The Legal Paige® Podcast

Welcome to The Legal Paige Podcast, Era 2.0! After taking a little hiatus from the podcast (because it simply didn't feel aligned) I'm back with a CLEAR vision on what I want for this podcast moving forward. The gist? While I love love love sharing legal content,  I also want to share a bit more about my business mindset, CEO mindset, and business tips + tricks. A decade into this gig and I have some wisdom, failures, and successes that will be helpful for others to learn from! In this episode, I give an unfiltered update on all the things happening in my life both personally + professionally.  Press play and you'll get a glimpse into:How maternity leave really wentThe lessons I learned from trying to execute 2 big launches in less than a monthThe 6 new job titles I'm adding to my teamThe area of my business I'm managing for the first time in years,How I'm prioritizing health and friendships during a particularly busy season of lifeIf I can ask anything from you, it'd be to go give it a listen and write a review with your feedback. As I bring the podcast back to life, I'd love to know what resonated with you + what you'd like to learn about in the upcoming episodes.

We're diving into a topic that sometimes is a bit uncomfortable, but it's truly essential for your business's financial, legal, and customer health. Specifically,  how slow sales or taking sales back might be affecting your bottom line and what you can do about it legally. As business owners, we do often put our clients' needs before our own, sometimes to the detriment of our own financial well-being. But here is the hard truth... Your money is just as important as your clients' money, and it is not greedy to prioritize your own bottom line! Especially  in challenging economic times like we have right now.In episode 166 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I am tackling a question straight from The Legal Paige Facebook Community. We dive into the what you should know about cooling off periods, no downgrades language in your contract, and chargeback fraud!MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 166, I will provide insight into this essential conversation, that may be uncomfortable but is nonetheless essential for every single business owner. Because over here at The Legal Paige I want to empower you both legally and within your business to operate as a smart, forward-thinking, and legal business owner! And if you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

As a forward-thinking entrepreneur, it's only natural to think about and somewhat start planning for the future of your business.We plan out where we see ourselves in 3, 5, and even 10 years from now. If we are thinking of starting a family, a major life event, or a move… We often start planning ahead so we can find the help we will need to keep our business running smoothly, what personal to-do's we can assign to someone else, and more.Now, as dark as this sounds, we also need to plan on if something unfortunate happens to us and we are not here to run our business. This is beyond the temporary situations of getting sick, a small injury, or personal emergency. I am talking about answering the question, “What happens to my business if I die?". In episode 165 of The Legal Paige Podcast,  I share why it is so critical to plan on who inherits our business's management, how our clients and current contracts will be handled, who has access to bank accounts and online platforms, and various ways to protect ourselves and our business from such an unimaginable (but definitely possible) situation.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 165, I will provide insight into this unimaginable topic, that may be uncomfortable but is nonetheless essential for every single business owner. Because over here at The Legal Paige I want to empower you both legally and within your business to operate as a smart, forward-thinking, and legal business owner! And if you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Communitywhere thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Today's episode is focused squarely on the world of wedding planners and vendors. Specifically  why, in most cases, legally speaking planners might want to hit the brakes on signing those vendor contracts on behalf of their clients.Yep, you guessed it—there are some serious legal angles to consider! Legal liability and risk management being the key one.Ever had clients raising eyebrows over a certain clause? We've got you covered.Curious about who should be adding their John Hancock to that model release? (Think here both parents in a family photo shoot or only one?!)In episode 164 of The Legal Paige Podcast, we share why strongly advise against ever signing on your client's behalf. The lines of who the client is and who is liable to the vendors if the worst happens (think cancellation or rescheduling, or a natural disaster, or someone gets injured or hurt) becomes blurry. You do not want to be stuck in a situation where you are fighting with your clients AND event vendors on who is liable if/when the worst happens. In legal terms, this is called ‘joint and several liability' and we are trying to help you avoid being on the hook for those sticky situations.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 164 for an  episode is focused squarely on the world planners and vendors. We'll be covering ins and outs of why you don't ever want to sign on behalf of your clients (or accept a planners signature in the case of vendors). And if you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Today's episode is focused squarely on the world of photography, specifically the often-underestimated yet incredibly crucial model release clauses woven into those photography agreements with clients.It's impossible to take on every project + task while also trying to do what we love, have a life, and be the visionary/CEO. Over the years, The Legal Paige has brought on over 30+ contractors that have been life-changing for our business, terrible, and everything in between. Ever had clients raising eyebrows over a certain clause? We've got you covered.Curious about who should be adding their John Hancock to that model release? (Think here both parents in a family photo shoot or only one?!)What happens when someone who didn't sign the release pops up in the photos? Hold tight, because that's on the menu too.In Episode 163 of The Legal Paige Podcast, we are diving into model releases and what you need to know, who should sign them, and privacy concerns. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 163 for an  episode is focused squarely on the world of photography. We'll be covering ins and outs of model releases — everything from who signs them to those privacy concerns that can pop up during client conversations. If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

One of the smartest things we can do to grow our businesses is HIRE. It's impossible to take on every project + task while also trying to do what we love, have a life, and be the visionary/CEO. Over the years, The Legal Paige has brought on over 30+ contractors that have been life-changing for our business, terrible, and everything in between. But what happens if you hire someone as a contractor and things go majorly wrong? How can you stay legal and protect your business? What steps can you take to prevent something going even more wrong once the cookie starts to crumble.In Episode 162 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I am sharing how you can protect your business assets and what happens if a relationship with a service provider goes wrong. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 162 for a service-provider horror story that changed how I do business, ideas on how you can legally protect your business before sticky situations happen, what to do if your service-provider deletes everything, and more! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Attention, Photographers, Planners, Videographers, DJs, Florists, and all service providers collaborating with couples and their families for weddings and events… This episode of The Legal Paige Podcast is tailor-made for you.Recently, within The Legal Paige Facebook Community, a member encountered a rather tricky scenario. Parents of the couple opted to cover the costs for the services provided. Our community member, keen on staying legally sound, went the extra mile by furnishing the parents with a third-party payor addendum sourced from our shop.But here's the twist—the parent in question wasn't too thrilled, said some unkind words, and declined to put pen to paper. Now, legally speaking, this raises a major red flag.Now, what's the best course of action for this service provider? Is it a matter of discontinuing their relationship with the clients? Should they proceed with the third-party payment sans the signed agreement?In Episode 161 of The Legal Paige Podcast, we delve into this complex scenario, exploring how to navigate these challenging waters. And fear not, because I'll be offering my expert guidance as your friendly online attorney! MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 161 for a service-provider horror story that proves just how important it is to have a third party payor addendum, and how to navigate a sticky situation when the third party declined to put pen to paper! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Are you a thrifter or DIYer who uses online marketplaces to buy and sell items?As your friendly online attorney, I want you to be legally savvy in all areas of your life (even outside of clients and contracts). So what do you need to know about buying and selling on online marketplaces? Well, the sticky situations are truly endless: What if you get a *like-new* air purifier from the neighbor down the street… only to find out it doesn't work when you get home?Or what if you sold someone a used microwave and they messaged you after they picked it up saying the turntable doesn't move correctly and now they want to bring it back for a refund?? In Episode 160 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I'm sharing my legal marketplace how-to's, experiences, and the legal doctrine “Buyer Beware”! BUYER BEWARE I am sure you have heard of the phrase ‘Buyer Beware' but may not know the legal implications or definition. ‘Buyer Beware' is a legal concept that comes from the Latin phrase Caveat emptor, quia ignorare non-debuit quod jus alienum emit which translates to “Let a purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.”‘Buyer Beware' in basic terms is the duty of a buyer to inspect, test, and agree to an item before buying it. More specifically if an item does not come brand new from a certified merchant a buyer understands and acknowledges that the item is sold as-is. As a buyer, make sure you fully inspect any item you buy and understand that once you put it in your car and drive away… that's it and you own it no matter if it works for another year or not. Buyers should never put money down on the table before seeing and testing the item. This not only helps prevent you from receiving faulty items but also protects you from potential fraud. If you are a buyer purchasing used items you must know you are taking on a risk when you buy used items…so BEWARE of what you buy.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Tune into Episode 160 and learn more about how to navigate the world of Facebook marketplace from a legal perspective! If you want more helpful advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Entrepreneurship isn't all about the money–but it sure is a good feeling to see that paycheck come in. So how do you make sure that 1. You actually get paid and 2. You pay yourself, legally? Part of the reason why you start a business is to make money for yourself and to do that you have to know how to pay yourself. In Episode 159 of The Legal Paige Podcast we are going to take you back to the basics and talk about how to pay yourself legally to keep your business structure (and the advantages it provides) in tact, how to legally accept payments from clients, and what to do when clients want to send a payment to you personally versus your business. There are real sticky situations that you are going to experience at some point. And having the knowledge to handle these situations and the protection in place is only going to help you and your business. Step One: Have A Business Bank Account The first step to legally paying yourself as a business owner is to keep all of your business money in a Business Account. Even though certain business organizations do not require you to keep your business profits separate from your personal finances, you should still keep business profits and expenses separate! Keeping your business finances apart from your personal account will make it easier to do the accounting work for your business and file taxes at the end of the year. Additionally, it will be easier for you to pay yourself a consistent salary if your accounts are separate. More From This Episode:Press play on Episode 159 and learn more about transferring money, the differences in how you should pay yourself based on your business structure, how clients should pay you, and more! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Cancellations with clients can feel like the worst thing in the world, it's something that can keep business owners up at night running through all the what-if scenarios… Especially, if it's you canceling the contract with them. And that could be for a number of reasons; like a family emergency, or the client has been a nightmare to work with and you are ready to set boundaries, or they have deliberately breached your contract. Obviously this issue is a touchy subject because no one ever intends to enter into a contract to terminate it before all parties have completed their performance. Also, sometimes canceling can lead to bad tastes in clients' mouths, yucky feelings all around, and bad reviews (which is the worst case scenario).So let's look at how to cancel on your clients legally and make sure you are protected as the business owner at the end of the day. HOW TO APPROACH A CANCELLATIONCancellations can be tricky and if you are the one who is canceling the contract, you will want to be delicate about it. My first piece of advice is to document that decision to cancel in a signed agreement and explain what is going to happen to any fees your clients have paid thus far.A cancellation contract will be sent out to your clients as a stand-alone contract. A cancellation contract will terminate and supersede the previous service agreement and also any oral agreements you had with your clients (say through emailing back and forth or on a phone call with them).WHAT IF THE CLIENT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE OR ISN'T RESPONDING? Before you cancel the contract try to reach out to your clients multiple times. Issue them warnings and explain that if you cancel the contract they will not receive their retainer back. You want to be professional in these situations while also being firm in your business policies! If you cancel due to lack of response from your client you are in the right to keep the retainer- in situations like this it might be best to cancel because your clients are preventing you from fulfilling your obligations under the contract. Keep in mind that if you decide to keep the retainer you may end up with chargeback scenarios or even threats of lawsuits. Although you are in your right to keep the retainer you may want to return it to avoid dispute in this case. Now I would ONLY return it if you have done little to no work with this client and it is early on in the process. Make sure you try to have them sign a cancellation agreement. They may not sign it and it's okay but they should be receiving an email from you requesting their signatures on the agreement and notifying them of the termination of the contract. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Tune into Episode 158 and learn more about cancellations including how to cancel if you are experiencing extenuating circumstances or an emergency, the clauses I recommend you have in your cancellation contract, and more tips on how to handle cancellations with professionalism! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Most small business owners I know are 1. Badass and 2. Constantly running between one project and another. There are always SO many things to be done and at times “small” tasks (like making sure contracts are properly sent and signed) can be tedious.The catch? Sometimes the seemingly smallest tasks aren't so small when they can have BIG legal consequences. If your business is a limited liability company (LLC) or has multiple owners, this podcast episode is for you.A popular question in The Legal Paige Community is “Can one person sign on behalf of an LLC?” or “Do all owners need to sign every business contract?” In this podcast episode, I am answering these questions and giving you my legal take on how and who should be signing contracts on behalf of your business. YOUR BUSINESS FORMATION MATTERSWhen you're signing a contract,  your business' formation matters. Unlike sole proprietors who are their business (and can sign as their business) an LLC is considered a separate legal entity from you as the owner.That means owners will sign on behalf of the company. You don't need to sign a contract as “The Legal Paige, LLC'' for example, but rather you as the owner will sign YOUR legal name as an authorized representative of the company. So for example I would sign it as “Paige Griffith” with the title of your position below your signature, so again just as an example, for myself I would then add in the title, “Owner of The Legal Paige, LLC”. A good thing to note is this doesn't mean you are personally responsible for debts or liabilities incurred under a contract. You are still afforded the protection of limited liability that an LLC offers when you are the owner signing your name on behalf of the business. And knowing how to properly sign your contract as an LLC is important for keeping that protection bubble of your LLC intact. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode 157 and learn more about how to sign a contract if your business has multiple owners, what sole proprietors need to think about when it comes to signing contracts, and my overarching legal take on the matter!  If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

