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Small Business Advice for Photographers

 

We have made available some of the files that we have spent countless hours developing.
We hope you enjoy a taste of experience and a few home-made formulas.

Prices listed include taxes. We are currently not running an online shopping cart,
so please email your request, listing each file as named below and we will issue a manual invoice.

Our preferred method of payment is email money transfer, but we also accept a cheque in the mail.  

COMING IN FEB 2013 - New screen shots and new files!

  
 

Each file comes with support via email or phone and free 'inputed documents' review.
 

The Business of Photography .PPT

This is our Microsoft Power Point™ presentation as seen at APEC January 2010.
If you did not receive a printed hand-out you may have another look at our notes:

DOWNLOAD HERE - FREE

  
 
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Package Quoting System .XLS

This Microsoft Excel ™ file was created to help determine appropriate prices for your packages.
Another name for this file is Event Expense and Quote Generating form.
It is essentially a pricing guide.

screenshots:
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EMAIL US to receive this file - $40.00

 
 
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Client Logs and Worksheets .XLS

This Microsoft Excel ™ file is intended to be printed and then manually filled-out when necessary.
The New Client Inquiry sheet helps you keep track of your incoming calls - print this on an 11x17.
Remember all of the tasks yet-to-do with the Client Fullfillment tab - print on a 9x12 envelope.
We consider the Event Summary sheet as OUR MOST IMPORTANT WORKFLOW DOCUMENT. We can track
any problems from our camera gear or CF cards. We also now have accurate statistics from each event - how many
images captured, per camera / per photographer, per category. We also track total distance travelled,
total time at/for event. We log all expenses occured while at the event. The post production process
is a photographers most time-consuming task. This form logs your back-ups created, your image processes
and total files delivered values. You would record completion dates on your Client Fullfillment envelope.
We went over this file during our presentation at APEC January 2010.

screenshots:
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EMAIL US to receive this file - $40.00

 
 
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Full Year Booking Chart .XLS

This Microsoft Excel ™ file is intended to be printed and then manually filled-out when necessary.
The Full Year View of Weekends sheet helps you keep track of your bookings all-on-one-sheet.
When you have a new client inquiry for your services you can simply refer to this one sheet
(print this on two sides of an 11x17) It can be very helpful to see your events on a whole-year view.
As a bonus, we've included a typical Cubed Full Year View sheet. If you want, you can
personalize this sheet before printing it. Highlight the days, add graphics, import the file for further editing.

screenshots:
full year calendar+full year organizing calendar
+calendar pic.

EMAIL US to receive this file - $30.00

 
 
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BookKeeping Sheets .XLS

This Microsoft Excel ™ file contains multiple tabs seperating your income notes and expense details.
The sheets all connect to a tab which automatically summarizes the data onto an income statement.
The sheets have been optimized for photographers.
We still recommend you consult a licensed professional for financial planning, accounting and year-end taxes.

screenshots:
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CLICK HERE to see more screen shots
EMAIL US to receive this file - $ 90.00

  
 
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Vehicle Log Book .XLS

This Microsoft Excel ™ file has three sheets that can be printed and left in an envelope in your car.
The government requires you to maintain proper records for your vehicle - start the year off right!

screenshots:
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EMAIL US to receive this file - $20.00

  
 

Small Legal Paragraph
You understand that all information, data, text, software, graphics or other materials ("Content"),
whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, was created purely for the benefit of sharing
our experiences and does not constitute professional legal advice. IrinaPhotography does not guarantee
the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content. Under no circumstances will IrinaPhotography
be liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any Content.
You expressly understand and agree that IrinaPhotography and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers,
employees, agents, partners and licensors shall not be liable to you for any direct, indirect,
incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including, but not limited to,
damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses, resulting from
the use or the inability to use the files provided and/or the advice listed on this website.
You agree to not re-distribute for free or for a profit the files provided to you.

Software and File Limitations
The above files are not locked or flattened and therefore each one may be customized to suite individual requirements.
We do not guarantee compatibility nor accuracy in your printing since each computer and printer set-up may be unique.
We have engineered our files in Microsoft™ Office Suite 2003™ and trust that more recent software editions will still be capable
of reading and modifying most files. We suggest that you play around with the formulas and replace key areas as needed.
Please take notice of the printable area as selected in each sheet since there may be text to the right of most sheets that is intended
to be there as handy notes and suggestions. Take note of the recommended paper to use for each sheet's size requirements.
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One-on-One Training

Both Irina and Mihkel are available for individual training.
Come-up with some questions and we'll have the answers! This will be tailored to what YOU want to learn!
We can discuss any or all aspects of a photography business. We can give you hands-on experience
with our clients' files - showing you our workflow and over-all production methods.

