Taking Pics without insurance?

(oops should have wrote insurance all the way out. sorry)

So I have a friend who owns a BMX track and wanted me to come take pics and if parents wanted to buy them they could (so no obligation on anyone's part). I was very hesitant cause I do not feel I am at a level to take pics for others (but she does) and really never wanted too. I would have NO clue what to even charge if they would want to buy.

I have a friend who takes pictures and she said if she was me she would not do it I it cause I do not have photography insurance?

Can someone tell me more about this.

Thanks

What she will be referring to is public liability insurance in case you get in the way of someone and make them crash and get hurt they could then claim off you.

Ok gotcha. I would not be on the track at all, so that is not a worry of mine. I would take from the sidelines and also have them come over to a spot if they want a picture of them posing with their bikes.

She also commented I need a license to sell pictures?

mamaof2 wrote in post #17462062
She also commented I need a license to sell pictures?

That would be a business license, which (at least where I'm at) you get from your county. And on top of that, if you want to stay legal, you'd probably need to collect sales tax (and file the proper forms with your state).

Jessi, you don't need a license to sell your images necessarily. You could always report any income you get on your regular taxes. I have a business license and I file taxes under that business name. I have several businesses that run under that license from my photo stuff to my martial arts stuff. It also helps me keep my records clean for profit and expenses.
But you at a track selling a few photos is no something that would require you to run out and get a business license right away.

You don't need a license until someone reports you for doing business without a license. Local governments have widely varying policies concerning doing business in their jurisdiction. We are required to have a city license and pay 1% county taxes on profits plus the normal state and U. S. taxes, which might be treated as a business. There is also the issue of sales taxes which varies by states and localities.

Jessi, if you're having conflicting thoughts about this, my advice would be to just go with your 'gut feeling' and decline.

If there is a reasonable chance that a participant will be injured colliding with you, or having an accident with your equipment, then you want insurance. People who are full time professional photographers carry this as a matter of course. If you were to anticipate doing this much, getting a $2M liability policy is not a big deal and might cost $120 a year or so, but also probably not worthwhile for a one-time event.

And that counts for the rest. If you are really going to become a regular photographer professionally then you need to pursue all of the niceties of establishing a business.

If you are trying this once, and might do it every once in a blue moon then what you are doing is generating hobby income. This has tax implications, but you don't have to establish a business in order to try this out one time.

Thanks everyone for your replies! I will have to decide what to do. Maybe I will just go for fun, take a few pics and decide after that.