Full expenses article for photographers
| Expense | Claimable? | Notes | Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera bodies, lenses, lights, stands | Usually yes | Equipment. Mixed holiday use means a split. | Invoices, serial numbers help with insurance too |
| Adobe, catalogue, gallery hosting | Usually yes | Software of the trade. | Subscriptions |
| Second shooter and editor fees | Usually yes | If they invoice you as self-employed. Payroll if they are staff. | Their invoices |
| Travel to shoots | Usually yes | Mileage at 55p first 10,000 in 2026/27 if simplified, or tickets. Overnight hotels for jobs yes. | Log, bookings |
| Props, albums, print costs you resell | Usually yes | Stock or materials. Album sales are also turnover. | Lab invoices |
| Website, ads, directory listings | Usually yes | Getting booked. | Invoices |
| Insurance (kit, public liability, professional indemnity) | Usually yes | Business policies. | Schedules |
| Studio hire or home studio share | Usually yes | Hire invoices, or a fair home-office amount. | Invoices or calculation |
| Phone and broadband share | Usually yes | Client comms and uploads. | Bills |
| Clothes for shoots | No | Ordinary clothing, even “all black for weddings”. | n/a |
| Your own wedding or family portraits | No | Personal. | n/a |
| Client meals and “thank you” drinks | No | Entertaining. | n/a |
Usually not claimable
- Everyday clothes and a watch, even on a wedding.
- Holiday travel with a camera in the bag claimed as 100% business.
- Parking tickets at the venue.
- Gym membership for “looking the part”.
- Drawings to live on. Those are not expenses.