CALL or EMAIL US to receive more details about this.
One attendee - $450.00. Two or three attendees - $350 each.

  
 
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Complete Business Makeover

Are you just beginning and totally confused? Do you think you have a bit of knowledge and need a nudge?
We don't mean to intrude, but this will only work when WE COME TO YOU.
We will have a look at your meeting area, your office, your gear, your workflow, and your images.
Through our meetings we will analyze strengths and weaknesses in your business and
then provide you with some steps to maintain a positive outlook for your future.
If it takes us two or three visits then that is what we'll do, this includes checking-up on you monthly as well.

CALL or EMAIL US to learn more.
Starting at - $750.00

  
 

Please add HST to all items.Thank you for your interest.
 
Toronto
647.477.3995
International
info@irinaphotography.ca
Ottawa
613.216.9601
 
 
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Provincial Government

Are you following the law of the land? ** For historical reasons we will keep some of this text available to read. The Province of Ontario states that a photography business qualifies as a manufacturer. This had certain tax benefits.
Photographers also acted as retailers. All sales of "tangible goods" (with some exceptions) was PST taxable. Prior to July 1, 2010 you were required to collect PST on behalf of the Provincial Government, NO MINIMUM revenue values had to be met (compared to the GST/HST). Obtaining a Business Permit was free of charge and was often set-up within a day or so but is now no longer available (See notes below).

Here are a few helpful links

** As of July 1st, 2010, the above rules for PST are now overuled and all GST rules will be the standard. PST accounts will close and if you do not meet the MINIMUM requirements for HST, then you now have an opportunity to NOT charge any tax to consumers. You may decide to register for HST prior to reaching the mandatory enforced level if you want to. Please look into whether this will benefit you or not.

 

Federal Government

An important note from the Federal Government: (as found at this page.)
"You have to register for GST/HST if you provide taxable supplies in Canada and your total revenues
from taxable supplies (before expenses) from all your businesses are more than $30,000 over the last four
consecutive calendar quarters or in any single calendar quarter."
Are you familiar with the the new HST?
Apparently you can claim $300 towards costs to change your invoices and cash registers for the HST (from PST and GST)!
*keep any receipts and look for a note in next year's income tax documents for more information.
(This was verbally heard at a government seminar) ** May 2010 Ontario Bulletin: tip #7: Small Busines Transition Support- cheques will be automatically generated and mailed out. "Expect your cheque in late 2010 or early 2011"

Here are a few helpful links

 

Income Tax

Part of operating a business is to learn what your rights and responsabilities are. One can spend hours reading
the following links. Amongst the following links, it is suggested to familiarize yourself with these
key areas: CCA, Business-use-of-home, COGS.
FYI, the Industry code for Photographer is 541920, found in the Appendix under "other services".

Interpretation Bulletins:

  • IT131R2 Convention expenses
  • IT285R2 Capital Cost Allowance - General Comments
  • IT473R Inventory Valuation
  • IT514 Work space in home expenses
  • IT521R Motor Vehicle Expenses Claimed by Self-Employed Individuals

 

Additional Resources

Indirect government related resources:

 

Reading Material

Reading books that cover a variety of topics can drastically improve your over-all understanding of running a business. We understand that many people do not have degrees in the field that they are entering. Many photographers have obtained general broad-based education regarding photography, yet one of the most important topics to learn is business. Business as a topic is so vague and so yet so important - the more one can study about sales, marketing, accounting, finance, law and social responsibility, the better the person and company. If you have studied photography, then your new hobby should be studying business. The following books are a great read, available for free through the Toronto Public Libray system. Don't worry if you only scratch the surface of any of these books, at least it will be a good start.

Business Learning Environments

Here are a few organizations, groups, schools and user forums that offer advice and or training in business.

5 minutes and a web search for "business advice" can get you:

Great online resources for photographers learning about gear and pricing and more...

Research the competition...

  • Design Aglow offers many templates for contracts and business forms. Their primary focus is design templates for photographs and marketing materials.
  • Jens Fabulous Stuff - Business templates for workflow checklists and contracts.
  • Sage Simply Accounting - accounting software.
  • Intuit Quickbooks - accounting software.
  • Also by Intuit is TurboTax software
  • CaseWare professional accounting systems

Professional Services List (neither approved nor endorsed by us in any way) (Search from Google, YellowPages and friend's referrals)

 
 

© 2011 IrinaPhotography