Selling pics I've taken

[Canuck]

Hi all,
I was wondering about selling pic I've taken and going pro in the sense that I take pics for money. My only guideline is that the pics I can show to anyone. I do nature pics, some astrophotography, airplanes at airshows/planespotting, portraits of people aged from 9 months to late 40s. Those have been the subject so far.
I'm thinking of expanding to sporting events, such as football (soccer to people on the other side of the pond), and ice hockey when I get back to the US. I really miss playing hockey, but that is neither here, nor there. It would be cool to be able to do this, even if only part time. The other question, I have is how can you turn your camera kit into a tax write-off? It would be great to write off $7000 in camera stuff for this year.

The IRS isn't worthy of my money, and I want my dosh back.

[GenEOS]

If you are selling your images or services, then you are doing business.
Talk to your tax person, but, just because photography is your hobby, there is no reason it can not be a small business too. :-) You won't be the first to do it. All I can offer is to keep very good records.

[RGorrill]

Howdy Canuck,

Any governmental revenue service is going to be interested in whether or not you are truly out to make money or if you are doing it just to get a tax write-off. Most of them expect you to make earn money at least 3 out of 4 years. In the beginning you are usually given the opportunity of writing off your equipment on a depreciation schedule and that you must be registered with your local tax authorities and collecting sales tax (VAT) on all of your sales.

If you are selling images of people to other people then you had better be sure that you have obtained model releases from all of the people you have photographed else you may find yourself on the wrong end of some lawsuits for invasion of privacy.

Bob

[robertwgross]

Canuck, I assume that you are in England. The tax laws there are probably different from here in the Colonies, so most of us had better not offer any tax advice.

You can try to be a great photographer in each of those areas of interest. I suggest that you go after them all. The people in each interest that might be your customers must be able to assume that your single specialty is the same as theirs.

However, after a while, you will be thrashing yourself around trying to cover all of the interests photographically. At that stage, you will have to decide which of the interests must be your focus (pun intended).

For me, nature photography is my primary interest, but I have to do weddings to think about paying the bills.

---Bob Gross---

[Canuck]

Bob,

Thanks for the info, and I am American, and thanks to Uncle Sam, I'm over here for now and will be back to the US one of these years. In the meantime, I still pay American taxes, and am exept from the British ones except TV Tax, Road Tax, VAT on most purchases. It all falls under the SOFA, or Status Of Forces Agreement; not to be confused with the couch or coffee table. The SOFA is basically all the ROEs (Rules Of Engagement) whilst over here.

It seems to me the better way to do this is under the table as I will not be reporting it to the Incredible Rip-off Service and it's more of a hassle for the little I'd make. I'm really keen on nature pics, like landscape and seasonal pics like fall in the Northeast US where I'm from and surrounding area. I might try my luck, if I know of any friends that are gonna have a wedding sometime. In the meantime, I man be able to get some family pics if coworkers ask me. I'd be happy to do so. I get to use my 10D, and they get great pics. It is really a win-win situation. It ought to be interesting.

The only reason to diversify is to keep from getting bored taking the same pics all the time. It's like if all you ever do is planespotting, I recon after awhile it would get old, and would want to try another type of pic like landscape pics. I can say that chasing Concorde, other than being exhausting driving 2 1/2 hrs each way to Heathrow Int'l Airport and it was a rush, especially takeoffs. The noise it makes it unreal, but it is as aweinspiring watching it move thru the sky.

I guess honestly, I'm looking to recoup some of the investment I made and be able to continue to afford it, the end of the day. Another thought, least money to IRS; most money in my pocket. Too bad ONW doesn't exist anymore...that was a tax-free zone. That was cool for that reason! However Incirlik/Adana, Turkey isn't my idea of fun.

[robertwgross]

Oh, yes. SOFA. I had to be aware of that when I was in the Far East many years ago. Different war. Different branch of service. I had my first SLR film camera and barely knew what I was doing with it. There was no autofocus. I had no zoom lenses then. Automatic metering was a bit primative.

I can't tell you much about avoiding Uncle Sam's taxes.

I would suggest to simply practice your craft for now and see where the profit chips fall later on.

The blessing I got was later on, when I returned to the states. All of my income for any months when I got combat pay became automatically tax free. So, whether that is military pay, or photographer's fee, it was treated the same.

---Bob Gross---