As a photographer or any self-employed business owner, you are responsible for paying taxes on your net profit, which is the amount left over after deducting your business expenses from your gross billings. And now is the time to make your Estimated Tax payment.

For those who do not own a business, it might be surprising to see how much expenses can take out of a business’s income. These expenses can add up quickly, from camera equipment to marketing costs, leaving a small net profit for the business owner.

To determine your net profit, you must keep track of all your business expenses throughout the year, including camera gear, studio rental fees, travel expenses, and insurance costs. Then, subtract these expenses from your total gross billings, and you will have your net profit, the amount you must pay taxes on.

For example, if a photographer made $50,000 in gross billings but spent $10,000 on expenses throughout the year, their net profit would be $40,000. This is the amount they would pay taxes on for the IRS, their state, and sometimes their county or city. My average amount of expenses as compared to gross income, is about 52%.

Making Estimated Tax payments throughout the year helps you avoid a hefty tax bill at the end of the year and prevents any penalties from the IRS for not paying enough taxes.

For employees who do not own a business, it may be shocking to see how much expenses can take out of a business’s income. This is a great reminder to appreciate the benefits of being an employee, including having certain costs covered by the company and receiving other employee benefits.

Now is the time for photographers and other self-employed business owners to make their Estimated Tax payments. By keeping track of your expenses throughout the year and subtracting them from your gross billings, you can determine your net profit and ensure you pay the appropriate tax amount.

Here are some tools I use to help with tracking income & expenses:

In addition to keeping track of expenses, tracking mileage can significantly impact your business’s taxes. For example, you may frequently travel for shoots, meetings, or other business-related activities as a photographer. This is where TripLog comes in handy. TripLog is a mileage-tracking app that allows you to record your mileage automatically or manually. Using TripLog, you can accurately track your mileage and ensure that you deduct all of your business-related travel expenses on your tax return.

Another helpful software that I use as a photographer is FotoBiz. It is a comprehensive tool that allows me to create professional-looking estimates and invoices and helps me track payments and manage client information. With FotoBiz, I can easily customize my estimates and invoices, add my logo, and include all the necessary details like pricing, services, and terms and conditions. Additionally, FotoBiz offers features like tracking job expenses, managing contacts, and generating reports, making it a powerful tool for managing my photography business. Using software like FotoBiz helps me save time and streamline my workflow, so I can focus more on creating beautiful images for my clients.

Another helpful tool for tracking expenses is Quicken for Mac. Quicken allows you to easily track your income and expenses and categorize them according to the Schedule C form you’ll use when filing taxes. This makes it easy to see which costs can be deducted and ensure you’re not missing any tax write-offs. Quicken also offers various reports to help you analyze your business’s financial health and make informed decisions.

When storing receipts, I use a scanner app on my phone to scan receipts and attach them to the corresponding transaction in Quicken. This helps me keep track of my expenses and ensures a record of each transaction. This can also be useful if the IRS audits you and must provide documentation for your expenses.

In conclusion, tracking expenses and mileage is crucial for any self-employed business owner, including photographers. By using tools like TripLog and Quicken for Mac and scanning receipts, you can keep track of your expenses and ensure that you’re accurately deducting all of your business-related expenses on your tax return.

We live in an exciting time for photography, as technology is rapidly advancing and changing how we capture and process images. From high-speed cameras to advanced image processors, many tools are available to help professional photographers take their work to the next level.

One such tool is the Nikon Z9 camera, which boasts an EXPEED 7 Image Processor that can handle even the most demanding tasks. With eye-tracking AI technology and the ability to process 52 megapixels of CMOS stacked RAW images at 20 FPS, the Z9 is a game-changer for photographers looking to capture stunning photos quickly and easily. Check out the Nikon Z9 here: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/mirrorless-cameras/z-9.html.

Lenses have also come a long way in recent years, thanks to computer-aided and new motor designs. This has resulted in sharper images and faster focusing, giving photographers more flexibility and control over their shots. Some great lens options include the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS.

Memory cards have also seen a significant improvement, with the introduction of CFexpress cards that offer vastly superior speeds over previous versions. This allows for unlimited shooting of 8K video and more. Check out some of the best CFexpress cards on the market here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/CFexpress-2-0/ci/28772/N/4108159058.