When it comes to running a successful business, it can feel like there are A LOT of legal aspects to consider (and many entrepreneurs become overwhelmed trying to stay on top of it all). Protecting your business is important and there are several ways to do it…but at The Legal Paige we like to tell business owners that what you really need is the business triangle: Insurance, Contracts and the right Business Structure. While you can't prevent legal issues from arising, having these three main lines of protections with your business will protect your assets and your business if the worst does happen!In Episode 156, we'll dive into the importance of insurance and how it can protect your business in the event of unforeseen circumstances, your business's contracts and how they can help define the terms and conditions of your business relationships, and the crucial role that business structure plays in limiting liability and protecting your personal assets. You'll walk away with a clear understanding of  how all three of these things work together when a legal issue pops up (and the various lines of defense these create to protect you)MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Tune into Episode 156 for more information on the “business triangle” and WHY it's so important for protecting your business! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Let's say you came up with an AMAZING business name, it's an extension of your legal name, but it is so unique. You know it exists no where else, and you are literally giddy thinking about what the future holds. While you are marketing, and doing business under this name, I want to share with you why you should file a DBA application and what it can do for your business.. Whether you are a sole proprietor doing business under a different name then your legally given name. Or you are a seasoned business owner, thinking of operating an extension under your LLC using a different name… this episode is for you.WHAT IS A DBA? “Doing Business As” aka “DBA” means that you are running your business under a different name than the name of your business. Sometimes when you start your business your bills and paperwork are under one name but the name that you advertise under is another name. For instance, if you are a sole proprietor that is using a name that is different from your own legal name you would have a DBA (i.e. my personal name is Paige Griffith and my DBA would be “The Legal Paige”). Additionally, if you are an LLC, and you are operating an extension of your business under a name that is different than the legally registered LLC name you would be using a DBA name (i.e. your biz is called Christa's Corner, LLC but you sell things online as “Christa's Beautiful Belonging”). WHO SHOULD FILE A DBA?People often wonder why the heck a DBA is even necessary. Operating under a DBA is a great way to separate your business name from your legal name if you are operating as a sole proprietorship. Additionally, having a DBA will ultimately help you grow, expand, and be an official biz in the eyes of your customers and other businesses in your area because you are operating under a more official name. Before you start operating under a DBA you need to register it with the state. I cannot tell you how many small businesses operate as a sole proprietorship but have not filed ANYTHING with their state. Here is the main thing you need to know as a sole proprietor: If you are operating your business with a name other than your legal given name you MUST file your DBA in your state and/or county. It is also often required to have a DBA if you want to set up a business bank account. Although some banks do not require it and you may use your social security number, I STILL recommend getting a DBA to be official with your state. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Tune into Episode 156 for more information on DBA's including HOW to actually file a DBA and why this is so important for your business! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

As an entrepreneur,  you're always on the lookout for ways to stay ahead of the curve and grow your business. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it's becoming more and more tempting to use online tools and programs to generate content for your brand. But, before you jump on the AI bandwagon, let's talk about the legal implications.How can you use AI content legally? Do you need a licensing agreement? Can you copyright AI-generated text and pictures? These are the burning questions we'll be tackling in Episode 154 of The Legal Paige Podcast. What IS AI-Generated Content?AI-generated content is content that is created using machine learning algorithms, without any direct human input. AI can generate text, images, videos, and even entire websites. For small business owners, AI-generated content can be a game-changer because it can save time and resources. Instead of spending hours creating social media posts, blog content, or product descriptions, business owners can use AI tools and programs to generate content quickly and efficiently. Can My Business Own AI-Generated Content? Is It Copyrightable?The answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances of your business and the content that has been generated. In general, businesses can own AI-generated content if they have a license agreement in place with the AI technology provider that grants ownership rights. However, it's important to note that the copyrightability of AI-generated content is a gray area in the legal landscape. In the United States, the Copyright Office has stated that it will only register works created by a human author, which could exclude AI-generated content from copyright protection. However, there is ongoing debate about this issue, and some legal experts believe that AI-generated content should be eligible for copyright protection. All in all, right now as I record this episode in March 2023, it is possible for businesses to own AI-generated content, and it may be eligible for copyright protection. However, it's important to note that the level of involvement of AI in creating the content must be carefully considered. To be eligible for copyright protection, the majority of the work must be created by a human author, with AI only playing a supportive or supplemental role. What Do I Absolutely Need To Know Regarding The Legalities of Using AI?Simply put: DISCLOSE WHEN YOU ARE USING AI. When you use AI toward any commercial endeavor, you absolutely should let consumers and the public know AI contributed! Otherwise, you can be at risk of a software company claiming copyright infringement or consumers claiming misrepresentation. TLP's suggestion is to do two key things:Put a disclaimer within your Website Terms & Conditions if you are utilizing AI to create any type of content you are posting on your website. That means if you use AI to write the copy on your website, write blog posts, create stock images, etc. you absolutely should be disclosing that to users. Put a clause in your client contract if you are utilizing AI in any way for the services you are providing. This is also the most ethical way to approach the use of AI right now because of consumer unawareness until it becomes more mainstream in society. MORE FROM THIS EPISODEPress play on Episode 154 and learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI), how to legally use AI as a small business owner and so much more.If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Here's the situation: You had a client inquire about your services (yay!). They seemed excited and the conversation led you to send over a contract. You wait and wait for a response only to hear crickets…so you end up signing on another client for the date in question. You can't wait around forever, right? But then the original client comes back and says they are ready to sign. Your stomach drops because you gave away the spot and now you have an angry ex-potential client on your hands demanding that they have that date despite their own lack of communication. What do you do? Do you give in and cancel the other contract? What if they leave a terrible review about you? In Episode 153 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I dig into this sticky situation and let you in on how I would handle it (and how you can avoid it in the first place).HOW TO RESPOND IN THIS (STICKY) SITUATION The most important thing you can do to address this situation is to respond back with the facts! Tell the person that you communicated with them in X way X amount of times. Explain that you book your services on a first come first serve basis and that you waited a certain amount of time (say two weeks) with an open contract and didn't hear from them. Reiterate that you moved onto a new client, apologize, but be firm in your stance that your services are highly sought after and it's not your fault that they had such a delay. TIPS FOR AVOIDING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTUREAlways set a deadline for when your contracts need to be signed, clearly communicate to your clients that if they don't sign by that date you will open the date back up to other inquiries. Especially important here with sought-after dates.Follow up 24 hours prior to the contract deadline. Alert the potential client that their deadline is approaching and a signature is necessary to make things official - documentation and proof are your friends here!Tie up loose ends. After the contract deadline has passed, follow up with the client and say that the contract signing period has lapsed. Therefore, you will open their date back up. Remind them that if they would like to book services or they choose another date, they will have to sign a contract at that time and your pricing is subject to change.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Tune into Episode 153 of The Legal Paige Podcast for more details about how to handle this sticky situation and avoid it in the future. You don't want to miss my BEST tip for motivating potential clients to sign ASAP toward the end of the episode.If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

