Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

The desire to earn money with your own photos is probably in almost every dedicated photographer. This article is intended to provide you with information from an insider who has been working successfully as a commercial photographer for more than 13 years. Before you decide to take the step into self-employment as a professional photographer, you should study this article carefully in order to gain sound knowledge for a successful start.

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

Here is an overview of the individual chapters:

01: Career aspirations in photography

Desire for recognition as a driving force

The profession of photographer between cliché and reality

02: Questions about suitability

Personal aptitude: "doer" vs. doubter

Factual requirements

Monetary requirements

Supportive environment

03: Getting started in professional photography

Internships and assistantships

The classic, craft-based training

The academic path (photography studies)

Private photography schools

The self-taught path (lateral entry)

04: The photo studio

Own studio vs. rental studio

Advantages and disadvantages of a shared studio

Tips on the rental contract

Tips on location

Tips on the suitability and sensible furnishing of your own photo studio

05: Positioning and objectives

All-rounder or specialist?

Fields of activity

The curse and blessing of the photo agency business

06: Dealing with authorities & Co.

The status of an artist

Registration with the tax office

Registration with the trade registration office

Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and Chamber of Crafts

Social insurance: Registration with the artists' social insurance fund

Registration with the employers' liability insurance association

VG Bild-Kunst

07: Sensible advertising measures

Targeted advertising

Flyer advertising

Business cards

Internet presence

Shop window design

Acquiring advertising agencies and publishers

08: How do I do my first photo job professionally, efficiently, financially successfully and legally securely?

Preparing an offer

Confirmation letter

Processing

Invoicing

Dunning

09: Legal matters

10: Taxes

Sales tax small business

The question of the correct tax rate

Turnover tax

Income tax

Outlook

Useful links and literature recommendations

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

Part 01: Career aspirations in photography

Desire for recognition as a motivation

In other areas, it is almost unthinkable that people come up with the idea of wanting to earn money with their hobby; in the field of photography, this is almost the rule. It is difficult to say why this is the case. The argument that the hobby of photography is extremely expensive, which is why some of the equipment has to be financed by selling photos, is perhaps one of the many (often cited) reasons. But if you look at other hobbies (e.g. diving), you quickly realize that financial reasons cannot be the decisive factor, because other hobbies also consume a lot of money without the practitioners having the idea of turning their diving skills into money, for example.

I think it's more the desire for recognition that drives photographers to offer their photographic skills for a fee. Everyone knows that it is easy to praise a successful photo as long as there are no consequences. The many communities in the field of photography are proof of how most people are in need of harmony when photos are praised in abundance that - viewed halfway objectively - deserve scathing criticism. However, if the viewer does not have to take responsibility for their praise in any way, it is quickly expressed, even if it may not be one hundred percent sincere.

Only when someone is prepared to pay a reasonable fee for your photos can you be sure that they really like them. I can still remember my first sold photo series in Mens Health just over 13 years ago: a great feeling!

So being paid for the use of a photo or for someone else's photographic work is the most honest form of appreciation! And it is precisely this form of recognition that drives many (amateur) photographers to want to turn their hobby into money, at least in part.

They quickly reach the point where they are no longer satisfied with selling the occasional picture to the local newspaper. The "fun factor" of independently conceptualizing and photographing is so enormously high for us (otherwise we wouldn't have chosen photography as a hobby) that it can seem all too tempting to work as a photographer at least part-time, if not full-time.

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

The profession of photographer is not as easy as some people think. Certainly, there are also many beautiful aspects, such as taking photos in exotic locations. But to be successful in the long term, you need a good deal of hard work.

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

The profession of photographer between cliché and reality

I only really enjoy my job when I can be creative and realize my own ideas. For this luxury handbag shoot, I had - as is usually the case - absolute freedom when it came to implementation. Together with good, loud music, a shoot like this is simply fun! :-)

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

The cliché: photographers...

... sleep until 9 o'clock in the morning.
... walk around with their camera all the time.
... only work creatively.
... travel a lot and get to know the world.
... always have the latest camera model.
... are always surrounded by beautiful models.
... can go shopping at 3 p.m. when everyone else still has to work.
... earn "pork money".
... drive a sports car.
... are eloquent, young and dynamic.
... are always in a good mood.
... are at every hip party.
... know the rich and famous.
... usually have ugly profile photos.
... turn a blind eye when taking photos.
... are eccentric.
... see great motifs everywhere (and like to share them with everyone else), even when they're not at work.
... don't allow themselves to be talked into their work, are resistant to advice.

I enjoy my work because it's varied and I get to travel a lot professionally. In addition to my work as a commercial photographer, I organize photo tours and work as a speaker for various workshop organizers. I also write photography textbooks.

Pictured is the cover of the completely revised new edition of my bestseller Modern Erotic Digital Photography.

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

The reality: photographers...

... sleep until 9 a.m. because they have worked until 3:22 a.m. because of an urgent deadline.
... rarely have their camera with them, because those who photograph professionally will be careful not to take photos in their little free time.
... work creatively at times (depending on the job), but most of their time is spent on absolutely uncreative things like preparing quotations and calculating orders, invoicing and dunning, taxes, sending out advertising, archiving photos, setting up networks, tidying up the studio, editing photos, looking for archived photos for clients because they've lost theirs, training interns, retouching images (blemishes, stamping out spots), etc. ... rush from one job to the next.
... rushing from one appointment to the next and only getting to know the airports and hotels on set.
... have often not yet paid off the old camera model when the latest one is already being purchased.
... are really always surrounded by beautiful models. :-)
... have to go shopping at 3 p.m. because they are still missing urgently needed props for the job at 6 p.m.
... regularly dip into their savings.
... don't drive a sports car, but a Sports Tourer (the new name for the Opel estate)
... are initially eloquent, young and dynamic. Unfortunately, they also get older at some point...
... are only in a good mood when, for once, all customers pay on time. But that never happens.
... hardly have time to go to parties.
... know the rich and famous and are happy when they have to deal with normal people from time to time.
... are reluctant to be photographed themselves.
... only depict the world in one dimension.
... are (!) eccentric!
... see the world with different eyes.
... are reluctant to let others talk them into their work if they are convinced of the artistic necessity of doing the job the way they are doing it.

My philosophy is that every client has the right to expect me to fulfill their requirements efficiently and with maximum mental and physical commitment. Both in terms of photography and in terms of process organization.

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography

I make every effort to keep my equipment technically up to date. So I'm prepared for all eventualities and well equipped for all photo assignments. Unfortunately, it costs a lot of money, so I still don't own a Hublot Big Bang All Black II... :-(

Commercial photography 01: Career aspirations in photography