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Profit is a Habit: Why Photographers Should Pay Themselves First

Running a photography business can feel like a constant hustle — constantly shooting, constantly editing, constantly trying to book more jobs and constantly wondering why there’s so little left in your bank account at the end of the month. If you’ve equated being “fully booked” with being successful and still find yourself feeling financially stressed and overwhelmed, this episode post is for you

Let’s talk about a new way to think about profit. One that doesn’t leave you scrambling at tax time or wondering how you’re going to pay yourself a wage AND cover your photography business expenses. One that helps you finally feel like the CEO of your business.

Why More Bookings Don’t Equal More Profit

Many photographers believe that working harder and taking on more clients is the only path to higher income. But here’s the truth: generating more revenue is what keeps you busy, profit is what pays you. Without a profit-focused system, booking more clients can actually leave you more drained — working harder and longer yet still broke.

The Traditional Profit Formula is Broken

The old formula?
Sales – Expenses = Profit

That’s the “pay yourself if there’s anything left over” mentality. And spoiler alert: there’s rarely anything left over. As your income grows, so do your expenses. It’s called Parkinson’s Law —where expenses rise to meet your level of income (checkout Episode 7: Parkinsons Law and how it applies to money, to learn more about this!)

The Profit First Shift That Changes Everything

The Profit First method flips the script:
Sales – Profit = Expenses

Instead of waiting to see if you have profit, you pay yourself first — even if it’s just 1%. You set that money aside like it’s non-negotiable. Because it is.

This isn’t about accounting. It’s about behavior. And when you start to treat profit as a priority, your business starts to respond.

Profit Is a Habit, Not a Hoped-For Outcome

Think of profit not as a one-time goal, but a habit you develop over time.

Start small. Even 1% of every job can go into a profit account. The goal isn’t to wait until you’re earning six figures to become profitable — it’s to create the behavior now that aligns with the business you’re building.

This habit trains you to:

• Take home a consistent reward for your work
• Run a leaner, more efficient business
• Build financial confidence and clarity
• Stop operating from scarcity and start aligning with abundance
  

Your pricing might be the problem

If you’re not intentionally building profit into your pricing, you’re leaving money on the table.

Random pricing — based on what others charge or what you hope people will pay — won’t cut it. You need to:

• Understand your business costs
• Factor in a healthy profit margin
• Include all your time, even admin work
• Account for taxes and GST
• Price for your ideal client, not everyone

Key Takeaways

• Profit isn’t a leftover — it’s a habit
• Paying yourself first is a form of financial leadership
• You don’t need to earn more to keep more — you need a solid profit system in place before you book out your calendar
• Profit starts with mindset, pricing, and consistent financial behavior
• Start small but start now—even if it’s only 1% then build from there.