington's message is, read Peter Krogh's "The DAM Book", a point with which I heartily agree. The author also touches on the market for stock photographs.
He finishes the book with chapters on care and feeding of clients (literally), training yourself and others, and a discussion of your obligations to your family and community.
A theme that keeps coming through is the importance of protecting your work by making sure you keep your ownership interest in your images and that you charge enough for their use. I agree with Harrington, but he certainly is a little strident on the subject.
I do have bones to pick. He covers the IRS's 20 factors that determine if a person is an employee or a contractor, which is important if you don't want to be responsible for paying that person's Social Security and income taxes. He suggests ways of avoiding the characterization of a person working for you as an employee. However, if you follow his suggestions and comply with federal regulations, you may find yourself paying someone who can't be made useful to you, or alternatively paying those taxes at a later date. Read this section with care so that you understand the regulations, but then discuss it with your lawyer.
There is also a discussion of negotiating indemnity agreements in contracts. I suspect many readers don't even know the consequences of an indemnity agreement, which will make it difficult to negotiate these provisions. Hopefully this will be explained in the next edition.
Finally, Harrington is sometimes hardnosed in his advice for dealing with clients. If you follow his advice, you better make sure your diplomacy skills are also in place.
Photographers who are just getting started in business would probably benefit from reading books like "Starting Your Career As a Freelance Photographer" by Tad Crawford or "American Society of Media Photographers Professional Business Practices in Photography". However, once you are on the road as a professional, this is certainly a must-read book
The author begins by reminding the professional photographer that he is in business. There is a brief discussion of equipment in which the author urges the readers to get the best equipment he or she can afford, and a warning that the professional had better consider the logistics of every job.
In another part Harrington discusses working with assistants, employees and contractors as well as pricing, including consideration of factors like retirement accounts and insurance. He discusses hiring accountants and lawyers. To me, the meat of the book is in the discussion of contracts. Besides furnishing the reader with samples of his own documents, he explains essential provisions. There are also chapters on infringement and enforcing contractual rights. There's a brief tour through archiving images, although the essence of Harrington's message is, read Peter Krogh's "The DAM Book", a point with which I heartily agree. The author also touches on the market for stock photographs.
He finishes the book with chapters on care and feeding of clients (literally), training yourself and others, and a discussion of your obligations to your family and community.
A theme that keeps coming through is the importance of protecting your work by making sure you keep your ownership interest in your images and that you charge enough for their use. I agree with Harrington, but he certainly is a little strident on the subject.
I do have bones to pick. He covers the IRS's 20 factors that determine if a person is an employee or a contractor, which is important if you don't want to be responsible for paying that person's Social Security and income taxes. He suggests ways of avoiding the characterization of a person working for you as an employee. However, if you follow his suggestions and comply with federal regulations, you may find yourself paying someone who can't be made useful to you, or alternatively paying those taxes at a later date. Read this section with care so that you understand the regulations, but then discuss it with your lawyer.
There is also a discussion of negotiating indemnity agreements in contracts. I suspect many readers don't even know the consequences of an indemnity agreement, which will make it difficult to negotiate these provisions. Hopefully this will be explained in the next edition.
Finally, Harrington is sometimes hardnosed in his advice for dealing with clients. If you follow his advice, you better make sure your diplomacy skills are also in place.
Photographers who are just getting started in business would probably benefit from reading books like "Starting Your Career As a Freelance Photographer" by Tad Crawford or "American Society of Media Photographers Professional Business Practices in Photography". However, once you are on the road as a professional, this is certainly a must-read book
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By B. Jackman
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
...don't be confused. This book IS NOT for people who want to start a photography business. This book is for people who already run a photography business.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wish I could give this book to every "photographer" on Craigslist who only charges $100 for a photo shoot. They don't realize they hurt the photo industry as a whole by undervaluing the craft. This book is an excellent wakeup call to anyone truly serious about making a living as a photographer.
Not only does this book cover solid business principles with real-world examples, it gives the reader insight into the value of the work we do as photographers. To me, this book says: "Don't sell yourself short. You are a business: start acting like it. Determine what it costs to be in business and charge accordingly."
If you're serious about making a living as a photographer, read this.
Not only does this book cover solid business principles with real-world examples, it gives the reader insight into the value of the work we do as photographers. To me, this book says: "Don't sell yourself short. You are a business: start acting like it. Determine what it costs to be in business and charge accordingly."
If you're serious about making a living as a photographer, read this.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight / overview
This book touches a lot of areas that all levels of photographers will appreciate. It makes for a great reference type of book that you can go back to over and over for some... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andrew M. Clark
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of important info for working photographers
I am still reading through this book as it contains many legal references that I'm trying to digest. It is not an easy read unless you like reading the fine print of contracts. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Robert T. Beyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent detailed business primer
This is a great detailed look at how to conduct the business side of Photography. It includes advice on using model releases, including considerations for different situations. Read more
Published on October 12, 2009 by L. Bean
4.0 out of 5 stars
A reference every photography business should have on hand
It must first be mentioned that this is a book geared towards those with established photography businesses. Read more
Published on April 10, 2009 by L. Peasley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, but...
This book came highly recommended by a variety of sources, and although I am only about 30% completed reading it, my conclusions are that although John is an excellent businessman,... Read more
Published on March 27, 2009 by Phil Hawkins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Must buy for any photographer who intends on making money!
This book gives you some insights into the way you should think about your business when doing invoicing, quotations, sales, and everyday stuff that many photographers fail to... Read more
Published on February 20, 2009 by Antonio Alvendia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
If you want to become a professional photographer or already are a working photographer, this is the book you should buy first! Read more
Published on November 10, 2008 by Lenn Long
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thorough and based upon real experience
There's a lot more to earning a living with your photography than simply creating a great image. John's a successful pro and his advice is very thorough, very professional and... Read more
Published on October 1, 2008 by Michael Brochstein
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for professional photographers
I read John's excellent book on business twice and then met him at the ASMP seminar in LA. This is not a how-to take good photos book rather a how-to negotiate effectively and stay... Read more
Published on April 7, 2008 by wjwallis
5.0 out of 5 stars
You need this book!
I am always a little suspicious of reviews of books, since so many of them are made by friends of the author, but this book is definitely a "must read" for any photographer that is... Read more
Published on March 23, 2008 by Camera bug
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