Low-income discount?

So I've been shooting senior portraits for my kids and their friends for the last few years and grown a nice little side business just by recommendations and word of mouth. I charge a fair price but I know for some kids out there, even that is too much. I'd love to give back to the community and give discounted or even free shoots for kids that can't afford good photos for their senior year. I think it's really important to have nice memories of this time in a kid's life. My question is how do I do that without making my paying customers angry or letting myself get taken advantage of by people that can afford it?

Is it too idealistic? Does anyone else do this?

Good question. A couple suggestions:

1. Check with your CPA on what tax write off benefits might come from this, as this might be considered donating time.

2. To know you are dealing with authentic low income households perhaps position yourself with programs and other organizations that work with low income families. Offer your services at events they may be hosting.

I think that is a stand up idea.

there are a number of inner city organizations that you can work with. Depends on your area, but worth looking into.

Vincent wrote: Good question. A couple suggestions:

1. Check with your CPA on what tax write off benefits might come from this, as this might be considered donating time.

2. To know you are dealing with authentic low income households perhaps position yourself with programs and other organizations that work with low income families. Offer your services at events they may be hosting.

I think that is a stand up idea.

I don't think you can claim a discount. Now if you were giving 100% of your services for free, I think that would work just fine.

Richard K Photography wrote:

Vincent wrote: Good question. A couple suggestions:

1. Check with your CPA on what tax write off benefits might come from this, as this might be considered donating time.

2. To know you are dealing with authentic low income households perhaps position yourself with programs and other organizations that work with low income families. Offer your services at events they may be hosting.

I think that is a stand up idea.

I don't think you can claim a discount. Now if you were giving 100% of your services for free, I think that would work just fine.

Not necessarily, still good idea to check with CPA

If you leave it to the honor system you'll have people taking advantage of you in no time. I'd partner up with one of the inner city groups as suggested already. Good cause.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I don't know why I didn't even think of pairing up with an existing organization. Though my town is pretty small I'm not sure what it has to offer but I'll definitely check it out.

What about a contest or grant sort of format if I can't find anything? Guess that might take more publicity than I have going for myself right now but just a thought.

Having been a teacher I think sounds like it could be possible. I'm not sure if it's getting late enough in the school year for it to be possible this school year, but if not it would be something that could be done next school year. (My nephew's school did theirs in the fall, but that was for the yearbook or to buy if they wanted, I imagine kids get their own done whenever they want).

As others suggested, working thru a community organization might be the best way to make this available to the kids who would benefit the most. I don't know if there's a United Way or a 411 service in your area, they could possibly give you the names of social agencies.

I've taken a couple of workshops on grant writing and there's a process to that, and I think if you start handling money yourself you're getting into needing to setting up a nonprofit; I'm not sure if you want to do something that involved. If you offer the service thru an existing community agency you could probably just donate your time and talent without needing to handle money.

I'm wondering if there might be a possibility of going thru a local school district? They wouldn't be able to release info. but maybe could work out something with you and whoever does their school pictures and have kids sign up, then base the cost on what they're eligible for (in my area usually the criteria for free and reduced lunch was the guideline for being eligible for other services). So I'm not sure exactly how it might work but you might be able to offer something on a sliding scale or free for those kids who are eligible. Maybe you could talk to a guidance counselor at a high school as a starting point if you want to try to go that route.


Good luck with your efforts.

icepics wrote: Having been a teacher I think sounds like it could be possible. I'm not sure if it's getting late enough in the school year for it to be possible this school year, but if not it would be something that could be done next school year. (My nephew's school did theirs in the fall, but that was for the yearbook or to buy if they wanted, I imagine kids get their own done whenever they want).

As others suggested, working thru a community organization might be the best way to make this available to the kids who would benefit the most. I don't know if there's a United Way or a 411 service in your area, they could possibly give you the names of social agencies.

I've taken a couple of workshops on grant writing and there's a process to that, and I think if you start handling money yourself you're getting into needing to setting up a nonprofit; I'm not sure if you want to do something that involved. If you offer the service thru an existing community agency you could probably just donate your time and talent without needing to handle money.

I'm wondering if there might be a possibility of going thru a local school district? They wouldn't be able to release info. but maybe could work out something with you and whoever does their school pictures and have kids sign up, then base the cost on what they're eligible for (in my area usually the criteria for free and reduced lunch was the guideline for being eligible for other services). So I'm not sure exactly how it might work but you might be able to offer something on a sliding scale or free for those kids who are eligible. Maybe you could talk to a guidance counselor at a high school as a starting point if you want to try to go that route.


Good luck with your efforts.

Thanks icepics! I was starting to think about the free lunch idea as well. Def don't wanna start a nonprofit or anything too involved because as I said, this is more just a side thing for me. I don't shoot the actual yearbook photos, most schools have a contract with a company for that sort of thing is my understanding. I just do the personal shots for keepsakes.

Maybe do something that requires a letter of reference from a teacher?
Many teachers can tell if a teenager is low income.

Good Idea mclayton. This project may get out of my hands. I have limited time but I'm gunna do the best I can! Maybe I can have groups of friends come for a session together for time sake.

Oh look what I just found!

community.help-portrait.com/

Guess I'm not the only one with this idea. That's good!