About a year into my “business” I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw a post by another local photographer bagging on all the photographers who were “bringing down the industry.” As an aspiring photographer, I was insulted. The comments continued to bash the newbies by talking about how they had no insurance, didn’t pay sales tax, weren’t licensed, how terrible they were, etc. The post brought me down.
First, I unfollowed the photographer because I was no longer inspired by her.Then, I vowed to NEVER bag on an aspiring photographer…especially publicly on my Faecbook page. We ALL started bad. We ALL have had to learn about how to run a legit business, how to take great pictures, etc. Instead of bringing the newbies down, I want to inspire and educate! Always. Sure, I don’t know everything. But I have learned a LOT. And I am more than happy to share!
When I started my business, I was clueless, naive AND illegal (but I didn’t even know it). I had my city business license and thought I had covered all my bases. I knew nothing about registering my business name, choosing a business structure, sales tax licensing, insurance, taxes or all that other “stuff.” I spent the next several months tracking down all the steps to getting legal. I thought I was legal but even a year later I learned of new steps. It took SO MUCH time, but I finally made my business legit.
After a few years in this industry, I realized many photographers are in the same boat. There are so many steps to becoming fully legal and no resource that outlines all the steps. I decided it was time to change this!!! “Get Legal, Utah” is a mini guide to becoming a legal photographer in the state of Utah. This e-book outlines all the steps to running a legit business with resources to help you through each step. The entire process just got a whole lot easier!
I hear so many complaints of photographers being under cut and driven out of business by the cheap $25 photographers. How can others afford to charge just $25? Well usually it means they aren’t fully legal, aren’t paying taxes and don’t have contracts or insurance. Instead of bringing others down, let’s bring the entire industry up together by educating them.
Please share this resource with anyone you know who could use it! Also, feel free to PIN IT!
Kylee started Kylee Ann Photography 9 years ago, and has since grown from a one woman amateur show to a full associate team. We shoot 50-75 weddings a year, and thrive on kindness and service. After a year of teaching Intro to Photography at the local technical college, she discovered that helping other entrepreneurs create thriving businesses is what fires her up! She hosts semi-annual Kylee Ann Sleepovers all over the US, speak at conferences and teach online courses about running a small business and marketing.
January 29, 2016
Kylee Maughan
