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What Your Photography Business Owes the IRS (And How to Stop Being Surprised Every April)
Business & Finance

What Your Photography Business Owes the IRS (And How to Stop Being Surprised Every April)

Every January, I pull up my studio’s numbers and run the same calculation my accountant husband walked me through years ago: take my net profit, multiply it by 0.9235, then multiply that by 0.153. That’s my self-employment tax liability before I even touch federal income tax. If I hadn’t started doing this math quarterly, I would have written a check to the IRS every April that physically hurt. A lot of photographers I know are still writing that check.

The 3 Stages Every Photography Business Goes Through (And How to Stop Getting Stuck in Stage One)
Video Tutorials

The 3 Stages Every Photography Business Goes Through (And How to Stop Getting Stuck in Stage One)

I grew up watching my parents run a photography business on pure talent and zero pricing strategy. They were brilliant with a camera and terrible at charging what their work was worth. By the time I took over my own studio, I was determined not to repeat the pattern, but I still spent my first two years doing exactly what they did: undercharging, overdelivering, and calling it a business. What I was actually running was an expensive creative hobby with a PayPal account.

You're Not Charging Enough — And Better Photos Won't Fix It
Video Tutorials

You're Not Charging Enough — And Better Photos Won't Fix It

I grew up watching my parents run a portrait studio. They were talented, genuinely talented, and they worked constantly. But they never raised their prices. Not once in fifteen years did they sit down and say, “We are worth more than this.” They were always chasing the next skill upgrade, the next lens, the next workshop, convinced that if they just got a little better, the money would follow. It didn’t.

Beyond the Camera: 8 Revenue Streams Modern Photographers Should Know About
News

Beyond the Camera: 8 Revenue Streams Modern Photographers Should Know About

Beyond the Camera: 8 Revenue Streams Modern Photographers Should Know About The photography industry is at an inflection point. What once seemed like an exclusive path—build a portfolio, land clients, repeat—now branches into multiple directions. And I’m seeing photographers make serious money in ways that didn’t exist five years ago. The Reality Check Here’s what I’m observing: roughly 3-5% of hobby photographers actually transition into income-generating work. That’s a small slice, but it’s a deliberate one.

The Power of Post-Wedding Gifts: Why Photographers Should Invest in Client Appreciation
News

The Power of Post-Wedding Gifts: Why Photographers Should Invest in Client Appreciation

I’ve watched something interesting happen in the wedding photography industry over the past few years: the photographers pulling in the most referral business aren’t always the ones with the best portfolios. They’re the ones who’ve mastered the art of going beyond the transaction. The Business Case for Client Gifting Here’s the reality—your wedding photography isn’t just a product. It’s the visual documentation of one of the most emotionally significant days in your clients’ lives.

Why Your Photography Website Is Invisible (And the Local SEO Fix That Actually Books Clients)
Marketing

Why Your Photography Website Is Invisible (And the Local SEO Fix That Actually Books Clients)

I used to think having a beautiful website was enough. I spent real money on it, somewhere around $3,400 with a designer, and I watched it sit there looking gorgeous and doing absolutely nothing. No inquiries from strangers. No organic traffic worth mentioning. Just compliments from people who already knew me. It took me embarrassingly long to understand that a website is not a marketing strategy. It is real estate. And just like real estate, location is everything.

What Your Photography Business Owes the IRS (And How to Keep More of What You Earn)
Business & Finance

What Your Photography Business Owes the IRS (And How to Keep More of What You Earn)

Every January, I pull up my accounting software and run the same report. Revenue, expenses, net profit, tax liability. I’ve been doing this for years, and I still find photographers in my workshops who have never once looked at that last number before April. They’re shocked when they owe $4,000 or $6,000 to the IRS with two weeks’ notice and nothing set aside to cover it. That’s not a tax problem.

The Offline Marketing Paradox: What Photographers Can Learn From Going Unplugged
News

The Offline Marketing Paradox: What Photographers Can Learn From Going Unplugged

The Offline Marketing Trend Taking Over I’ve been watching a fascinating shift in how brands communicate with audiences lately—and it’s happening in the most unexpected way. Major artists and companies are launching “internet-free” campaigns, creating buzz entirely through unconventional offline channels while the internet obsesses over the fact that they’re not online. It’s a clever paradox, and it’s worth paying attention to if you’re running a photography business. Why Authenticity Sells (Even When It’s Manufactured) Here’s what I’m noticing: consumers are tired.

Why Google Can't Find Your Photography Business (And the Fix Takes 30 Minutes)
Business & Marketing

Why Google Can't Find Your Photography Business (And the Fix Takes 30 Minutes)

Last year I audited the website of a photographer whose work made me genuinely stop scrolling. Sharp images, beautiful client relationships, clear pricing. She was doing everything right in the studio and almost nothing right online. Her homepage title tag read “Welcome to My Website.” She had no location mentioned anywhere in her copy. Google had no idea she existed, let alone that she was the best family photographer in her city.

Body Language: Your Secret Weapon for Growing Your Photography Business
News

Body Language: Your Secret Weapon for Growing Your Photography Business

I’ve spent years watching photographers struggle with the same challenges: underpricing their work, losing potential clients at networking events, and misreading what their customers actually need. The common thread? Most miss the power of body language entirely. Here’s what I’ve learned: your ability to read and project confidence through nonverbal communication directly impacts your bottom line. This isn’t soft skill fluff—it’s a measurable business advantage. Command Premium Pricing Through Presence When you walk into a client meeting with poor posture, avoiding eye contact, or fidgeting, you’re already negotiating against yourself.

From Freelancer Brain to CEO Moves: What Jaren Collins Taught Me About Scaling a Photography Business
Video Tutorials

From Freelancer Brain to CEO Moves: What Jaren Collins Taught Me About Scaling a Photography Business

I used to joke that my business card should read “Chief Everything Officer” because that’s exactly what being a solo portrait photographer felt like. Shooting, editing, invoicing, marketing, answering emails at midnight. For years I told myself that was just the deal, that creative freedom came with this particular kind of exhaustion. It wasn’t until I started studying how other photographers had actually broken out of that ceiling that I realized the problem wasn’t my workload.

Typography Kills Brands: 6 Font Pairing Mistakes Tanking Your Photography Business
News

Typography Kills Brands: 6 Font Pairing Mistakes Tanking Your Photography Business

I’ve watched countless photography businesses fail at the same place: their fonts. You invested in better cameras, perfected your lighting, and built a stunning portfolio. Then you slap Comic Sans next to Helvetica on your website and wonder why clients book your competitor instead. Typography matters more than most photographers realize. Your font choices communicate professionalism—or desperation—before a single image loads. I’m talking about the difference between attracting premium clients and fighting for scraps at $300 per session.