New photographers, I know that feeling when you take your first pictures with a professional camera. You see that delicious depth of field and stunning sharpness in your subject’s eyes and feel the creativeness coursing through your veins. You think, “I could totally do this as a side hustle. Yeah… I’m gonna start a business!” 

This blog post is NOT to discourage you. It’s to help you get started off on the right foot! In this industry, there’s always room for legal photographers and we welcome those who want to want to follow that path with open arms. 

So let’s get started with 5 things you need to do if you’ve recently decided to start a photography business: 

1. Choose your business entity:

research the differences between a sole proprietor and an LLC. I recommend you file your business as an LLC due to the protection factors and separation of you as a person vs your business. You never want a client to be able to sue your business and come after your personal assets like your home, savings, etc.

2. Get your federal tax ID number:

go to irs.usa-taxid.com and apply for your EIN (employment identification number). This will be your number that the government will assign to your business for tax account information, your business income, and any future employees you may have. 

3. Open a business checking account:

you’ll need to separate your personal money from your business money immediately upon becoming an official business. When you file your taxes every year, this separation will be paramount as you’ll need to show the IRS how your business expenses and deductions were paid for.

4. Get insurance for your business:

you’ll need, at the very least, commercial coverage insurance policy for your new photography business. Don’t forget about renters insurance if you’re renting a studio as well. 

5. Get a photography contract in place:

go to www.thelawtog.com & get a contract created for your specific genre of photography (newborn, family, senior, etc). She also has a general portrait contract available for those of you who want to photograph a little bit of everything. Next, take that template contract to an attorney to go over and make sure everything is legally worded for your state. 

BONUS:  Sign up for A-List Society to accelerate your learning curve! The A-List Society is a community full of photographers like you who want education designed to transform your business into a client booking, income producing, and evolving machine that works FOR you. Every week, members receive LIVE trainings, guides, & resources. These tools help them to stay on top of the ever changing industry while going behind the scenes with me! 

Are YOU ready to start running a LEGIT photography business?!?! Which one of these steps are you going to start with?!? Let me know in the comments below!