{"id":7615,"date":"2017-02-14T09:10:36","date_gmt":"2017-02-14T08:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.invoiceberry.com\/?p=7615"},"modified":"2022-04-20T15:26:49","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T13:26:49","slug":"top-7-invoicing-tips-for-photographers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/top-7-invoicing-tips-for-photographers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 7 Invoicing Tips for Photographers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Photography is a passion for many people, and there are many aspects of the job to love. That is, except for the paperwork, including invoicing.<\/p>\n<p>While all photographers understand the importance of sending out invoices to get paid, most would rather focus on what they love about the job.<\/p>\n<p>This could include the excitement, the clients, the travel, capturing moments that others will remember for the rest of their lives. Or capturing the product in the perfect light to help increase a company\u2019s sales.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve written quite a few important things for photographers before, such as our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/become-successful-freelance-photographer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">guide<\/a> and <a title=\"Free Ebook: The Freelancer\u2019s Guide to Photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/free-ebook-the-freelancers-guide-to-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ebook<\/a> on how to get started on freelance photography.<\/p>\n<p>However, today we\u2019d like to cover the best invoicing tips for photographers. These are special to the photography industry and they will help you get paid faster.<\/p>\n<p>So, let\u2019s dive into the best invoicing tips for photographers so you can get paid faster starting today.<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 1: Use invoicing software<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s no getting around it: it\u2019s 2017, so why are you still doing everything by hand?<\/p>\n<p>There are plenty of <a title=\"Invoice Templates or Online Invoicing Software: Which Is Better?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/invoice-templates-online-invoicing-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">invoicing templates<\/a> out there, but they all require you to manually input all your information, over and over again. This is not only tedious; it\u2019s also very time-consuming.<\/p>\n<p>Online invoicing software is going to be your best bet for automating you invoices. Not to mention, it offers a wealth of other features, such as expense tracking, financial report creation, and recurring invoices.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, however, is that it helps you stay organized. You won\u2019t have to go around looking for your client information anymore. It\u2019s all right there, every time you log in.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7587\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7587\" style=\"width: 1919px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7587\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pic-for-mockup-ad2.png?resize=690%2C342&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Online invoicing software such as InvoiceBerry will make your invoicing processes much easier\" width=\"690\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pic-for-mockup-ad2.png?w=1919&amp;ssl=1 1919w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pic-for-mockup-ad2.png?resize=600%2C297&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pic-for-mockup-ad2.png?resize=1024%2C507&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pic-for-mockup-ad2.png?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Online invoicing software such as InvoiceBerry will make your invoicing processes much easier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Tip 2: Set your prices<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s very important for photographers to choose the best strategies when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pixpa.com\/blog\/photography-pricing-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">setting your prices<\/a>. Therefore, not only is this one of the best invoicing tips for photographers, it\u2019s also one of the best business tips in general.<\/p>\n<p>When you set your photography prices, remember to take into account:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>your age<\/li>\n<li>location<\/li>\n<li>experience<\/li>\n<li>speed of service<\/li>\n<li>quality of service<\/li>\n<li>competition level<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That last one is important in many ways, but especially when you are starting out and your experience level is low. There are many ways to charge your clients, but the most common are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>time plus cost<\/strong>, where you charge for the time it took you to complete the project, as well as the costs associated with completing the project<\/li>\n<li><strong>lump sum<\/strong>, where you determine a single price for your various services<\/li>\n<li><strong>upset limit<\/strong>, where you can charge per hour until you hit a ceiling, and no matter how much you\u2019ve worked on the project, the maximum you can charge is that ceiling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When you decide on your prices and how you will go about charging your clients, you\u2019ll have a price list. This list will serve as a reference point for you and your photography clients to avoid any surprises.<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 3: Set your terms<\/h2>\n<p>Determine your specific service terms before you send out a single invoice. This is very important, as important as setting your prices.<\/p>\n<p>When you don\u2019t have your terms and conditions clearly and concisely written, you end up leaving lots of room for disagreements and challenges to your invoices.<\/p>\n<p>In your terms, you should clearly state:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>if you\u2019ll take payment before or after completion of the project<\/li>\n<li>how much time will be allotted for the payment (or how the timing is determined)<\/li>\n<li>if any late fees will be applied<\/li>\n<li>what types of payments you\u2019ll be able to accept and how<\/li>\n<li>if you will deliver before or after payment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These may be adjust later, but keep these terms as a way to hold yourself and your client accountable.