Next Workshop: Aug 16th & 23rd @ UCLA. Registration is OPEN. Limited Seating

Welcome To

The Premier Workshop For Freelance Photographers

Founded in 2013 by Todd Bigelow, the course has been hosted by universities & professional organizations nationwide.

Next Workshop: Aug 16th & 23rd at ucla. Registration opens April 28th

Click Here To Register

About The Workshop

Open To The Public, The Workshop Has Been Hosted By The Following Professional Organizations & Universities

I've proudly worked in collaboration with the following universities, colleges and professional photography associations nationwide:

UCLA: As the base for the workshop, UCLA has hosted the course twenty times.
National Press Photographers Association's (NPPA) Northern Short Course (three times)
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) Oregon (twice)
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) San Diego
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) Atlanta/Southeast
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) New Orleans
Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA)
Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar
FotoFusion
San Francisco State University (three times)
University of Arizona
San Diego State University
Otis College of Art/Design
Brooks Institute
Pierce College
Sierra College
California Center For The Digital Arts

I was the featured guest on the B&H Photography Podcast, their top rated show in 2021. Click here to listen.

Who Should Attend?

This business minded photography workshop is open to the public & geared toward photographers with an interest in a career producing images for various media outlets, nonprofits, foundations and corporations. Open to the public, it provides practical, timely advice and information addressing the many business issues that freelancers must contend with on a daily basis and provides you with knowledge to help you manage your freelance career. I have a strong desire to maintain small classes to maximize discussion time over traditional lecture time. From my experiences in the classroom, a smaller learning environment facilitates better teacher/student interaction.

There is no disputing that the evolution of the profession has resulted in a fundamental shift in employment standards in this country. In years past, photographers emerging with newly minted degrees, or veteran photographers merely wishing to change locations, could readily find employment as staff photographers at any number of newspapers, wire services or non-profits and concentrate almost entirely on creating strong images. That is no longer the case. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vast majority of photographers will forge their way as freelancers without the safety net of a guaranteed paycheck. As a result, a strong foundation in skills that go far beyond just creating striking photographs are required if photographers wish to financially sustain themselves.

As I see it, your skill set as a photographer will be instrumental in gaining clients, but your business skills will keep you in business for the long run.

Why You Should Attend

I have nearly thirty years of freelance work for national and international publications, corporations, non profits and foundations. My experience serves as the foundation for the course.

I created this seminar in 2013 and have grown it into a nationally recognized seminar hosted by major universities and leading photography organizations nationwide. UCLA serves as the Los Angeles based home for the course and they’ve held it nearly twenty times. Others include NPPA, ASMP, San Francisco State, University of Arizona, Brooks Institute of Photography & San Diego State.

I know how important retaining exclusive control of your images is to surviving long term in the freelance field because I’ve advocated for retaining all rights from day one. There’s assignment work available without signing away image rights, but it's vital that freelancers understand the short and long term implications of signing Work For Hire agreements.

I provide real, practical and timely information derived from my own experiences. This includes real photo contracts provided by publications, corporations and non-profits as well as real licensing contracts, infringement situations and more. In other words, this is not a course designed with vague references to what you will encounter; it's real.

You will leave with a true perspective on the business skills necessary for a freelance career.

What Topics Are Covered

The continually evolving photography and photojournalism professions have clearly shifted the employment standard from employee based to freelance based. As a result, it is now more imperative than ever for independent photographers to possess a solid understanding of managing their own business if they expect to support themselves and/or their family. The workshop addresses core issues that freelancers consistently face on a daily basis while also recognizing new topics as they become relevant:

Understanding the Freelance Market
Building and Leveraging Your Portfolio for Work
Freelancing 101: The Basics
Client Development Methods
Contracts: View and Analyze Real Contracts from Clients
Contracts: Creating and Analyzing Licensing and Invoice Contracts
Contracts: Understanding Work For Hire Agreements
Building an Archive
Managing and Leveraging an Archive For Income and Clients
Agency Representation
Website & Platform Options To Manage Your Business
Understanding Copyright
Copyright Registration Requirements
Tax Issues and Choices Facing Freelancers
Digital Asset Management via Image Workflow
Creating Revenue from Image Licensing
Image Licensing Standards and Rates
Building an Image License From Scratch Using Industry Standard Software
Combating Infringement and Methods to Recover Lost Licensing Fees
General Business Practices (home offices, assistants & insurance)
Understanding Cost of Doing Business
Rate and Term Standards & Negotiations

MISSION: The course is taught in person only and based on real life experiences. I keep class size small to facilitate asking questions and participation in the conversation. The workshop is continually evolving and you will leave with a sound understanding of the significant and specific business matters you will face daily as a professional freelance photographer. The workshop was listed as one of the 50 Awesome Photo Workshops Worldwide on several occasions by Photoshelter.

Testimonial

“I’ve got to tell you just one more time how wonderful it was to have you here. You played a pivotal role in the resurgence of our chapter. You probably don’t realize that yours was the first event our chapter has sponsored in three years. I’m going to do my best, as acting CP, to keep the energy flowing and create more opportunities for growth but what you had to offer was downright beautiful. And you can quote me on that.”-

George Long, Acting Chairperson, American Society Media Photographers, New Orleans,

Additional Resources & Services

Consultations & Speaking Engagements

Freelance Photographer's Guide To Success: Business Essentials

Drawing on my decades of work as a photographer, speaker, author, professor and workshop founder, I’m pleased to offer personal and corporate consultation services including expert witness services in copyright infringement cases. Consultations are also available for universities and college photography programs interested in incorporating a freelance business practice curriculum into their classes.

For more information and a quote, please reach out using the Contact form at the bottom.

Freelance Photographer's Guide To Success: Business Essentials

After years of developing and teaching my Business of Photography Workshop to photographers across the country at professional conferences, organizations and universities, Taylor & Francis, a division of Routledge Publishing, published my book guide.

The book is available wherever books are sold and in all formats.

For more information, please click here. To order a copy, please visit the Amazon store or the publisher's site.

Welcome To

The Premier Workshop For Freelance Photographers