Tanya Easterling - Where The Heck Is My Money?
Photography is both art and business. Many photographers master their craft but struggle when the numbers come into focus. This evening workshop introduces a practical, forensic approach to cash‑flow management using the A.U.D.I.T.™ framework. Participants will learn how to assess their cash situation, uncover hidden leaks, diagnose the root causes of financial stress, implement simple systems, and track results.
Drawing on real‑world questions from professional photographers, the session challenges the myth that “busy seasons” or “more bookings” will fix financial problems. Instead, attendees will learn how to separate personal and business finances, price services confidently, manage invoices, build financial buffers, and plan for taxes. The goal is to move from creative passion to sustainable profit.
Concept/Technique #1:
Assess the cash‑flow landscape: How to separate personal and business finances, create a basic budget, and outline fixed and variable costs.
Concept/Technique #2:
Uncover hidden leaks: Techniques to identify financial “leaks” such as under‑charging, excessive gear upgrades, untracked subscriptions and unpaid invoices. Strategies include routine expense reviews and negotiating with vendors.
Concept/Technique #3:
Diagnose root causes: Methods to calculate your true hourly rate, evaluate package profitability and forecast seasonal income. Understand how market research and cost‑of‑goods analysis inform pricing.
Concept/Technique #4:
Implement financial systems: How to use contracts that require a 25–50% deposit and include late‑payment fees to reduce cash gaps. Adopt bookkeeping software and automation to streamline invoicing, receipts and mileage tracking
Concept/Technique #5:
Track and tweak performance: Establish a monthly “money date” to review budgets, update KPIs and adjust pricing or services. Learn to set aside at least 25% of income for taxes and build an emergency fund that covers three months of business expenses.
Please entry your all day program description here.:
By the end of this workshop, professional photographers will have a concrete action plan to bring their finances into sharp focus. They will leave empowered to make confident pricing decisions, build sustainable cash‑flow systems, and scale their business with clarity and control.
Concept/Technique #1:
Budgeting fundamentals: How to build a monthly budget that distinguishes between fixed costs (studio rent, insurance) and variable costs (props, travel, marketing).
Concept/Technique #2:
Pricing for profit: Steps to research market rates, account for overhead and value your time when setting package prices.
Concept/Technique #3:
Cash‑flow forecasting: Techniques to anticipate seasonal ebbs and flows by analyzing historical income and using rolling cash‑flow projections.
Concept/Technique #4:
Payment terms and deposits: Craft contracts that require 25–50% deposits and specify payment milestones; build in late‑payment fees to encourage on‑time payment.
Concept/Technique #5:
Invoice automation: Use software to send detailed invoices, accept online payments and send automatic reminders so clients can easily pre‑pay.
Concept/Technique #6:
Separate personal and business finances: Set up dedicated business banking accounts and credit cards to simplify bookkeeping and tax prep.
Concept/Technique #7:
Emergency funds and insurance: Plan for equipment repairs, slow seasons or health emergencies by setting aside at least three months of business income and securing appropriate liability and equipment insurance.
Concept/Technique #8:
Tax planning: Understand your obligations, set aside roughly 25% of each invoice for taxes and maintain accurate records to maximize deductions.
Concept/Technique #9:
Monthly financial reviews: Conduct regular check‑ups to evaluate whether your pricing, packages and expenses still align with your goals.
Concept/Technique #10:
Evaluating profitability by service line: Analyze which sessions (e.g., weddings, portraits, commercial) deliver the highest margins and adjust your marketing focus accordingly. Use cost‑to‑serve metrics to decide when to hire assistants or outsource editing.