After experiencing bank fraud pretty significantly at the end of January, I recorded this podcast episode to open up about my experience. One day I woke up, checked my bank account, and noticed a HUGE, and I mean HUGE fraudulent transaction from my bank account. Once I thought I had gotten it all figured out with my bank, we had more fraud hit another business bank account.  After having a bit of time to process and time pass, I am now ready to impart some of these lessons to you, and shed some light on how you can legally protect yourself, separate your bank accounts accordingly, keep your assets separate, and ultimately, why I HIGHLY suggest having an LLC or C corp.WHAT IS FRAUD? According to dictionary.com, fraud is deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.Wire fraud is the use of electronic communication with the intent to commit financial fraud. A scammer poses as a trusted source, usually a vendor, company, or family member, and requests an immediate wire transfer of funds. The fraudster will usually play up the urgent need for the funds, often claiming an emergency, as a way to emotionally manipulate the victims.Now why does this sticky situation matter to you as a business owner?  Because it can literally happen to ANYONE, including your friendly online attorney who's generally got her shiz together. HOW CAN YOU LEGALLY PROTECT YOURSELF?Generally speaking, try to use a card to pay for services. A credit card is honestly best because it's not tied to your bank account, but a debit card is fine as a second best option because you can hot card it and cancel it immediately and just get a new one. However, of course, the reality is that if you're an online business owner like me, you probably have 9823 million online platforms tied to your card for it to auto pay monthly. BUT, my big big big suggestion for you here is to stop paying by check for things and also try your hardest to avoid paying using your bank account number.*If you are using the same bank for personal and business purposes, get two different logins for your accounts! Stop storing your passwords on Google chrome or any other type of auto password generator. This is one of the easiest ways for a hacker to get access to your online accounts.Check your bank accounts daily, if not every other day (that's what the bank suggested to me).If you save passwords anywhere, save them in a highly encrypted, two-factor authentication password security program. We actually moved from Lastpass to Keeper because of this issue. And, I'm not going to lie, I've been talking with some cyber security gurus about what happened with me and they even said keeping a Rolodex or little notepad of your passwords is oftentimes LESS of a security risk than keeping them in an online platform. Hackers are getting more and more sophisticated and it's really something we all need to be better about. It's not IF it will happen to you, it's when.  MORE FROM THIS EPISODETune into Episode 152 and learn more about my experience with bank fraud including tips for protecting yourself, why you should separate your LLC accordingly, and more. Also, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

With Q4 wrapped up, and Q1 kicking off, it's time to hone in and think about not just our big goals for the year, but what it will take to reach those goals.The excitement of a new year can leave us almost with a squirrel-like brain! We are still in a bit of fog from the holidays, we have ideas coming and flowing to us and we think we need to jump on everything NOW! It doesn't help that we are seeing things on social media that are telling us not to wait, to jump in head first, and that we should be a certain point by now for Q1 to be successful. In part two of this podcast series, I want to take you on a journey of creating your roadmap of your goals and how this will set us on the right path to creating a rock solid foundation for the rest of the year. And like I mentioned, having this roadmap is really going to help curb the squirrel-like brain you may be feeling. Because as business owners, we are here to create lasting, sustainable growth and in order to do that you need to have a foundation that is as rock solid as the contract you send your clients. START WITH SMOOTH OPERATIONS + PROVISION I want you to imagine that you could snap your fingers or wiggle your nose and INSTANTLY achieve all of your goals! But hitting all your goals overnight would probably not be all good news. Usually we are not prepared for this type of growth overnight.  I want you to use this prompt as an exercise to uncover what you truly need to do to not only hit your goals, but to have a solid foundation in place to support them! What would go wrong? What would break? What other issues would this cause in your life / biz? This prompt will help you uncover the people, processes, systems, and tasks that are essential to your success. You could even say they are squirrel-proof!To give you an example, let's say one of the big goals you set was launching a course and enrolling over 100 students. If you enrolled those students right now, what would the onboarding look like? Would you even be able to send out that many contracts, accept that many payments, and actually be about to onboard everyone with customer service top of mind? Now I want you to break down all that needs to be done, so things don't go wrong. So sticky situations hopefully don't happen. What do you need to put in place now in Q1, what do you need to plug into Q2, and Q3 to make this a successful launch? Because odds are if you are launching something in 2023, all the prep work needs to be done long before Q4. It's important after we have set our roadmap for our big goals, to get clear on finding any leaks that could be exposed or amplified when achieving that goal. Again, as we go back to our road trip we are on for 2023, this would be making sure there is air in all 4 tires, that the windshield washer fluid is full, that you don't need an oil change any time soon. Sort of putting out the fires before they become fires. MORE FROM THIS EPISODETune into Episode 151 and learn more about setting a roadmap for 2023 including preparing your taxes, using contracts and insurance, and smooth operations. If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

With Q4 wrapped up, and Q1 kicking off, it's time to hone in and think about not just our big goals for the year, but what it will take to reach those goals.The excitement of a new year can leave us almost with a squirrel-like brain! We are still in a bit of fog from the holidays, we have ideas coming and flowing to us and we think we need to jump on everything NOW! It doesn't help that we are seeing things on social media that are telling us not to wait, to jump in head first, and that we should be a certain point by now for Q1 to be successful. In this two-part podcast series, I want to take you on a journey of creating your roadmap of your goals and how this will set us on the right path to creating a rock solid foundation for the rest of the year. And like I mentioned, having this roadmap is really going to help curb the squirrel-like brain you may be feeling where nuts are falling all around you (whether that be on social media, in your work email inbox, talking to your friends) and you want to munch on them all. But, that's not sustainable and its hard to know which ones work best. Because as business owners, we are here to create lasting, sustainable growth and in order to do that you need to have a plan and lay the proper groundwork for everything to be properly built on top of.WHY YOU SHOULD SET A GOALS ROADMAP During the first few weeks of the New Year, it's imperative for small businesses to set concrete goals for the upcoming year. Without gaining the clarity on what it is you want to achieve in 2023, and without connecting the dots…you are going to find yourself in the first sticky situation of the year- squirrel brain. If we go to the metaphor of our road trip, this is going to have you driving in circles all year, stuck in the everyday doing motion and it's going to take you off the path of your aligned dreams. Having a path is essential in every road trip. As you are setting these goals, I also encourage you to set milestones metrics with your new goals. These milestones help you and your team to identify the progress you are making and reassure you that you are on the right path! How much do you hope to be making by certain points in the year, if you are running launches and sales… How much revenue and students do you hope to bring in and enroll? And if you aren't sure what metrics to set, look at how well you did the previous year and what you want to grow by. This is going to give you a clear direction on where you need to go, and help prioritize what needs to be done next. Kind of like setting your GPS for your road trip knowing which turns to take and what highways to avoid. MORE FROM THIS EPISODETune into Episode 150 and learn more about setting a roadmap for 2023 including communicating about your goals, getting team members on the same page, and more! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

With the holidays quickly approaching, the week between Christmas and New Years can seem like the most hectic time for business owners. How  are we supposed to prepare for year end + focus on the new year all while trying to spend quality time with our family and create memories? It's easy to feel the pull, and the guilt of what we should be doing in our business-  frantically checking and refreshing emails- and what we should be doing with our family (aka lounging, snacking on delicious meals, and wondering what day of the week it is). In today's episode I am going to share why your business won't spontaneously combust if you take the week off between Christmas and New Years and some easy tips for setting boundaries during your down time. TIP #1: TURN YOUR OUT OF OFFICE ONWrite a cute little holiday message, and let your clients know when you will be back in the office. I promise you, there will be ZERO emergencies between now and then. By setting the boundary and letting your clients know should they email you– you're providing the customer service we all strive for. TIP #2: DON'T WORRY ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA . Plan a holiday post, and then delete the app for a bit. I promise NOT sharing your services, or ways to work with you is not going to make or break your business.  Likely your ideal clients are always going to be off social media and with their families as well. So save that hard hitting business post for 2023, where it's likely to gain the traction it deserves anyways!TIP #3: LOCK AWAY YOUR WORK COMPUTER I'm sure that course you bought over Black Friday is super enticing to do on this week off, but is it really time off? From experience, if you do try to tackle that business course, you likely aren't going to be putting the energy behind it that it deserves. Any action steps needed to take will likely slip off your to-do list. I recommend waiting until 2023 to tackle that project. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode 149 and hear my full  run-down on taking time off between the holidays! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

If we learned anything this past year, it's that things are ALWAYS changing. As an entrepreneur, it can be incredibly consuming to keep up with it all and to figure out what you should be implementing, marketing, and doing as a business owner when things shift on the daily. Not to mention– there isn't much extra time to give! Between working with clients, taking care of yourself, and spending time with loved ones…who has time to research the trends and predictions for 2023?  That's where this podcast episode comes in. In Episode 148 I did the research for you and am sharing the biggest trends we are going to see with business' next year. More From This EpisodePlain and simple, no one wants to be left in the dust while all the other businesses are adapting to what consumers want. Tune into Episode 148 for more details about each of these trends so that you can stay on top of your game plan for 2023.  And remember…as you are looking at how your small business can adopt these trends and others, always make sure you are legally legit!

