How to deliver photos to new clients?

I've just completed my first paid photo shoot on Monday and will have photos ready this afternoon for my client.  One thing I didn't think about is how best to get the photos to my client.  

Can I ask how you deliver photos to your clients?

I have very few private clients and go for corporate ones.
I deliver in person. it is always good to cultivate a personal
contact and stay in touch with them.

Photo Amigo wrote: One thing I didn't think about is how best to get the photos to my client.

Um, cart -> horse.

You have the following options:

1. Delivery of prints
2. Delivery of digital images on media of CD/DVD
3. Delivery of digital images on media of USB drive (thumb/flash drive)
4. Delivery of digital images on via Google Drive/Dropbox/similar
5. Delivery of digital images on through a private area on your website

You can mail or hand delivery prints or media, or make digital files available online for download.

The question is really: what kind of photographer do you want to be? Are you trying to grow a business, or just pump out images and move on (shoot & burn)?

IMNSHO (in my not-so-humble opinion) if you are serious about creating a business, then you

• need a website for your portfolio
• that also provides private galleries for your clients
• you're registered as a business in your state
• you collect and report sales taxes as appropriate
• you report your income on your tax return
• you think about liability and equipment insurance

I make my digital products available to the customer forever. I mail prints for my dance studio customers, but portrait work is more high-touch.

garyrhook wrote:

Photo Amigo wrote: One thing I didn't think about is how best to get the photos to my client.

Um, cart -> horse.

You have the following options:

1. Delivery of prints
2. Delivery of digital images on media of CD/DVD
3. Delivery of digital images on media of USB drive (thumb/flash drive)
4. Delivery of digital images on via Google Drive/Dropbox/similar
5. Delivery of digital images on through a private area on your website

You can mail or hand delivery prints or media, or make digital files available online for download.

The question is really: what kind of photographer do you want to be? Are you trying to grow a business, or just pump out images and move on (shoot & burn)?

IMNSHO (in my not-so-humble opinion) if you are serious about creating a business, then you

• need a website for your portfolio
• that also provides private galleries for your clients
• you're registered as a business in your state
• you collect and report sales taxes as appropriate
• you report your income on your tax return
• you think about liability and equipment insurance

I make my digital products available to the customer forever. I mail prints for my dance studio customers, but portrait work is more high-touch.

Correct 100% and should be mostly obvious?

garyrhook wrote:

Photo Amigo wrote: One thing I didn't think about is how best to get the photos to my client.

Um, cart -> horse.

You have the following options:

1. Delivery of prints
2. Delivery of digital images on media of CD/DVD
3. Delivery of digital images on media of USB drive (thumb/flash drive)
4. Delivery of digital images on via Google Drive/Dropbox/similar
5. Delivery of digital images on through a private area on your website

You can mail or hand delivery prints or media, or make digital files available online for download.

The question is really: what kind of photographer do you want to be? Are you trying to grow a business, or just pump out images and move on (shoot & burn)?

IMNSHO (in my not-so-humble opinion) if you are serious about creating a business, then you

• need a website for your portfolio
• that also provides private galleries for your clients
• you're registered as a business in your state
• you collect and report sales taxes as appropriate
• you report your income on your tax return
• you think about liability and equipment insurance

I make my digital products available to the customer forever. I mail prints for my dance studio customers, but portrait work is more high-touch.

Damn, I'm so glad I posted this question.  

Thank you.  Really, thank you for taking the time to type all that out!

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm very new to much of this and learning as I go.  So website that does what you mentioned, any idea how much does something like that cost to set up?  

So speaking of taxes, I live in San Diego and get down to Mexico very often.  I have been doing work for free in both places.  But like I said earlier, I have just taken my first paid gig, which was in San Diego.  Now regarding taxes, if my business was established here in San Diego, do I have to report income made while in Mexico?  

try SmugMug or wix.com

Zen folio is another

Benefit of going with Smugmug or Zenfolio is these sites will handle most everything you need to worry about.  So you are better off going that route vs having one built from Wordpress.  

Photo Amigo wrote: Thank you.  Really, thank you for taking the time to type all that out!

You're very welcome. I type pretty fast

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm very new to much of this and learning as I go.  So website that does what you mentioned, any idea how much does something like that cost to set up?  

So speaking of taxes, I live in San Diego and get down to Mexico very often.  I have been doing work for free in both places.  But like I said earlier, I have just taken my first paid gig, which was in San Diego.  Now regarding taxes, if my business was established here in San Diego, do I have to report income made while in Mexico? 

We all have to learn, and starting a business requires a lot of new information that many of us don't have. I was lucky to find someone that had a business, and asked lots of questions. Find a local meetup that is attended by pros and find one that would like to be helpful.

Websites: PhotoShelter, SmugMug, ZenFolio, SquareSpace, Pixieset to name a few. Cost depends upon features, and how they charge. (I'll ignore performance and reliability... google for that.) You'll have to do some homework. I pay $155 annually for my ZF site, and am setting up another at SS that runs just under $150.

You need to register in CA, you need to verify what is/isn't (state) taxable, and collect/report sales tax. As for Mexico, you should find a CPA that is familiar with Mexico law and discuss with them. Foreign income makes your US tax return a bit more complex.  Good luck.

+1 excellent post from Gary. 

Regarding your income you are making from Mexico, yes you need to report that:  https://www.irs.gov/businesses/income-from-abroad-is-taxable

Welcome to the site!  

Personally I am now using either Google or Dropbox, depends on the client.