Hi,

I am a mountain photographer about to start practicing it full time. I am a French citizen but currently live in Denmark. At the end of the month, I will move back to France and start a photo business. Which is where things are getting complicated.

For various reasons, being a photographer in France is an administrative nightmare, especially if, like me, you want to also teach workshops and write books. Adding to the problem, most if not all of my clients are not French (most are from the US and the UK, some from Switzerland).

Since I am planning on moving to the Chamonix valley, with Switzerland a stone throw away, I thought that being self-employed in Switzerland would be an idea worth pursuing. From what I have been able to find, it has been possible for a few years now to be an independent frontalier worker (i.e. live in France and be self-employed in Switzerland).

The potential issue, however, is that I would take photos in Switzerland, but also in France and in many other countries - so it could be argued my activity is not located in Switzerland, or at least not exclusively. I couldn't find any information on whether it would then be legal to register in Switzerland and pay taxes there as a frontalier worker.

Would this be an issue simply related to office location, which would mean I could rent a desk in Martigny and commute a few days a week, or maybe even just get a PO box? Or do I need a stronger justification of why I want to legally work in Switzerland?

I couldn't find much information on these matters, and the various organisations I have tried to contact so far haven't been very helpful. I was hoping somebody here would be able to shed some light on the matter.

Any help would be hugely appreciated!

Since being a photographer involves 20% picture taking (if at all) and 80% planning, editing, marketing and administrative stuff, I wouldn't worry much about the picture taking part.

The picture taking part is already well taken care of and not the matter at all here. It's the fiscal, legal and administrative part I am currently worried about.