Post-processing software like Lightroom has also advanced significantly, including AI technologies that can process multiple images simultaneously and adjust subjects, backgrounds, skies, and more. Some other options include Capture One and Skylum Luminar. Additionally, there are now services that use AI technology to analyze how you edit your photos in Lightroom, making the editing process faster and more efficient.

The new M1 and M2 chips in Apple’s MacBook Pro and other computers have also made significant leaps, allowing for faster image processing and AI technology without waiting overnight for the computer to finish. This is excellent news for photographers who need to deliver high-quality work quickly.

Finally, noise reduction software like DXO PureRAW 3 and Topaz Photo AI & Denoise AI has made significant strides recently, allowing for virtually noise-free images at high ISO. This game-changer is for low-light and night photographers looking to capture stunning photos in difficult lighting conditions.

Overall, many tools are available for professional photographers looking to take their work to the next level. However, with new advancements in camera technology, lenses, memory cards, post-processing software, and more, the question remains: are you using all the technology available to help improve the quality of your work and stay competitive in the industry?

Stepping into Woody’s Barber Shop is like taking a step back in time, where the tradition of quality haircuts and friendly conversation has been kept alive for almost a century: Woody’s Barber Shop, Georgia’s oldest operating barber shop since 1926.

In today’s fast-paced world, businesses must find new and innovative ways to reach their target audience. One of the most effective ways to do this is through storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool to help small business owners connect with their customers and create lasting impressions. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of storytelling for small business owners, the role of visuals in storytelling, and the importance of appearing transparent to customers.

Why is storytelling important for small business owners?

As a small business owner, storytelling can help you build a connection with your target audience. Your customers want to know who you are, what you stand for, and what sets you apart from your competitors. Storytelling is an excellent way to communicate all of these things.

Storytelling can also help you establish credibility and build trust with your audience. When you share your story, you give your customers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of your business, which can make them feel more connected to your brand. People want to do business with companies they feel they can trust; storytelling is an excellent way to establish that trust.

The Role of Visuals in Storytelling

Visuals are an essential part of storytelling. They can help you capture your audience’s attention and communicate your message more effectively. For example, a good photo with a caption can deliver the news and a short video.

Visuals can also help you establish your brand identity. By using consistent branding elements such as colors, fonts, and imagery, you can create a cohesive visual identity that your customers will recognize and remember.

In storytelling, visuals can help you bring your story to life. For example, if you’re telling the story of how your business got started, you could use photos or videos to show the early days of your business and the challenges you faced. This can make your story more engaging and memorable for your audience.

The importance of transparency

Transparency is crucial for small businesses. Customers want to know who they’re doing business with and what they can expect. One way to appear transparent is to have headshots of your people on the website. This allows customers to put a face to the name and helps establish a personal connection.

Transparency also means being open and honest about your business practices. For example, if your business has had a setback or made a mistake, you must be transparent about what happened and how you’re addressing the issue. This can help build customer trust and show you’re committed to providing excellent service.

In conclusion, storytelling is a powerful tool for small business owners. You can connect with your audience, establish credibility and trust, and create a lasting impression by telling your story. Visuals are essential in this process, helping you bring your account to life and establish your brand identity. And finally, being transparent with your customers is crucial for building trust and establishing a personal connection. Incorporating these elements into your marketing strategy can take your small business to the next level.

Name tags may seem like a small detail, but they can significantly impact the success of a meeting or event. Name tags are essential for helping people connect and network, especially in large groups where it can be challenging to remember everyone’s name. Not only do they make introductions easier, but they also help to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all attendees.

One of the most important considerations when choosing name tags is to select ones that do not flip or rotate. Nothing is more frustrating than constantly adjusting a name tag that has flipped over, especially during a meeting or event where you want to focus on the conversation. By investing in high-quality name tags designed to stay in place, event planners can ensure that attendees can quickly and easily identify each other throughout the event.

