For Photographers

Becoming a photographer

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There’s an old story that’s been attributed to author Margaret Atwood although there’s no proof or source to this story:

While at a dinner party, Margaret Atwood is asked by the man seated next to her, “What do you do?”

Atwood replies, “I’m a writer.”

“Really?” says the man. “When I retire, I’m going to become a writer.”

Atwood then asks, “What do you do?”

“I’m a neurosurgeon.”

She replies, “How interesting. I always thought that when I retire, I’d take up brain surgery.”

You could easily replace “writer” with “photographer”. It’s funny how many people confuse “photographer” with “camera owner.”

 

How to Avoid Digital Disaster

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Currently in the news, here in Toronto, is the story of a hospital patient who had a family laptop stolen from his room. The laptop contained three years worth of irreplaceable photos of the patient’s granddaughter who recently died. The family is pleading for the return of the digital pictures.

(Added May 13: Updated story: laptop recovered but hard drive erased.)

In the days of film, people had no choice but to get prints made from their negatives. But in today’s digital world, many people keep their pictures only on the memory card in their camera or cell phone. This is always a huge mistake. Prints are not often made these days, as photos are usually viewed only on a device’s LCD screen. This, too, is always a mistake.
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Paying Attention

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While working as a photographers’ representative for over three decades, Tony Luna said, in his 2006 book “How to Grow as a Photographer” (Allworth Press), that while he was showing portfolios to creative directors, art directors, photo buyers and various other editors, none of these people ever asked about a photographer’s university degree or college diploma. All that mattered was whether or not the photographer could produce good work on time and on budget.

This led Luna to point out: “Paying your tuition is not the same as paying your dues.”

 

Just Saying

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Nothing to do with photography or business practices, and way off-topic but:

1) For the upcoming G8 and G20 Summits in Canada this June, the federal government states that security screening will be performed by “competent authorities”.  What? As opposed to the usual incompetent authorities?

2) Canadian phone company Bell has increased its interest rate to 42.58%. This not only proves that Bell is in the business of gouging consumers but also that it leads the Canadian corporate race to becoming a loan shark. (The Canadian legal definition of loan sharking is 60% interest.) Credit card companies and banks are probably wondering how Bell gets away with this.
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HST tax and the photographer

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For professional photographers in British Columbia and Ontario: the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) starts on July 1, 2010, but the effects of this new tax start two months earlier on May 1st.

Starting in May, you must charge HST on any photography that will be delivered/completed on or after July 1st. If you complete a project and deliver the photographs before July 1st but invoice the customer after July 1st, then you must charge HST. Generally, the HST is applicable to any amount that becomes due on or after July 1st. But to no one’s surprise, there are several exceptions and special situations. Federal government information is here.

For clients who currently pay GST and PST, there will be no change in the total amount of tax they pay. For clients who now pay only GST, they will have to pay more tax. These latter (commercial) clients should be able to get the tax rebated to them.

The new HST will benefit registered photographers since it’ll be easier for them to claim tax credits for the provincial sales tax they pay on business purchases. But for consumers, the HST will do nothing but increase the amount of sales tax they pay.

 

Please check the date of this article because it contains information that may become out of date. Tax regulations, sales tax rules, copyright laws and privacy laws can change from time to time. Always check with proper government sources for up-to-date information.

 

Loud And Clear

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sports photographer toronto

Basketball coaches seem to yell a lot. They yell to get the attention of their players, they yell when arguing with the referees and sometimes they yell for no apparent reason.

Basketball arenas are very noisy with non-stop loud music, shouting arena announcers and screaming fans. It would seem that the only way to be heard above the ambient noise is to yell.
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A Penny For Your Thoughts

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If online content becomes a free commodity, will your creative thoughts have any value? Everyone loves free but sometimes free costs too much.

Should everything be supported by advertising so that all content can be free?

If yes, then the inevitable conclusion is that all online content will become advertisements. Advertising disguised as news. Ads disguised as entertainment. Ads disguised as relevant information.

 

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