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Business of Photography Workshop with Todd Bigelow
Join us for this special two day workshop with Todd Bigelow!
The Business of Photography Workshop with Todd Bigelow is designed specifically to address the shortfall in business training for freelance photographers. This seminar is geared toward freelance photographers interested in working primarily for media outlets, nonprofits, foundations and corporations. It provides practical and timely instruction addressing the many business issues that freelancers contend with on a daily basis such as client development, contract analysis and negotiations, archive building and management, licensing for revenue, copyright, photo agencies and much more. The information presented is drawn from Todd’s career as a freelancer and is rooted in reality, not theory. Read more here about the Business of Photography Workshop.
“Over the course of a weekend, every confusing thing about copyright laws, licensing images, contracts, creating quotes and operating as an independent contractor has been demystified. I finally understand the steps I need to take to build my business, and it no longer feels overwhelming.” – Courtnay Robbins, Workshop Student
What Topics Are Covered
The continually evolving photography and photojournalism professions have clearly shifted the employment standard from employee based to freelance based. As a result, it is now more imperative than ever for independent photographers to possess a solid understanding of managing their own business if they expect to support themselves and/or their family. The workshop addresses core issues that freelancers consistently face on a daily basis while also recognizing new topics as they become relevant:
- Understanding the Freelance Market
- Building and Leveraging Your Portfolio for Work
- Freelancing 101: The Basics
- Client Development Methods
- Contracts: View and Analyze Real Contracts from Clients
- Contracts: Creating and Analyzing Licensing and Invoice Contracts
- Contracts: Understanding Work For Hire Agreements
- Building an Archive
- Managing and Leveraging an Archive For Income and Clients
- Agency Representation
- Website & Platform Options To Manage Your Business
- Understanding Copyright
- Copyright Registration Requirements
- Tax Issues and Choices Facing Freelancers
- Digital Asset Management via Image Workflow
- Creating Revenue from Image Licensing
- Image Licensing Standards and Rates
- Building an Image License From Scratch Using Industry Standard Software
- Combating Infringement and Methods to Recover Lost Licensing Fees
- General Business Practices (home offices, assistants & insurance)
- Understanding Cost of Doing Business
- Rate and Term Standards & Negotiations
ASMP members as well as students, members of the Boston Press Photographers Association (BPPA) and National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), and non-members working as freelance photographers are encouraged to sign up for this two day workshop.
When: October 17 and 18, 2025, from 10am to 6pm each day
Where: Bentley University, Waltham Massachusetts. Directions to Bentley University via driving and public transportation can be found here.
There is a university café nearby or you may bring your lunch.
Meet Todd Bigelow
Southern California based freelance photographer Todd Bigelow is a contributing photographer to Contact Press Images and has handled regular assignment work for thirty years from the world’s leading publications, non profits and corporations including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, TIME, Newsweek, Smithsonian, People, NYT Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, Costco, James Irvine Foundation and more.
Thanks to Bentley University for hosting this event.