Another important consideration is the type of name tag holder that is used. Lanyards are a popular choice for events, but it is essential to make sure that they are adjustable so that attendees can position their name tags in a way that is visible to others. This is particularly important when people are seated at tables or in other situations where their name tag might not be easily visible.

In addition to providing basic identification information, many event planners are now incorporating additional details on name tags to help spark conversations and connections between attendees. This might include topics a person is interested in or hobbies they enjoy. By providing this information on name tags, event planners can help to facilitate more meaningful conversations and networking opportunities.

Overall, name tags may seem like a small detail, but they can play a significant role in the success of an event or meeting. Event planners can create a more inclusive and engaging environment that encourages networking and relationship-building by choosing high-quality, non-flip name tags and providing additional information to help attendees connect.

As a photographer, it’s essential to analyze and understand your shooting style and preferences to improve and upgrade your equipment. One powerful tool that can help you achieve this is Photo Mechanic Plus. This software allows you to look up the EXIF data of your photos, providing valuable insights into your photography style.

The EXIF data contains information about the camera settings and the equipment used to take a photograph. Using Photo Mechanic Plus to analyze your photos, you can determine which cameras and lenses you use the most and least. This can help you understand your preferences and biases, allowing you to make informed decisions about upgrading or changing your equipment.

Furthermore, Photo Mechanic Plus can help you identify the focal length you use the most on a zoom lens. This information can be precious when selecting a prime lens or a new zoom lens, allowing you to choose a lens that suits your shooting style.

In addition to equipment analysis, the EXIF data can help you identify photo problems. By examining the exposure triangle and other camera settings, you can identify potential issues with the photo, such as over or underexposure, poor focus, or incorrect white balance. This information can help you improve your photography skills and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Finally, Photo Mechanic Plus allows you to examine the firmware version and other technical information, providing a detailed analysis of your equipment’s performance. This information can help you identify any issues with your camera or lens and make informed decisions about repairs or upgrades.

In conclusion, analyzing your photos’ EXIF data using Photo Mechanic Plus can provide valuable insights into your photography style and equipment preferences. You can make informed decisions about equipment upgrades and changes using this tool to identify your most commonly used cameras, lenses, and focal lengths. Furthermore, analyzing the technical details of your photos can help you improve your photography skills and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Cody Hart eagerly awaits his turn to join the action as he watches the RBR Atlanta Classic in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a photographer, always preparing for the next assignment is essential. Turning around jobs quickly is a crucial part of this process. The faster you can process and deliver your images, the more opportunities you will have to take on new clients and projects. Here are some reasons why turning around jobs quickly is essential:

1. It Frees You Up for Last-Minute Jobs

Last-minute jobs can often be the most exciting and lucrative opportunities. However, you may miss out on these opportunities if you are still working on a previous job. On the other hand, you can accept last-minute jobs and expand your portfolio by turning around quickly.

2. It Shows Professionalism

Clients expect timely delivery of their images, and delivering quickly demonstrates your professionalism and reliability. In a competitive industry, a quick turnaround time can set you apart from other photographers and help you secure future jobs.

3. It Keeps Your Workflow Smooth

When you turn around jobs quickly, you avoid a backlog of work. This allows you to maintain a smooth workflow and ensures that you can handle new jobs as they come in.

In addition to turning around jobs quickly, there are other ways always to be prepared for your next assignment. Here are some additional tips:

1. Keep Your Passport Up-to-Date

A passport is essential for any photographer who wants to work internationally. By keeping your key up-to-date, you will be ready to take on any overseas assignments that come your way.

2. Have a Go Bag

A go bag is a suitcase filled with all the essentials you need for a last-minute trip. This includes toiletries, clothing, and other necessities. Having a go bag ready, you can quickly pack and head out for your next assignment without worrying about forgetting anything important.

3. Invest in Wickaway Clothing

Investing in wick-away clothing can be a game changer if you frequently travel for assignments. These clothes are easy to wash in a sink and dry quickly, so you can carry fewer outfits and wash them as needed. In addition, this saves your luggage space and ensures you always have clean clothes to wear.

In conclusion, turning around jobs quickly is essential to being a successful photographer. Delivering images promptly frees you up for new opportunities, shows professionalism, and maintains a smooth workflow. Additionally, keeping your passport up-to-date, having a go bag, and investing in wick-away clothing are ways always to be prepared for your next assignment.

