I've always wanted a “creative accountant” as part of my team, and speaking to Peter Eastway for this episode of the podcast is as close as I've come. Peter is one of the most creative and talented photographers in Australia and the world, who also happens to be an accountant. He knows exactly what it takes to have a profitable portrait or wedding photography business.
In this episode, we talk numbers, turnover, tax, business plans plus loads more, Peter simply lets loose with his thoughts, views and advice; be ready to take notes.
At one point I ask Peter, playing the role of his young nephew with a passion for photography, whether or not I should go into business as a professional photographer in today's market. Before listening to his answer, what would you say to one of your family members faced with the same question?
Here's some more of what we cover:
Whether you're already a smarty-pants successful photographer, or you're just starting out, if you don't already have a business plan in place…. YOU NEED to hear what Peter shares in this episode.
What's on Offer
Premium Member or not, check out two products that Peter mentioned and are available from his website, www.betterphotography.com.
Professional Photography Business Plan: A series of ten templates and instructions to produce a basic business plan for a photography business.
How To Win Photography Competitions: Written by award winning photographer and international photography judge Peter Eastway, this eBook is full of tips and advice to improve your photography to competition standard.
Premium Members, before purchasing, head to your membership area for a promo code to save you 20% off “How To Win Photography Competitions” till January 31st 2014.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview with Peter, I'd love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you'd like to implement or remember from what he had to share? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions for Peter that I missed, a specific question you'd like to ask or if you just want to say thanks to Peter for coming on the show, feel free to add them below. There are no silly questions and chances are, if you're wanting to know the answer to something, other listeners will too. Get the conversation started by using the comments area below.
iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs
Each week before recording the podcast I check iTunes for any reviews and each week I'm blown away by the comments and reviews from you. This week I was delighted to see four great reviews including a real surprise from a photographer/listener in France:
MPK Photo from the States
Paul Ebbo from Australia
Lee Docherty from Australia
Eric from France
Thanks so much, I appreciate the time each of you have taken to add your reviews…
It's these iTunes reviews that make a big difference to the podcast being ranked well and found in the iTunes store. If you have the time and are happy to leave an honest rating and review, head over to iTunes. Don't feel your comments have to be long, involved or gushy, an honest opinion is all I ask.
Don't be shy about leaving your business name in the review either – that way I can add a link in the show-notes and show my appreciation with a proper thanks and a Google loving back-link to your website.
This week on social media and email, I've had the pleasure of chatting to a bunch of great people and want to give shout outs to:
Jonathan Arlia
Ces White
Deb Smith
Ev
Chris Allen
Kane Mitchell
Adam Harvey
Rob Jenkins
And Polyana from Polyana Honorato Photography who left a lovely voice mail message you can hear in the podcast.
If you'd like to get in touch, ask a question or make a suggestion for the show, you can email me andrew@photobizx.com, find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewhellmich or on Facebook at https://photobizx.com/facebook – I'd love to hear from you!
Be sure to check out Peter's amazing photography and his website “Better Photography”
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
The Better Photography Website
How To Write Your Business Plan
Graphic Converter – to convert your images EXIF data back to your camera's original settings after post production in PhotoShop. Required to print with the Canon Selphy Printer.
Canon SELPHY CP900 Black Wireless Color Photo Printer
Bryan Caporicci's Podcast Interview
Ragamuffin Pet Photography – Caitlin McColl's Website/Blog
Charlotte Reeves Pet Photography
That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business and you're enjoying the lead up to Christmas.
If you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love for you to tell another photographer about it – it could be in a Facebook Group you're apart of, a photography forum, with a photographer friend or on twitter.
If you do have a twitter account, simply click here: https://photobizx.com/tweet or use the share buttons below.
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Wow! So much info and at lighting speed. I’m definitely going to have to re-listen to this one to soak it all up. Too many good points to try to comment on my take away just yet. We’ll see how it goes after a second listen.
Thanks Andrew and Peter!
Just fantastic and valuable info.
Joey Joiner
Fort Worth, Texas
USA
I felt the same when editing this episode Joey – felt like I was hearing everything again for the first time – so much info.
I’m also going to have to re listen to all this too lol
I wanted to add to Andrew’s description of his album present to his bride and groom. You’ll remember we did this at a wedding in October, and our bride and groom were blown away too.
We are in a slightly different position in that there are two of us doing the photography, and when we do a reception shoot, usually Richard covers that part of it. That leaves me free to start processing if that is required. Canberra is a relatively small place, so I went home and did the printing on my printer, so didn’t have to worry about getting a Selfie. I’d heard about some of the issues that that printer can have, so we haven’t gone down that path just yet.
The album we gave the b&g came from kikki k – a lovely stationery shop that is in most capital cities I think. It had lovely black heavy pages, and holds a 4×6 print and sells for around $39.
I too found the hardest part was selecting the images, you’re right Andrew, it’s very hard to make that selection. There were plenty of leaves left in the album for the couple to put more prints in. Our wedding package includes 50 4×6 prints, but we don’t include high res images in our packages. So this doesn’t have an impact of the after wedding sales.
