Photographer’s Gift Guide 2025: for the photographer in your Life

We had so much fun rounding up our photography favorites. This carefully curated list contains products and resources that we love and are excited to share.

And…get excited because 👉 👉 you have a chance to win the first item on this list: a Kindly sling bag. It’s part of our holiday giveaway. See a box unveiling and enter to win on Instagram.

This post includes affiliate links; we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.

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Kindly Sling Bag

Honestly, any Kindly bag would be a fantastic choice—but we’re especially fond of this sling bag for its smart, thoughtful design. It’s perfect for those quick grab-and-go moments, and the removable inserts keep your gear secure and organized. The main camera strap and an additional safety strap give you peace of mind that your equipment is always protected.

And if you can get it for FREE even better 👉 👉 (Don’t forget to enter our Holiday Giveaway for a chance to win this stylish sling bag!)

Use this code for 10% off your order: TANYA42045.

Brevite Camera Backpack

If you’d prefer a backpack for your camera gear, this Brevite backpack comes in a few different colors and 2 different sizes.

We love its simple design along with:

• padded camera pocket

• laptop compartment

• suitcase handle sleeve

Clever Fox Planner

I recently switched from years of using my phone calendar back to a good old fashioned paper calendar and I love it! I do still use my phone for my general schedule and to do’s. But in various ways this is helping to manage my time and schedule really well in this season.

I’ve gone through SO many planners over the years and this one by Clever Fox is my current favorite. My husband actually has the same planner and we have a weekly calendar meeting to sort out our schedules.

Some reasons I love this planner: 1) the design is simple and classy 2) it is undated 3) it includes monthly, weekly and daily calendars 4) it has an hour by hour schedule for each day 5) it has some other fun features like a habit tracker, things I’m thankful for, etc.. I prefer the A4 size (8.5x11) but an A5 size is available here.

LensRentals.com

It’s risky to buy equipment for someone; so why not gift them equipment rental from lensrentals.com?

What a great way to try out a new camera brand or lens size. We’ve had great success with Lensrentals (formerly Borrow Lenses) and it was super easy to rent and return. Buy a gift card for your favorite photographer.

Peak Design Straps - neck and wrist straps

If your heavy camera puts a strain on your neck, check out these wrist straps. Its durability protects from accidental drops and we love the quick easy on/off design. You can even switch it out to connect to other things too, like binoculars, tools or even a water bottle!

Individual Lens Wipes

For the practical gift giver: throw a handful of these Zeiss pre-moistened lens wipes as a stocking stuffer. Each wipe is individually wrapped and they are gentle and non-abrasive.

DSLR Cheat Sheet Cards

Here’s another stocking stuffer for the photographer in your life. Or buy them for yourself as a refresher between shoots. These cards are universal to camera brands and include 16 water resistant cards with topics including lighting, composition, and camera settings.

Extremely Essential Camera Skills - on demand course

This is the first photography course I ever took back in 2010. And honestly, I’ve never found one that is better. Lauren is an excellent teacher and you will walk away with confidence and feeling like you now know the secrets to taking amazing photos. And it’s only $97! This would make an excellent gift for a student photographer…or go ahead and gift it to yourself.

Check out their other courses too on lighting, composition, Lightroom, Photoshop - they are all excellent!

Easy Expense Tracker for Photographers

Perfect for the photographer who isn’t ready for QuickBooks but wants to stay organized and tax-ready, the Easy Expense Tracker (Google Sheets) makes managing your finances simple.

It includes ready-to-use spending categories, dashboards to see your true profit, monthly checklists to keep your books on track, and recommendations for how much to set aside for taxes, savings, and paychecks. With this tool, tracking income, expenses, and profits becomes effortless—saving you time and stress while keeping your business finances in order.

Use a promo code SAVE10 for $10 off.