Organizations must adapt to the changing communication landscape in today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing world. However, many organizations resist change in their communications with their audience, especially when it comes to using storytelling. Specifically, when working with missionaries or nonprofits, using narrative storytelling to showcase the organization’s transformative work can be met with resistance.

One of the primary reasons for this resistance to change is that organizations often rely on statistics and data to communicate their impact. They may view numbers and figures as a more objective and authoritative way to demonstrate their achievements. However, while statistics are vital, they don’t necessarily evoke an emotional response from the audience. People may be able to understand the data, but they may not be inspired to take action or get involved.

On the other hand, narrative storytelling can be a powerful tool for organizations to communicate their impact and inspire their audience to take action. For example, when organizations share stories of individuals whose work has transformed their lives, the audience can personally connect with the impact. Reports can also create a sense of empathy and compassion, which can lead to increased engagement and support.

However, organizations may resist using storytelling as a means of communication because they may feel that it’s not as objective as using statistics. There may also be concerns about measuring the impact of storytelling, making it difficult to justify the use of storytelling to stakeholders.

Another reason organizations may resist using storytelling is that it requires a shift in mindset and approach. Storytelling is a different way of communicating that requires a more personal and emotional connection with the audience. This can be challenging for organizations that are used to sharing in a more formal and structured way.

In addition, there may be concerns about the effectiveness of storytelling. For example, organizations may worry that their stories may not resonate with their audience or that they may not be able to tell the stories compellingly.

Despite these challenges, using storytelling as a means of communication can be incredibly effective for organizations. When done well, it can create a deeper connection with the audience and inspire them to take action. To overcome resistance to change, it’s essential for organizations to educate themselves on the benefits of storytelling and to invest in training and resources to help them develop their storytelling skills.

In conclusion, while it may be challenging for organizations to shift their mindset and approach to storytelling, it can be a powerful tool for communicating impact and inspiring action. By recognizing the benefits of storytelling and investing in the necessary resources and training, organizations can overcome resistance to change and harness the power of storytelling to better connect with their audience.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is speaking to the guests of the Iftar dinner.

As a photographer, some events are always special to cover, and for me, the Mayor’s Iftar Dinner in Atlanta is one of them. This year, I had the privilege of capturing the essence of the event once again, and it was a truly memorable experience.

One of the things I love most about the Mayor’s Iftar Dinner is the diversity that it represents. Every year, people from different faiths and backgrounds celebrate Ramadan and acknowledge the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter celebrations around the same time. It’s an opportunity for people to break bread together and build relationships across different communities.

This year, Atlanta was celebrating its 404th year, which is both the area code for the city and the date of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. It was a poignant reminder of the city’s history and the importance of civil rights in making events like the Iftar Dinner possible.

As a photographer, I captured the event’s essence and showcased the community’s diversity coming together. I wanted to capture everything from the warm greetings to the delicious food and the powerful speeches.

It was an incredible experience to see so many people from different backgrounds come together with a shared sense of community and celebration. There were moments of laughter, moments of reflection, and moments of pure joy.

Through my photos, I hope to convey the spirit of the Mayor’s Iftar Dinner and the power of coming together as a community. These events remind us that we all have more in common than we might think and that building bridges across different communities is essential to creating a more just and equitable world.

In conclusion, I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to photograph the Mayor’s Iftar Dinner in Atlanta for the fifth year in a row, except for the pandemic interruption. The diversity and sense of community at the event are truly inspiring, and I hope my photos can help convey the power of coming together across different faiths and backgrounds.

DxO PureRAW 3 and then edited in Lightroom before being converted to JPG [NIKON Z 9, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 25600, 1/60, ƒ/4, (35mm = 24)]

DxO PureRAW 3 is a powerful software tool that offers users an easy and efficient way to enhance the quality of their raw images. The software is designed to automatically apply corrections and noise reduction techniques to produce a new raw file in the DNG format that is of a much higher quality. This new file retains all the extended dynamic range, color data, and editability of a regular raw file while being fully corrected.

