Working for Bella Baby Photography?

[Curious123]

Hi, all-

Just wondering if anyone out there is working for Bella Baby shooting newborns in hospitals. I was looking at an ad on Craigslist and reading some other threads. It doesn't seem right that you are basically an employee of theirs and yet they still only give you a 1099. Without being a W2 employee you're cheated out of workman's comp if you get hurt, unemployment insurance, and a ton of other benefits. Seems like the lady who owns it is getting mega rich on the backs of hard working photogs and not paying her fair share!!

Thoughts?

 

[CCericola]

Being a contractor (1099) and a photographer has been going on longer than Bella has been in business. It is very common. Welcome to the world of photography.

It's an ok gig if you are good at high pressure sales. Bella used to be commission only.

 

[e.rose]

Exactly what Christina said is true.

You don't work for Bella... you do... but you don't. You're a contractor for them.

It was the same thing when I was shooting weddings for The Pros for a short time. I was a contractor, not an employee of The Pros.

I have a friend that did (or still does... I dunno) for Bella here in Nashville, and I BELIEVE they're not just straight up commission anymore. But the base pay isn't super great, the commission is what supports it.

If you want workers comp, unemployment, benefits, etc., get a job working for someone. If you just want to shoot babies in a hospital, then work for Bella, but don't expect any of that other stuff, because you legally don't work for Bella, therefore they legally don't have to give you anything.

It's not unfair, it's just a type of business model.

You could always reach out to local photographers in your area that do birth stories and see if they'll hire you on as an employee :greenpbl:

 

[ronlane]

[I'm not a lawyer or tax accountant, so you should consult your attorney and accountant]

But if you are a contractor (self employeed) then I believe that YOU are required to pay the worker's comp and unemployment, etc. (NOTE: I could be wrong, because I have been once or twice before.)

 

[pixmedic]

actually, pretty much every industry uses sub-contractors. I cant speak for other countries, but its very common here in the US.
I even have a second job subcontracting as a Paramedic. The wages paid are higher because i am responsible for my own taxes.
(the company i sub-contract to staffs EMT's and Medics for corporate events. My current assignment is at a John Deere ranch where they train people on the newest tractor equipment. i spend my day driving around a 4x4 John Deere Gator to various stations around the ranch)

Last I checked, there's nothing forcing you to work for a company that hires subcontractors, and the company that is hiring the subcontractors is not doing so against their will either, nor breaking any US labor laws.
If the owner of Bella Babys is truly getting "mega rich" using sub-contracted Craigslist photographers to shoot newborns in hospitals, perhaps you should be less jealous, and more industrious in starting your own business if that is the kind of photography you do.

 

[Braineack]

when you enter a conversation with the entitled, you legitimze them...

 

[pixmedic]

Exactly what Christina said is true.

You don't work for Bella... you do... but you don't. You're a contractor for them.

It was the same thing when I was shooting weddings for The Pros for a short time. I was a contractor, not an employee of The Pros.

I have a friend that did (or still does... I dunno) for Bella here in Nashville, and I BELIEVE they're not just straight up commission anymore. But the base pay isn't super great, the commission is what supports it.

If you want workers comp, unemployment, benefits, etc., get a job working for someone. If you just want to shoot babies in a hospital, then work for Bella, but don't expect any of that other stuff, because you legally don't work for Bella, therefore they legally don't have to give you anything.

It's not unfair, it's just a type of business model.

You could always reach out to local photographers in your area that do birth stories and see if they'll hire you on as an employee :greenpbl:

babies....Blech. :meh:

 

[Derrel]

Bella... run fast...run far...

 

[Braineack]

babies....Blech. :meh:

Tasty?

 

[e.rose]

Exactly what Christina said is true.

You don't work for Bella... you do... but you don't. You're a contractor for them.

It was the same thing when I was shooting weddings for The Pros for a short time. I was a contractor, not an employee of The Pros.

I have a friend that did (or still does... I dunno) for Bella here in Nashville, and I BELIEVE they're not just straight up commission anymore. But the base pay isn't super great, the commission is what supports it.

