You can be an incredibly talented photographer or videographer and still struggle to build a successful business.
Maybe your photos are getting better. Your videos look professional. People love your work. But then you get to the business side, and suddenly you’re wondering:
How do I set up my business properly?
Am I paying too much in taxes?
Do I need an LLC? What about an EIN?
Should I be tracking every expense?
Do I need business insurance?
How do I actually get people to find my website?
And how do I turn all of this into a business that can support me long term?
Those are the questions that Photography Business Basics are all about.
On Thursday, August 27, Studio 270 is hosting a hands-on Business Basics Workshop designed specifically for photographers and videographers who are ready to stop treating their creative work like a side hustle and start building a real business.
And this isn’t going to be a stuffy business seminar where you sit quietly in a conference room listening to someone read through a PowerPoint.
We’re bringing together three local business professionals who each understand a different piece of the puzzle — and we’re adding charcuterie, drinks, conversation, and a little fun along the way.
Why Photography Business Basics Matter
It’s easy to focus almost entirely on the creative side of photography or videography.
You spend time learning your camera. You practice posing. You improve your lighting. You invest in equipment. You edit your work. You build a portfolio.
But eventually, the business side becomes just as important as the creative side.
That’s where Photography Business Basics come in.
Understanding the fundamentals of running a business can help you make better decisions about your money, marketing, taxes, legal structure, client experience, and long-term growth.
You don’t have to know everything right away. But you do need a strong foundation.
That’s exactly what this workshop is designed to help you build.
What You’ll Learn at the Business Basics Workshop
This workshop covers the practical information creative business owners often wish they had learned when they first started.
Setting Up Your Business
We’ll start with the basics:
- Setting up an LLC
- Getting an EIN
- Understanding your business structure
- Knowing when it may make sense to remain an LLC
- Understanding when electing S Corp status might make sense
These decisions can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure them out on your own. Having the opportunity to learn from someone who works with business owners every day can help you understand what questions you should be asking.
Understanding Your Business Finances
Photography Business Basics aren’t just about getting paid. They’re also about knowing where your money is going.
We’ll talk about:
- Tax-saving strategies
- Tracking business expenses
- Business banking
- Separating business and personal finances
- Insurance
- Building better financial habits
These aren’t necessarily the most exciting parts of owning a creative business, but they’re some of the things that can make the biggest difference as your business grows.
Building a Website That Works for You
Having a website isn’t enough.
Your website needs to help potential clients understand what you offer, trust you, and ultimately take the next step.
We’ll discuss what goes into creating a professional website and how your website fits into the larger picture of your marketing strategy.
This is another important piece of Photography Business Basics because your online presence is often the first impression someone has of your business.
Marketing Your Photography or Videography Business
Once your business is set up correctly, you have to get people to actually find you.
That’s where the marketing portion of the workshop comes in.
We’ll cover:
- Email marketing
- Social media
- SEO
- Blogging
- Google Business Profiles
- Backlinks
- Getting your website in front of the right people
You don’t need to become an expert at every marketing platform overnight.
Instead, the goal is to understand why these strategies matter, how they work together, and where you should focus your time.
Good Photography Business Basics aren’t about doing everything. They’re about understanding the pieces of your business well enough to make smart decisions about what deserves your attention.
The Power of Networking and Relationships
There’s another part of building a creative business that can’t be handled by a spreadsheet or marketing strategy: relationships.
Photography and videography can sometimes feel like solo careers. You may spend hours editing alone, answering emails, working on your website, or trying to come up with your next social media post.
But you don’t have to build your business alone.
The workshop will also cover the importance of genuine networking, where to find local business groups, and how surrounding yourself with the right people can lead to:
- Referrals
- New opportunities
- Business connections
- Support
- Collaboration
- Long-term relationships
This is one of the most valuable pieces of Photography Business Basics because the people you meet along the way can become an important part of your business story.
Meet Your Business Basics Workshop Teachers
One of the best parts of this workshop is that you’re not getting a single perspective.
You’ll hear from three professionals with different areas of expertise and experience.
Liz Williams — Liz by Design Photography & Studio 270
Liz Williams is the owner of Liz by Design Photography and Studio 270.
As a professional photographer, Liz has spent years building a photography business that goes far beyond simply taking beautiful pictures. Her approach to photography focuses heavily on creating a full client experience, from the initial session through the finished artwork. Her photography business has grown into a full-service brand serving families, newborns, maternity, boudoir, and other portrait clients in the Metro Atlanta area.
