I just need to talk this through...

[fotofinish]

I don't know any professional commercial photographers, so I am hoping that my friends here will help me with this "heart to heart"...

Although I have been photographing since the 1970's, it wasn't until 2002 that I became serious about it, and it wasn't until the end of last year that I was "in the right place at the right time" and was lucky enough to exhibit my stuff for the city's Art Council. Well, an art dealer from another state, who represents a local city hotel, got my name from the Art Council as a local artist. Since the local client wants to redecorate their facility using local artists, the art dealer contacted me.

So, now I am in the running for a commercial contract (don't know the final details yet). The dealer said she'd like to use me and the other local artists on other local projects in the future as well.

That's the good news. The bad news is I don't know whether I should/know how to draw the line as to what services I can provide in the future. I want to be "up front" with the dealer as to what I can provide, which at this point is only "fine art" stuff. I don't have the knowledge or the lighting equipment to do other commercial projects, like products, interiors, portraits, etc., but I am not adverse to trying it. I do not want to create any false impressions or embarass myself or any prospective clients. I hate wasting my time or other people's time. I don't even know if I would like to get too deep into the commercial aspects, especially since I do have a "day job" already, and am looking at maybe 6-8 years more before I want to retire. But it would sure be nice to earn some extra income so that I can buy those lighting systems, maybe a better camera than my Canon 20D, etc. I still have my youngest in college to pay for...

Opportunity only knocks once, and I have truly been blessed so far. But how do I handle future commercial requests? What are the facts that I may need to know about doing commercial work? Sorry for rambling, here, but things are happening so fast right now that I truly want to be prepared and informed before I promise something I may regret later...

[MoboHaji]

Jerry, congrats on getting this far. I'm not a pro yet, I'm opening my first studio here in the next two months though. This has lead me to research and think about all kind of business related issues.

If I was in your shoes, I would not indicate that there is any thing you can not or would not do at this point. Let them base what you can do off of your work they have seen. Since they are already inquiring about your current work, you know they like that style and will most likely use this same style in the future.

As for not having lighting equipment for products and portraits, I'm sure there is a few place close to you that you can rent studio time. They have their lights and backdrops for you to use. If it's not to expensive, take a family member or friend there a few times just to get some experience for when that job offer does come up. You could also look into lighting classes at local schools or camera stores. Camera stores often have people that teach these kinds of classes...it helps them sale more equipment!

The bottom line is, don't close any doors so soon after having it opened for you. If you tell them now that you can't do a certain type of shot, they will remember that 6 months to a year later when they need the shot. By that time, you maybe a master at it but they'll never know or think about you.

Hope this helps some,

Keith