306 - CYA the Legal Way: Protecting Your Photography Business with Braden Drake

Photography may seem like a business with low legal risk, but if you don’t cover your bases, one unexpected issue—like a contract dispute, a tax audit, or an independent contractor misclassification—can cause major headaches.

Today, I’m talking with Braden Drake, a lawyer and tax expert who specializes in helping creative entrepreneurs actually understand business compliance, contracts, and financial protection. And trust me, this conversation is anything but boring. Braden makes legal and tax talk fun, digestible, and completely manageable, so you can finally stop avoiding these must-dos in your business.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

• The five layers of legal protection every photographer should have in place
• What you really need to know about contracts, taxes, and business compliance
• The common legal mistakes photographers make (and how to avoid them)
• Whether your independent contractors should actually be employees
• Why a good contract is worth every penny—and where to get one without breaking the bank

If legal and tax stuff stresses you out, this episode will make you feel clear, confident, and ready to tackle the things that actually protect your business.

• Download Braden’s Free Legal Guide 
•  Join the Contract Club for Rock-Solid Legal Templates 
•  Get Braden’s Book: Unf*ck Your Biz   
• Follow Braden on Instagram 

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
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