Win Big This Season! Enter Our Photographer Holiday Giveaway

Don’t miss this one—snag our top pick from this roundup: we’re giving away the stylish Kindly sling bag highlighted above. Join the festivities and see the unboxing on Instagram, where you can also enter to win.

The Ultimate Photographer’s Tax Deduction Checklist for 2025!

As a photographer, running your business isn’t just about capturing stunning images—it’s also about keeping your finances in order. One of the smartest ways to save money is by understanding which expenses are tax-deductible. The IRS (and similar tax authorities worldwide) allows you to deduct costs that are ordinary and necessary for your business.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help photographers maximize their deductions:

1. Gear & Equipment

Your cameras, lenses, and lighting kits aren’t just tools—they’re business assets. Typical deductions include:

• Cameras, lenses, tripods, drones, and lighting equipment

• Computers, laptops, tablets used for editing

• Memory cards, external drives, and card readers

• Camera bags and protective gear

• Audio equipment like microphones and studio monitors

Pro tip: High-cost equipment may need to be depreciated over time rather than deducted all at once.

2. Software & Subscriptions

Digital tools are essential for modern photography. Deductible items include:

• Photo editing software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Capture One, Lightroom, Photoshop)

• Cloud storage subscriptions for backups

• Website hosting and domain fees

• Online galleries or portfolio platforms

• Client management and invoicing software

3. Studio & Office Expenses

Whether you work from home or rent a studio, your workspace expenses are deductible:

• Home office deductions (portion of rent/mortgage, utilities, internet, insurance)

• Rent for studio space

• Studio utilities and maintenance

• Office furniture and supplies

4. Marketing & Advertising

Promoting your photography business comes with costs that are deductible:

• Website design, SEO, and social media management

• Online ads (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest)

• Printed marketing materials (business cards, brochures, postcards)

• Trade shows, events, and sponsorships

• Email marketing platforms

5. Travel & Transportation

Travel related to shoots or client meetings can also be deducted:

• Mileage for business travel (keep a detailed log)

• Flights, hotels, and rental cars for work trips

• Parking and tolls

• Meals while traveling for business (typically 50% deductible in the U.S.)

6. Education & Professional Development

Investing in your skills counts as a business expense:

• Photography courses, workshops, and seminars

• Industry conferences

• Books, magazines, and online tutorials

• Memberships for professional organizations

7. Insurance

Protecting your business is essential, and premiums may be deductible:

• Business liability insurance

• Equipment insurance

• Health insurance for self-employed photographers (check local rules)

8. Miscellaneous Business Expenses

Don’t overlook these often-missed deductions:

• Props and sets for shoots

• Costumes, clothing, or makeup used exclusively for shoots

• Shipping and postage for prints or products

• Banking and merchant processing fees

• Professional services like lawyers, accountants and bookkeepers.

Pro tip: It’s not too late to claim this deductible—Chat with us today about our bookkeeping services. Click here to schedule.

For high-ticket items, depreciation can help spread out deductions over several years:

• Cameras, lenses, and studio equipment

• Vehicles used exclusively for business purposes

10. Client-Related Costs

Building client relationships can also be deductible:

• Meals with clients (typically 50% deductible)

• Gifts for clients (up to $25 per client per year in the U.S.)

• Props, sets, or rented spaces for client shoots

Key Tips for Maximizing Deductions

1. Keep detailed receipts and records.

2. Use a separate business bank account and credit card.

3. Track mileage and travel expenses carefully.

4. Work with a qualified accountant or bookkeeper familiar with photography businesses.

By understanding and tracking your business expenses, you can save thousands of dollars come tax season. Deduct wisely, document everything, and your photography business will thrive financially as much as creatively. Here is a checklist to help keep you on track - Downloadable / U.S. Photographer Tax Deduction Checklist 2025

Interested in bookkeeping services? Chat with us today. Click here to schedule.

5 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for Taxes

It’s November: Busy Season. But also the time when that nagging feeling hits to remind you that tax time is coming again. Instead of letting “inaction breed doubt and fear,” here are some actions you can take today.

