To those who photography is not their main job, how to handle coworkers?

[sweetypie925]

Have a few questions. Short and sweet, I'm a healthcare professional and want to start a boudoir photography business. Now a lot of my coworkers know I'm into photography and always ask about how far I am into business, ask me to do sessions, etc. I had a blog up for a short time, but took it down because I caught people looking at it at work and I was afraid that I would get in trouble because of the content of the site. For those that have a photography business, how do you handle your coworkers and doing business with them? Do they know about your website? I'm thinking that once my business is official I'm gonna try to keep it hush at work since I don't want people going to my boudoir site. Any tips to handle this?

[hawk911]

first off, why would you get in trouble for what they view? If it violates policy, that's on them not you. Our company has a policy where you cannot solicit co-workers for anything. If they want something, have then contact you afterhours and/or via your personal e-mail. Don't use work for any of it.

[asysin2leads]

I don't solicit business from co-workers. Now, I have done work for several, but I won't solicit at work. I am in health care, too, and the customer potential is ripe for the picking. If someone approaches me at work about doing some work for them, I hand them my business card. I am not in a clinical environment my entire shift, so there is time for us to discuss things, but I would never do it in front of a patient. I guess that should go w/out saying.

[Svetlana]

I get a lot of my business from co-workers and their friends, they know my blog and I put my ad on the Bulletin Board on the intranet (lots of people advertise their own businesses they way so I don't have any worries there).

[seaside]

If you feel there may be any sort of repercussions for you related to your photography business I'd keep it separate from your day job. Any type of mainstream photography such as portrait, event, etc...shouldn't be of concern. However, innocent as it may be some types of photography could potentially be offensive to someone, somewhere in the workplace. Create two separate websites; share one only with customers/potential customers and those with a mutual interest. Share the other with those you work with. The name you're doing business under can even be different for each business and/or website created.

Some photographers get a good amount of work with contacts at the day job. But you need to determine if it is worth doing that in the long run. Often times is best to keep one business completely separate from the other business. Even so, it may be difficult to be 100 percent effective.

[JWright]

What ever you do, DO NOT MIX YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH YOUR DAY JOB! In case I didn't make that clear, DO NOT MIX YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH YOUR DAY JOB!

This is especially important since you want to start a boudoir photography business. Why am I so adamant about it? Because I lost a good job with a major home improvement retailer after another employee got the wrong idea about my photography (or lied) when I offered to do pictures for them.

I'm retired now but I learned a valuable lesson from this and to this day do not do people photography or weddings.

[asysin2leads]

What ever you do, DO NOT MIX YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH YOUR DAY JOB! In case I didn't make that clear, DO NOT MIX YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH YOUR DAY JOB!

This is especially important since you want to start a boudoir photography business. Why am I so adamant about it? Because I lost a good job with a major home improvement retailer after another employee got the wrong idea about my photography (or lied) when I offered to do pictures for them.

I'm retired now but I learned a valuable lesson from this and to this day do not do people photography or weddings.

Good point, John. Some may take your boudoir photography as just that and others might think of you as a pervert. If the latter gets out, it won't look good for you.

[d.allan]

My personal life leaves as soon as i enter the building at my job. I've had people try to **** me over hard when they learn things about my life. Nobody cares about you, only themselves and if they think they can gain something by ****ing you around they will.

[turbo212003]

I work as a photographer for a bookstore so it's related but I tell them to contact me after work via phone/email. People sometimes want to talk about it there but I explain to them it's completely separate.

[JWright]

Good point, John. Some may take your boudoir photography as just that and others might think of you as a pervert. If the latter gets out, it won't look good for you.

I wasn't offering boudoir photography and actually did a senior style shoot for one of the cashiers in a local park. As it turned out, she was one of the people instrumental in getting me fired...

No, never again...

[Eric]

I don't mix photography with my day job. Most of my co-workers don't even know I do photography at all. I like it that way, keeps things from getting complicated. I use my wife to solicit business from HER co-workers. Works much better that way.