Keep up the good work Andrew, the podcasts keep getting better.
Trish
RT Photos
Canberra
Hi Trish
Yes, I do remember you doing this and the success you had. Doesn’t it go off well!
Having two people at the reception would make this process much easier but it’s definitely doable with one photographer, they may just have to stay back a little later than normal but I feel it was worth the effort.
Great tip with the kikki k suggestion – thanks.
My albums are from Designer Folders in Melbourne (Mark) and are $25.00. They come in a range of colours and if you order 10 or more you can have your logo embossed for no extra charge. The albums I ordered hold 10 6″ x 4″ prints. http://www.designerfolders.com.au
Thanks for adding your comments Trish – have a great Christmas!
i loved this podcast. It was like Peter had tapped into my fears about my biz being something that i put second and made it ok. Having time with our kids are so important and i loved how the emphasis was on being a professional as opposed to prolific. i have a career i enjoy as well as photography (train driver) and i feel it does keep me balanced.
He made a great point about the biz plan. I am revising mine now. I feel like im constantly thinking of things to implement after i listen to these podcast. Having an updated plan will help prioritise what i should focus on.
The guests just get better and better Andrew. Peter has to be one of my faves, up there with Caitlin & Jenika. Keep up the great work. Thank you for what you do
(: Te
Hi Te – you’re train driver too… that’s awesome!
Love your takeaways from the interview with Peter. How good are you for actually having a business plan, one of the few photographers that do I reckon.
Glad you’ve been enjoying the interviews and putting a few things to use.
Have a great Christmas!
Another great episode! One of my takeaways is actually that I don’t need to take everything away! Sometimes it can get overwhelming, everyone always has so many great point and it would be next to impossible to implement them all, so it was nice to have Peter remind us that everyone is different, and lives in different areas, so what works for one person may not work for everyone.
Great takeaway Terry! It’s nice to know that what you are doing might actually suit your business perfectly.
I think you’ll get a lot from next week’s interview with James Schramko when I ask about what and when to implement when there is so much “advice” out there.
Another great episode. I especially love the discussion about business planning and my take away was not to be overwhelmed by doing all aspects of it at once, which is where I always get stuck, but instead just get started on it in bite sized chunks and start planning for success.
Hey Lee, thanks for commenting. I agree with your “overwhelm” comments and have often felt that way myself. I’ve taken the same approach and do a little often and find by the end of the week/month/year I’ve actually achieved a lot.
The most important (and hardest) thing I find is actually starting. Once underway, I’m fine… what about you?
Hi,
another awsome podcast. Im not sure if it was a recent one or older podcast but did I hear right that Ben Mardan has realised a pod cast or was it some one else. I am now totally up to date with yours and 1 a week is not enough so I need another fix. Or can any one recommend any other good podcasts.
Many Thanks,
Leighton
Hi Leighton – glad you enjoyed this episode. So you’re after some more podcasts to check out, here are a few that I can recommend:
1. The Candid Frame – interviews about photography with photographers from around the world. Highly recommended.
2. Ready Steady Pro – round table discussions with photographers looking to go full time and interviews. I think this is the podcast you were thinking of and is hosted by Michael Rammell that I interviewed for the Photo Biz Xposed podcast.
2. For Wedding Photographers by Louis Torres – a New York based wedding photographer who podcasts about everything to so with his business and the way he does things.
3. TWIP (This Week in Photography) – a little bit of everything photography, a few too many ads for my liking but a good listen if you’re interested in the topics of the week. Some great guests on the show.
Let me know if you’re looking for more than photography podcasts and I’ll happily recommend a few more. Also, if you search the iTunes store, you’ll find a few more there. I’ve listened to a few but seem to come back to the ones mentioned above – particularly my first two picks.
Let me know how you go Leighton. Speak soon
Ah great Andrew, your a star. I’ll make sure I subscribe to them now.
I already listen to Louis Torres, and I feel the same about TWIP. Another great listen is RAW Talk with Fro Knows Photo, He would actually be a really good guest for your show.
thanks again,
Leighton
No problem Leighton.
It’s funny you mention Fro Knows Photo, I was introduced to him and his shows last month by another photographer, Ben Newnam, who suggested I try to interview him for the podcast – I’m onto it and hope to set something up for February.
Have a great Christmas!
Andrew (or others),
Thanks again for the follow-up on the Selphie printer and Graphic Converter. Do you know of similar software that will let you edit the EXIF to print from a Windows machine?
Thanks!
Tyler
Hey Tyler – have you tried the Selphy with windows? I spoke to Bryan about this earlier and he has no problem printing after photoshopping an image. This may be Mac specific.
I loved the point where Peter said “If your taking home $80k you don’t have a business you have a job!” in relation to business earnings and profits.
An eye opening number for sure! One that probably scared a lot of listeners.
Loved this interview. Filled all the gaps in process of writing a business plan and have realistic but high expectations. Thank you Peter Eastway. This was great.
Nice one Sevim! Good luck with your assignment too.