1. Catch up on your bookkeeping.

   Yes, we know this is what you’ve been procrastinating, but now is a good time to start catching up on your bookkeeping. If you are using Quickbooks, make sure all of your checking, savings and credit card accounts are connected. Update any broken connections with your accounts. Then get to work categorizing and reconciling. If you’d prefer a spreadsheet, check out our Easy Expense Tracker for Google Sheets.

2. Gather your mileage.

   Hopefully you’ve had a mileage tracker turned on this year. If that’s the case, now is the time to go back and mark trips as business or personal. If you need an automated tracker, Quickbooks Online has a mileage tracker. Or you can use something like MileIQ.

3. Organize your receipts.

   Are your receipts in a shoebox? Hey, at least you have them. Consider scanning and saving them to an annual folder on Google Drive. Or you can use the Quickbooks Online feature

4. Compile any personally paid business expenses.

   Did you pay for that new lens with your personal credit card? If you don’t plan to reimburse yourself, make sure you still get your tax deductions for those expenses. In Quickbooks Online, these can be added with a bulk journal entry. If you’re using a spreadsheet, make sure

5. Contact a bookkeeper to help.

   I just hired a friend to clean my house 3 times before the end of the year. Not because I can’t do it, but because I recognize my human limits. I cannot possibly accomplish everything that is on my plate in the next 2 months AND keep my house clean for guests and holiday activity.

   Is your bookkeeping an area you can outsource, even if just for this year?

Book a free consultation here with Tanya to find out how Tidy Books can help make taxes a breeze this year. Plus, from now through 12/3, you can get 3 free months of Quickbooks when you sign up for a bookkeeping service!

Sales Tax Made Simple for Photographers

If you’re a photographer, chances are you didn’t start your business because you love crunching numbers. You got into it for the art, the people, and the chance to capture beautiful moments. But somewhere along the way, you discovered that running a business comes with its fair share of paperwork—especially when it comes to sales tax.

One of our clients summed it up perfectly:

"Before Tidy Books, sales tax felt like such a hassle. Now it takes me about 10 seconds to figure out what I owe each month. Everything’s in one place with QuickBooks and it’s been such a relief!"

That’s exactly what we love to hear.

Why Sales Tax Trips Up Photographers

Sales tax can get complicated fast. Different states (and sometimes even cities) have different rules. You might be charging tax on products like prints or albums, but not on services like session fees. If you’re booking clients in multiple locations, it’s even trickier to keep track of what you owe and where.

For most photographers, sales tax ends up being one of those “I’ll deal with it later” tasks—until it’s suddenly due.

How We Simplify the Process

As part of our monthly done-for-you bookkeeping, we don’t just reconcile your accounts—we also make sure your sales tax is neatly organized and easy to access. Here’s how it works:

1. QuickBooks as Your Hub – We set up your QuickBooks account to capture every taxable transaction. Think of it as your one-stop shop for sales tax info.

2. Monthly Reports – Each month, we generate a clear report that shows exactly what you collected in sales tax and what you owe. No more guesswork, no more digging through receipts.

3. Peace of Mind – When it’s time to file, you already have the numbers at your fingertips. What used to take hours now takes seconds.

The Relief You Didn’t Know You Needed

Our client was right—it really can feel like a weight off your shoulders. Instead of stressing over spreadsheets, you can trust that everything is already where it needs to be. That way, you can focus on your clients, your craft, and your business growth—not on tax forms.

If sales tax has ever felt like a hassle, you don’t have to keep doing it alone. With Tidy Books, you’ll always know exactly where you stand.

How to Catch-up On Your Bookkeeping Mid-Year as a Self-Employed Photographer

We get it - it’s tempting to put expense tracking on the back burner until tax time next year. But we also get that waiting until the last minute is not worth the emotional overwhelm and loss of sleep at the end of the year or the potential missing of tax deductions/misreported income.

