Sign up for The Premium Pivot waitlist: https://www.emilykim.co/pivot-waitlist

In this episode of the Profitable Creatives Podcast, I'm sharing how I elevated my brand photography services from a $600 photography-only session to a $4,000 comprehensive brand experience.

We're talking about how to make this an easy YES for your clients so that you become the no-brainer choice of brand photographer.

00:40 How my pricing went from $600 to $4,000 for LESS work

01:51 Creating an elevated client experience

02:21 Success on my recent sales call

04:50 Why you should consider having a team of referrals

07:49 Building your own dream team

10:00 The Premium Pivot

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

Let's chat about the #1 reason creative business owners undercharge and learn a simple, proven pricing formula to boost your profitability. Perfect for photographers, copywriters, designers, and freelancers looking to optimize their pricing strategy.

Chapters:
00:00:20 - Root cause of undercharging in creative industries
00:01:00 - Pricing formula for service-based businesses
02:40 - Calculating your target revenue and client capacity
05:40 - Factoring in expenses and taxes
08:20 - Strategies for gradually raising your prices
10:40 - Accounting for "odd jobs" in your pricing structure

We're covering:

• Understanding the importance of confidence in pricing
• Reverse-engineering your rates based on income goals
• Considering taxes, operating costs, and owner's pay
• Incrementally increasing prices to build confidence
• Adapting pricing for various service packages and custom projects

Ready to finally be confident in pricing your creative, 1-1 services? Get my custom pricing calculator: https://www.emilykim.co/photo-pricing-calculator

Even though it says Photography Pricing Calculator, this spreadsheet + guide works for anyone who offers a 1-1 service. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

Get ready for a no-BS breakdown of the most important legal and tax tips for creative entrepreneurs with Braden Drake, a California licensed attorney and tax professional. In this episode, Braden and I (Emily Kim) discuss these top 5 legal + tax tips to get your creative business legally legit:

1. Keeping Taxes Simple – With basic bookkeeping and quarterly tax payments, Braden outlines how to avoid common tax pitfalls and streamline your finances.
2. Legal Layers of Protection – Braden introduces his “legal hierarchy of needs,” which is tbh, the best explanation of all things legal for a creative business owner like me who actively cringes anytime I hear anything law related.
3. Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC – Learn why forming an LLC can be a game-changer for protecting your personal assets from business liability.
4. What is an S-Corp actually, and when you should consider it – finally, understand what the heck an S-Corp actually is.
5. Does your tax + legal expert need to be local? – Understand when you might need a local expert versus when you can work with someone remotely.

FIND BRADEN ONLINE:

The Contract Club (affiliate link): https://www.bradendrake.com/a/2147575083/WeWgweFf

All the templates you need. All in one place. Just pay the low + affordable one-time fee, and you’re in for life.

Braden's law firm, Not Average Law: https://notavglaw.com/

Get Braden's book, Unf*ck Your Biz: https://notavglaw.com/book

Listen to the Unf*ck Your Biz Podcast:https://notavglaw.com/podcast

00:35 Who is Braden and why should you listen to him?
02:40 Tip #1: Keeping Taxes Simpler
10:44 Tip #2: Legal Layers of Protection
11:22 Tip #3: Choosing Between Sole Proprietorship and LLC
16:20 Tip #4: What is an S-Corp actually, and when you should consider it
26:56 Tip #5: Does your tax + legal expert need to be local?
36:46 How to Work with Braden and Final Takeaways

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

In this episode, I'm diving into this frequently asked question: how long does it actually take to build a successful creative business? I'm breaking down the misconceptions around overnight success and sharing my personal journey to profitability.

Here's what we're covering:

• What "success" really means in business - and why it's different for everyone
• The average timeline for small businesses to become profitable
• My own path to building a quarter-million dollar photography business
• Why comparing your journey to others can be harmful
• The importance of balancing financial success with personal wellbeing

Timestamps

00:00 Defining success in your creative business
04:08 The reality of building a profitable business
09:55 My personal journey
11:44 The dangers of comparison and "infocrastination"
15:14 Balancing profit with personal wellbeing

Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current business, this episode will give you a realistic perspective on what it takes to build a thriving creative business. I share my own ups and downs, pivots, and lessons learned to help you set realistic expectations and stay motivated on your entrepreneurial journey.

