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Insurance, LLCs, and the Business Side

General liability, equipment insurance, LLCs, sole prop vs S-corp, contracts, taxes — the boring-but-essential business decisions every working pro hits.

Community threads (12)

LLC vs Sole Prop for wedding photographers — the actual answer in 2026

The move: LLC, in most states, once you cross $25k in annual revenue. Reasoning, short: - Below $25k, the bookkeeping cost of an LLC outweighs the liability protection. Sole prop is fine. - Above $2

Sam · forum · 18d ago · 0 replies · 0 reactions

How much insurance you actually need (and why the cheap policies fail)

The actual answer: $1M general liability + $1M equipment, minimum. Most photographers I see are underinsured. The cheap "starter" policies at $200/year usually cap at $300k general liability. That so

Sam · mentorship · 16d ago · 0 replies · 0 reactions

Tax write-offs photographers miss — the six most common

The six I see missed most often: 1. Mileage to and from every shoot, every venue scout, every meeting. The 2026 IRS rate is 67 cents/mile. A wedding photographer doing 30 events a year at 60 round-tr

Sam · forum · 14d ago · 0 replies · 0 reactions

When should our photographer arrive on the wedding day?

Our ceremony is at 4pm and we have no idea when to ask the photographer to start. Hair and makeup begins around 10am. Bride is getting ready at the venue, groom at a hotel 15 minutes away. We're booki

Maya · forum · 21d ago · 2 replies · 0 reactions

Do we really need to do a first look?

My fiancé wants to wait until the aisle. My mom and the photographer both think we should do a first look. We're going back and forth. What's the actual case for and against?

Maya · forum · 24d ago · 2 replies · 0 reactions

Is a "getaway car" / sparkler exit worth the effort?

Photographer keeps mentioning a "grand exit" with sparklers and a getaway car. We're not really car people. Is this a thing we're supposed to do or is it just for the photo?

Maya · forum · 13d ago · 1 reply · 1 reaction

The contract clause I forgot for three years that almost cost me $4k

Looking back at my early contracts, the missing clause was a force majeure update covering pandemics and government-mandated venue closures. In 2020, two couples postponed inside two weeks of their d

Jordan · forum · 16d ago · 0 replies · 0 reactions

Do we really need a videographer if we have a photographer?

We're 80% sure we want a videographer but the price ($3,500) makes us wonder if photos are enough. We've seen mixed advice — some couples regret skipping it, some say they never watch their wedding vi

Maya · forum · 25d ago · 1 reply · 0 reactions

How long does a wedding video usually take to deliver?

Photographer said 6-8 weeks for our gallery. Videographer said "by 6 months." That seems insane. Is that normal?

Maya · forum · 16d ago · 1 reply · 0 reactions

Highlight reel vs full ceremony video — do we need both?

Our videographer offers a 5-min highlight, a 20-min "feature film," and a full unedited ceremony cut. We can pick two for the same price. Which two would you actually watch?

Maya · forum · 15d ago · 1 reply · 0 reactions

Reception is in a dark barn — will photos look bad?

Beautiful old barn for our reception, very low light especially after sunset. Our photographer said she can handle it but I've seen Instagram photos from similar venues that look really grainy and dar

Maya · forum · 22d ago · 1 reply · 0 reactions

How do we plan a backup for an outdoor wedding?

Outdoor venue with no real "backup space" indoors. Owner says "we've never had to cancel" but I want a plan that doesn't depend on luck.

Maya · forum · 18d ago · 1 reply · 0 reactions

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