Photographer in Germany: business, prices, portfolio

Photographer is a liberal profession (Freiberufler, §18 EStG): register with the Finanzamt, not the Gewerbeamt — simpler, taxes via ELSTER. Market prices: portrait ~€150–400, wedding ~€1,500–3,500 (8–10 hours plus editing!), product ~€50–150/shot. The start: free TFP shoots (Time for Pictures — the model gets photos, you get portfolio), then friends and family. Portfolio: 20 best images on a website beats 500 average ones on Instagram. Insurance is a must: equipment plus professional liability.

• ●TFP = free for all, all get photos — the career start
• ●The Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) pays half the social contributions for artists
• ●Weddings = the main income: June–September books a year ahead