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Photography Question 

Lisa M. McGinnis
 

photographer pay


i have opened up a studio within my salon and have the need for an assistant and possibly full time photographer for weddings ect... how do you pay someone under the business? hourly? per shoot?

thanks...


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August 26, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  This isn't quite as easy as you probably think it is. You're talking about hiring two people into an existing business to perform specialty services that could put you on the hook for their acts and omissions, plus if someone gets injured you'll need to provide workers comp before they get injured, liability insurance in case they injure someone else, probably car insurance, equipment coverage, ad infinitim and of course, state and federal payroll and other witholding taxes, if any.

What I suggest is that you talk with a lawyer in your area who does business law and based on the laws of your state, figure out whether you need to change or modify your business structure. Also, consider a referral system to local wedding photographer(s) wherein you receive a finders fee or work on a commission for referrals. Let the photographer hire their own assistant and handle their own overhead, their own pricing and fees, copyright issues, etc. etc.

At this point, you're looking at opening, operating and being responsible for a separate additional business within your exisiting business. That ain't easy and it certainly ain't cheap.
Take it light ;>)
Mark


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August 27, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  Oh, and if you can find a photographer looking for a space, you might offer to sublet the space you made to them. You will probably find that the rent money you'd receive for rent is more than the commissions from the photographer, depending on how [s]he is utilizing the space. Plus IMO, the headaches are a LOT less doing real estate than running a photography biz at any level.
M


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August 28, 2008

 
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