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**sandiegobride07**
Can I pick your brain a bit?
I saw on the intro post that you just recently started your own photography biz. Well, I just got into Photography and have been invited to shoot a couple of friends weddings (which I'm doing as a gift for them since I can't charge friends!), but I really wanted to form a business out of it.
I mostly want to stick with destination weddings and do the photography in exchange for travel expenses, but I wanted to make sure it was legal as possible for both myself and my friends that I shoot. I know there are some legalities about accepting large amounts of money, even as a gift, to do a "job" if you aren't legally a business.
So... I was wondering what all you had to do to make it an official business. How much did it cost? And with the hundreds of photographers in San Diego (I go to Bridal shows!) how do you get yourself to stick out? I don't want to steal business from you, btw! I'm looking more on the wedding and headshot side of it and not the portrait side.
Re: **sandiegobride07**
LOL, you are too cute!
The first thing I did was go down to The County building to apply for a fictitious business name. You need to do your due diligence to be sure that whatever name you choose is not already taken. I've heard that if you use your own name for your business you don't need to apply, but you might want to search The County and see if that's true. After I applied for my fictitious business name I had to publish it for 4 weeks in a local paper (they give you a list of publications at The County). That's it really, as far as being "legal". Depending on your income you might have to file your income taxes quarterly, but I'm not making enough to have to do that yet. Also, be sure to charge income tax, as you'll have to pay that as well.
I think the business license cost me like $30.00 and then another $10.00 to print it in the paper. Other than that, most of my expenses have been website design, new equipment (I love my D300), business cards, CDs, and I'm attending an AWESOME photo seminar this weekend which was expensive but will be oh so worth it ; )
As far as "sticking out", ALL of my business has been word of mouth and I'm averaging 4 shoots/month right out of the gate (I booked 2 shoots today alone as referrals from a shoot I did last Friday night). My goal is to do 8 a month, and I will start doing some sort of advertising closer to Fall and the busy season! Feel free to page me if you have any questions or you can email me at tessadee@yahoo.com
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/fbn_info.aspx#search_person