We’ve talked about common mistakes made by freelance photographers who sell themselves short. You know that charging too little, not managing expectations, and working for free can hurt your career. However, avoiding these mistakes will be in vain if you don’t get paid on time — or worse, you don’t get paid at all. By valuing your own expertise, you set a standard for yourself, making it easier for you to manage client relationships efficiently.
Here are our tips for steering clear of the top three mistakes made by freelancers when it comes to getting paid.
Tip #1: Always have a contract
Prevention is better than cure. It’s also the best way to avoid any legal entanglements. Prepare written contractual agreements between yourself and your client, stipulating recourse if expectations aren’t met by either party. Contracts ensure that both parties agree on expectations, including project timelines, prices, and payment terms.
Tip #2: Impose a late payment fee
Spending precious time chasing clients for payment is the most common way small businesses die. This disrupts cash flow, making it hard for you to feed yourself and focus on growing your business. Always include payment terms in your contract. If you charge by the hour — which you should — send written notices after the shoot detailing the time taken, and ask for written acknowledgement. An effective way to avoid late payments is to impose a late payment fee. Include this in your contract, and make sure your client knows about it before you begin any work.
Tip #3: Avoid operating as a Sole Proprietorship
This goes beyond ensuring you get paid; operating as a Sole Proprietorship can be deleterious if you’re ever sued for breach of contract, invasion of privacy, or copyright infringement. Losing a lawsuit as a sole proprietor means risking all your personal assets, including your property and savings. Even if your business doesn’t run afoul of the law, a sole proprietorship is a liability to investors and collaborators. If you were charging too little or neglecting cash flow management before the legal trouble, you wouldn’t have enough funds for damage recovery — and you’d be racking up debts for a good long time.
What are some lessons (hard or otherwise) that you have learnt as a freelance photographer? Leave us a note in the comments to share!
