Kevin Michael Schmitz is a young photopreneur in every sense of the word. Not only is he talented, but he has been running a successful photography business as well.  He’s also a friend of mine and has taught me some great techniques, as well as given me great advice about the industry. 

His career so far, has been an amazing journey and can only go up from here. So I’m proud to personally know him, and to share his talents with you as well. 

Kevin has recently started a workshop series where he teaches photographers lighting techniques. The workshop is very extensive, and you’ll end the day with beautiful images to use in your portfolio and you’ll have a boost in the quality of your work.

Agency repped models, a professional makeup and hair team, wardrobe stylists, and all lighting equipment is provided. Just bring your camera and get ready to learn and have fun!

The first workshop was a huge success. The day went very smooth and couldn’t have been more fun:)

If you’re looking to learn about fashion photography, Kevin’s workshops are one not to be missed! Your money will go a long way and you’ll end the day craving for more!

The next workshop is this Sunday, November 22nd! If I were you, I would definitely be there. Contact Kevin today if you’re interested, and make sure to tell him you’re a “Young Photopreneur”.

Click here for: Pricing and Press Release

See you Sunday Young Photopreneur’s!

To see behind the scenes footage from a shoot with Kevin Michael Schmitz, check out the video on CheriAmourTV!

Welcome to the 6th episode of Young Photopreneur Radio!

Now on iTunes!

Jayson Kingsbeer embodies the Young Photopreneur title literally. At only 14 years old, he has had major accomplishments in the photography industry. Running a successful and growing photography business, Jayson has started to build an impressive reputation for himself. Listen as he speaks about his experience in the industry, his plans for the future, and tips on how you can do the same!

Having done weddings, to sports, to commercial photography, Jayson has been building an extensive portfolio. To see some of his work or to contact him, check out the links below!

You can see some of his work on his website at: Jayson Kingsbeer Photography

You can also contact him via Twitter 

You can also download this and all other episodes here!

As a freelancer, paying taxes can be stressful.

However, there are a bunch of things that can be written off. So once you sit down and look at all your 1099’s and receipts, you shouldn’t have a problem getting some of those expenses back.

So let’s look at some of the things you may have never knew you could write off. So when tax season rolls around, you’ll be better prepared.

Credit Card Fees

Do you accept paypal? Or accept credit cards as payment for you photo shoots? Most companies, including paypal, charge businesses a convenience fee. If you take credit cards, no matter how many times you’ve accepted them, those fees can be written off. After the year ends, print out your account history from paypal, and you’ll be able to easily add up the charges that way.

Meetings

Ever meet a client at a coffee shop? Or arrange for a lunch meeting? Anything you purchased for yourself and/or business contact can be written off by 50%. Coffee bills can add up over time, so make sure to save those receipts and maybe even write a note on it to remind yourself about the purpose of the meeting.

Advice from a professional

If you ever had to consult with a lawyer in regards to your photography business, or had to pay for any type of professional advice, that can also be deducted. Simply make sure to save the invoice or receipt.

Is your home also your office?

If so, you can deduct part of what you pay towards insurance, utilities and even your mortgage interest. In most cases you have to provide documents of the space including measurements. You’ll also have to fill out a separate form called the IRS Form 8829.

New jobs

Any fees you pay to be apart of a job board can be written off. The same can be applied to sites that let you bid on projects or even leads you’ve bought! Just be sure to save your receipts either on your computer of simply print it out.

The celly

Talking on the phone with clients can get expensive. Although you can’t deduct your main line, whether you use it for personal or business. However, if you have a second line that you use primarily for business including applications like skype, you can write the cost off.

Hire a CPA

This is just a very small list of some of the deductions you can take advantage of. You may qualify for others that are specifically for your situation. To get a better insight, I’d recommend hiring a CPA or accountant that can help you further. The cost of hiring someone to do your taxes can also be written off.

The above examples are approved in the United States, so if you’re in another country you may want to see which of these are also approved and find out what other ways you can get some of your money back! Good luck!

So today, we’re continuing on the list of what every photography student should have. Today our focus is on starting a business. As a freelance photographer, there are a lot of responsibilities and things you may have to take care of yourself, that you never had to do while working for someone.

Being a photographer depends a lot on having a strong business and marketing sense in order to make a living for yourself. You must know how to spread the word about your business to generate new business, as well as marketing yourself to get published in magazines or land contracts with companies that have the budget to pay you. Whatever type of photography you’re interested in, you must know how to market yourself.

Putting in the work is a process, but the results can be very satisfying and profitable, and with everything, there’s always a first step. What’s the first step you may ask? Starting a Business:) Although there is a lot of detail in starting and running a business, you definitely want to file your business name to start.

When I first started my photography business, Cheri Amour Photography, about five years ago, I decided to file as DBA. DBA is abbreviated for Doing Business As. DBA is a legal term meaning that the name of the business is not the name of the owner.

After filing your DBA, you are then required to publish a notice of it in a newspaper for some period of time to inform the public of the owner’s intent to operate under an assumed name. Research in your area where you can go to file your business name. It may be different in every state.

After you have all your legal documents, you can then open a business checking account. You should always keep your personal and business funds separate, for legal reasons.

I recommend doing your research about what type of business entity to start, and is most suitable for you. As I stated before, I started out filing a DBA, however now I am filed as an LLC, which stands for Limited Liability Corporation.

I’ve found a lot of great information here online about starting a business. Here’s a great link about filing your DBA!

In another post, I will go more into detail about the difference between a DBA and an LLC. However, for now, you should seriously think about filing your DBA. You will move from an amateur, to a business owner, which is well on your way to being professional.

If you’re not comfortable filing your DBA yourself, there are a number of companies online that can do all the work for you, for a small fee. Research the companies and rates, and go for it!

After I decided to start my own business, I gained a sense of entitlement, as well as responsibility. It gave me that extra boost to take my career more seriously, and really make things happen for myself. New clients will also have a good impression on you, if you’re legally filed as a business, and not just “saying” you have a photography business.

So take some consideration in this step. After you file your DBA, you can always incorporate later and become an LLC. However, you have to start somewhere. So what are you waiting for!?:)

I would love to hear your progress in the comment area below! Let me know how your photography endeavors are going!:)

Here’s a short video on starting your DBA. Check it out and enjoy:) GOOD LUCK!

All About You! Starting a Sole Proprietorship from Richard Tyler on Vimeo.