Are you a creative entrepreneur who's passionate about your craft but feels overwhelmed by the business side of things?
Welcome to the Profitable Creatives Podcast, a show for creative entrepreneurs looking to transform their passion into a thriving, profitable business. I’m your host, Emily Kim, a former Silicon Valley software engineer turned brand photographer, studio owner, and business coach. This podcast pulls back the curtain on the business side of creativity.
Whether you're a photographer, creative freelancer, or any 1-1 creative service provider, each episode delivers practical strategies for branding, marketing, pricing, client experience, systems, and more. Your business needs you to be both an artist and an engineer — and I’ll show you how.
Don't just be a Profitable Creative - Be a WEALTHY Creative in 2026
I didn't quit my high-paying software engineering job at Apple to make LESS money in my photography business. I quit because I saw that building my own creative business meant there would be no salary ceiling. I'd be in control of how much I make—not some VP deciding my worth based on years of experience. You deserve to be a WEALTHY creative. In this episode, I'm breaking down: Why I REALLY quit my corporate job (hint: it wasn't to "follow my passion" and accept less money)The difference betw...
16 Jan 2025
011 Education as a form of marketing & lead generation
Profitable Creatives host shares how teaching valuable information to ideal clients can naturally lead to long-term bookings and revenue growth through education-driven marketing strategies.
2 Jan 2025
Goal setting is dead: Why auditing your goals is the key to 2025
In this episode, we’re diving into an essential topic for the start of the year: goal setting. Or my preferred term: goal auditing! Join the Goal Audit Workshop: https://www.emilykim.co/goalauditworkshopNew Year’s resolutions are often ambitious, but are they truly your goals, or are they borrowed from the people and media around you? Join me as I share my personal journey of learning to audit goals and a three-step process to ensure your ambitions align with your vision and values.Here’s wha...
3 Dec 2024
009 The power of specificity to speed up your sales
Emily Kim shares how specificity in marketing and personal branding can lead to faster and easier sales in service-based businesses.
20 Nov 2024
008 How to become the no-brainer choice as a brand photographer
Industry expert Emily Kim shares how she elevated her brand photography services from $600 to $4,000 by creating a comprehensive brand experience that makes her the no-brainer choice for clients.
5 Nov 2024
007 The #1 reason most creatives undercharge
Let's chat about the #1 reason creative business owners undercharge and learn a simple, proven pricing formula to boost your profitability. Perfect for photographers, copywriters, designers, and freelancers looking to optimize their pricing strategy.Chapters:00:00:20 - Root cause of undercharging in creative industries00:01:00 - Pricing formula for service-based businesses02:40 - Calculating your target revenue and client capacity05:40 - Factoring in expenses and taxes08:20 - Strategies for g...
29 Oct 2024
006 Protect Your Creative Business: 3 legal and tax tips you can't ignore with Braden Drake from Not Avg Law
Get ready for a no-BS breakdown of the most important legal and tax tips for creative entrepreneurs with Braden Drake, a California licensed attorney and tax professional. In this episode, Braden and I (Emily Kim) discuss these top 5 legal + tax tips to get your creative business legally legit:Keeping Taxes Simple – With basic bookkeeping and quarterly tax payments, Braden outlines how to avoid common tax pitfalls and streamline your finances.Legal Layers of Protection – Braden introduces his...
30 Sept 2024
005 How long does it take to build a "successful" creative business?
In this episode, I'm diving into this frequently asked question: how long does it actually take to build a successful creative business? I'm breaking down the misconceptions around overnight success and sharing my personal journey to profitability.Here's what we're covering:What "success" really means in business - and why it's different for everyoneThe average timeline for small businesses to become profitableMy own path to building a quarter-million dollar photography businessWhy comparing ...
19 Sept 2024
004 Beyond social media: The REAL way to grow your creative business
Is attending networking events and conferences the key to growing your creative business? In this episode, I'm chatting about why I prioritize in-person connections and share my recent experience as a keynote speaker.Join me as I explore:How I choose the right networking events for my businessStrategies I use for making meaningful connections at conferencesBalancing networking with my energy levels as an introvertAlternative ways to network if large events seem inaccessibleThe unexpected bene...
10 Sept 2024
003 What does "scaling" mean, really?
Is growing a team or starting an agency the only way to scale your creative business? In this episode, let's debunk common myths about "scaling" your freelance business.I'm also sharing my personal journey of inadvertently building (and then stepping back from) an agency-style photography business.Join me as I reveal:The unexpected challenges I faced when trying to scaleWhy the "obvious" path to growth isn't always the right oneAlternative strategies for increasing your income without sacrifi...
10 Sept 2024
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 2022A detailed breakdown of my revenue streams and expensesWhy knowing your numbers and tracking profit and loss is crucialMy insights on studio ownership and rental incomeTips for making...
10 Sept 2024
001 From software engineer to booked out brand photographer. My story & the purpose of this podcast
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 Profi...
4 Sept 2024
Profitable Creatives Podcast Trailer
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://emilykim.co/Photo & video services: https://emilykimphotography.com/
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