Profits differ from net income, and no where is there clearer than for small business owner-operators, artists, and creatives. Just because you have a certain amount of money left over after covering expenses doesn’t mean you’ve made profits. Why? Because you have to factor in the cost of your labor and the risk you took and so after factoring that in, millions of small businesses and artists and creatives are operating with little to no profit. However, it doesn’t have to be this way and so we wanted to create a space where sharp entrepreneurs and creatives could come together and discuss the challenges to profitability and potential solutions. If you have something valuable to add to this conversation that can help others achieve profitability, please reach out to us as we want to get your ideas in front of our readers.

Kristine Boel

The biggest challenge in making the photography industry a profitable business lies in the shifting perceptions of value and the impact of social media. People often underestimate the creative work, time, and resources that go into professional photography. Additionally, there’s a prevailing misconception that exposure alone is sufficient compensation, thanks to the influencer culture that utilizes young photographers for free. Read more>>

Casey Cady

In the spiritual space often times practitioners feel a sense of guilt for charging their worth due to a perceived notion that this type of work is to be of service only. As a professional in this space I struggle with providing affordable and budget friendly services, while also needing to support my family. With the constant increase of everyday costs there is a very real need to charge my worth. Read more>>

Brian Rash-Zeigler

In my opinion, market saturation is the largest contributor to the reduction of profits in the photography space. With the quality of cameras increasing and the affordability becoming increasingly realistic, more people are entering the space to stake their claim. I officially started my business in 2019, a few months prior to the pandemic. Read more>>

Nick Cane

The biggest hurdle to overcome is convincing your everyday customer to value handmade art. They want to pick up a few small pieces, scroll past your post, but rarely buy. Read more>>

Ember Pearson

I think that the biggest challenge to profitability as a photographer with a focus in live music is the overarching assumption that there is simply no money to be made here. When I started out, I had several photographers that I initially looked up to warn me that I’d better be getting enjoyment out of the job because I likely would not be making money from it. In hindsight, I know that’s not true. Read more>>