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Licensing
Aug 8, 2011 16:42:09   #
Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter
 
To become a photographer do you need to be licensed?

Donna

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Aug 8, 2011 21:32:33   #
jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.
 
I am not aware of any license that you have to get to be a photographer..I am assuming you mean a professional photographer to be hired by someone to take their pic or a company to do pics for them, etc..but I am not familiar by any stretch of the imagination with all the "legalities" in every state, county etc

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Aug 9, 2011 07:04:26   #
notnoBuddha
 
No -all you need is one to hire you, or if you want to get by on the cheap all yopu need to do is to say you are a photographer. There are different trade groups and schools that may carry a certian amount of prestige if care to pursue and there are a whole lot that are worthless - buyer beware.

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Aug 9, 2011 08:04:05   #
Stevebales Loc: Central Florida USA
 
You should always cover yourself and get registered with your state and file for an EIN tax number. It makes you legit and it adds weight to you doing business as a professional. If you will be using all the perks as a professional then you should look into adding that. Don't go out there and say you are in business without having the necessary documentation. Also look at all the tax breaks available to you in doing so.

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Aug 22, 2011 00:27:08   #
Heather Anne Loc: Moncks Corner Sc
 
I know here in Sc, you have to get a city license or with the state, I have had to check around some other towns, I have to get them for that area, like the beach to be able to shoot there, as I am just getting started and looking into the areas that I am going to be shooting at, I checked into the different areas and towns. Some I need just shoot in a certain area, plus you have to check also, like at one of our beaches, they only have certain hours and you are only allowed one to two hours to shoot as a professional, so different places different rules.

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Aug 22, 2011 09:41:06   #
notnoBuddha
 
Getting a permit to shoot at diffrent locations which is nothing more then a permission slip - getting a tax number; which makes sense from a business point of view, and gettig a license, permit, or a registration to say you are a photographer are different and not always related nor the same everywhere. In the last case doubt if there are any federal or state laws that require one. Some locals may require just becuse some like to think they have some control over everything. To be a professional anything all you need is to be paid for what you do. Those who are paid are not always experts or even all that knowledgable.

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Aug 22, 2011 10:14:53   #
Jwilliams0469 Loc: Topeka, Ks.
 
I have to disagree with you on that one NOTNOBUDDHA. "To be a professional anything, all you need is to be paid for what you do. Those who are paid are not always experts or even all that knowledgable". Everyone has their own opinions but this one is far fetched!

I live in Kansas where, if you claim to be a professional anything, you best be able to show proof of it. If you get paid for being a professional and don't have the appropriate documents to prove it, you could be charged with fraud from both the state and federal.

Just to be safe your best bet to find the answer to your question would be to check into it by calling around...

Like was said before "Every state and city will have different rules and licenses, permits, and so fourth for photographing anything.

Say if you was outside of the Capital building taking photographs of the building, but you didn't ask for permission. In Kansas you can be jailed for this. Why? It's a state and federal building and taking unautherized photographs of it could be meant for reasons other than professional/student reasons.

Just make sure you ask before you photograph. It will save you a ton of troubles. If your just out there shooting photographs and you catch a persons face but didn't ask them for permission then published it or sold it somewhere, that's a lawsuit and possible jail time.

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Aug 22, 2011 10:39:11   #
Heather Anne Loc: Moncks Corner Sc
 
AT Isle of Palm sc if you are shooting as a professional you have to have a city license, (if you are getting paid for it, or if you sell your work) if you are a tourist, they don't say anything. It isn't a permit it is a business license. It of course is a way for them to make money, but it is their way. That is what I was meaning by the way professional,

I disagree that all you have to do is sell your stuff to be considered professional, I have known some poeple who sell their work but wouldn't want them shooting my pictures. I am wanting to start my own business but I also want to make sure I am educated on as much as I can before I go around saying I am a professional.

I just feel it would be better for her to check into where she wants to shoot, some places you have to pay for the rights to shoot there, Like down here at boone hall plantation you can buy a photography pass for $150 which gets you in all year and you have the rights to the pictures. So it would be better for her to check into these things so she won't get sued or get in any trouble at places. I always ask when I find a new place I want to shoot. I even write to the cities and make sure. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

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Aug 22, 2011 11:21:20   #
Randyb1969 Loc: Armpit of California
 
Notnoboddha is absolutely right. Being a professional anything technically just means you get paid. In fact that is the definition of professional. But it doesn't mean you know what you're doing and if you don't, you'll earn a bad reputation pretty quickly.

As for rights, I found this nifty thing online and have been meaning to get it. Check it out. Talk about dual purpose.

http://photographic.ly/products/%22Photographer-Rights%22-Gray-Card-Set.html

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Aug 22, 2011 15:00:17   #
notnoBuddha
 
Randyb1969 wrote -"Notnoboddha is absolutely right. Being a professional anything technically just means you get paid. In fact that is the definition of professional. But it doesn't mean you know what you're doing and if you don't, you'll earn a bad reputation pretty quickly.

As for rights, I found this nifty thing online and have been meaning to get it. Check it out. Talk about dual purpose.

http://photographic.ly/products/%22Photographer-Rights%22-Gray-Card-Set.html[/quote]

Thanks for the link, took a quick look and added it my favorites.

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Aug 23, 2011 04:04:33   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter wrote:
To become a photographer do you need to be licensed?

Donna


No you do not have to be licensed. But you do need to know the legalities of Contracts, Model Releases & Copyright release's. Above all know what your doing and provide a high quality product.

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