At year's end a topic on every business owners' mind is: Have I fully maximized my deductions this year? We all want to lower the amount of money we owe to the government– but  sometimes it can be a little confusing as to what actually counts. In Episode 146 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I share what purchases you can send to the ‘write off people' (i.e. the IRS and your state government). Pro tip: Getting organized with your taxes + deductions BEFORE the holidays will set you up for success in 2023 and help you feel more prepared. With Black Friday next week, you can save on those write off expenses even more because everyone is having a sale. I always tell people waiting until the last minute (like Dec 30th or 31st) could cost you more when you could have gotten a steal over Black Friday if you were strategic about your tax deductions. Be proactive, think things through, and make wise decisions. Your tax-deduction purchases should benefit your business and contribute to your overall success. My accountant always says even though I could deduct that $1000 purchase, I could also not buy it and make 70% of the $1000 dollars. Sometimes keeping $700 of the $1000 is just a better financial decision. You're in business to make a profit.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: Tune into Episode 146 and learn:Office improvements that count as deductions. How to stock up on supplies + prepay expenses.Why legal contracts are a great tax write-off. How to write off bad business debts. Employee bonuses and gifts that count as deductions.And so much more! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

We've all been there before with a nightmare client, right? And if you're new to business and haven't had your share of stressful clients- it's probably a matter of when not if. Less-than-ideal clients are an expected part of business ownership; however, if you haven't legally protected yourself, the damage they do can go far beyond headaches. Sticky client situations can lead to loss of significant amounts of revenue and time as well as decrease your emotional well being and increase your stress with lawsuits. While I can't promise you a magic solution to prevent nightmare clients- I do have ways you can protect yourself before you ever find yourself working with them. In Episode 145, I go over the 4 clauses you should have in your contract to set you up for success within your client relationships (and ultimately help save you thousands in needless legal costs)! These clauses will protect you from legal action and provide you with an escape route for when things turn south. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Press play on Episode 145 and you'll learn:What is a Scope of Service ClauseWhat is a Limitations of Liability ClauseWhat is a Scope Creep Clause What is a Cancellation Clause The reason you should peek at TLP's a la carte clauses to bolster your contract.If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Have you been sitting there pondering what 2023 is going to look like?Maybe you're wondering how you can achieve more next year- reach more people, scale your business to new heights, and even start bringing in new revenue streams! We've seen entrepreneur after entrepreneur talk about adding passive income to their business and the various revenue streams that have catapulted them to success. But what ideas are actually going to work in 2023? After all, we've seen in the past 2+ years, we want to build businesses that can withstand it all. But sometimes the logistics of HOW to implement new revenue streams feel murky. Especially if you are a service provider feeling like the only way to grow your business is to trade more time for money. In part two of this two-part series, I am going to help you cut through all the noise we hear online and share the strategies I recommend the MOST. In this episode, I focus on 2 income streams that you can add to your existing business, especially ones that will help you make more while working less. By the end of this series, my goal is for you to feel ready to hit the ground running with your new (legally legit) revenue stream. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode 144 and listen as I dig into 2 more promising income streams for 2023. You'll learn:The benefits of turning your knowledge into an online course. How to legally protect your business when offering online courses. Why I love subscriptions and membership programs. The legal products your toolkit needs if you want to get into memberships.And so much more! If you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series HERE! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. We are gearing up for our biggest sale of the year in just a few short weeks and I don't want you to miss it. We're talking major discounts in our entire contract shop! Head over to tlpinsider.com to be the first to know when our sale goes live.

Have you been sitting there pondering what 2023 is going to look like?Maybe you're wondering how you can achieve more next year- reach more people, scale your business to new heights, and even start bringing in new revenue streams! We've seen entrepreneur after entrepreneur talk about adding passive income to their business and the various revenue streams that have catapulted them to success. But what ideas are actually going to work in 2023? After all we've seen in the past 2+ years, we want to build businesses that can withstand it all. But sometimes the logistics of HOW to implement new revenue streams feels murky. Especially if you are a service provider feeling like the only way to grow your business is to trade more time for money. In part one of this two part series, I am going to help you cut through all the noise we hear online and share the strategies I recommend the MOST. In this episode I focus on 3 income streams that you can add to your existing business, especially ones that will help you make more while working less. By the end of this series, my goal is for you to feel ready to hit the ground running with your new (legally legit) revenue stream. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode 143 and listen as I dig into 3 promising income streams for 2023. You'll learn:Easy digital product ideas that could boost your bottom line.How to legally protect your business when selling digital products online.Why I love affiliate marketing (and how much TLP brings in from our amazing affiliates).The legal products your toolkit needs if you want to get into affiliate marketing. And so much more! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series coming soon! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. We are gearing up for our biggest sale of the year in just a few short weeks and I don't want you to miss it. We're talking major discounts in our entire contract shop! Head over to tlpinsider.com to be the first to know when our sale goes live.

Do you find yourself wishing - DREAMING - of having more time? What would an extra 20 hours a month mean for you and your business? Let's face it, as entrepreneurs we wear SO MANY hats (especially in the first few years of business as we start to pave our own path). CEO, CFO, assistant, customer service rep, tech support, designer, social media manager, therapist, coach, visionary…the list goes on and on.All of the roles and responsibilities on our plate can really take a toll on us as people– but they also can take away from our craft. The more roles we take on, the more time we are away from doing what we actually love. Soon we can find ourselves wondering why we “followed our passion” when our jobs don't even resemble what we first started out to do. Over here at TLP when we are out of our zones of genius, we refer to them as ‘Frankenstein Roles', …these roles are TIME SUCKERS. When your  weeks are filled with Frankenstein Roles, it costs you: Time (In your business, away from your craft) Time (Outside your business, with your family, etc) Money (If you had those hours back to focus on areas that GROW the business) Sanity (When you are sucked into this kind of work, it drains you and leads to burnout a lot faster than when you are in flow doing what you love.) So how do you break free? The answer is simple: Hiring! I know hiring can sound like a big leap! (Where do I start? Who do I hire? What do I need in place before I bring someone onto my team)? In Episode 142, I'm pulling back the curtain to share with you the 4 best hires I made that saved me 20+ hours a month! If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. We are gearing up for our biggest sale of the year in just a few short weeks and I don't want you to miss it. We're talking major discounts in our entire contract shop! Head over to tlpinsider.com to be the first to know when our sale goes live.

Have you heard the exciting news?! The Legal Paige now has contracts available for Canadians! If you are a Canadian entrepreneur, TLP can now help you get legally legit. In this episode of The Legal Paige podcast, I introduce the attorney we brought on board to help make Canadian Contracts come to life. Courtney is a Canadian lawyer with a general practice based in rural Saskatchewan. The bulk of her work as a lawyer is focused on corporate law, real estate, and wills and estate administration. She is a wife, mother to a new baby born early this year, and lives on a mixed grain and cattle farm!The Canadian Catalog would NEVER have been able to happen without the help of our gal Courtney and I know you'll enjoy this episode as we dive into all the important differences between Canadian and US law. THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CANADIAN + US LEGAL SYSTEM There are a lot of similarities in the US and Canadian legal system– but the biggest difference between our two country's contracts lies in the boilerplate clauses. (Boilerplate clauses are those legal-language-heavy clauses that are found at the bottom of your contract). This is because the Canadian courts have been really clear about HOW they are going to interpret contract clauses when there is a dispute…so Canadians need to be especially careful with the wording to make sure the meaning is clear to everyone involved. Another huge difference between the two jurisdictions is the type of damages that will be awarded. Canadian courts rarely offer high rewards for damages in any case- whether that's a contract dispute or otherwise. The only way you'll see a high reward is if there was malicious conduct or highly reprehensible behavior (which is rare and hard to prove). Canadian courts DO often offer awards on cost to the winning party– if you go to trial with somebody in a contract dispute and you win, the other party might be ordered to pay your legal costs up to that point. If you're going all the way to trial you are spending upwards of $50,000 in legal fees so it's really important for Canadian business owners to be aware of that and to have their bases covered with strong legal contracts. MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode 141 listen as we dive deep into the nuances between Canadian and US law. You'll learn how Canadians should approach Website Terms and Conditions, the differences between copyright law (i.e. the surprising person that actually owns a photograph in Canada), how Canadians should register their businesses, employment laws to be aware of, how the Canadian Courts have handled Covid and service based contracts like ours, and Courtney's best tips for Canadian business owners. The Legal Paige is so excited to now have Canadian Contracts available in the shop! Courtney has been a major piece in getting our Canadian Catalog set up and is working through converting all of our TLP Products to living Canadian documents. The biggest takeaway I have for Canadian entrepreneurs- and really all entrepreneurs-  is that NOW is the time to get legally legit. Now is the time to get protected. Now is the time to not shove things under the rug to deal with on another day. Your contracts are so important for your business– they are living documents that shift and grow as your business changes and they set the tone in your working relationship with clients. We are gearing up for our biggest sale of the year in just a few short weeks and I don't want you to miss it. We're talking major discounts in our entire contract shop! Head over to tlpinsider.com to be the first to know when our sale goes live.

If you're a photographer you know how hard you work to get the perfect shot.    Between creating an ideal lighting scenario, mastering composition, choosing the correct lens, and ensuring your photo sessions run smoothly– you tell a story unlike any other. Many people don't understand the astronomical amount of post-processing work that happens before a client ever sees their final images (which makes it even more frustrating when someone uses your work for their advertising without consent or payment).   Situations like this pop up all the time in the photography industry. Maybe a venue uses your image on a magazine advertisement without paying for the rights to use it or you see a local dress shop using your images for their latest campaign. In fact, The TLP Facebook Community is filled with questions surrounding this exact topic so you are in good company if you've ever wondered, “How do I protect my images while also being generous with my work?”    The solution is quite simple…a licensing agreement can help!    Although vendors often work together, that does not mean you have to give your copyrighted work to vendors for free nor can your vendors automatically use your photos without consent. In Episode 140 of The Legal Paige Podcast I dig into the power of licensing agreements and how you can ultimately leverage them in your business.    DO PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP OVER THEIR IMAGES?    Before we dig into licensing agreements, let's address the legal heavy question on your mind: Do photographers have sole copyright ownership over their images?   The answer is YES! A hundred times over, yes.  (Under U.S. Law, The Copyright Act of 1976 and Title U.S.C. 17 to be exact).    Copyright protection exists the moment your work is created and fixed in a tangible form that can be seen either directly (in a physical form) or with the aid of a machine or device, such as a digital/film camera and computer.   This means you have copyright ownership over your photographs the moment your clients pose, say cheese, or make a funny face and your button is clicked.  With all this in mind remember this: vendors should NOT be using your photos without your permission, in fact NO ONE should be using your photos for commercial reasons without your permission. This is considered copyright infringement and it is against the law. To help protect yourself from infringement we recommend you make it known to every vendor that they can only use your photos if they license them from you first.   SHOULD YOU SHARE YOUR IMAGES WITH VENDORS FOR FREE?    It goes without saying, I am an attorney…not your marketing advisor. There are a wide array of opinions on this topic and some marketing experts might even encourage you to give away your photos with abandon in the name of growing your business.    As the little bird on your opposite shoulder, I always want you to consider the important, legal “what-ifs”. I don't discredit that sharing your photos with vendors can be a good marketing tactic. But, legally it means that you are freely giving licenses to use photos to vendors without signing an actual license agreement.  Some vendors could run with that freedom and do anything with your photos. Can you imagine seeing your photo on a huge billboard without any credit or compensation? That's the kind of risk you take…   MORE FROM THIS EPISODE    Tune into Episode 140 and learn the nitty gritty details about licensing agreements including the two types of licensing agreements you should consider, my take on if you should require your vendors to pay a fee when licensing, how to navigate sticky situations where the vendor's contract with the client says they can use your photos for free, and more!    If you only remember one thing from this episode it should be this: You have worked so hard on your business and your photographs are literally your bread and butter. You are not required to give away your hard-earned work for free and it is a smart business move to present your vendors with a licensing agreement. TLP's Non-Exclusive Licensing Agreement and Exclusive Licensing Agreement will easily help you protect yourself from infringement and sticky legal situations with vendors today!    If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

