Raise your hand if the phrase self-employment tax makes your palms sweat just a little. 🙋‍♀️

You’re not alone.

When I first started my photography business, I had no clue how taxes worked. I just knew that at some point, the IRS was going to want a chunk of what I made—and that thought was enough to make me want to avoid the topic altogether.

But here’s the truth: understanding self-employment taxes is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect your income and confidently grow your photography business.

And that’s exactly what I’m walking you through in my latest YouTube video

This beginner-friendly video is basically Self-Employment Taxes 101, breaking down everything you need to know—without the jargon or overwhelm. If you’re new to running a photography business or finally trying to get a handle on your finances, this is the one video you don’t want to skip.

What You’ll Learn in the Video:

✅ What self-employment tax actually is (and why it matters)

✅ How to calculate what you owe based on your net income

✅ Why even side-hustle income counts if you make over $400

✅ The four quarterly deadlines you absolutely need to know

✅ Practical ways to plan ahead and avoid surprise tax bills

I even include a real-life example using common photography numbers—so it’s easy to follow, even if math isn’t your thing.

But wait—what is self-employment tax, anyway?

If you’ve ever had a traditional 9–5 job, you probably saw Social Security and Medicare taxes taken out of your paycheck. When you’re self-employed, you’re both the employer and the employee, which means you’re on the hook for the full 15.3%. (Ouch.)

In the video, I show you how to take your business income, subtract your expenses, and use that number to estimate what you’ll owe—so you’re not caught off guard later.

Because here’s the thing: you don’t need to be an expert, but you do need a system.

And that’s where my course, Make Taxes Suck Less: A Beginner’s Guide to Business Taxes for Photographers, comes in. You’ll find the link to that inside the video description!

Ready to Feel More Confident About Taxes?

Whether you’re a part-time photographer just getting started or full-time and still piecing together the financial side of things, this video is your starting point for Self-Employment Taxes 101.

Trust me—it’s way easier (and less stressful) than you think. And after watching, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what you owe, when you owe it, and how to plan ahead like the organized business owner you’re becoming.

You’ve got this 💛

XOXO – Heather

https://youtu.be/AHWoWgTv0Zw

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And don’t forget to grab the Make Taxes Suck Less Course: A Beginner Photographer’s Guide to Taxes. It includes everything you need to confidently navigate the complexities of business taxes as a photographer.

Let’s make this the year you take control of your business finances!

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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!

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Tax Deadlines Every Photographer Should Know
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