Meal Deductions For Photographers
Running a photography business means wearing all the hats — shooting, editing, marketing, and yes, even keeping track of expenses. And somewhere in all that hustle, you’ve got to eat. The good news? Some of those meals may actually be deductible on your taxes — if they meet certain IRS rules.
Let’s unpack what counts as a deductible business meal, what doesn’t, and how to make sure you’re tracking things correctly so you can keep more of what you make.
🍽️ What Qualifies as a Deductible Meal
The IRS allows you to deduct 50% of eligible business meals, as long as they’re directly connected to your photography business. That means the meal must meet these key rules:
It’s ordinary and necessary for your business.
It’s not lavish or extravagant (think reasonable, not Michelin-starred).
You or an employee must be present.
It involves a business contact — like a client, second shooter, vendor, or planner.
The purpose of the meal is to discuss business or strengthen professional relationships.
If all those boxes are checked, you’ve got yourself a deductible business meal.
💡 Real-Life Photography Scenarios:
You take a couple out for coffee to talk about their wedding photography timeline.
You meet a second shooter over lunch to plan an upcoming session.
You grab dinner with your favorite florist or planner to collaborate on a styled shoot.
Those are all legitimate business meals — and 50% of the cost is deductible.
💯 How the 50% Deduction Works
Here’s where most photographers get tripped up — yes, you can only deduct 50% of business meals on your tax return, but that doesn’t mean you only record half in your books.
For bookkeeping, you’ll record 100% of the meal expense in your accounting system (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.) so that your books reflect the full cost of running your business.
When it comes time to file taxes, your accountant (hey, that’s me!) will apply the 50% limit on your tax return — meaning only half of those meal costs will reduce your taxable income on your Schedule C (or business return).
Pro tip: If you ever use your book profit number to calculate owner pay, estimate taxes, or plan your budget — remember to add back that 50% of meal expenses. It ensures you’re basing decisions on your true post-tax profit, not an artificially lowered number.
Think of it as a two-step dance:
Track everything fully in your books.
Deduct half when filing taxes.
✈️ Travel Meals — When You’re Away on Business
If you’re traveling for work — say, shooting a destination wedding or attending a photography workshop — your meals while you’re away are also deductible.
To qualify:
The trip must be overnight or long enough that you need to stop for sleep or rest.
The purpose of your trip must be primarily for business.
Meals are still 50% deductible, even if you’re eating alone.
So that breakfast you grab before your client shoot in another state? Deductible. The celebratory dinner after delivering your final gallery? Also deductible — as long as you’re away overnight for work.
🧍♀️ Meals Alone — What You Can’t Deduct
We’ve all been there — editing in a coffee shop with a latte and a croissant. While it might be fueling your creativity, it doesn’t qualify as a business meal if you’re working alone.
To be deductible, there must be a business purpose and another person involved (unless you’re traveling overnight). So those solo editing snacks are a personal expense, not a write-off.
🧾 Don’t Forget Your Mileage!
This one’s easy to overlook: if you drive to meet someone for a business meal, your miles count too.
For 2025, the standard mileage rate is 70¢ per mile, and those miles add up fast. For example:
Driving to meet a client for lunch = deductible miles + 50% of the meal.
Heading to dinner with your second shooter = deductible miles + 50% of the meal.
If you’re not tracking your mileage, you’re leaving money (and deductions) behind. For a full breakdown of how to track it properly, check out my post Mileage Deductions for Photographers.
(Replace the # with your actual mileage blog link when you publish.)
👥 Meals with Contractors
This is where photographers often get tripped up. Here’s how to handle it:
If you’re present at the meal — it’s your deduction. Pay with business funds and write off 50%.
If you’re not present — your contractor pays for their own meal and takes the deduction on their taxes.
Example: your second shooter meets a client solo to discuss the event details. That’s their business meal, not yours.
📸 How to Track Meals Correctly
Here’s the part most photographers miss — these details aren’t optional. The IRS requires proper documentation if you’re ever audited. You must be able to show proof that every meal you deducted met the rules above.
Keep a clear record that includes:
The receipt (digital copies are fine).
The date, amount, and location.
Who you were with and the business purpose (“Lunch with planner to plan styled shoot”).
If you can’t show those details, the IRS can disallow the deduction — even if it was legitimate.
Pro tip: snap a photo of the receipt in your accounting app (Xero or QuickBooks) while you’re still at the table. Add a quick note about the meeting purpose right in the transaction. You’ll thank yourself later if you ever need to prove it.
❤️ Bottom Line
When it comes to meal deductions, think intentional and compliant. If the meal supports your business, involves another person, or happens while you’re traveling overnight — it’s likely deductible.
Keep your receipts, document the purpose, track your mileage, and make sure it all flows through your business account. If the IRS ever asks, you’ll have the clean, clear records to back it up — and the confidence to know you did it right.
Need help setting up your bookkeeping so you never miss a deduction (or sweat an audit)?
That’s exactly what we do at Bastian Accounting — helping photographers bring clarity, confidence, and calm to their finances.
Click here to join my free Facebook Community Financially Focused Photographers - I go live in this community every week answering all your tax, bookkeeping, and tax questions!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.