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using DxO PureRAW 3 by comparing images processed using different methods. We will compare three additional photos: one from the Nikon Z9 NEF file to JPG, one from DxO PureRAW 3, and then converted to JPG. The last one was processed using DxO PureRAW 3 and edited in Lightroom before being converted to JPG.

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that Lightroom has significantly improved its processing capabilities, so the jump in image quality may not be as noticeable as in previous versions of PureRAW. However, we still believe that PureRAW 3 offers significant improvements, particularly for photos above ISO 16000.

We shot over 6000 images and ingested them into Photo Mechanic Plus to test this. We then sorted the pictures by ISO and selected all those taken at ISO 16000 and above. We then dropped these images into PureRAW 3 to process overnight while we slept. This batch processing saved us significant time, as all 3010 images were processed when we returned from shooting the last event at noon.

When comparing the images, we noticed a significant improvement in the quality of the images processed using PureRAW 3. The noise reduction technology used by the software was awe-inspiring, producing clean and detailed images. In addition, the corrections applied by PureRAW 3 also improved the overall quality of the photos, resulting in sharper details and better colors.

It’s worth noting that while PureRAW 3 can produce high-quality images, it does require some additional processing time. However, we believe the investment in time and money is well worth it, particularly if you want to minimize the noise in your photos.

Overall, DxO PureRAW 3 is a powerful software tool that offers users an efficient way to enhance the quality of their raw images. While Lightroom has significantly improved processing capabilities, PureRAW 3 still provides significant benefits, particularly for pictures taken at higher ISO levels. If you want to minimize the noise in your photos and produce high-quality images, then DxO PureRAW 3 is worth considering.

Grace Pfhol; Roe Stamps, founder of Summit Partners & Stamps Scholarship; Ryan Sequeria; Ángel Cabrera, President of Georgia Tech; & Sydney Ayers.

In today’s world, it seems like everything is driven by the need to make a profit. Businesses exist to sell their products or services, and people tend to build relationships for the same reason. They try to make friends with others because they hope these relationships will benefit them. But is that the right way to approach relationships?

As someone in the photography industry for years, I have learned that building authentic relationships is essential to success. I started my career in Hickory, NC, and after a few other jobs, moved to Atlanta in 1993 as a photographer for the Georgia Tech public relations department. I met Randy McDow, who became the Stamps Foundation’s, Executive Director. Randy and I became friends, and I enjoyed answering his photography questions and even critiquing his photos.

What I didn’t know at the time was that our friendship would lead to bigger things. Randy later asked me to be the photographer for the bi-annual meeting of the Stamps Foundation scholars. I had no idea how much he appreciated my willingness to help a friend with their photography.

The lesson is that building authentic relationships is not about turning them into clients or looking for something in return. Instead, it’s about genuinely connecting with people and serving them however possible. Sometimes, these relationships may become clients, but that should never be the primary motivation.

Instead, discover your way of serving others. Find out what you can do to make someone’s life easier or better, and do it without expecting anything in return. That’s how you build lasting relationships that can lead to success and fulfillment in your personal and professional life.

Authenticity is the key to building meaningful relationships. People can tell when someone is trying to use them for personal gain, and it’s a major turn-off. So instead, focus on being genuinely interested in others and what they’re doing. Listen to them, support them, and celebrate their successes.

In conclusion, building authentic relationships should be a priority in every aspect of life, including business. Whether you’re a photographer, entrepreneur, or just a person looking to connect with others, focus on serving others and building meaningful connections. Remember, authenticity is the key to success in any relationship, so prioritize it.

Preparing for a photo assignment, mainly covering an event, is crucial to ensure a successful outcome. As a photographer, the day before the photo shoot is just as important as the day of the shoot. This is when I take the time to review the shot list or the run of the show to ensure I am well-prepared for the day ahead.

One of the first things I do is print out the shot list or create my to-do list for the day. This is my guide throughout the shoot and helps me stay organized and focused. For more significant events, it’s essential to break down the shot list into manageable sections to cover everything I need to without missing any important moments.

