New professional, need advice

[dragnfly1996]

Hello, I am a little overwhelemed at the sudden fall I have made in to professional photography. I wanted to start sowly but aparently that was taken out of my hands. Here's the deal. I have been interested in pet photography for a while now with a real interest in also photographing children. So on a whime I made a website so that if I decided to actually get my feet wet, I would ahve the site already made. I didn't think I would get customers until I have a refined portfolio and had perfected my skills. Well,.....I asked a friend of mine to sit for a photo shoot to add to my portfolio and to try out my new lights and low and behehold, her whole family wants prints and I have 3 bookings allready set based on her shoot. Ugg, I had no idea! So, to make a long story short, what is your advice? Any key things to remember to save my butt in the futre, on the buisness end. And do you know of any resources on learning poses (for people) etc.? Would love some support/advice?

[robertwgross]

Get a good legal advisor, and get some good contract forms, but keep it simple.

---Bob Gross---

[Digital Prophet]

You need to check Amazon my friend. All you seek is there for the buying.

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/158115206X/qid=1121285479/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-7665326-2585450?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
The Law in Plan English for Photographers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1581152256/qid=1121285538/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-7665326-2585450?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
Psoing for Portrait Photography: A Head to Toe Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1584281340/qid=1121285626/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_ur_1/103-7665326-2585450?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/157990548X/ref=wl_it_dp/103-7665326-2585450?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3A2AC3QMD6BAZ&v=glance&colid=1ILS90Z59SNHY) I could go on for days. Really I could.

Of course advise is only worth what it is worth. And Robert is right, no one here is a lawyer and in the end that is what is best. But I know I can't afford one (even though I should) and so I rely on texts, advice and sheer "I think this ought to work"edness. But you have found a very supportive community of generous and talented photographers. Good luck to you.

- Digital Prophet -

[jfrancho]

Get a laywer AND an accountant.

[chtgrubbs]

There is a great book for people just starting a business called "Small Time Operator" by Bernard Kamaroff. I recommend it highly. It is available from Amazon, B&N or Borders. It deals with permits, licenses, taxes, bankers, and all the other things most photographers have no idea about.
I also recommend "How to Start a Professional Photography Business" by Ted Schwarz.

[tim]

Scott at http://lightingmagic.com sells a book of forms that you might like to have.

[PhotosGuy]

Try Portrait Lighting Basics (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008bWl)

Photoflex Lighting (http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/)

1-3 Flash photography (http://www.filmlessphotos.ca/IndexPage.htm)