Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Pro Digital Corner | Join Upload & Sell

  

Archive 2021 · Staff Photographer Equipment

  
 
Phil Mansfield
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Hi All,

I am being offered a staff job but they want me to use my own gear. I have had staff jobs before but my employers always supplied the kit.
Thoughts/experiences on how best to address this in the contract?
Thanks,
Phil



Feb 18, 2021 at 03:02 PM
johnvanr
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Draw up a rental contract for the gear.


Feb 18, 2021 at 03:30 PM
TopPixel
Offline
• •
[X]
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Maybe they are only expecting you to use an iPhone


Feb 18, 2021 at 04:41 PM
tcphoto
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Staff Photographer Equipment


There must be compensation for use of your personal equipment or you might as well buy a secondhand Rebel and nifty fifty.

Edited on Jul 01, 2021 at 12:58 PM · View previous versions



Feb 18, 2021 at 04:42 PM
Dragonfire
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Phil, I looked at your website and I doubt if they could provide the equipment you require.

I would try to build it into your salary.

Nice shooting



Feb 18, 2021 at 05:22 PM
gregfountain
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Staff Photographer Equipment


If you use your own equipment, you should negotiate a depreciation schedule into your compensation that after a set period of time will replace your current gear - or as John suggests, a rental agreement. At a minimum, you should demand they provide insurance that covers the full replacement value of your gear.

Good luck and congrats!




Feb 18, 2021 at 05:49 PM
Phil Mansfield
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Thanks All!



Feb 18, 2021 at 07:58 PM
JohnSil
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Phil Mansfield wrote:
Hi All,

I am being offered a staff job but they want me to use my own gear. I have had staff jobs before but my employers always supplied the kit.
Thoughts/experiences on how best to address this in the contract?
Thanks,
Phil

In years past when you drove a taxi the taxi was provided.
Today if you drive for Uber or Door Dash, YOU provide the car and millions are doing it.
Talk to your accountant about how to write off your photo gear as tools for your work!
The good'ole days are never coming back!!!
John




Feb 19, 2021 at 01:19 AM
Dragonfire
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Phil

Your accountant should be depreciating your equipment over a 5 year period as the IRS allows.




Feb 19, 2021 at 07:04 AM
sjms
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Staff Photographer Equipment


what type of staff photographer are you going to be? you also need to insure your gear in use. if you are using your personal equipment to do their work compensation better be real good to support your ability to deliver what they require.


Feb 19, 2021 at 03:28 PM
turbodude
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Staff Photographer Equipment


charge a "kit fee"


Feb 20, 2021 at 10:07 AM
tcphoto
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Staff Photographer Equipment


What happens if you’re shooting images and your gear gets damaged or stolen? Who will pay for repairs or replacement? Who pays for rentals while it’s all sorted out? Depreciation is real and someone needs to reimburse you for using up your resources. Hence, the reason for us freelancers charging a kit fee on Commercial project.


Feb 20, 2021 at 10:14 AM
johnvanr
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Staff Photographer Equipment


JohnSil wrote:
In years past when you drove a taxi the taxi was provided.
Today if you drive for Uber or Door Dash, YOU provide the car and millions are doing it.
Talk to your accountant about how to write off your photo gear as tools for your work!
The good'ole days are never coming back!!!
John



This is a staff job, though. Those new companies specifically don’t offer staff jobs, so they can screw everyone over.



Feb 20, 2021 at 12:02 PM
sjms
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Staff Photographer Equipment


in a previous life as a tech i was responsible for my basic tooling. if lost or stolen the company paid to replace each item with proof of purchase/ownership.


Feb 20, 2021 at 01:01 PM
sonofjesse2010
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Staff Photographer Equipment


I would defiantly make sure the contract spells out a fair deal.

This kind of reminds me of pizza joints wanting to pay deliver drivers 2.13 an hour, and not give them any stipend for the car, gas, or associated costs. I would be a little Leary unless they provide something in the contract or are paying you very very well.



Feb 20, 2021 at 01:08 PM
elkhornsun
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Staff Photographer Equipment


If you are on the payroll as a W-2 employee then you will not be able to treat your photo gear as a business expense, but check with a CPA to verify. You also want to verify that if gear is stolen that is is covered by your insurance carrier.


Feb 26, 2021 at 04:09 PM
pgrillone
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Phil Mansfield wrote:
Hi All,

I am being offered a staff job but they want me to use my own gear. I have had staff jobs before but my employers always supplied the kit.
Thoughts/experiences on how best to address this in the contract?
Thanks,
Phil


I am the staff photographer for a gun company, and the deal i made was that I would use my own gear in exchange for being able to use the studio for my other clients as well. So in the evenings and weekends I take care of 3 other clients. Also I get to deduct the studio space on my taxes as well as my travel to the studio. It's worked well for me for about 5 years now.



Mar 30, 2021 at 03:16 PM
BKphotography
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Staff Photographer Equipment


Depends on how good the job & how much you want really.


May 06, 2021 at 07:53 AM
Daniel Smith
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Staff Photographer Equipment


sonofjesse2010 wrote:
I would defiantly make sure the contract spells out a fair deal.

This kind of reminds me of pizza joints wanting to pay deliver drivers 2.13 an hour, and not give them any stipend for the car, gas, or associated costs. I would be a little Leary unless they provide something in the contract or are paying you very very well.


Wow, in our area pizza delivery drivers start at $15 an hour. (+tips)



Dec 19, 2021 at 10:06 AM
Chris Court
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Staff Photographer Equipment


I spent a few years as staff photographer for a community newspaper and the deal they offered was the I use my own gear, but they subsidise 50% of equipment purchases.

C



Dec 22, 2021 at 04:41 PM





FM Forums | Pro Digital Corner | Join Upload & Sell

    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.