When it comes to the Covid-19 pandemic, we've come a long way since March 2020. National shutdowns and event restrictions are seemingly over (knock on wood) and many business owners are wondering whether they still need to address Covid-19 within their contracts.   The short answer? Yes.    The Covid-19 virus is still an issue, people are getting sick with new variants, and the CDC has kept quarantine measures in place for those that test positive. By no means is Covid-19 obsolete – but it also looks a lot different than it did three years ago. Many people are vaccinated, stores and businesses are fully open, events are happening on schedule, and the scary part of the pandemic seems to be behind us. With all that in mind, it's important to review your business' Covid-19 policies and adjust them to align with the times.   In Episode 139 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I stay at the forefront of the pandemic and share my legal perspective on how to keep your business legit and protected with the ever-changing nature of Covid-19. It has been a long three years since this virus appeared and it's important to adapt your policies to protect yourself and your assets as the world adapts to the new normal. Covid-19 is here to stay but that doesn't mean you should be losing money or compromising your policies indefinitely. Here are a few important things to consider:    COVID-19 POSTPONEMENT + CANCELLATION CLAUSES  ARE A THING OF THE PAST    At the beginning of the pandemic, many entrepreneurs added our Covid-19 Postponement & Cancellation Clause to their contract. From March-December 2020, that was100% appropriate as new clients were trying to book and wanted a little ‘pressure release' on rescheduling in case of issues with hosting their wedding/event due to Covid.    Now, as Covid-19 has become a permanent fixture in today's world, entrepreneurs have to make hard business rules surrounding their rescheduling and cancellation policies. More and more people in the event and wedding industry are NOT allowing clients to reschedule or cancel anymore due to Covid-19. This is because if clients are choosing to plan an event right now, they are accepting the risk that Covid poses and choose voluntarily to proceed with those planning risks. Not to mention, if you are willing to block out dates on your calendar and say no to other clients; you cannot afford to allow unending reschedules or cancellations forever.     Ultimately, it makes sense for business owners to no longer give this “pressure release valve” or “open-ended rescheduling opportunity” to their clients. In fact, this is what I recommend as we move into the foreseeable future. AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COVID-19 AND NO RESCHEDULING CLAUSE IS THE WAY TO GO MOVING FORWARD    The Acknowledgement of Covid-19 and No Rescheduling Clause is a resource that still deserves a spot in your contract. This clause will help you communicate to your clients that you DON'T allow rescheduling due to Covid and that you have business policies in place that will apply if they try to change their date due to fear of Covid (i.e. rescheduling fees should apply!)    This clause also outlines that you will continue to perform your services for their wedding/event as long as you are legally able to do so (aka as long as there isn't a stay-at-home order in place, you contract Covid, or you have been deemed a “close contact” with someone who tested positive and is supposed to quarantine for the health and safety of others). Thus, as long as you can operate your business and do what you are contracted to do for your clients, you will continue to do so and maintain the utmost safety and health precautions.    Furthermore, if your clients contract Covid, you will want to explain in this type of clause what type of policy is in place should that occur. Usually, here, it would be similar to if you tested positive and a one-time reschedule would occur. This would quite literally be the only exception to your strict rescheduling fee policy. All to say, since Covid-19 is still around it makes sense to have your clients continue to acknowledge what will happen if you or they test positive a few days before or the week of the event.    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE   Tune into Episode 139 of The Legal Paige Podcast and learn more about:   How to stay legally protected now that Covid-19 is here to stay. My take on the necessity of Covid Liability Waivers. The CORE protection clauses that should always be in your contract.   If you want more helpful business advice as you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.

Truth be told, social media hashtag strategies are becoming more complex by the day. The algorithms change on a dime and even seasoned business owners feel like they take one step forward and two steps back. Not to mention shadowbanning (where you can use one wrong hashtag that leaves you in the dark for an extended period of time) OR all the legal implications of using brand hashtags and potential copyright infringement.   It can be tempting to crawl into a metaphorical hole and never touch social media again, but as a business owner it's smart to have some sort of online presence. With all its ups and downs, social media can help you reach people who may not have found you otherwise and that is worth its weight in gold. In Episode #138 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I break down one of the main legal dangers on social media: Using brand hashtags! Knowledge is power and by being aware of the potential pitfalls, you can navigate social media with more confidence and ease.     This episode was inspired by a question we received in The Legal Paige Facebook Community regarding Minted's terms and conditions for using their hashtags. Basically, if you use certain hashtags like #sharemyminted or #mintedartist with a photo online then Minted claims you have essentially agreed to let them do whatever they want with the photo ( including share, reproduce, create derivative works of art from your photo without any compensation). Press play for my take on this situation as well as more tips on using brand hashtags without causing a lawsuit.    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS + HASHTAGS    The first thing you should note is that a company may have intellectual property rights to their hashtags. Hashtags have become an integral part of selling products- especially on Facebook and Instagram- and courts are starting to address them in terms of intellectual property. Companies use hashtags during marketing campaigns and it reasonably follows that they want to monitor hashtag usage and prevent competitors from using it.    Can one company monopolize a hashtag? The answer is yes!    The United States Patent and Trademark Office gave some guidance regarding the protectability and registration of hashtags: “A mark comprising of or including the hash symbol (#) or the term ‘hashtag' is registerable as a trademark of service only if it functions as an identifier of the source of the applicant's goods or services.”   Hashtag trademarks that have been successfully registered as such in the United States include: #smilewithacoke and #cokecanpics (The Coca-Cola Company), #McDstories (McDonalds), and #makeitcount (Nike). Some hashtags that have been denied registribilty by the USPTO are #worldtravelor ( for a travel site), or  #friendsgiving ( for charitable fundraising services).  The distinction here is that the trademark was too broad. If you are going to trademark a brand hashtag it must identify your brand.    Although the USPTO has recognized the right to protect your brands hashtags, courts have been a bit split on the issue.  A federal court in California ruled that hashtags are merely descriptive devices, not trademarks in and of themselves but in an eastern Louisiana court, hashtags were recognized as being  relevant to a trademark claim. Although technology moves fast, court decisions do not and we may not get a uniform decision on this issue for many years.   SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT USE BRAND HASHTAGS?    Plain and simple: Brand Hashtags can be protected through trademark registration.   The good news is if you're already using a brand hashtag that is making waves throughout social media you could be able to prevent competitors from stealing it through trademark registration.    The bad news is that if you are sharing hashtagged content on social media and use a competitor's brand hashtag you could be met with a cease and desist letter.  The important thing to note here is that you should research the heck out of a hashtag before using it for your brand.    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE   Tune into Episode #138 of The Legal Paige Podcast and learn more about brand hashtags, whether brands can repurpose works of art that use their brand hashtags without consent, the three types of consent that companies use to get consent from their users, the importance of trademark registration, and my advice for navigating brand hashtags the legally legit way.    If you want more helpful business advice like you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. Who knows, maybe we will even turn one of your questions into a whole podcast episode like this one. 

Boudoir Photography is a beautiful way for people to celebrate their bodies, reconnect with themselves, and boost their confidence. There's something downright empowering about (tastefully) baring it all- especially for women who are busy juggling all the roles and rarely have time to get in touch with their inner selves. On Episode #137 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I sat down with Emily Sacco of Emily Sacco Boudoir to dive into all the beauty (and bummers) of running a luxury boudoir photography business.  Every photography business has its challenges, but with boudoir you enter into particularly intimate territory with unique legal liabilities. Emily and I's conversation will help you bolster your own boudoir photography business so you can move forward with confidence (and continue igniting confidence in the clients you serve).    MEET EMILY SACCO   Emily Sacco is a strong working mom who owns a high-end boudoir photography business, Emily Sacco Boudoir. In her line of work, she sees countless women who struggle with feeling sexy and confident. That's why Emily is so passionate about helping women feel their best. She's helped countless women unlock their inner beauty and confidence and is excited to share her knowledge with the listeners of our podcast. Emily's real-life experience with running a business focused on empowering women makes her the perfect person to speak to this topic.   She truly believes that every woman is beautiful and deserves to feel confident in her own skin, and she is excited to share her knowledge with fellow photographers of the Legal Paige Podcast. Whether you're a photographer who's a working mom like Emily, or simply looking for advice on up leveling your photography skills, Emily's insights are sure to help, inspire, and empower you in your own business.    THE SIMPLEST WAY TO  PROTECT YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS    There are numerous ways to protect your boudoir photography business and a Cancellation and Rescheduling Clause is on the TOP of our list. Boudoir sessions are a luxury service that are prone to cancellations. If a client has to choose between repairing their broken down car or the boudoir shoot they booked a few months ago- the photoshoot will likely be the first thing to go. Similarly, boudoir sessions are intimate and personal which can leave many people with cold feet as their scheduled time draws near. Emily even overbooks by 2-3 sessions each month because it's basically industry standard to receive that many cancellations and reschedules.   All that being said, a Cancellation Clause and Rescheduling Clause is a must if you are a boudoir photographer as they outline the policies and additional fees you will uphold if a client does choose to cancel or reschedule. Being proactive and addressing these situations at the beginning of your client relationship will ultimately save your bottom line and give you peace of mind.    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE    Press play on Episode #137 and you'll hear more of Emily's must have contract clauses, why she doesn't recommend allowing anyone else into a boudoir shoot (even BFFS), her expert opinion on things like cell phones, locations, alcoholic beverages, and hair + makeup during boudoir shoots, how you should approach model releases with boudoir photography, and how to navigate sticky situations that might arise in this line of work. If you are a boudoir photographer, this episode is a must-listen and will leave you with practical advice on how to run a more legally legit and thriving business. Need a solid contract to add to your legal toolkit?   Shop The Boudoir Contract, Today →