If you want workers comp, unemployment, benefits, etc., get a job working for someone. If you just want to shoot babies in a hospital, then work for Bella, but don't expect any of that other stuff, because you legally don't work for Bella, therefore they legally don't have to give you anything.

It's not unfair, it's just a type of business model.

You could always reach out to local photographers in your area that do birth stories and see if they'll hire you on as an employee :greenpbl:

babies....Blech. :meh:

Right? I don't like 'em either. :lmao:

 

[Derrel]

babies....Blech. :meh:

Tasty?

 

[pixmedic]

Exactly what Christina said is true.

You don't work for Bella... you do... but you don't. You're a contractor for them.

It was the same thing when I was shooting weddings for The Pros for a short time. I was a contractor, not an employee of The Pros.

I have a friend that did (or still does... I dunno) for Bella here in Nashville, and I BELIEVE they're not just straight up commission anymore. But the base pay isn't super great, the commission is what supports it.

If you want workers comp, unemployment, benefits, etc., get a job working for someone. If you just want to shoot babies in a hospital, then work for Bella, but don't expect any of that other stuff, because you legally don't work for Bella, therefore they legally don't have to give you anything.

It's not unfair, it's just a type of business model.

You could always reach out to local photographers in your area that do birth stories and see if they'll hire you on as an employee :greenpbl:

babies....Blech. :meh:

Right? I don't like 'em either. :lmao:

for some stupid reason, last week my main job sent me and my partner to do an EMS presentation for a girl scout troop...
most uncomfortable stand-by ever...kids everywhere...asking questions...wanting to know stuff... *shudder*
I have a kid of my own...but I swear...If my love of boobies didn't just slightly override my fear of children, i would have married a man and not had to deal with it at all. (guess I should have gone to more drag clubs)
thankfully my partner is good with kids, so he pretty much handled everything.

the funniest part was, during the introductions, my partner must have said my name four times, but he always calls me "Mustache", and he mentioned that once...just once, and for the next two hours that's the only thing the kids and parents could remember to call me.

honestly, i would rather have been working a code, or a respiratory failure, or a vent call than a Girl Scout presentation...

 

[e.rose]

babies....Blech. :meh:

Right? I don't like 'em either. :lmao:

for some stupid reason, last week my main job sent me and my partner to do an EMS presentation for a girl scout troop...
most uncomfortable stand-by ever...kids everywhere...asking questions...wanting to know stuff... *shudder*
I have a kid of my own...but I swear...If my love of boobies didn't just slightly override my fear of children, i would have married a man and not had to deal with it at all. (guess I should have gone to more drag clubs)
thankfully my partner is good with kids, so he pretty much handled everything.

the funniest part was, during the introductions, my partner must have said my name four times, but he always calls me "Mustache", and he mentioned that once...just once, and for the next two hours that's the only thing the kids and parents could remember to call me.

honestly, i would rather have been working a code, or a respiratory failure, or a vent call than a Girl Scout presentation...

I worked for Lifetouch for a while...

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Needless to say... I hated my PREVIOUS job so much... and wanted to work with a camera in my hand so much... that working for Lifetouch was STILL better.

However, if you gave me a choice between that and where I am now... I'd laugh in your face so hard it'd probably kill me.

 

[Derrel]

SNIP>>>>he always calls me "Mustache", and he mentioned that once...just once, and for the next two hours that's the only thing the kids and parents could remember to call me.

That makes absolutely NO sense, whatsoever!!!!!!!!! What the he(( is wrong with kids today???



Clearly they should have called you, "white-shirt Dude!", or "Mister Tall Guy"...

 

[pixmedic]

SNIP>>>>he always calls me "Mustache", and he mentioned that once...just once, and for the next two hours that's the only thing the kids and parents could remember to call me.

That makes absolutely NO sense, whatsoever!!!!!!!!! What the he(( is wrong with kids today???

View attachment 65238

Clearly they should have called you, "white-shirt Dude!", or "Mister Tall Guy"...

this might actually be your most accurate one ever Derrel..
this is how i KNOW i am getting old. I say that a lot.
damn kids today....