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01/02/2003 06:48:28 PM · #1 |
| Is one a professional who has sold at least one photograph? Does the person have to make his/her living from photography? Somewhere in between? |
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01/02/2003 06:50:42 PM · #2 |
That would be defined differently by different people I suppose.... Technically, if you have sold a photograph or photographic services, you are a professional photographer. "Amateurs" don't receive money. I think in general terms, a professional photographer is one who makes a living at it, or it is a primary source of income...
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01/02/2003 07:29:13 PM · #3 |
I think a professional is someone who makes a living from photography. I think a really good photographer is an expert, even if he/she is an amateur. I think someone who sells photographs is a photograph salesman, not a professional. Wo dude, go to bed. I'm just a a guy who likes to take photographs. :)
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01/02/2003 07:39:27 PM · #4 |
In sports a professional is one who receives monetary value for playing. Same on the street.
I would think this would apply to photography. |
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01/02/2003 07:49:04 PM · #5 |
I've made a few bucks from pictures this year. A very few bucks, I hasten to add. However, I am taking that as my cue to expense a whole lot of my photographic costs (camera depreciation, printer depreciation, pro framing, paper, etc etc) on my taxes as "Employment Expenses" this year. My expenses on photography are a huge step above my income from photography, so it is worth the try. It will be interesting to see how the Revenue Service picks up on that!
Message edited by author 2003-01-02 19:49:51.
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01/02/2003 07:58:50 PM · #6 |
| I would be pretty careful when it comes to tax deductions......the IRS is not something to fool around with. |
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01/02/2003 08:33:33 PM · #7 |
Hmmm, tax deductions - :)
Will someone hurry and buy one of my photos? I'll split the tax savings with you! Oh, wait, it's January. Nevermind
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01/02/2003 08:52:11 PM · #8 |
Joanns, why does it show you as a guy? I thought you were a girl.
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01/02/2003 08:56:42 PM · #9 |
Since there's no licensing body for photography, if you say you're a professional then you are.
Message edited by author 2003-01-02 20:57:02.
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01/02/2003 09:24:35 PM · #10 |
| I'm a girl!! I'm a girl!! |
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01/02/2003 09:32:33 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by TerryGee:
I would be pretty careful when it comes to tax deductions......the IRS is not something to fool around with. |
Luckily, the IRS cannot touch me here in the True North Strong and Free.
Besides, my comment was a serious suggestion. The Canadian tax form encourages the listing of "employment expenses" and if one is self-employed, it is a standard method of tax reporting. I will declare my photographic income honestly and in full as "Other Income" and I will itemize the expenses.
The very worst that can happen is that the decutions are disallowed and I have to pay taxes on the small income. The very best that can happen is that I save a few hundred dollars on my income tax. A no-lose idea.
PS: Every time someone worries about the IRS, THEY win.
Message edited by author 2003-01-02 21:32:55.
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01/02/2003 09:46:03 PM · #12 |
| In general, the IRS (in the US) requires you to file a Schedule C (profit/loss from self-employment). The key thing they look for is that you are legitimately TRYING to make a profit (even if you actually have a loss). But if you don't sell anything, advertise, or otherwise make an ATTEMPT to conduct a business, they will consider the activity a hobby and disallow the deductions. |
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01/02/2003 09:57:13 PM · #13 |
| Jak, can you tell us about visiting hours at your local bastille? Can we bring goodies to you when we come to visit? |
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01/02/2003 10:08:34 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Jak:
Originally posted by TerryGee:
I would be pretty careful when it comes to tax deductions......the IRS is not something to fool around with. |
Luckily, the IRS cannot touch me here in the True North Strong and Free.
Besides, my comment was a serious suggestion. The Canadian tax form encourages the listing of "employment expenses" and if one is self-employed, it is a standard method of tax reporting. I will declare my photographic income honestly and in full as "Other Income" and I will itemize the expenses.
The very worst that can happen is that the decutions are disallowed and I have to pay taxes on the small income. The very best that can happen is that I save a few hundred dollars on my income tax. A no-lose idea.
PS: Every time someone worries about the IRS, THEY win. |
Jak, My sister works for CCRA (Canada's equivalent to the IRS for our American friends), so I will ask her for input. From my experience, they have set criteria to determine the qualification. For example, someone once told me that you needed to show at least five or more active customers to qualify. I am not 100% sure if that is true, but typically, CCRA will have some sort of âtestâ criteria to determine acceptance of a claim.
After five years of audits, I am comfortable enough to say, that if you have a legitimate claim, it will pass, and if it is not legitimate, then expect the exact opposite, plus fees, penalties, interests, fines, etc...
Cheers, Michael
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01/02/2003 11:36:55 PM · #15 |
I believe "professional" is commonly accepted as at least 50% of your income from your photography. Saw that somewhere.. don't know if the % is correct.
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05/19/2006 05:22:07 AM · #16 |
Professional means you make a living out of it, dont you?
Selling prints dont make you pro, I think? |
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05/19/2006 05:38:41 AM · #17 |
There are many different definitions for a professional photographer but the one I see often enough in photography competition rules (where the competition is open only to amateurs) is along the lines of earning more than 50% of one's income from photography - and of course that percentage moves up or down in different rulesets.
I sell stuff but it makes only a minimal % of my income.
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05/19/2006 05:57:55 AM · #18 |
WOW, I had never seen a 3+ year old thread resurrected before!
Anyhow, how about people like me who have decided to persue photography as their only job/career but it's not yet being paid due to lack of actual work?
June
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05/19/2006 06:01:42 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by Chiqui:
Anyhow, how about people like me who have decided to persue photography as their only job/career but it's not yet being paid due to lack of actual work? |
an Artist |
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05/19/2006 06:06:20 AM · #20 |
So amateurs are not artists??
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05/19/2006 07:22:24 AM · #21 |
| My wife and I used to perform as jugglers. We made money but never enough to live on - just enough to support our habit for juggling fests and new props. We never considered ourselves as professionals but not as amateurs either so we claimed that we were "semi-professionals". |
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05/19/2006 07:34:52 AM · #22 |
It definitely has nothing to do with talent... LOL
- professional
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05/19/2006 07:35:07 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by KarenB:
I believe "professional" is commonly accepted as at least 50% of your income from your photography. Saw that somewhere.. don't know if the % is correct. |
This is posted many places...especially photo contest rules. They say if you make over 50%, then you qualify as pro. I guess you're a pro if you think you're a pro. I dunno :/ |
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05/19/2006 08:10:23 AM · #24 |
get a Vendors license & pay taxes on your sales
tell the tax man about your sales (state/prov. & feds)
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Act professional - in product & manner
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deliver consistant results under all conditions
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make money (giving a portion to taxes)
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my insurance agent says once i start paying taxes - i'm a professional :)
& then they cant cover me :(
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05/19/2006 08:15:19 AM · #25 |
Anyone who wants to can call themselves a professional photographer, or an artist. But it is what others think of you as that really counts.
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