Before busy season hits, here’s a plan to get ahead on your bookkeeping.

1. Simplify your system

   If your bookkeeping process is overwhelming, take a look at your system. There could be a mental block with the software you are using. Or maybe sales tax has you completely paralyzed. Decide on the one place you will keep all of your finances and commit to that system.

2. Start at January 1 of this year

   You will want to recreate the year from day 1. Go back to January 1 and make sure all of your income and expenses are reported. If using a software like Quickbooks, your transactions will automatically feed into the software. However, comparing this with your bank statement (aka reconciling) is the way to make sure everything is accurate.

3. Set a deadline and plan ahead for taxes

   Make yourself a deadline. We recommend June 30 so that you can get a really good picture of the year so far. If you are working with a CPA, they will likely ask for year-to-date reports to be able to plan for taxes for the rest of the year. For example, if your income has significantly increased this year, you will owe more tax money than last year. Your CPA will be able to advise on any payments that should be made to reduce your tax liability for next year.

4. Hire a bookkeeper.

   If you set a deadline (see #3) and it passed you by, it may be time to hire a bookkeeper. A good bookkeeper will not only keep you on track all year long, but they will make sure that you understand what your numbers are saying. They will help you be proactive and empowered to make decisions and move your business forward.

Need some help getting caught up? Find out more about our bookkeeping services here.

Are you Tired of the Clutter in your Photography Finances?

Two years ago, we hired a professional organizer for two days while we were on vacation. Prior to starting the work, she walked through our home and helped us identify the top 3 most stressful points that would benefit from a makeover. When we came home from vacation, our pantry, master bedroom closet and garage had been transformed. I can't even describe the level of sanity that just having those 3 areas organized brought to all of our lives.

If your business finances are causing as much stress as our home clutter, I am here to tell you that with a few simple systems and tweaks, you will feel a huge sense of relief walking into the new year.

First, consider hiring a professional to get you organized

I often talk with photographers who feel the need to apologize about their books before I take a look. I assure them that we have "seen it all" and there are very few messes that can scare us away.  In fact, if it truly is a bigger mess than we care to untangle, we will start a brand new account and re-create the past instead of trying to clean up the mess.

I have talked to many seasoned photographers who have had an incredible career, only to feel defeated in their finances and overwhelmed by the state of their books after years of a successful career. This is why we are passionate about supporting photographers in this area that is often overlooked or pushed to the backburner.

My advice: hire a trusted, experienced bookkeeper for your photography books. Even if their role is temporary, allowing them to bring organization and systems into your bookkeeping will bring a huge sense of relief. Just like the professional home organizer brought untold calmness to my life, so will well-organized, up-to-date books by a professional.

Second, maintain a sustainable system

We all know how this works: Even though our garage was beautifully organized two years ago, it can quickly look like a tornado swept through it after a busy summer. We have to work on keeping it organized on a daily and weekly basis.

In the same way, once you have a clean system for your bookkeeping, keeping up with your accounting is the hard part.

Ideally, a bookkeeper will keep you accountable to keeping your books up to date on a monthly basis. They will help you to maintain good habits, like keeping business and personal separate, organizing your receipts, and producing a monthly income statement to review.

If you are doing your books yourself, you will want to come up with your own monthly workflow. I recommend making sure your books are up to date by around the 10th of each month. Set aside a morning every other week to catch up on your Quickbooks or make sure your invoicing is current.

Third, look proactively at your finances

Once you have the foundation of tidy and organized books, make sure you are using your numbers to grow your business. Look at your profit and loss each month to see how your business is really doing.

Look ahead and make a plan for the months that may be a little tight. Challenge yourself to a higher profit margin this year than last. It's amazing the freedom that can come when you remove the clutter and confusion in your finances.

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Feeling like you need some help from a professional? Tanya and the Tidy Books team specialize in helping photographers get organized and gain peace of mind in their business finances. Schedule a free consultation with Tanya to see if we might be a good fit for your business.