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7635\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7635\" style=\"width: 690px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7635\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/terms-conditions-invoices.jpg?resize=690%2C290&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"One of the top invoicing tips for photographers is to set terms and conditions\" width=\"690\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/terms-conditions-invoices.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/terms-conditions-invoices.jpg?resize=600%2C252&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7635\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the top invoicing tips for photographers is to set terms and conditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Tip 4: Add penalties<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that clients are sometimes late. In fact, photography clients seem to be late more often than not, and you can find many forums online dedicated to that.<\/p>\n<p>One way to get your clients to think twice about being late is to add a penalty to any late payments. For example, you could do this as either a flat charge per month (e.g. $50) or as a percentage of the overall cost of the project (e.g. 10%).<\/p>\n<p>What this does is incentivize your photography clients to be as prompt as possible on their payments. They do understand that they\u2019ll pay. They just don\u2019t see any point in paying on time.<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 5: Make beautiful invoices<\/h2>\n<p>If you are in the creative field, why do you send such boring invoices?<\/p>\n<p>You should be able to send out invoices that are interesting enough to show off your brand, but professional enough to be easy to read. This impressive balance usually takes time to make. Of course, as a photographer, you probably don\u2019t have much time to create that document.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where online invoicing software comes in handy again. For example, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">InvoiceBerry<\/a> has lots of great invoicing templates designed for various fields. In fact, one of those is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/creative-invoice-and-quote-template-photography-film\/\">made for photographers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When you send out creative and interesting-looking invoices, you\u2019ll make yourself more memorable to your clients. And when they remember you, they\u2019ll remember to pay you too.<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 6: Send invoices ASAP<\/h2>\n<p>In the creative fields like photography, a lot of mental and creative energy is spent not just in doing the work, but in perfecting it. This is understandable, and it is also understandable that you feel completely tired after it and want to take a break.<\/p>\n<p>However, now is not the best time, as it is very important that you send out your invoices as soon as you can.<\/p>\n<p>One of the problems for why photographers don\u2019t get paid on time (and of the most important invoicing tips for photographers) is that they just don\u2019t send out their invoices on time. If you send it out faster, you\u2019ll get paid faster.<\/p>\n<p>Right after you\u2019ve completed everything (or before, if you are sure of the details), create and send your invoices. This is of course easier with online invoicing software, where you can create and send your invoices in under 60 seconds.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7093\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7093\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7093\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/invoice-on-time.png?resize=690%2C345&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"It's important that you not only create but also send out your invoices on time\" width=\"690\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/invoice-on-time.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/invoice-on-time.png?resize=600%2C300&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It&#8217;s important that you not only create but also send out your invoices on time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Tip 7: Monitor your invoices<\/h2>\n<p>Lastly, you should be quite vigilant in chasing after your late payers.<\/p>\n<p>This shouldn\u2019t be such a big problem if you\u2019d followed these other important steps. But sometimes it is just unavoidable\u2014some of your clients will be late to pay no matter what.<\/p>\n<p>In those situations, be very proactive in going after your money. The first thing to do is to send a polite payment reminder.<\/p>\n<p>You can do this in two ways: the first, easier way is to use online invoicing software\u2019s payment reminder function. The other way is to create the email yourself and mail it off. Either way, you\u2019ll send a polite, short note to your client.<\/p>\n<p>If your client still hasn\u2019t paid within a week after you sent your reminder, make a call. The actual conversation will eliminate any potential excuses and you\u2019ll find the reason for the delay.<\/p>\n<p>After that, there\u2019ll be no worries, and you\u2019ll have your money.<\/p>\n<h2>The top invoicing tips for photographers<\/h2>\n<p>These are some of the best invoicing tips for photographers we\u2019ve seen here at InvoiceBerry. By following these, you\u2019ll be well on your way to sending out invoices quickly and accurately and getting paid faster.<\/p>\n<p>However, to make it that much better and faster, you should start using online invoicing software. That way, you can go on with your photography career and let InvoiceBerry take care of all that paperwork.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photography is a passion for many people, and there are many aspects of the job to love. That is, except for the paperwork, including invoicing. While all photographers understand the importance of sending out invoices to get paid, most would rather focus on what they love about the job. This could include the excitement, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[386,87,295],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/feature-invoicing-tips-photographers.jpg?fit=1380%2C580&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5m6q6-1YP","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7615"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17864,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615\/revisions\/17864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}