Imagine this: A wedding photographer booked a couple earlier this year. As the countdown grew closer to the big day, the monkeypox outbreak spread across the country, public health emergencies were declared, and the client spirals into a downright panic. The photographer opens up their email to find their client trying to get out of their contract due to the “national emergency”. Despite the photographers' best customer service skills, the couple keeps persisting and states that the situation is Force Majeure- they can't continue the event as planned and need to cancel ASAP. What should the photographer do? Do they have to cancel the event, refund the client, and take a huge loss? What legal leg do the clients actually have to stand on and ultimately…when IS a national public health emergency a valid cause for cancellation?    Recently, The Legal Paige Facebook Community has been getting TONS of questions regarding cancellations, public health emergencies, and monkeypox (cue horrific flashbacks to 2020). As an attorney, I can assure you that not every situation is a Force Majeure event (even if your client tries to say it is). This podcast episode will shed light on how to navigate public health emergencies, what constitutes a real Force Majeure event, and the tools you need to have in your legal toolkit to navigate situations like monkeypox moving forward (Covid-19 PTSD not included).    PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES + MONKEYPOX    A Public Health Emergency is declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services when they have determined a disease that may be of public concern. Most Public Health Emergencies have an expiration of 90 days but can be extended if the Secretary feels appropriate. When a Public Health Emergency is declared it opens up more funding for vaccinations, a quicker response time, and additional resources (i.e. it fast tracks the issue).    On August 4th, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency. Monkeypox is defined by the CDC as “a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal.”    If Monkeypox is a rare disease and is rarely fatal you are probably wondering why the White House decided to declare it a Public Health Emergency. In the last few weeks the US has seen a significant uptick in cases that has caused some concern. At the time of recording, there were 7,510 cases in the United States with numbers on the rise. There is a vaccination for Monkeypox called JYNNEOS, but there is a limited supply which is causing a shortage in hospitals and pharmacies.  By declaring Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency the Biden Administration put the disease in the #1 line for funding and it prioritized the production of the JYNNEOS vaccine.    WHAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES AS A FORCE MAJEURE EVENT?    During the beginning stages of the Covid-10 pandemic, many clients were able to cancel their contracts for their events by enacting the Force Majeure Clause. They were able to do this because it was unforeseeable, unpredictable, and the contractual obligations were impossible to perform (those three things have to be true to be able to enact Force Majeure). With clients beginning to invoke Force Majeure again for the latest public health crisis, it's important to note that Monkeypox does not qualify as a Force Majeure event. In fact, MOST Public Health Emergencies don't. Force Majeure was created for out of the blue, “acts of god” like tornadoes,  hurricanes, wildfires, terrorism, war– events that no one could have imagined or anticipated. The beginning of Covid-19 qualified as Force Maejure because the world was unpredictably shut down. Nobody could leave their house. There was an inability for contracts to be executed. Even if your clients wanted to continue with their wedding in say April of 2020, they literally could not due to the shutdowns across the United States.    That ‘impossibility of performance' we saw with Covid-19  is what you need to keep in mind when new public health emergencies pop up. .Is it impossible for you to perform your contractual obligations because of the emergency? If so, you could probably enforce Force Majeure. If you CAN perform your obligations then you are just in general cancellation territory.    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE   Press play on Episode #136 to learn more about Force Majeure events, how to navigate public health emergencies with clients, the protection clauses you absolutely need to have in your contract, and more! If you haven't stocked your legal toolkit with a solid cancellation agreement, now is a great time to set yourself up for success.  The Legal Paige team and I are always watching things unfold in the news, so if monkeypox or any other public health emergencies take a wild turn for the worse…we will be updating you and helping you handle any sticky situations. Finally, remember our FREE Facebook Community is a great, go-to resource for industry professionals.

Imagine this: You've come up with a genius business idea and are 100% certain that it is THE next big thing. After much debate you brainstorm a name that is bound to go viral and quickly dig into bringing it all to life. You buy a website domain, grab the social media handle, and are well on your merry way to entrepreneurial success when you find out…someone else has your business name. *Cue sad trombone*   Do you throw a tantrum? Contact the person and cause a scene? Look at trademarking the name before they can? Or is it time to relinquish  your favorite business name (even though it makes you feel like your great idea is crumbling to the ground)?   In Episode #135 of The Legal Paie Podcast, I walk you through what you can and cannot do when it comes to using the same business name as someone else. Choosing a name for your business is important, expensive, and often an emotional process so it's worth understanding how to navigate these sticky situations.   HOW TO PICK A BUSINESS NAME   When you are first starting out, it's important to make sure you are not using the same business name as someone else in your industry. If you are in the wedding and event industry in the Northeast and find a plumber with the same business name in the Southwest- don't worry about changing your name. Legally speaking, you are probably okay because the likelihood of confusing the two brands is slim to none. On the other hand, if you own a business that sells tees and tanks and you want to use a name that a coffee shop is currently using- be careful! If that shop also sells branded t-shirts, you'll want to consider a different name because they tangentially sell a clothing item in a similar realm to your business.   While some situations are more nuanced, others will automatically result in a Cease and Desist letter (with a gut-punch fine). ‘Apple', ‘Spanx', ‘Disney', ‘Vogue' - these are big enough companies that you should never mess with their name unless you want to get sued. They are federally trademarked, have in-house lawyers, and keep tabs on who may be infringing on their mark. Not worth it.    So how DO you safely pick a business name? Research research research!    Search for the name on Google. Search your name with keywords for your business and goods. If you find a company with your same name, look to see what goods they sell, or what they offer customers. Ask yourself if there is a chance they could ever sell what you are offering as a natural expansion to their business. If so, it's time to pursue other options.  Search for the name in your State Business Registry + State Trademark Registry. If you find a match, do some digging and find out what the other business is, whether it's still active and where it is located.  Search for the name in the United States Patent and Trademark office. This is where things might get a bit complicated because the USPTO is a little hard to navigate and you may end up missing a business that has your name. If you are really concerned about your business name, a trademark attorney may be your best bet at finding out whether someone is using your name.    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE    Press play on Episode #135 and you'll learn more tips on how to pick your business name, steps you can take to KEEP your business name, why trademarking is usually a good idea, and how to address disputes regarding your business name should they arise. If you are in the process of establishing your business or choosing a name, this episode is a MUST listen and will set you up for success. If you want more helpful business advice like you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.  Lastly- if this episode has inspired you to protect your brand, you're in luck! I created a guide,  "Legally Protecting Your Brand and Trademarking Guide" to explain the legalities of protecting your brand including copyrighting, trademarking, Non-Disclosure Agreements, contracts, and designing a unique logo. I also walk you through a very detailed step-by-step tutorial of how to search the United States Patent and Trademark Office trademark database and how to register your trademark application on the TEAS platform. (That alone is worth over $1500 if you were to hire an attorney to do it for you).   Grab The Trademark Guide, Here! → https://thelegalpaige.com/products/legally-protecting-your-brand-and-trademarking-guide?_pos=3&_sid=2dbba5098&_ss=r

Is your dream job ‘travel influencer'? I don't blame you! There's something magical about the thought of traveling to the world's most beautiful destinations, snapping awe-inspiring photos, and sharing your experiences with tens of thousands of fans.   As with any career, there are laws and regulations in place even in the influencing space that you should be aware of before you pack your suitcase. In fact, a travel influencer was sued this spring for saying she was the first woman to travel to every country online (along with many other issues).    In this episode, Lauren Wolfe joins me to dig into this lawsuit, explain what happened, and go over why influencers need to be compliant when it comes to posting on social media.    MEET LAUREN WOLFE    Lauren Wolfe is Counsel at Travelers United, a consumer advocacy group focused on travel based in Washington, DC. When not doing consumer advocacy work, Lauren loves travel, running marathons very slowly and biking around town. She's been to over 100 countries and hopes to one day visit them all. As Counsel for Travelers United, Lauren brought the first non-profit case against an influencer for deceptive advertising and she's also the lead - and only - attorney against an army of corporate attorneys in Travelers United's suit against MGM Resorts International and their use of hotel resort fees.    Be sure to follow along with Lauren + the good work she is doing with Travelers United:   Instagram: @wolfetravellaw Website: Travelers United  Facebook: Travelers United  THE 3 BIG ISSUES WITH TRAVEL INFLUENCING TODAY    When researching this case, Lauren found there are three big issues with travel influencing today. 1) Lack of clarity about what is a sponsored post. 2) Reviews by travel influencers that are not marked as paid reviews and  3) False biographical info to make themselves seem cooler to get more fans. The influencer that was sued had all three issues along with making up sponsorships she didn't actually have. When it comes to the legal side of  influencer marketing, problems arise when influencers start promoting products, putting up affiliate links for products, or directly selling to consumers via social media or their own website and they make false claims while selling those goods.   MORE FROM THIS EPISODE    Press play on Episode #134  and you'll hear the nitty gritty of the lawsuit, Lauren's advice for influencers to make sure they are staying within FTC guidelines, why influencers need to be aware of their individual state's regulations, what rules international influencers need to follow with audiences that span the globe, and much more! If you want more helpful business advice like you'll hear on the podcast, be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. 

