001 From software engineer to booked out brand photographer. My story & the purpose of this podcast

09/10/24 • 18 min

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://profitablecreatives.com/
Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/

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002 From $5k to $123k: my journey to 6 figures in profit

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