Business Of Photography Workshop

09/30/2025

UPDATE! Barely 2 weeks to go, I'm grateful for those who have generously stepped up to support the workshop in Boston. 🙏

1. Anonymous donor! $2k towards covering students & freelancers! 💰

2. ThinkTank Photo, the best bags in the industry, donating for giveaways! 🎒

3. My book publisher, Routledge Books, is providing discounts to attendees! 📖

https://www.asmp.org/ne/event/business-of-photography-workshop-with-todd-bigelow/

09/30/2025

The government shutdown, set to begin tonight at Midnight, is over the fight to maintain the subsidies in place for years that allow lower and middle income Americans without employee sponsored healthcare to buy insurance. Republicans stripped those subsidies when they passed "the big beautiful bill."

Independent photographers (and anyone else not receiving employer based healthcare) need to prepare for drastic premium increases. Non partisan reporting by Kaiser Family Foundation and others says to prepare for 75% increase in premiums.

With time running out to avert a government shutdown, millions of Americans who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act could soon face sharply higher premiums.

09/25/2025

This settlement gives credit to the what people like me have said forever; infringers have long preferred to ask forgiveness instead of permission. $1.5 billion 👀

The lawsuit alleged that the AI startup illegally downloaded material from pirated databases.

09/23/2025

There are some truly wonderful freelancers in our profession who look out for the next generation. I'd love to identify this person, but they requested to remain anonymous. When the process is finalized (soon!), the generous donation made to ASMP New England will go a long way to helping current and future freelancers navigate the business side of freelance photojournalism & photography. Please visit the ASMP NE workshop website for more info when it becomes available. https://www.asmp.org/ne/event/business-of-photography-workshop-with-todd-bigelow/

09/11/2025

I continue to update my presentation with current figures for two upcoming workshops so freelancers can try to adjust their rates to compensate.

Prices have continued to rise under Trump due primarily to the inflation producing tariff policies he's enacted (and probably illegally given Congress' constitutionally mandated power to levy tariffs). Further, hiring has stalled and unemployment rising. All that impacts freelancers dependent on their editorial and corporate client budgets.

If you're one that sees everything through partisan eyes and want to stick your head in the sand, no worries. If you're interested in financial facts regardless of politics, read the Murdoch owned, conservative king of financial news, the Wall Street Journal.

I'll be pointing out in October at ASMP New England the impact that inflation has on freelancers real income as rates stay the same while inflation rises.

Remember, though, Trump literally ran on "lowering prices on day one" yet prices on everything has continue to rise since day one. Freelancers, you're losing money if you don't raise your rates.

Consumer prices were up 2.9% in August from a year earlier, hotter than July’s gain of 2.7%. The year-over-year reading was the highest since the start of 2025.

09/03/2025

Registration is live for ASMP New England!

Being held on Oct 17 & 18 from 10am-6pm daily. They're offering the course at a rate that's affordable for all and a fraction of what others typically offer it at. Kudos to them for their dedication to providing valuable services to their members! Click for info and to register.

Designed specifically to address the shortfall in business training for freelance photographers, this seminar is geared toward freelancer photographers interested in working primarily for media outlets, nonprofits, foundations and corporations. It provides practical and timely instruction addressing...

09/02/2025

Announcing two upcoming workshops with one in the Northeast and one in the Midwest! This is in direct response to inquiries in the past couple years for workshops beyond the West Coast. Here's the chance:

1. ASMP New England is hosting the full two day (15 hr) course on October 17 & 18 in Boston.

2. Central Michigan University is hosting the full course on Nov 13 & 14. (Not a public event. Open only to university students).

Among the many topics covered in depth will be archive building, digital asset management, licensing for revenue, step-by-step instruction in writing a license, agency representation, copyright, business structure, battling infringement and much more.

(Image below licensed by Netflix for Spike Lee produced documentary currently available marking the 20 yr Hurricane Katrina.)

Both workshops will open registrations soon. Limited seating and expecting high demand, so please register early if interested as there will likely be early registration discounts. I will post links on the workshop page to register as soon as they're provided.

07/29/2025

Friendly reminder to all professors preparing for upcoming year, you can request a *free* copy of my book.

If you're interested in considering assigning it to your students, or to help formulate integration of freelance business topics into your curriculum, just click on "Request Inspection Copy" via the link.

Grounded in real-life experiences and scenarios, this practical guide offers editorial, non-profit, foundation, and corporate photographers an honest and insightful approach to running a freelance photography business. Pulling from thirty years of experience as a freelance photographer, veteran Todd...

07/26/2025

FYI for all you east coast photographers, ASMP New England reached out to discuss hosting a September workshop in Boston. Nothing set yet but sounding possible as we work out pricing, dates etc.

I’ve had several recent inquiries from NY, DC & Boston asking about a course back there, so here's the chance. Stay tuned & comment or msg if interested.

07/22/2025

FYI, summer sale on publisher's website as well as on Amazon for my guidebook.

Grounded in real-life experiences and scenarios, this practical guide offers editorial, non-profit, foundation, and corporate photographers an honest and insightful approach to running a freelance photography business. Pulling from thirty years of experience as a freelance photographer, veteran Todd...

07/21/2025

My annual summer print sale is now on. Choose any image from this travel gallery & use Summer25 for 30% off.

How To Order
1. Click on gallery link below.
2. Select an image.
3. Click Cart icon below the image.
4. Choose from various print options.
5. Pay via PayPal (no account needed)

White House Custom Colour prints & delivers directly to you.

From active lifestyles in the Sierras to quiet locations near the Arctic Circle, this small selection of travel related images reflect some of the people and places I've been fortunate to photograph for clients including National Geographic Traveler, Sports Illustrated, Time, The New York Times Maga...