In Episode #133 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I connected with wedding planner pro- Brandee Gaar- to dig into the legal, sticky situations that are common in the wedding planning industry (especially with inflation driving up costs), how to navigate destination weddings without hurting your bottom line, must-have clauses all wedding planners should have in their contracts, how to ensure you still get paid even if your client cancels last-minute, and so much more!  If you are a wedding planner (seasoned OR brand new), Brandee is a treasure trove of knowledge and this episode will set you on the fast track to a more legally legit, sustainable, and luxurious business.     MEET BRANDEE GAAR    Brandee is a luxury Event Planner, Thought Leader, Educational Speaker and Host of The Wedding Pro CEO Podcast. As a lifelong lover of all things events, Brandee spent 7 years as a corporate event planner with the prestigious Gaylord Hotels brand before opening her own event consulting firm. Blush by Brandee Gaar and Eleven Events by Blush have quickly become known for their over the top events and high touch standard of customer service.    Brandee is passionate about teaching new and aspiring entrepreneurs her exact strategies in growing two 6-figure businesses. She provides expert tools for those who are ready to make their side hustle into a full time passion.  Her goal is to help new businesses beat the statistics by starting with a success-minded focus!    WANT A PROFITABLE WEDDING PLANNING BIZ? READ THIS    In the age that we're living in with pricing going all over the place, Brandee shared that one of the most IMPORTANT things wedding planners can do is be in touch with your industry! Stay in communication with your vendors & get a grip on what they are dealing with so you fully understand any price increases that might arise. For your clients, one of the biggest benefits to using a wedding planner is your advice and expertise. They are hiring you because you have a pulse on the industry, know what is happening, and can be a great negotiator for both sides.    Advocate well for your partners and advocate well for your clients so that you can come to a beneficial, win-win agreement. With happy parties on both sides, your business will naturally grow.  MORE FROM THIS EPISODE Press play on Episode #133 and you'll learn:   How to avoid the legal, sticky situations that are common in the wedding planning industry (especially with inflation driving up costs).  Must-have clauses ALL wedding planners should have in their legal contracts.  How to ensure you still get paid even if your client cancels last-minute.  The reason “production schedules” will save you from getting burned as a wedding planner.  The differences between “day-of coordination” and “full-service planning” and how to make sure you don't get in over your head.    You'll QUICKLY find from listening to Brandee's experiences that it's important to have a legally legit foundation backing you when you run a wedding planning business. With The Legal Paige's Wedding Contract, you'll be covered for any situation. Included is a communication clause that will ensure you are contacted only during your office hours (so no late-night texts with brides), your day-of hours of coverage is set-in-stone and that any additional hours will be invoiced at your hourly rate, all of your duties as a coordinator are explained and signed off on (including what you will NOT be doing), your client's responsibilities such as paying their own vendors and vendor cancellations, time limits on modifications and changes to the overall wedding theme, your travel expenses, use of wedding images from the photographer, and more!    Shop The Wedding Planning Contract!    FOLLOW ALONG WITH BRANDEE   Instagram Facebook Community Website

It's that time of year again: WEDDING SEASON! If you're a wedding photographer, you are right in the thick of busy weekends, back-and-forth communication, and a big editing queue. It's beautiful. It's exhausting. And emotions are high.   So what do you do when emotions are a little bit too high? In this episode, I tackle the topic of the indecisive (and unhappy) client.   FRAMING THE SITUATION    One year ago your clients (both spouses!) signed your wedding photography contract and you had them list out all the shots they wanted for their big day.    Fast forward to their wedding and kids are running everywhere, family isn't anywhere to be found, and the bride just wants to get photos done because they are running behind schedule.    You pull out that family photo list they created 60 days prior and—because people are not where they are supposed to be—your client tells you to skip a few shots and that “it really isn't a big deal”. You do your best to persuade them to get all the photos on your list, but they insists on moving on.    Sound familiar? It's par for the course in wedding photography…   On gallery delivery day they are upset because they wish they would have had that cousin shot they originally asked for. Even worse, they demand a refund because they claim you did not deliver what was in the poses list. What are you supposed to do?!   YOU WIN MORE BEES WITH HONEY    You always want to handle this kind of situation with kindness. It's important to try to retain the relationship (and hopefully get some good reviews). With that being said, there are steps you can take to be kind AND protect your own business from situations like this- namely, having a strong contract!   MORE FROM THIS EPISODE   Tune into Episode #132  and learn the exact clauses you need to have in your contract to protect you from this scenario, what I would personally say to a couple in this situation, an offer you may want to consider giving your couple when you miss shots on their wedding day, and what you can do if the bride absolutely insists on a refund. Photographers, press play on this one! And if you're craving even more community? Be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Group where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business. 

In Episode #131 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I went solo to chat about growing a legal (and enticing) associate photography program. As a former photographer myself, I have a special place in my heart for all my camera-slingin' friends who want to grow a sustainable business. IMO, associates are a great place to start because they allow your business to be in multiple places at once WITHOUT adding more to your calendar. Whether you are new to the entrepreneurship game or a seasoned vet, this episode is going to be extremely helpful in growing your associate program.    WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATE?   Associates are usually Independent Contractors who are hired by you to represent your business. They can either work alongside you or in place of you (but most end up actually filling the shoes you can't be in because you are already somewhere else). Although they are commonly talked about in the photography industry, associate programs are a great model to use for many businesses! For example, let's say you are a hairstylist: You've built up your business doing weddings and events but you really want to ditch working weekends + focus your energy on managing and growing your salon. By hiring associates to do weddings and events FOR your brand, that stream of income will remain intact while you focus on higher-level, CEO duties.   It's a win/win, right?   Beyond the obvious benefits of having your brand in multiple places at once, hiring associates is also a GREAT way to dip your toes into growing your team without hiring dedicated employees. You'll be able to delegate, build your business, learn your leadership style, and scale your revenue without the cumbersome details that hiring employees can bring.    In the photography + videography industry, most associates already have an established business and foundation of skills for you to draw from. They LOVE the art of shooting but aren't quite ready to handle all the marketing, workflows, branding, SOPs, client communication, and sales of their own business. An associate program gives them the opportunity to work for someone, gain valuable experience in the industry, and do what they love without all the backend work.    HOW TO MAKE YOUR ASSOCIATE PROGRAM LEGAL    You may be sitting there thinking, “I've tried to hire an associate in the past, but it was NOT a good experience.” or “My friend just told me a horror story about the associate she recently had to fire!”    As with any business endeavor, there are definitely risks to starting an associate program but the benefits can be truly worth it! It's important to make sure you are protected and have your legal bases covered from the VERY beginning of your professional relationship with a new associate. Specifically, you should use an Associate Contract that lays out the duties of the associate, their pay, travel reimbursement, and all your expectations for them. Aside from those kinds of clauses, your contract should also have several non-negotiable clauses that I thoroughly cover in this episode.     MORE FROM THIS EPISODE    Press play on Episode #131 and find out:    The must-haves your associates need before they join your team. Signs that your business is ready to bring on associates.  How adding an Associate Program could increase your bottom line.  4 clauses that should be inside EVERY Associate Contract.  My secret for securing associates that WANT to refer your business + work for you long-term.  How to ensure your associates actually complete their obligations. Remember! Before you jump ahead and start implementing your new associate program- it's important to have a legally legit foundation backing you. Should any legal sticky situation arise with your associate program you want to make sure you are protected. That's why having a strong contract in place is super important and needs to be one of the first steps you take.   Check out our line of Associate Contracts, HERE!

In Episode #130 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I sat down with family photographer and educator, Jodi Lynn Buckles of Jodi Lynn Photography.  Jodi Lynn and I had a wonderful discussion about the business side of family photography- an area that can feel overwhelming when your heart beats for capturing connection (not figuring out how to book out your calendar or avoid customer service issues). We chatted about the legal clauses you should have in your family photography contract, sticky situations you want to avoid when having families as your main clientele, pricing your family photography competitively and how to upsell to your clients without feeling icky. It's a must-listen episode if you are pursuing family photography and I know you'll leave feeling inspired by Jodi Lynn's knack for meeting other artists on their journey and helping them find their unique voice.   MEET JODI LYNN    Jodi Lynn is a Mother to four precious souls, wife to a loving mountain man, daughter, Emotive Family + Motherhood Photographer and Mentor in beautiful Sonoma County, California, soon to be North Idaho. She is passionate about creating living poetry with her imagery and nothing fills her heart more than producing meaningful art that truly tells unique, tangible stories of connection, beauty, and truth. Photography has been a way for her to foster and share love with others and to be genuine with her craft. Seeing that true human connection and significance in her work, and with those whom she teaches, makes her heart sing. She hopes to inspire others to do some soul searching and to find their true why. Jodi mentors other Photographers in creating the business of their dreams, setting them up for success, supporting them in attracting their ideal client, providing excellent client communication and a true experience. All while producing meaningful work that is representative of the unique, heartfelt stories we tell.    Be sure to follow along with Jodi Lynn + all the meaning and connection she offers through her work:  Instagram: @jodilynnphotography  Website: www.jodi-lynnphotography.com  Facebook: Jodi Lynn Photography    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE   Tune into Episode #130 and you'll get answers to some of your top family photography business questions: “What are some of the things you WISH you had in your family photography contract when you first started?”  “What should family photographers do when clients ask for photos 1-2 years after their shoot?”  “How do you price your family sessions competitively in the market but also clients that are in love with your work + vision?”  “How has your family session pricing evolved throughout the years and how do you upsell without feeling salesy?”   “What is one piece of hard won advice you have to offer family photographers?”  Press play for a jam-packed and inspiring episode that will set your family photography business on the path to success! Want more helpful photography business content like this? Be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Community where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.    Ready to ensure your family photography business is legally legit? Shop our Maternity + Newborn Photography Collection filled with lawyer-drafted, easy-to-use legal products that cover the sticky situations you might encounter as a family photographer. 