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

Is attending networking events and conferences the key to growing your creative business? In this episode, I'm chatting about why I prioritize in-person connections and share my recent experience as a keynote speaker.

Join me as I explore:

• How I choose the right networking events for my business
• Strategies I use for making meaningful connections at conferences
• Balancing networking with my energy levels as an introvert
• Alternative ways to network if large events seem inaccessible
• The unexpected benefits I've found from attending events with no expectations

Whether you're a photographer, designer, writer, or any other creative entrepreneur, this episode will help you rethink your approach to networking and building relationships in your industry. Tune in to discover how you can leverage in-person connections to grow your business and find inspiration!

Timestamps:

00:00 My transition from event photographer to keynote speaker
04:09 Tips for choosing and approaching networking events, and the benefits of regular, local meetups vs. large conferences
08:04 how to get the most out of in-person networking and events
14:44 what to prioritize at networking events
15:47 know of events in your area? share them!

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

Is growing a team or starting an agency the only way to scale your creative business? In this episode, let's debunk common myths about "scaling" your freelance business.

I'm also sharing my personal journey of inadvertently building (and then stepping back from) an agency-style photography business.

Join me as I reveal:

• The unexpected challenges I faced when trying to scale
• Why the "obvious" path to growth isn't always the right one
• Alternative strategies for increasing your income without sacrificing creativity
• The power of personal branding for one-to-one service providers

Whether you're a photographer, designer, writer, or any other creative freelance entrepreneur, this episode will help you rethink your growth strategy and find a path that aligns with your goals and passions. Tune in to discover how you can build a thriving creative business without losing the joy that made you start in the first place!

0:00 Myths about growing your small business or freelance business
2:59 My experience inadvertently building an agency
11:34 What I'm doing to "scale" instead of building an agency
12:33 How to grow as a 1-1 service provider
14:03 Other ways to raise prices by delivering more value

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

I'm pulling back the curtain on my journey from starting my brand photography business as a side hustle to becoming a full-time six-figure photographer. I'm giving you a transparent look at alll my numbers: my income, expenses, and profit over the years.

Episode Highlights:

• My business progression from 2018 to 2022
• A detailed breakdown of my revenue streams and expenses
• Why knowing your numbers and tracking profit and loss is crucial
• My insights on studio ownership and rental income
• Tips for making strategic business investments and growing your creative business

Photography Pricing Calculator: https://www.emilykim.co/photo-pricing-calculator

00:00 What to expect
01:52 2018: $6k profit
05:32 2019: $12k profit
07:40 2020: $24k profit
10:29 2021: the year I quit my full-time job
15:29 2022: best year yet
17:05 full profit & loss breakdown for a 6-figure brand photography business
20:19 cost breakdown
26:25 what to do when you have a loss
27:40 2023 numbers
28:20 takeaways

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

I went from being a corporate software engineer to a full-time brand photographer. In this first ever episode (!!!) of the Profitable Creatives Podcast, I'm sharing a little bit about my journey, what you can expect from this podcast, and two lessons that have really propelled me to where I am today.

This podcast is for you if you are a creative service provider: photographers, copywriters, designers, wardrobe stylists, makeup artists - you're all welcome here! 💛

00:00 Introduction to the Profitable Creatives Podcast
01:10 My entrepreneurial journey
04:17 Niching into brand photography
06:51 The turning point: hiring a business mentor
09:17 Quitting my corporate job to be a full-time photographer
12:27 What to expect in future episodes of this podcast
14:53 The two philosophies behind this podcast

Thanks for listening!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykim.co

Join the free, private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprofitablecreatives

Website: https://emilykim.co/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/