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Everyone has experienced that sinking feeling. You know the feeling you got in the pit of your stomach when you were 7 years old and just broke one of Mom's or Dad's prized possessions?  That's when you look around and try to blame the dog, the cat, the wind...even the kid down the street.

Chances are, you're probably no longer at risk of having to explain yourself to Mom and Dad when accidents happen. On the other hand, as a photographer (and a small-business owner), you could find yourself sitting in front of a client with this very same feeling. You are the end of the line when it comes to decision making for your photography business, so it's going to be quite difficult to convince a client to blame someone/something else, even if the matter was out of your hands. And the client probably won't be satisfied with just sentencing you to one week without TV.

In situations like this, your wallet and, more importantly, your reputation are on the line.

This is where PPA's Indemnification Trust program can step in to help. When clients start to point their fingers at you, use yours to pick up the phone and request the assistance of an attorney experienced at talking photographers through a variety of client complaints. Read more here. 

Nothing says springtime like ducks, chicks and bunnies, right? How about bringing in a pony for one-of-a-kind western-themed portraits? Limited-edition portraits like that can be a great idea and seem easy enough on the surface...but they can easily go awry if you aren't taking the proper precautions to protect yourself and your client.

Read the complete article here.

Ever feel like the year went by too fast? Seems like that happens every year! To help you get ready for 2012, PPA would like to give you a moment--or perhaps two--to reflect on some past Vital Signs articles.  Maybe you didn't get a chance to read through all of them, or maybe something new has come up in your business since you did. Regardless, here's a few that might be worthy of a second look.

Remember: Whether you need a refresher on marketing and sales strategies or have questions related to copyright infringement, PPA's comprehensive list of resources can help as you build an even better business. So, read on and have a happy New Year!

Creating family portraits in any shape is a big responsibility. The images you create will become part of the family's collective memory. They'll remember the funny sounds you used to make the little ones laugh, the special moment between the bride and her father, or how you made mom look like she belongs on the cover of a magazine.

But are you ready for an even bigger responsibility? Multi-generationally bigger?

It's one thing to go on location for a few hours with four members of the Smith family. It's an entirely different story when you start adding in members of their extended family. Think of the potential disorder that could ensue with grandparents, parents and grandkids in the same place for several hours. Just think about your own large family gathering...then add a photographer to the mix trying to keep everything and everyone organized. It could be chaos. Done right, though, it can be a great experience for all.

Here are some ideas to help you stay afloat as you wade into the waters of multi-generational portraiture.

The words "charge it" could soon take on a new meaning if you're a business owner. If you take even a single credit card payment for your photography services, consider giving your payment processor a call during this next year.

Why? Let's take a trip through the perfect client session and sale. A family books their annual portrait session. The session goes wonderfully and not only do they purchase a group shot, but they also love all of the other images you captured and want gallery wraps, albums and more! When it's time to pay, they pull out a credit card. You happily accept their card because even though you are subject to the normal monthly or annual fee assessed by your credit card processor, it's worth it!

But what if you encounter a speed bump? What if you later receive notification from your credit card processing company that they are required to hold 28% of your gross monthly transactions? What went wrong?

It's possible that your tax ID name and number don't match exactly with what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has on file. It does happen! And if that is the case starting January 1, 2013, the processor will have to hold that percentage for the IRS until the proper information is secured. On top of that, the 28% of your hard-earned session or print fees will not be refunded until the following year as a tax credit.

Read the complete article here.

You wake up and your head is swirling and your fever could fry an egg. You get halfway to your on-location session, only to get caught behind a 10-car pileup. You get a calendar reminder at 3:00 p.m. that you missed a 10:00 a.m. session. What do all of these situations have in common?

Aside from being just plain bad luck, they're all reasons you might have to back out of previously scheduled photography sessions or events. Even though we all hope to avoid such situations, it's important to know what to do should the need arise.  And it's equally important for you to communicate this procedure to your clients.

Canceling the Appointment
Whether you're sick, sidetracked or experience a last-minute emergency, know ahead of time what you can do to still satisfy your contract. Planning for a last-minute emergency may sound odd (you can't anticipate everything!), but it will help you put your best foot forward and keep your client's interests at heart.

Read the complete article: Canceling on Your Client...Last Minute

Have you purchased new equipment in 2011 (or will you)? If so, don't forget to take advantage of IRS Section 179! It's the deduction that allows you to expense almost any type of new equipment (including software) that you use in your business, as long as it is placed in service by December 31, 2011. This means that the entire cost of the qualifying equipment will be deducted from your current 2011 taxable income.

There's still time for you to fulfill your holiday wish list of new equipment (and put it in use) to qualify for this deduction. Plus, if you're a PPA member, PPA Affinity Partner United Funding can help you get such equipment with very little out-of-pocket cash, thanks to their leases and loans. PPA members even get a 2% rebate of the cost of equipment with United Funding! (And since United Funding doesn't report to the credit bureaus, your credit scores or ratios will not be adversely affected.)

Here is an example* of the money that you can save by taking advantage of Section 179:

• Equipment cost:  $10,000.00
• Approximate Monthly payment (48 Months): $300.00
• Tax Savings (assuming 25% marginal tax rate): $2,500.00

Learn more about this member benefit--getting started is as easy as completing the online credit application.

*Keep in mind that this example is only intended to explain the tax benefits under this provision. It is advised to consult with your tax professional to determine the accuracy of the calculations and whether or not your purchases would qualify.

The senior portrait market has become one of the more uncertain areas of professional photography. There are still great opportunities in this field, and many studios around the country are managing both good volume and strong sales. However, few other retail photographic specialties have been impacted by amateur photographers and part-time pros more than senior portraiture.

"The public isn't educated about professional photography," says Shawna Anundi of Eric John Photography. "Everyone is a photographer now, and a lot of people simply don't understand the difference between the amateur shots Uncle Bob takes and the professional images created by a real pro. As professionals, we need to re-educate our clientele, not only on the art in professional photography but also on the value of that art."

This situation has caused a shake-up in the senior portrait market with many longtime pros forced to re-evaluate the traditional business models. But sometimes change is good. Where innovation thrives, success often follows. Many of the flourishing studios that we've seen have found an express lane to profitability by making a few tweaks to long-established methods.

Read more in this week's article.

Clever marketing to distinguish yourself in the competitive world of pro photography

Where do I put my marketing dollars? How do I reach my potential clients more effectively? What can I do to stand out from the crowd? These are just a few of the marketing-related questions that photographers ask themselves routinely. Whether you're a newbie or a longstanding icon in your marketplace, chances are you've pondered the same questions.

We certainly don't have all the answers, but we do have access to some of the brightest thinkers in the pro photo brain trust. To inspire others, we're sharing a few clever ideas that have worked well for some studios around the country.

Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that marks a day to support local businesses (like photographers!) that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. There are free tools to that you can use to spread the word as a small business yourself, too. Just visit Facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday to grab them (and don't forget to share the love and give shout-outs to your favorite local shops, restaurants and partner businesses!).