How to Organize Taxes • For the Photographer

I can't believe it's already March! The new year is always time for new SD cards and external hard drives, back up 2016 photos one last time, clean my gear, and close out 2016 bookkeeping. I didn't know about bookkeeping for quite some time until a fellow photographer and mentor, Michelle Peterson of Michelle & Logan, mentioned that no matter how much you make you have to file your taxes. Depending on your gross income you may not end up owing very much in taxes, but you'll still need to document and file for the IRS. You can read an article that covers more details HERE.

So here is my bookkeeping system for taxes from start to finish! 

I met with my Accountant, Josh, at the beginning of 2016 to ask my tax questions and to find out what was the best way for me to bookkeep in order to make it convenient for him as well. The basics were dates, category of expenses, and amounts for each which I knew I could do in Excel. 

I try to pick up any business supplies the same day as sessions. I reset my miles on my car before I leave my apartment and I take a photo of the miles when I get back home just in case I forget. Hate entering in more than you need to? Check out Mile IQ. This handy app keeps track of all the miles you drive without you lifting a finger! Swipe right for Business and left for Personal. Okay, so you do have to lift a finger, but it's only $6 a month! 

If I pick up anything business related, I try doing a separate transaction from personal items if I can. When I get home I file my receipts in the first folder of my file folder. Any receipts in the first folder need to be entered into excel. After my internet and phone have been paid, I file those receipts there too. 

Once every week, usually Mondays, I update my Taxes in Excel. I start with expenses. I go through my receipts and highlight the date, item(s) and amount. I then enter them into excel with their best fitting category. 

Sessions are next where I'll enter the date of the session, clients name, type of session, amount, and if it was paid in cash, check or Paypal.

Because I'm a Sole Proprietorship and don't buy vehicles under JayCee Photography, I get to write off my miles. If I bought a car under JayCee Photography, I wouldn't be able to write off business miles. Here I document the date, session, where I went, and miles I drove for the session.

After everything has been entered I save my excel sheet and then upload it to Google Drive just in case my computer ever crashes. I then file the receipts entered into "Receipts" in my file folder. Anything that isn't in the file hasn't been entered into excel. 
I am in no way an expert in accounting and bookkeeping. But I still remember struggling with keeping things organized. There are other ways of recording and keeping track of taxes, but this method has worked great for me. 

Tanner + Brittny • Downtown Idaho Falls Engagements

Our group of friends consist of all of Jacob's buddies through High School. We're all super close and I feel like I even went to high school with everyone too. My brother-in-law, Joseph, and Tanner, roomed together at BYUI for the past two semesters. Joseph joined the Stunt team in the fall and told Tanner he should come with as support and to meet a couple girls. So they joined together. 

In November I noticed Tanner was with a girl, Brittny, in some of his Snapchats. He never mentioned anything in person though which I thought was interesting. I later found out that Brittny was on the stunt team with him and they were good friends. They were hanging out often and Brittny decided to try asking Tanner out. Tanner, being a Meng boy, didn't get the hint that she was into him. He figured she wanted a group to hang out with so when Brittny asked to go to Wendy's, Tanner would invite all his roommates to come with. This happened a few different times including a movie night. Brittny finally went and told Joseph she was ready to give up on Tanner because she didn't think Tanner was interested. Joseph ended up going up to Tanner and saying, "Dude, Brittny's into you!". 

Tanner had an "ah-ha" moment. He'd been into Brittny the whole time but wasn't getting her major hints. They both laugh at the story now, but I honestly think it's pretty cute. Enjoy some of my favorites from their Idaho Falls Engagements. Today is also Tanner's Birthday! Happy Birthday Tanner! :) 

Torsten • Fresh 48 Session

Brittany and I met last February when she contacted me about blog photos. We started having sessions about every two weeks there after and it was wonderful! We explored downtown Idaho Falls together and I got to know her pretty well through our time shooting. She gushed about her two little girls Sophie and Lilly everyday and all I wanted to do was meet them. Oh, did I mention Brittany looked stunning in every single photo for our sessions? Yes, she really did. 

Thursday morning I found a message from Brittany asking what my day looked like. Within just 30 minutes of sending me that message, little Torsten was born. Regardless of how fast he came, and how slow I was to receiving and replying to messages, I was so happy to document these precious moments within just a few hours of Torsten's birth. He was so quiet during the entire hour I was there. Sophie and Lilly came shortly after I did with Brittany's mom, arriving in big sister shirts with grins on their faces. They touched his dark brown hair, his cute cheeks, and his little toes. 

These moments were amazing to capture as a fly on the wall. I truly love documenting real, raw life, especially the once in a lifetime kind of moments. Brittany, you are one beautiful mama with the cutest family I could ever imagine.