I know I will be taking a group photo of about 800 people for tomorrow’s shoot. So, to pack my studio strobes, camera gear, and on-camera flashes to ensure I am well prepared. I also format my camera memory cards and charge all my camera and flash batteries. This way, I am ready to go when I arrive at the location.

In addition to packing my gear, I also double-check to ensure I have backups for any situation that could go wrong. This includes extra batteries, memory cards, and even backup camera gear if something malfunctions.

When it comes to the shoot’s logistics, I double-check the map for how to get to the location and plan my route accordingly. I also check parking, which can be a significant issue in busy cities. Again, I make sure I have a plan for where to park and how to get my gear to the location safely.

Lastly, I set my alarm and plan to leave with enough time to account for traffic. In a busy city like Atlanta, it’s essential to give me at least a 30-minute buffer to ensure that I arrive on time and have plenty of time to set up my gear before the shoot begins.

In conclusion, preparing for a photo assignment takes careful planning and attention to detail. By reviewing the shot list, packing the necessary gear, checking the logistics of the shoot, and giving myself plenty of time to arrive on location, I can ensure a successful outcome and capture all of the critical moments of the event.

In today’s digital age, a company’s website is often the first point of contact for potential customers. As a general rule of thumb, most businesses should aim to update their website at least once per quarter. However, if you’re in a fast-paced industry or have a website that requires frequent updates, you might need to spend time updating your site more often. Therefore, businesses must update their websites to make a positive first impression and stay relevant in the competitive market. Here are some reasons why it’s essential to keep your website current:

1. Improved User Experience, An outdated website can be frustrating for users. Slow-loading pages, broken links, and outdated content can drive potential customers away from your site. Regularly updating your website ensures it’s user-friendly and easy to navigate, providing an optimal user experience.
2. Better Search Engine Ranking Search engines like Google favor regularly updated websites with fresh and relevant content. Therefore, updating your website with new content, such as blog posts or news articles, can help improve your website’s search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find your business online.
3. Reflects Your Brand’s Image Your website is essential for showcasing your brand’s image and values. Keeping your website updated with the latest design trends and incorporating new features and functionalities can help you stand out in the market and effectively communicate your brand’s personality and identity.
4. Increases Conversion Rates A well-designed and updated website can also improve your conversion rates. By regularly updating your site with new products or services, highlighting customer testimonials and success stories, and optimizing your call-to-action buttons, you can attract potential customers and increase your chances of converting them into loyal customers.

Regarding website design, headshots of your team members can add a personal touch and help establish trust with potential customers. However, using professional and consistent headshots throughout your website is essential to maintain a cohesive look and feel. Typically, team members who interact with customers, such as salespeople or customer support staff, should have headshots on your website.

Besides using headshots, here are some other things to keep fresh on your website:

1. Content – Regularly update your website with new blog posts, product descriptions, and other content to keep visitors engaged.
2. Design – Incorporate the latest design trends and features to keep your website looking modern and relevant.
3. Functionality – Ensure that your website is easy to navigate and fully functional on all devices, including mobile.
4. Security – Regularly update your website’s security features, such as firewalls and SSL certificates, to protect your customers’ data.

Keeping your website updated is crucial for any business that wants to succeed in today’s digital landscape. Regularly updating your website’s content, design, and functionality can improve your user experience, search engine ranking, and conversion rates, ultimately helping your business grow and thrive.

The Importance of Promoting Your Website: Your Virtual Address in the Online World

Think of your website as a virtual address in the vast world of the internet. Like a physical mailbox, it serves as a point of contact where people can find and reach out to you. However, simply having a website is not enough to guarantee that people will stumble upon it.

You must promote and advertise your website to make it visible to potential visitors. Just as you would let people know your physical address by giving them directions or writing it on a business card, you must actively tell people about your website’s existence and where to find it. This can be done through various means, such as social media, search engine optimization, and paid to advertise.

Without promoting your website, it becomes just another virtual space in the vast expanse of the internet, hidden away from the world. But with effective promotion, your website can become a valuable tool for growing your online presence and reaching your target audience.

So, treat your website like a virtual address and take the necessary steps to make it known to the world. With proper promotion, your website can become a beacon that attracts visitors and increases your online endeavors’ success.