Best Business Practices for Photographers, Second Edition

If you are serious about photography and the business of photography, this one is a must on your bookshelf!

Both Joe and I own copies of the first edition of John Harrington’s Best Business Practices for Photographers. Just to avoid misunderstandings, this book is not focusing on how to get started as a professional photographer. Instead, it is a hard-hitting guide to all aspects of working as a professional photographer, from Marketing to negotiating deals, stock photography to assignments, budgeting to amortizing your gear and working with assistants to legal matters.

I learned a lot by just reading the 352 pages of the first version and there’s more to learn in the updated version, whose page count swelled to over 500. New areas and updates focus on:

• Transitioning from staff photographer to freelancer
• Working with others now covers reps and talent in addition to assistants and contractors
• Pricing your work was expanded to include setting your fees
• Insurance does not only cover health, life, disability, and business insurance, but also errors & omission and umbrella insurance
• How to deal with IRS audits (yes, that happens to photographers, too)
• The realities of Copyright infringement and how to send DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) Takedown notices
• Model and other releases
• Tools and software to make licensing your work easier, faster and more concise
• Stock photography without the big agencies

While my copy of the second editiopn is on order and I have not had a chance to read it, we really liked the first edition. If you do not want to spend the money on a new copy of the book, try at least to get a used copy of the first edition. You will not regret it.

Verdict: Highly recommended and certainly an Editor’s Pick!

Price: $34.99, Amazon: $23.09

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Tagged as: Books, Editor's Pick