Rionoir

Perhaps the OP could clarify a few things:-

1. Photography business means what?

2. Is the OP an American citizen?

Regards

Thanks for the explanation onethailand... I have contacted Sunbelt Asia so I'll see what they have to say.

traveller...

1. I want to market to foreigners getting married in Thailand. There are companies who have been interested in me (based on Thailand) already who work with destination weddings, but none of them are sure of the legality of me working for them.

2. Yes, sorry... I am US citizen and my partner is Thai citizen

Performing the role of an engineer is explicitly prohibited - so I can understand that scenario. But taking a photograph hardly makes you a photographer, at least as far as occupation is concerned. That would be similar to saying "drinking a beer makes you a professional alcoholic" .

Know what you mean, but be aware that a single transgression can be very expensive and as in many places expecting logic with such restrictions {especially when they are open to interpretation} is wishful thinking.

Regards

Wow thanks for all the responses. So I've been told by multiple photographers that photography is on a list somewhere, so let's just assume it is. LoL

Can someone please tell me what "registered capital" is? I am going to contact that company you all recommended, thanks so much. I'm just confused about that one part though... I've got close to 2 million baht in gear, does that help me? lol

You know, there was a 2nd list that was from 1979 that was added to the original... and under Services, "photography" was specifically mentioned. Also, an American photog from Thailand had pointed it out to me, which is why I went looking for it. The list with photography is on this forum somewhere, but I don't remember where I found it. Anyway, if it isn't that would be great... but that's what I've had a photog tell me and have seen.

Ok, so... as far as getting a work permit to take pictures in Thailand... I'm still confused now. We would be starting from scratch over there pretty much, so I think having 2 million baht would be out of the question. And the thing about photography is a lot of it would be contract work, so could the companies in Thailand that do destination weddings be able to hire me or help me get a work permit or anything?

Sorry... this is so confusing... and my partner obviously has never had to deal with getting a work permit over there, so knows nothing about it. heh

Thx for the replies though

Is it possible for my Thai partner to start a business in Thailand and have me work for him? We want to start a photography business, and I understand I can't own a photo biz in Thailand as a foreigner. But can a Thai just start a business there like in the US, or how does it work? Photographer is on the list of prohibited jobs for foreigners, but he called one of his friends at the consulate in Thailand and was told that I just can't own a photo biz, but that a company can hire me to be a photographer with no problem.

Anyone know anything about this? What does he have to do to officially have a business that could hire me?

just dont upset anyone

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. This seems to be what I've heard from a couple foreign photogs I talked to in Thailand as well... so basically, try not to steal jobs from a Thai... lol

Oh I totally intend to market to foreigners... my Thai friends have already told me that Thai people don't pay jack for their photography, but I pretty much assumed that already. I don't really want to advertise/draw attention to myself via my website or anything like that. I'm mostly worried about doing it in such a way that I'm not breaking the law, if I can...

If I am paid in a US bank account by someone in the US and then shoot their photography in Thailand... is that sufficient to keep me out of trouble?

I saw since I posted this that photographer is a thai-only profession... what's up with that?

I'm gonna be there on a student visa, just thought maybe I could get some work this way, but oh well... it's a great country to collect some stock photos. lol

I talked to a foreigner who pointed out that photographer is a profession closed to foreigners (huh? lol)... but he said that he had been able to get a special permit to do so through some organization. Does anyone know if this is difficult to do, or should I basically never hope to work as a photographer there?

Is english your native language, I can't tell?

If so maybe you could trade service with a student also looking for a private teacher?

Are there any opportunities for a wedding photographer moving from America to Thailand to pick up much work?

Rionoir, I fly all the time. The best thing I did was get earplugs and eyeshades. I pop a sleeping pill about an hour into the flight, settle in with a book and in about an hour I'm ready for sleep. Flying over water never becomes an issue because you are at 30,000 feet and you can't see much anyway. It also helps to get adjusted to Thai time before flying to LOS. And stay off the booze at the airport and in flight. By the time you arrive, you should be well-rested and ready for fun with your b/f.

