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Union Station provides the perfect backdrop for hands-on learning and spacious classrooms for lecture and live demo classes.
With over 100 classes, there’s something here for everyone!

How do I pick my classes?
You will be able to register for classes IN THE SHUTTERFEST APP two weeks before the event (first come, first serve). The app is released about a month before ShutterFest. READ THE FAQ and/or monitor the private Facebook group for more details.

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Keep More, Owe Less: Tax Strategies Every Photographer Needs to Know

Speaker: Nadia Rodriguez (Website) (Social Media)

Lecture   

Beginner, Intermediate   

As photographers and creatives, you pour your heart into capturing unforgettable moments — but when tax season rolls around, it can feel overwhelming and costly. This session is designed to change that. Led by Nadia Rodriguez, CPA, CTC, you’ll learn how the tax system works and uncover practical strategies to minimize your tax bill legally and effectively, whether photography is your full-time business or your passion-fueled side hustle.

In this 90-minute session, we’ll cover:
The big picture of how the tax system works for freelancers and small business owners
The difference between a hobby vs. a business and why it matters for deductions
Top tax deductions photographers often miss — from gear and software to travel and home office expenses
How to separate business and personal expenses to stay audit-ready
Tips to set aside the right amount of taxes and avoid surprises at year-end
Strategies to use your tax savings to scale your photography business and hit your financial goals

By the end of this class, you’ll walk away with the clarity and confidence to make smarter financial decisions, pay less in taxes, and reinvest more back into your business.

Primary Topics: Business

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April 22-25 2024 | St. Louis MO.
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SKILL LEVELS

Beginner: Just starting out or relatively new to a given subject matter. Basics will be covered and the course will move at a slower pace. The instructor will spend a little more time trying to explain concepts to ensure everyone is following. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 1-3 on the given topic.

Intermediate: Has a grasp of some basic concepts. This course level will move at a faster pace and assume you have basic knowledge covered on the given subject matter. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 4-6 on the given topic.

Advanced: You have working knowledge of the given subject matter, but are looking for more fine-tuning and some advanced topics to take your work to that next level. DO NOT expect instructors to explain basic concepts in this course. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 7-10 on the given topic.

Class Types

Hands-On

These are shooting courses. You will be shooting and working. Bring your camera, gear, or whatever you need for the course and to create create images. Expect to have some level of shooting.

Live Demonstration

These are instructor-led courses where you will see a live demonstration of what the instructor is teaching. You can still bring your camera to these courses and you can photograph, but the goal of the course is NOT for you to shoot or to ensure you get a shot. The goal is for you to see how and why the instructor does what he/she does in order to get the final result.

Lecture

These are non-shooting courses. Typically classroom-based, bring your laptop and notepad and focus on learning!