[asysin2leads]

I wasn't offering boudoir photography and actually did a senior style shoot for one of the cashiers in a local park. As it turned out, she was one of the people instrumental in getting me fired...

No, never again...

Nice. What a complete piece of crap.

[asysin2leads]

I don't mix photography with my day job. Most of my co-workers don't even know I do photography at all. I like it that way, keeps things from getting complicated. I use my wife to solicit business from HER co-workers. Works much better that way.

My wife has just recently started to "promot" our business at work. It was more of a passive promotion before. If mentioned they were looking to have pics done, then she would offer. Now she's more apt to offer services than before. There is another "professional" photographer at work who does weddings and portraits. She has 1 powershot that she uses and that's it. No backup body, no additional lenses, no lighting or anything. Someone asked for samples of my work and my wife brought up some samples. The lady was pissed that someone asked my wife about doing a session over her. It went to the dept manager and she said that there were no issues w/ offering services from a side job. It was not against any policy, provided it did not interfere w/ "patient safety." We've gotten a couple of prospects in the past couple of weeks. All of whom had used the other lady before and weren't happy.

[photoguy6405]

Good point, John. Some may take your boudoir photography as just that and others might think of you as a pervert. If the latter gets out, it won't look good for you.
Once that kind of rumor gets started... even if 100% false... is virtually impossible to shake. There will always be a handful of petty narrow-minded people who will believe it and continue to spread it.

[pcj]

I don't mention my photography at work or in the office.

I have got co-workers who have "fan'd" (fanned?) my Facebook page though. So, it's out there, they know who it is and what I do on the side.

But, in general, I wouldn't bring it up. While it may be obvious to you and them what the deal is, there is always room for miscommunication, eavesdropping, grapevine style gossip getting back to HR. I would imagine this is doubly or triply so for boudoir photography.

[yoopergirl]

My coworkers are very supportive... I do get annoyed at people asking me pics sometimes, cause they think I will do them for free.

[Andi 1969]

My site manager has been supportive to myself and a fellow photographer - allowing us to show case a few photos in the staff room, that gives us a few sales and people wanting to see our portfolios.

The rest of the staff are mainly supportive, and some showing a genuine interest. You will always get those who think they can do better with their camera phone, and those who think they are better. But then u get those people everywhere unfortunately.

[neilwood32]

I think the best idea is to discuss your boudoir photography with your boss, make sure they are comfortable that you aren't soliciting business while at work and make them aware of the context of your work (ie tasteful, non gratuitous).

That way if there are any issues raised by others, it doesnt come as a shock to your boss and you might actually have an ally.

If your boss isnt happy about it, then make sure that you keep the two jobs completely seperate.

[seaside]

I think the best idea is to discuss your boudoir photography with your boss, make sure they are comfortable that you aren't soliciting business while at work and make them aware of the context of your work (ie tasteful, non gratuitous).

That way if there are any issues raised by others, it doesnt come as a shock to your boss and you might actually have an ally.

If your boss isnt happy about it, then make sure that you keep the two jobs completely seperate.

Good advice. You may even get work photographing your boss :rolleyes:

[sweetypie925]

Thanks for all the input. I've considered speaking with my manager about my business and that I don't plan to involve any coworkers as clients and keep my business separate from my job there. It sucks cause I do have a "frenemy" that's also into photography that asks me all the time about what I'm up to. She's actually the reason I took time off from photography cause I did a session with her and it didn't turn out well. Long story short, all she did was tear apart my images that I did for free, then recently told me she had a painter paint one of my images in large form and paid the person a lot of money. I'm totally done with her.

[sue.t]

Reminds of the time I wrote some erotica (not pornography).
My co-workers loved it.
The boss did not. Frowned heavily upon it because he felt it did not portray a "professional image" and my work was all about public relations.

Since that "day job" included writing for government officials, I decided to not pursue the erotica. I no longer have that day job though ... hmmmmm ...

[photoguy6405]

Reminds of the time I wrote some erotica (not pornography). ...
And gambling is "gaming", and suspects are "persons of interest".... "erotica" is just pornography for women. ;)

[sweetypie925]

Any other ideas? Should I really be worried?