Photographers & creators

Expense and mileage tracking for photographers

Photographers, videographers, and content creators make large equipment purchases, pay for software every month, and travel to shoots. spentr keeps the receipts and the miles together.

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Where records usually slip

Expensive gear, long records

Cameras, lenses, and lighting are depreciated or expensed, and you need the receipts until you sell them.

Shoots happen everywhere

Location scouting, client shoots, and rental pickups are business miles that rarely get logged.

Mixed-use purchases

Props and wardrobe bought for a shoot need a note saying so.

How spentr helps

Receipt scanning with notes Free

Scan a gear receipt and add the shoot or client it was for.

Trip recording Pro

Drives to shoots and rental houses recorded in the background.

Line items Pro

Split a camera-store receipt between business gear and personal items.

Full tax breakdown Pro

See where your deductions come from and what they’re worth.

Common deductions to track

ExpenseWhere it usually goes
Cameras, lenses, lighting, and dronesLine 13
Editing software and cloud storageLine 27b
Driving to shoots and scouting locationsLine 9
Second shooters and assistantsLine 11
Gear and studio rentalsLine 20a / 20b
Props and backdrops used up in shootsLine 22
Equipment insuranceLine 15
Website, portfolio hosting, and adsLine 8
Keep the receipt for every piece of gear for as long as you own it. When you sell equipment you depreciated, the original cost is part of figuring the gain.

Line numbers refer to Schedule C (Form 1040). Your situation may differ; confirm with your tax preparer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I deduct a camera I also use personally?

You can generally deduct the business-use share. Keep notes on how it’s used, since mixed-use property gets extra scrutiny.

Is wardrobe deductible for photographers or creators?

Only if it’s not suitable for everyday wear, like costumes or branded items. Regular clothing you could wear outside work generally isn’t.

How does spentr handle big purchases?

spentr keeps the receipt and category with the expense; your tax preparer decides whether to expense or depreciate it.

GuideSchedule C categoriesEvery Schedule C expense line from advertising (line 8) to other expenses (line 27b), with examples of what goes where and the lines people most often get wrong.GuideWhich receipts to keepWhich business receipts the IRS expects you to keep, the $75 rule for travel expenses, and how long to hold records: 3, 4, 6, or 7 years and when to keep them longer.GuideMileage log requirementsWhat the IRS expects in a business mileage log: dates, destinations, purpose, and miles, recorded at the time. Plus commuting rules and common mistakes.
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