Professional photographers who do this as a fulltime job....

[5W0L3]

How do you guys get paid?.. in cash? EFTPOS? cheque?

Always been curious how full time photographers get paid by their clients.. Also do you guys issue some sort of receipt for your services? or a written contract for a wedding shoot etc.?

[jra]

Maybe I'm not understanding your question, but a photographer gets paid just like anyone else. Cash, check, money order, credit card......as long as it results in adding money to my account, I'm not too picky. As far as receipts and contracts, I use them when appropriate.

[airfrogusmc]

I only do corporate work and its invioce I have 30 day term on my invoice but in reality its usually 60-90 days for payment. I have direct deposit with some clinets but usualluy it a check that show up about 45 days after the invoice is sent. Some clients require PO #s on the invoice before they will pay.

If I were dealing with the general public it would be at least 50% up front.

[arentol]

Get a smartphone and squareup and you are set to take CC anytime, anywhere.

[theatrus]

Payment options: Decide what risks you're willing to take. Lots of people still do check-only. Square is turning out to be more popular, while PayPal is very risky (the seller has basically zero rights).

Deposits: Are you expected to show up on a date and time in a certain place (aka, reserved time where you could otherwise take another job)? Then yes, get a deposit. 20-50% is common. Most wedding photographers I've seen go to 100% a month to a week before the date. Refund-ability of the deposit is up to you - be nice but firm (some people are just sleazy flakes, others really have legitimate issues).

Receipts: Always when accepting payment. Unless you're a cash-only under the IRS radar type person.

Contracts: If you live in the US, always. Its a litigious society. Even for simple portrait sessions. There are tons of "standard" contracts for photographers out there (such as the model release, or common event/wedding types). If you don't understand it, there are books on the topic available, while any sane person will say that I'm not a lawyer, and you should see one for legal advice.

[nathancarter]

I don't do this as a fulltime job, but my wife does freelance video editing as a full-time job. She takes cash, Square, or Paypal (and I try to steer her away from Paypal as often as I can). We have taken checks on occasion, though I prefer to avoid personal checks when possible.

When I get paid for photography, I only accept fistfuls of c-notes. ($_$)

[primoz]

For me it's always through bank transfer. Over here (Europe) it's pretty much impossible for company to get cash out (perfectly legal way at least) of bank. So when we put out invoice to client (in 99% of cases we deal with companies), we get money on our bank account through bank transfer. No credit cards, no paypal, no cash on hand. And for those few deals with normal people, not companies, we demand payment through bank transfer too. It's just too much of a hassle to deal with cash etc.
When I get my salary out of company, I get it to bank account once again. But I guess with this, it really doesn't matter if you are photographer, cook, or taxi driver

[Echo Johnson]

I take Zero Halliburton briefcases full of cash. Occassionally, I'll take wire transfers into my Swiss or Cayman Island bank accounts...



(This post is in jest, in case the relevant agency happens to stumble accross this)

[JacobPhoto]

I'd say 95% of my payments are made by check. I have an occasional cash customer and an even more occasional paypal or direct account transfer client, but most are check.

(most of my work is freelance to either editorial outlets or corporations / commercial outlets)

[Kevan]

checks or precious gems. mostly checks.

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by Kevan

checks or precious gems. mostly checks.

The broken engagement shoot - new marketing opportunity.

[Foodguy]

Paid by check. I sometimes get a deposit up front but not always. Complete the job add up all the billable expenses send off an invoice and wait...Typically 30 days some go as long as 90. Seems that the bigger the company or ad agency, the longer they take to pay.

[Jericobot]

discounts with cash, full price with CC, paid in advance and cleared with checks

[ssim]

Since I deal mostly with commercial customers it is paid by cheque. They issue me a purchase order number and then I bill at the end of the job or part way through if it is a larger job. I have yet to be stiffed by anyone writing me a cheque. I've done this for over 25 years and full time for the past 8 or so and in all those years I have only ever had one cheque bounce which the people made good on real fast. As long as it ends up as a balance in my bank account I don't care if it is cheque cash or credit card. I will also use the barter system for services that I feel are worth it.

[Dennis0018]

generally we are paid by cash for deposit at the end of meeting and by cash or cheque after shooting