I had the absolute honor of joining Nikki Closser on The Portrait System Podcast to talk about something that doesn’t always feel glamorous, but completely changes your business when you understand it:
Photographer taxes, bookkeeping, and how portrait photographers can stop feeling behind with their numbers.
If you’re building a photography business and feel unsure about photographer taxes, this episode was created for you.
Because here’s what I know:
You didn’t start your photography business because you love spreadsheets.
You started it because you love creating.
But if you want that creativity to turn into sustainable income, you have to understand how your money works, and that includes understanding photographer taxes before they become overwhelming.
And that’s exactly what we talked about.
The Biggest Tax Mistake Creatives Make
One of the first things Nikki and I covered was this:
Waiting until February or March to think about taxes.
By the time you’re gathering documents in the spring, the year is already over. There’s no more strategy to implement, only paperwork to file.
Tax prep and tax planning are not the same thing.
Planning happens before December 31.
Prep happens after.
And when photographers don’t look at their numbers until tax season, they’re almost guaranteed to feel surprised, stressed, or behind.
The fix? A simple monthly money check-in.
When it comes to photographer taxes, consistency beats last-minute scrambling every time.
What Photographers Should Be Doing Year-Round
You don’t need to become a tax expert.
But you do need to become aware.
Inside the episode, we talked about simple habits that change everything:
- Reviewing your profit and loss monthly
- Separating business and personal finances
- Setting aside a percentage of net profit for taxes
- Tracking expenses consistently (not retroactively)
- Forecasting your income instead of reacting to it
If you know your numbers monthly, April stops feeling scary.
Clarity creates confidence. Especially with photographer taxes.
Commonly Missed Deductions for Photographers
This was a big topic because I see so many photographers either under-claiming or guessing.
Some of the deductions we discussed include:
- Camera bodies and lenses used for business
- Studio lighting and modifiers
- Backdrops, wardrobe, and props (when used exclusively for business)
- Website hosting and online gallery software
- CRM systems
- Education and professional development
- Home office (when it qualifies)
The goal isn’t to stretch the rules.
The goal is to stop missing legitimate deductions simply because you aren’t tracking them correctly.
If it’s not categorized properly, it doesn’t exist at tax time. That’s one of the biggest issues I see when it comes to photographer taxes.
LLC vs. S-Corp: What Photographers Should Know
We also broke down one of the most misunderstood topics in the photography world: LLC vs. S-Corp.
Here’s the simple version:
An LLC is a legal structure.
An S-Corp is a tax election.
They are not the same thing.
An S-Corp can reduce self-employment taxes in certain income ranges, but it comes with payroll, compliance requirements, and added responsibility.
It’s not a “level up” badge.
It’s a math decision.
And it only makes sense when your profit supports it.
How Much Should You Set Aside for Taxes?
This is the question every photographer wants answered.
While it depends on your income level and location, a common starting point is:
25–30% of net profit (not revenue).
The key word there is net.
Revenue is not your money to spend.
Profit is what remains after expenses.
And even then, part of that profit belongs to taxes.
When you build this into your system year-round, photographer taxes become predictable instead of painful.
Can You Actually Lower Your Tax Burden?
Yes, legally and ethically.
But lowering your tax burden doesn’t mean spending recklessly just to get a write-off.
It means:
- Tracking legitimate deductions
- Contributing to retirement strategically
- Planning income timing intentionally
- Choosing the right business structure when appropriate
- Staying connected to your numbers monthly
The goal is not to pay zero tax.
The goal is to pay what you legally owe, and not a dollar more.
My Biggest Takeaway
If there’s one thing I hope photographers take from this episode, it’s this:
You are not bad at money.
You were just never taught how to run a creative business financially.
Photographer taxes aren’t punishment.
They’re math.
And when you understand the math, you gain control.
When you gain control, you gain confidence.
And confident photographers build sustainable businesses.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you want the full conversation with Nikki, including real examples, practical steps, and deeper discussion, you can listen here: Podcast Episode
I’d love to know what resonates most with you after you listen.
And if you’re ready to stop guessing with your numbers and start leading your business with clarity, that’s exactly the work I love to do.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
XOXO – Heather
And don’t forget to grab my free 15 Business Tax Category Breakdowns Guide to get a head start on organizing your expenses and maximizing your write-offs.
Let’s make this the year you take control of your business finances!
Let’s Prep for Tax Season – Together
Keep more of what you make inside of your business with these 5 key deductions for photographers. I’m sharing all inside of my free class — Maximizing Your Tax Deductions as a Photographer!
Make tracking your numbers easy with my Tax Prep Spreadsheet and ensure that tax season is a breeze.
Transform your passion into a thriving business and unlock success for your photography business with my free guide to setting goals for the first year of your photography business.
Mastering your business taxes starts with understanding the different tax categories. Grab my free tax category guide to take the first step towards stress-free taxes today.
Want taxes to suck less? Learn how to correctly prepare your taxes for your accountant with the Photographer Tax Course – and say hello to a confident and calm tax season!
Don’t know what you don’t know? You’re just 90 minutes from a custom tax prep system with my 1:1 Tax Prep Mentoring sessions!
More Blog Posts for Photographers:
How Much Photographers Should Save for Taxes
First Year Filing Taxes as a Photographer
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