Professional Practise Workbook 3

Professional practice work book 3

Research Book 3 will develop your understanding of becoming a freelance photographer and looks at
the legal requirements of setting up and running a small business.
It is expected that your work will generally be portfolio based (blog) as you build up evidence and
material to support your development. However, the key is the critical reflection and thinking about
your personal aims not the “Quantity” of material in your portfolio.

Self-Employment

The first thing you need to do when you decide to work freelance/self-employed is to register legally with the government and the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

You will have to take numerous of responsibility such as paying your own income tax and National Insurance, both of which are calculated by reference to profits as a stand-alone business.

You have to first register online and you will need to provide HMRC with:

§  Name

§  Address

§  National Insurance number

§  Date of birth

§  Contact telephone number

§  Contact email address

§  Date your self-employment commenced

§  Nature of your business

§  Your business address

§  Unique Tax Reference (UTR) if you were previously within Self Assessment

§  The business' UTR if you are joining an existing partnership (see the partnership’s past SA form)

§  The full name(s) and date of birth of your business partner(s)

(as the Government website suggests)

At that point, you start to work straight away, and you are obliged also to contact HMRC to let them know about your additional income. You will have to declare the capital you are starting with and then register the business so everything is legal.

You have to start your own company, set up a brand and a clear business plan. Sometimes the costs are quite high and if you get a mortgage you still have to contact and inform the HMRC. Always tell them about extra funding and expenses.

The key points of being self-employed are:

·       run your business for yourself and take responsibility for its success or failure

·       have several customers at the same time

·       can decide how, where and when you do your work

·       can hire other people at your own expense to help you or to do the work for you

·       provide the main items of equipment to do your work

·       are responsible for finishing any unsatisfactory work in your own time

·       charge an agreed fixed price for your work

·       sell goods or services to make a profit (including through websites or app)

Another thing to consider is to register the own intellectual propriety.

You can find how to on the Government website as well.

Having the right type of intellectual property protection helps you to stop people stealing or copying:

·       the names of your products or brands

·       your inventions

·       the design or look of your products

·       things you write, make or produce

If you’re self-employed, you usually own the intellectual property even if your work was commissioned by someone else - unless your contract with them gives them the rights.

Once everything is registered you will have understand which kind of company your will be. Sole-trader or limited company.

A limited company is its own legal identity, so as a shareholder your liability is limited (hence the name 'limited by shares'). As a sole trader, there is little distinction between you and the business. Any business debts become your debts and your personal assets - including your house - are not protected.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: I believe my strength is strongly related to my personality. I am very liable, I am never afraid of the environment and I am open minded and open to new cultures. So for what I want to do I think it is essential. I am very passionate and I am sure the clients will have that idea of me as soon as I get to meet them. I feel like I can do better than anyone because I value not just the camera but the person behind and in front.

Weaknesses. I could definitely but new equipment, as I am a worked and a student, living by myself in a country which is not mine. But I work hard and I put dedication in what I do and so I am definitely on the right track to improvement.

Opportunities. I am very passionate and concern about social issues, specifically the homeless community, I could collaborate to try to help awareness and with charity purposes. One of the trends I see in the society is the strong interest in food and drinks. Never before I noticed that especially young people they have interest in discovering new coffee shops or new deli or restaurants, and I can see myself helping to improve those local business in my city.

Threats. The obstacles I am facing right now, is the possibility to buy expensive new equipment. I see some of my colleagues/competitors owning more material and I think is related to having more time to dedicate to it.  I do not think it will threaten that business, I just think the process will be slower than some other privileged ones.

Business Plan

The Business Plan I have in my mind at this moment, is very simple.

My aim at the moment is to collaborate with charities to earn money for homeless people. So, for now, the money I will earn will be entirely given to charity. Meanwhile I do this, I might find some small clients I can work for as a freelance and also I want to keep my daily job.

In the following business plan I present I will talk about working for the charity as well as working for small business.

• My business will provide with photography and prints. Photography will be not just printed but also digital, for the business purpose.

• The produce will be a series of images I can make an exhibitions to raise money for charities. The business one, I was thinking about specialising in social media marketing products.

• All the pictures will be printed and the prints will be available to purchase. Everything will be in my online portfolio. Talking about the other business, at the moment for example I am collaborating with a restaurant, the images will be digital and shared through social media.

• In the first case, my work will not be rewarded with money. In the second case, the price will be related to the product itself. 5 photo, full edited and ready to use, in different formats and everywhere, it is doing to be 80£. At the start I feel like I will have to price the product and not the time I spend working on it.

• In the first case I will use my camera as well as my lenses 50mm. No tripod and no lightings. In the second case, I will need tripod as well, lighting I can bring to all the locations. I aim to something simple and easy but efficient.

• In the first case, it is the charity associations. In the second case, will be restaurants and bar and coffee shops. They will find me by using the internet as well as I will promote myself door to door.

• The first case is not really a market. The second one I think it is exponentially growing as that kid of business are becoming very popular here in Nottingham and everywhere.

• My UPS is that I am passionate of what I am doing and I am a consumer as well. In the first case, my sensibility to human problems and society issues. One thing I have, is that I am quick with my work, I work under pressure and I have a very open mind. My products will be cheaper but not with less quality. They will be clear and simple, straight to the point and effective.

• My competitors are people who just started, and like me can have cheap prizes, and many of them are privileged with equipment I do not have. They might offer the same service, but talking about professionalism, as I am a person who have always worked in my life, I know how to deal with people and understand clients to get them exactly what they desired.

• At this moment of my life I am in Nottingham so for the moment I will be based here. My dream is to go to Brescia (Italy) and work with a communication company.

• Trough Social network and trough the charity exhibitions

• For the moment I am not interest in a big earning from the big project. The second case, I think if I keep doing a job of that kind which will both build me a portfolio and experience, it will bring me money but the breakeven point will be soon as I will use the same equipment for now and also I will keep my daily job as bartender.