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As far as the TAX MAN is concerned, then if you are being paid then you are a Pro and while they are likely to turn a blind eye if you just do the occasional paid job, they can come down on you very heavy if they suspect you are making a habit of it.
My advice would be simply to register yourself with them as self-employed, thats what I did when I started out.
Its a very simple process, and you can be self-employed as far as your photography is concerned even if you are in full time employement in your day job. At the same time register for additional NI contributions exemption if you don't expect to make more than about £2500 per year (thats profit - not turnover).
If you do register as self employed then they will send you a self-assessment tax return to do each year and you will have to pay tax on any profit you make. However on the plus side, you can claim all the expenses against tax so that new lens, tripod, memory card can all be claimed as well.
The forms are relativly simiple to complete, but if in any doubt get an accountant to do it for you, typically the will charge about £100 for this (which you can then claim against tax in the following year!).
Of course if on paper you don't make any profit, then the tax man actually pays you, and you get some of your PAYE back that you paid from your 'real' job, (in addition to having of course that new lens, camera and tripod, which the taxman has effectivly bought for you).
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