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:

  • Business plans and their importance in the photography business success equation
  • A very simple approach to creating your business plan
  • Money does not equal happiness in a professional photography business… and just as well
  • Cost of sales – what is it really and how should it affect your pricing
  • Why you need to look at more than “just photography” to be successful today
  • You may be earning a wage but is your business making a profit, there's a big difference
  • How much do photographers really earn today and is it enough considering the effort and hours you put in
  • Why you need to ask yourself if working as hard as you do is really worth the ‘average' Australian wage
  • If you don't have a Unique Selling Proposition (USP), prepare to earn very little as a photographer
  • When to say “no” and why it may be the best of thousands of decisions you make in your business every year
  • Why income diversification as a photographer today is more important than it's ever been
  • If you're not paying tax, Peter, as an accountant, feels very sorry for you
  • Every day, you make between 100 and 500 decisions about your business, a business plan will ensure at least the majority of those are smart decisions that will see your business moving in the right direction… toward profit
  • Why you need to have something other than price to differentiate yourself to have a successful photography business
Following this interview, you'll walk away with a whole new appreciation of what being a professional photographer means and why every little business decision you make in your studio is having an affect on your life and lifestyle.

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.

Peter Eastway Photogrpahy Business Interveiew

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.

Peter Eastway Photogrpahy Business Interveiew

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…

Photo Biz Xposed iTunes 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!

Peter Eastway Photogrpahy Business Interveiew

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

www.petereastway.com

How To Write Your Business Plan

How To Win Photo Competitions

Anne Geddes

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

Psychology For Photographers

Bryan Caporicci's Podcast Interview

Ragamuffin Pet Photography – Caitlin McColl's Website/Blog

Charlotte Reeves Pet Photography

Peter Eastway Photogrpahy Business Interveiew

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