I see so many posts in Facebook groups that shock me! Photographers discussing how they have been mistreated by other photographers. For instance: one photographer took a nice couch out to a public  park for a day she had multiple clients set up. While shooting she walked with her clients 15 ft away to shoot a different pose. Other Professional photographers started using her couch and were using it when she was ready with her next clients. Now there are so many things I see wrong with this, but I will get to them in my RULES OF PHOTOGRAPHER ETIQUETTE. 
Now I'm not going to go all Emily Post on you. I don't care what side of the plate your place your fork or if you address your thank you note correctly for the wooden fertility statue your aunt Susie and her boyfriend sent you for your birthday. What I am going to cover are what should be some basic common sense things, but this day and age, people just have no clue! 

1. If it isn't yours, Don't mess with it! Ask if want to, but really, do you want your clients to have pictures so similar to another photographer's  that you will hijack their props? You want a couch? Go to Goodwill, Habitat restore, or a consignment shop and buy one. Then YOU lug it to the park, set it up and use it. Don't still another photographer's idea. By all means if they say you can use it, AFTER you ask, let them have it back as soon as they are ready for it!
2. Share the space. Public areas are just that. FOR THE PUBLIC. That means other photographers, people playing ball, having picnics, parking their cars, etc. Just be cause YOU showed up with your camera, it doesn't mean it's yours.  I spent yesterday afternoon, getting set up for a shoot in a park. (Fourth of July Park in Kernersville, NC) Getting my settings right, adjusting where I wanted my clients to sit and stand, making sure my reflector was where I wanted it. I got what I wanted and sat down to wait on my client. Another photographer showed up, she saw me sitting with my reflector lighting me and my saw my camera bag, and new why I was there. Instead of getting flustered or upset that I was set up, she came up and smiled and asked what time my people would be there and started looking at other options. I told her not to worry, we had plenty of space and that we could alternate if needed. My clients ended up being late, so what did I do? Let her borrow my reflector  and even held the darn thing for her while I chit chatted with the mom of the girls she was shooting. It worked. We were nice, now if I see her again, maybe she will hold the reflector for me.
3. Don't copy someone else's work. Now I'll admit, great ideas come from Pinterest. And I have lots of stuffed pinned for inspiration. However inspiration is different than copying. Definitions below from Merriam Websters.                                                                                                                     noun  in·spi·ra·tion  \ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\                                                                          Simple Definition of inspiration : something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone: a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something: a good​ idea noun \ˈkä-pē\                                                                                                                                   Simple Definition of copy: something that is or looks exactly or almost exactly like something else : a version of something that is identical or almost identical to the original: one of the many books, magazines, albums, DVDs, etc., that are exactly the same and are produced to be sold or given to the public: written information that is to be published in a newspaper, magazine, etc
4. Don't badmouth other photographers. You may not like their style, business practices, or prices. But, unless you are their customer you have no right to talk badly about them. You will simply come off as a jealous, pitiful excuse for a business person, and people will be more likely to think you feel threatened by that person and aren't as good as you think you are instead of agreeing with you. Remember....Karma can be a B!
5. Don't critique another photographer's work unless they ask. And please, don't be cruel. It's un-necessary and again you come across as jealous, and like your just trying to make them feel bad to make yourself feel better.                                                                                                                           *****Constructive criticism is the process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one. The purpose of constructive criticism is to improve the outcome.*****Constructive criticism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructive_criticism
   Wikipedia                                                                                                                                                   NOTE: it says in a friendly manner! If you can't be nice, go home, pack up your laptop, go get some sun, eat some sugar, or pinch your self until you can be nice. 
   
6. Share information. If someone asks you what settings you used, what lens you used, Don't be selfish! Even if you share your settings and other information, that person is not going to get the exact same image. We all see things differently. They may be new to photography and trying to learn a new skill. Your response to them will affect your reputation. If someone is rude to me when I ask a question or reach out, I am certainly not going to recommend them to anyone! That being said, if you are the one asking for help, DON"T be a pest! Don't copy everything that someone else does, and be sure and thank a more seasoned photographer for sharing their knowledge and time to help you!

Remember, what goes around comes around. If you help others, yes, you will get your butt bit every once in a while, but for the most part, good will come back to you!

What are you examples of how to treat or not treat fellow photogs? Give me a shout! 

So I have spent hours and hours on this website and still have to tweak and twist it! It really has been an undertaking to try to start a business. I will say I have had some nice encounters with people though. When I called the State office about business licensing and tax ID's, I got some of the nicest people! Shocking  since it was a state department! Much better than dealing with the DMV, that's for sure!
This is more of a diary posting at this point, but maybe one day someone will find some solace from me sharing my experiences. Trying to balance the work that still needs to be done on the business end, with trying to finish post processing on a wedding, and entertain a 6 year old nephew who is spending the day has been fun, maybe?  

My tips when trying to start a photography business: Allow plenty of time. You can't do everything in a day, a week, or even a month. Take one thing at a time. (I need to use my own advice here). 
1. Find out about the legal stuff. Call your state business licensing office. They can walk you through it all. North Carolina requires a business registration and tax ID. They also require a "privilege" license for photographers that is renewed each year.
2. Develop a system for tracking expenses, invoicing, and tracking receipts at the beginning before you have your first paying customer. 
3. Develop a system for cataloging and tracking photos. 
4. Have a backup  of all your files (external hard drives).  I have had too many times when the PC crashes and I think I am not going to be able to retrieve data. I have learned my lesson.
5. Make sure you have a pricing structure set, and do a lot of  research about your policies and how you want to run your business. While your policies can change and be added to, you don't want to make it all up as you go along. I have found a lot of good information about what to include by reading other blogs, participating in discussion on FaceBook groups and looking at others' photography contracts. 
During all this I have been building my portfolio, shooting, shooting, shooting. 
​Here are some shots I have had a lot of fun with over the past couple of months.
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