Incidentally, welcome to TV. I wish you well with your relationship. They are never easy, but they can be magical in the long run.

I'm starting to think Xanax sounds like a good idea... I found a really good course online too that is available as an MP3 download that I think would help me too... it explained all the little things I am afraid of, like backup systems and all that junk. LoL I know, I'm such a chicken. ha My bf just says, "when it's my time, it's my time"

And thanks for the well wishes... this is the biggest thing I've ever done with my life, so I guess that kind of sums up how I feel about my bf. I've had hard breakups before, but I never even considered moving for someone... much less to a new country. Of course, it helps that I'm moving somewhere like Thailand... lol I figure if the worst happens and we break up, there could be worse places to be alone!

I'd go party with the spoiled rich boys lol... that seems to be what most of my thai friends here in the US are... =P Sorry I can't be any help - wish I was there having that dilema.

It's really a culture thing for him, and also partly homesickness. Especially now, since he is on his OPT, he can't even leave the country... and he loves to travel. So not being able to go anywhere, visit home, take a cruise, nothing... it's driving him crazy. But back to the culture bit... I am the first real American bf he had while he was here working on his degree. To him, most americans are focused primarily on themselves and their careers, making money, and just generally not like a stereotypical thai person. The way friends even treat each other in the US is different than I see my Thai friends treating each other.

He has plenty of friends who have come here either because they like dating white boys or because they fall in love with how easy it is to make money. He has a couple of friends who even do nothing but work in a restaurant, and they are making so much money they have just decided to stay here for a while and save up some easy cash.

There are other friends though who are like my bf... just feel like the culture is too different and miss home. Plus, it's next to impossible to stay in the US legally right now for them. In order to get a job they basically have to find a job that no other qualified american applies for. Since several of them majored in marketing, there is little or no chance of them finding the type of work that they want.

I myself can see where my bf is coming from... I never have felt like I fit in with the US culture. Which is weird since I've lived here my whole life. All my asian friends tell me that I am an asian in white skin, and it's how I've always felt... I have an unusual bond with asian culture for someone who grew up in a relatively small town and had no asian friends growing up. Anyone else feel that way before you moved?

Welcome to the forum. I never let anyone stand in the way of my dreams. And as far as the flight, consider Xanex. It works wonders. I, too, have a fear of flying. It works. Get it.

haha thanks for that! I have been on xanax before for other reasons... love that stuff. Do doctors give it out pretty easily if you are flying?

Just wanted to stop by and say HI, this looks like a great community and just what I was looking for!

I have been together with my Thai BF for the last year, living in the US. He just finished his master's degree a few months ago, and his family visited after that... ever since he's been very homesick, and says he hates it in the US. We have talked about moving together to Thailand someday, but it looks like we won't be able to be together anymore if I don't step up and move those plans along. We've had some other problems along the way, mostly language things and misunderstandings, but I think they have really worn him down too, adding to his desire to go home. We are very different in the way we handle our arguments, and I think that some of them have really stayed with him more than they do with me.

Anyway, I'm not considering the move only because of this relationship... I just turned 30, and I've wanted to go finish a degree in a foreign country and teach english. I can't stand the corporate rat race here in the US... even though I own my own business, I'm not driven to work 70 hours a week to make millions of dollars or anything... I make what I need to get by and I'm fine with that. I'm also very high anxiety... I have lived in the same area for my whole life, and I think I have developed some bad habbits because of it... I just feel stuck in the biggest rut and it's getting deeper and deeper every day.

I'd love to work things out with my BF, but I'm not sure that will happen... so hopefully I am strong enough to move on and still do the move by myself. I'm pretty excited about it... my biggest fear believe it or not is THE FLIGHT over there... OMG flying over water makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it... lol

Ok well just wanted to get that off my chest, and like I said say HI. Maybe see some of you near Bangkok soon.

Rion