That experience makes Liz uniquely qualified to talk about the realities of building a photography business.
She’s been on the creative side, but she’s also had to figure out the business side — marketing, websites, client relationships, products, systems, pricing, and growth.
Liz is also the owner of Studio 270, which was created as a space for photographers, videographers, and other creatives to work, create, learn, and connect.
Her portion of the workshop will bring the perspective of someone who has actually built and grown a creative business.
Ben Allison — Pantana CPA
When it comes to the financial side of Photography Business Basics, Ben Allison brings a completely different perspective.
Ben is the Director of Business Development at Pantana CPA, a firm that provides accounting, tax, and advisory services to individuals and businesses. Pantana emphasizes practical financial guidance, accurate accounting, and proactive support to help business owners understand where they are and where they want to go.
Ben’s role gives him a valuable perspective on the business decisions that creative entrepreneurs often have questions about — especially when it comes to taxes, business structure, and financial planning.
And let’s be honest: taxes and business finances are areas where guessing can get expensive.
Having the opportunity to ask questions and learn about these topics directly from someone who works with business owners can make a huge difference.
Ron Green — The Video Plug
If you’re a videographer, or if video is becoming a bigger part of your creative business, Ron Green brings a perspective that’s especially relevant.
Ron Green is the owner of The Video Plug, a video production company based in Woodstock, Georgia. His work includes video production, video editing, live events, strategic planning, and social media marketing.
Ron also brings years of experience building relationships and working with businesses and organizations throughout the Atlanta area.
His perspective is particularly valuable because successful video businesses aren’t built on great footage alone. They require strategy, marketing, relationships, planning, and an understanding of how video fits into a client’s larger business goals.
That’s exactly the kind of real-world perspective that makes Photography Business Basics useful for videographers as well as photographers.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is for you if you’re:
- A photographer who is ready to take your business more seriously
- A videographer trying to turn your skills into a sustainable business
- Just getting started and want to build your foundation correctly
- Already working with clients but struggling with the business side
- Unsure about taxes, business structure, or expenses
- Frustrated with marketing and not sure what is actually working
- Looking for more clients through networking and referrals
- Ready to move beyond the side-hustle stage
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you attend.
Actually, that’s probably the point.
Photography Business Basics are especially valuable when you’re at the stage where you know you want to grow but aren’t quite sure what needs to happen next.
Come Learn, Ask Questions, and Have Some Fun
We’re intentionally making this workshop different from your typical business class.
Yes, you’ll learn about LLCs, EINs, taxes, marketing, SEO, insurance, business banking, websites, and networking.
But you’ll also get to meet other photographers and videographers who are somewhere along the same journey.
We’ll have charcuterie and drinks, and you’ll want to come prepared to take notes — but also prepared to have a good time.
Because learning about business doesn’t have to feel boring.
Sometimes the best ideas come from conversations with people who understand exactly what you’re trying to build.
Business Basics Workshop Details
When: Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 PM
Where: Studio 270
Who: Photographers and videographers
What: Hands-on business workshop focused on building a strong foundation
Food & Drinks: Charcuterie and drinks will be served
Registration: You must sign up to attend
This is a one-time workshop, so if you’ve been putting off getting serious about the business side of your creative career, this is a good opportunity to stop waiting and start building.
Ready to Build Your Business Foundation?
If you’re ready to stop guessing your way through the business side of photography or videography, we’d love to have you join us.
Space is limited, and registration is required. This is a one-time workshop, so make sure you reserve your spot in advance.
[Register for the Business Basics Workshop]
Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 PM at Studio 270
Your registration includes the hands-on workshop, charcuterie, drinks, and an evening of practical information, conversation, and connection with other creative business owners.
Don’t just show up — you must register and pay in advance to attend.
Build the Business Behind the Art
Your photography or videography skills may be what gets people through the door, but they’re only one part of building a sustainable creative business.
You also need systems.
You need financial knowledge.
You need marketing.
You need relationships.
You need a professional online presence.
And you need to understand the fundamentals that allow your creative work to function as an actual business.
That’s the purpose of Photography Business Basics.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for years and know the business side needs some attention, this workshop is designed to give you practical information you can actually use.
Come learn from Liz, Ben, and Ron. Bring your questions. Bring something to take notes with. Bring your ideas.
And maybe bring your appetite, too.
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