Going into partnership?

Just one thing I'd worry about is getting anywhere near 60/40 if you're just a second shooter. Her company, she's doing post-production, etc. - I just don't see you getting 40%, but that's just me. With all due respect, I've never seen a second shooter get that much. I've seen 2nd bananas get a $50 bill handed to them at the end of the day, even $100 once.

I suppose it would depend on how "good" you are compared to her, and how much you actually end up doing. Just make sure it's fair for both of you! I would prefer to be a friendly partner with a nice contract put together up front...seems like you'd do a lot better financially. My father is the only one that's ever shot with me at a wedding...just for an example, if I get $1,500 for a wedding, I give him $300. Might not seem fair, but he doesn't have a clue about computers and I'm stuck paying for prints and spending a couple weeks in Photoshop. Seems fair to me. I think I might actually be giving him too much now that I think about it!

Good luck, Del.

Ronald, we are equal with everything, in fact id do the PP and she wouldn't on her shots because she doesn't like PPing...she tries to shoot everything JPG and im a bit lazy and use mostly RAW...so what she doesnt do id make up for it type of thing we are both very honest people and dont want the other person to do more work than ourselves so we are clear on that....
i guess ill talk to her properly when she is back and ill let you all know our arrangements Thanks for all the help!!!

Ronald S. Jr. wrote:
Just one thing I'd worry about is getting anywhere near 60/40 if you're just a second shooter. Her company, she's doing post-production, etc. - I just don't see you getting 40%, but that's just me. With all due respect, I've never seen a second shooter get that much. I've seen 2nd bananas get a $50 bill handed to them at the end of the day, even $100 once.

I suppose it would depend on how "good" you are compared to her, and how much you actually end up doing. Just make sure it's fair for both of you! I would prefer to be a friendly partner with a nice contract put together up front...seems like you'd do a lot better financially. My father is the only one that's ever shot with me at a wedding...just for an example, if I get $1,500 for a wedding, I give him $300. Might not seem fair, but he doesn't have a clue about computers and I'm stuck paying for prints and spending a couple weeks in Photoshop. Seems fair to me. I think I might actually be giving him too much now that I think about it!

Good luck, Del.

As a second shooter I get $150 a day for a base package.

Set your partnership agreement.

1. How profits are distributed.
2. How losses are distributed.
3. How to get out of and/or dissolve the partnership.
4. What percentage, if any, of initial investments are brought by each party.
5. Check with your state regarding other specifics.

Ditto on everything. Making things EXTREMELY clear BEFORE (and in writing) reduces by far the chances of ruining a friendship. Been there, done that.

If you both agree on every little detail, at the limits of being paranoid, and write it down with the proper legal advise on both sides, chances are that things will work out fine. If you don't, I'll give you between 3 months and 1 year before huge problems arise.

The simple fact that you are questioning yourself about "what if I want to get out of it" demonstrates that actually the base for a problem are already there.

Just my 0.02

Tim & others, I just spoke to insurance companies yesterday to get coverage for employees, apprentices, equipment and liability. Everyone says that equipment is easy, employees are not. So much can go wrong or bad in relationships and you have to have everything spelled out for these insurance companies. They make sure you have every duck in a row before handing you a policy for any amount. If you are unsure, I'd say, make some arrangements and see if a "test period" is warranted. Personally, I'd love to share responsibilities, but I am also one to take on too much, so being an equal partner is almost impossible. I want my work done perfectly to my standards and if that didn't work for the other person, it would make me crazy. I would advise you to think over your needs and also in the long term, are you going to enjoy this? You will be sharing equipment as well as clients. If being an employee of hers is an option and you'd prefer that, try it for a month. If it doesn't work out, just say, we tried it, it didn't work out.

As for the PP to do on your own, that's the crazy part. Taking the pictures is easy time-wise compared to PP 500 shots after an event. Are you sure that's the part of the business you want to handle? If the captures are not very good, you could be in front of your computer for days.

I agree 100% with this being as that's what I did 3 years ago. I still do sub-contract work ( a lot actually) for a certain person here in California. It works out great for me but the number one thing for my business and her business is to NOT DOUBLE BOOK DATES!!! HAHA...I laugh because it's happened.....more then once!
So, if you can work out something like that then I think you would be much happier.

As a sub-contractor I make between 800 & 1200 a day.... not to shabby for a days work. I just turn in my CF cards to her and go get some cocktails....

That's what I'm talking about. I would love to continue my photography and get paid for it and not have to worry about PP. But doing this job on my own, I'm accountable for all of that and that's where my time is eaten up. Good for you Jasen. That's my kind of job.

I would absolutely love to be able to just "turn in my CF cards and go.." if I had very steady work. I hate PPing, and I'm terrible at it to boot. I'd love to be able to pay someone to PP my shots that I knew was more or less an "expert".

I agree, never go in to business with friends or family members... it never goes well and never ends well.

I'm considering a partnership with a friend, though because he's a friend i'm a little wary. I'm considering working with him but keeping the financial side seperate, at least to start with.

I love post processing - not the time it takes, but the results. I can take and ordinary shot and make it look either better or great. I can take a great shot and make it look fantastic.

i like pping too....is there something wrong with me? LOL

I'm a huge fan of PP'ing too. I come from a graphic design backgroud, though, so I find it a very natural and intuitive process.

mizuno i take a fancy to graphic design too, my work make me do a lot of it aswell as pamphlet and poster production so i guess that is where i get it from too? Stick me in front of a few photo and graphic programs and im happy for years to come LOL
Del