In Episode #129 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I sat down with beauty biz strategist, Tiyana Robinson, to uncover the legal woes in the solopreneur beauty industry + draw upon her entrepreneurial expertise. (Spoiler alert: She is a treasure trove of amazing advice!) Many beauty professionals come from a traditional cosmetology school background or are self-taught artists that turned their passion into a lucrative side hustle. As every creative entrepreneur knows- sometimes the BUSINESS side of running a business is overwhelming and Tiyana does such a great job of simplifying what it takes to run a freelance beauty business “like a mogul”.   MEET TIYANA ROBINSON   Tiyana is an award-winning Washington DC-based Professional Makeup Artist and Founder of Beauty Mogul University, where she teaches Makeup Artists and Solo Beauty Pros how to diversify their income, create money on-demand, and launch their digital beauty businesses by offering online classes, courses and digital + physical products so they can make money beyond their chair. She has been featured in Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur.com, Essence Magazine, and in 2020 she was included in The Root's “Glow-Up 50”- an annual celebration of the black tastemakers, trendsetters, and innovators elevating the world of style- in the same category as Rihanna (yup, she's pretty cool).      As a Beauty Mogul Coach, she's helped HUNDREDS of solo beauty pros double or triple their rates, grow their business to six figures, launch their own signature beauty products, level up their branding + stand out in their city, and become the go-to local beauty superstar for the signature service they provide.   Be sure to follow along with Tiyana + all the beauty she brings to the world!    Instagram: @tiyanarobinsonbeauty  Websites: tiytaughtme.com, beautyfunnelacademy.com  Facebook: Makeup Mogul Official    MORE FROM THIS EPISODE  Tune into Episode #129 and you'll get answers to your burning HMUA questions like, “How do I navigate the dichotomy between my client's wishes and my personal style?” “What clauses do I need to have in my HMUA contract from the get go?”, “What should you charge for a retainer fee when every group size varies?”, and “What should every new beauty professional know as they enter into entrepreneurship?” This one is a must-listen for all my HMUA friends- and if you're craving even more community in the world of beauty? Be sure to join The Legal Paige Facebook Group where thousands of entrepreneurs just like you are getting real-time answers about running a professionally and legally legit business.   The Legal Paige Shownotes

In Episode #128 of The Legal Paige Podcast I'm covering the questions that most small business owners have about CONTRACTS! Do you need a contract? Will a contract really be beneficial to your business? Can you use one contract for a variety of purposes or do you need to purchase different types of contracts for each service? Tune in and I'll share how contracts will *actually* change your business and whether you can use one template contract for all your needs!   The Legal Paige Shownotes   Episode Highlights I am covering questions that most small business owners have about contracts! I am sharing my legal answer on if you can use one contract for a variety of purposes.  Why a contract will be extremely beneficial and change your business! How adding any legal document to your toolkit as a new business owner should be step #1.  And so much more!   Worth Noting "Having a contract for your business can prevent stress, money, problems, lawsuits, legal debacle, extreme confrontations... You name it. Having that contract in place can be the difference between thriving or failing. You don't go into business with the intention of failing. So why would you put yourself in that position without a proper contract in place for your clients to sign?" - Paige's advice on why having contracts can be the difference in your business.   "Many people think that like a long lengthy contract is scary and it's going to like scare off your clients. And I have heard the exact opposite from TLP customers. They're booking higher end clients, their highest packages because their contracts are so thorough and are two-sided and have roles and rights and responsibilities of all parties." - Paige on why a contract isn't going to scare potential clients away, but actually bring you high-end clients.    "Here at TLP we offer what's called à la carte clauses. They are clauses that can be added into your existing contract if you feel like your contract needs it. They are written from the perspective of a lawyer who knows how to write contracts and who knows how to properly wordsmith legal language to be in very understandable. Some of these clauses are things such as COVID clauses, because we realized every business has different policies. And depending on how you run your business, your morals and your ethics, you can choose a clause that best suits your practices." - Paige's take on why certain clauses aren't included in template contracts     TLP Resources: Become a TLP Insider   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

In Episode #127 of the podcast, I discuss Contract Cancellations and how to best go about them with clients (whether its because your clients want or need to cancel, or you're needing to cancel for some reason). Obviously this issue is a touchy subject because no one ever intends to enter into a contract to terminate it before all parties have completed their performance. Also, sometimes cancelling can lead to bad tastes in clients mouths, yucky feelings all around, and bad reviews (which is the worst case scenario). So we want to talk to you about how to handle these situations from a legal perspective, also with the utmost customer service, so that you can drastically reduce your risk of getting into more trouble later down the road.    The Legal Paige Shownotes   Episode Highlights How to handle cancellations from a legal perspective. Why customer service is still extremely important during these types of situations. How you can drastically reduce your risk of getting into more trouble later on down the road. Which legal documents you are going to want to add to your legal toolkit going forward. And so much more!     Worth Noting "If you're absolutely just done with the client and you can't work with them anymore. You need to give them a full refund, including their entire retainer. You also need to try to have them sign a cancellation agreement. This is in particular because the cancellation agreement has a couple of clauses in it that I'm going to talk about in a little bit, that will save you, hopefully from any type of like defamatory statements or reviews online." - Paige on what to do when you are canceling the contract as the service provider.    "In your cancellation clause, you need to have a notice of provision. That the client needs to cancel within X amount of days, or they forfeit all payments and the retainer. Then we also recommend that you make your retainer non-refundable so that if there is a cancellation by the client, you at least get the retainer for your services." - Paige's advice on what to have in your cancellation contract should the client want to cancel.   "No matter if you're the one canceling or your clients are canceling, you always want to make sure you try to get your clients to sign a cancellation agreement. I do not believe just an email is sufficient. It's a good starting point, but I want you to try to get them to sign terms related to how you both are deciding to cancel and terminate the contract. Also a cancellation agreement, always supersedes any written or oral agreements between you and the client, and it releases you of any further obligations to your client." - Paige's advice on why sending a cancellation agreement is important.     TLP Resources: Become a TLP Insider   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop     Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

In Episode #126 of the podcast, I discuss the clauses members of The Legal Paige Community WISHED they would have put in their contract. The truth is, there are certain clauses you should always have in your contract because they can save you a world of headaches + legal troubles- in this episode, you'll hear my list of must-haves as well as insight from our community on clauses they regret not having. If you don't take it from me, take it from them! The Legal Paige Shownotes Episode Highlights My list of must-haves when it comes to clauses that will save you a world of headaches and legal troubles. Insight from the TLP community and clauses they have regret on not having in their contracts. Clauses to help when sticky legal situation happen like; breakdown in communication, you or the client chooses to cancel, when someone asks you to do something illegal, etc.  And so much more! Worth Noting "Obviously parties can absolutely cancel a contract. So in your cancellation clauses, you need to have cancellation by the client and then cancellation by you as the company. You have to allow that to occur usually within a contract and you need to have clauses regarding what happens if those things occur." - Paige on cancellation clauses in your contracts.  "If you are a type of professional whereby you work with clients for an extended period of time you need to have a harassment clause. This doesn't just have to be in person. And I want to be clear here, harassment can occur in a multitude of ways. So it's good to have a harassment clause, even if say like you're a website designer. And you just have something extremely weird happened during a client call and there's like something that happens. That is where harassment clause really protects you in those situations." - Paige's advice on harassment clauses in contracts and when you need one. "A scope of services is essential to any contract. It gives a very clear picture of what you will provide to your clients when you provide a scope of services within your invoice or within the very top clause of your contract for many service providers. This is clause numero UNO. There's no guesswork for your clients in regards to what you will be providing for the amount that they are paying you. And if there is a breakdown of communication between you or your clients, or you are going beyond the scope of services. You can always refer them back to these bullet points of the scope of services." - Paige's advice on why a scope of services is so important to include with your contract. TLP Resources: The Legal Paige's Protection Clause Bundle Become a TLP Insider Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

In Episode #125 of The Legal Paige Podcast, I chat with Adam Mason- a Washington D.C. based wedding photographer, mentor, and host of the Bearded Tog Podcast- about the #1 easiest way to avoid legal troubles with your clients (hint: it's NOT contracts). As photographers continue to book sessions for the rest of 2022 and 2023, it's so important to focus on avoiding legal troubles and putting customer service first. Adam has NEVER experienced any major legal debacles because he has mastered the art of customer service.   Tune in to learn... The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes Episode Highlights Why customer service should be one of your TOP priorities as a savvy business owner (and how focusing on customer service has changed Adam's business for the better). The onboarding process and customer service touchpoints Adam includes in his business to ensure his clients are taken care of + delighted with their experience. What to do when you just can't seem to make a client happy (no matter how great your communication or streamlined your process). And so much more! Worth Noting "The goal is to get to that phone call, and then on the phone treat them as if they're new. I'm not treating them as me the salesperson.I just want to talk about wedding stuff. What they need, and what they don't need. One of my lines, I always say on the phone too, is that like, I'm more of a pragmatist, not a salesman. I don't want to sell them anything they don't need. I want to be intentional and have impact on what they're looking for. And make sure that they're stress-free." - Adam's advice on calls with clients and not being the salesperson.   "My big thing and it's our company value... is set the tone. Because if I don't set the tone, and again this goes back to relationships. If you don't set the tone, someone else will. If you don't love them, feed them, care for them, honor them, respect them. Someone else will, if you don't set the tone. That's where the knot.com comes in and says, this is what your photographers should be doing. This is where their bridesmaid comes in and say, this is what your photographers should be. I don't want that to happen. " - Adam's advice on setting the tone for customer relationships "You can present a boundary. If you're in a healthy relationship with these clients, most of them will just know your boundaries by you setting them. You won't even have to bring it up. And if these folks want to go past a boundary or abusing those boundaries, again, we go back to a relationship. That's an abusive relationship and we've got to cut bait. We've got to get out of there. And then you just try and find the most amicable way to do that."- Adam's advice on setting boundaries while still presenting great customer service.   Adam Mason: Follow Adam On Instagram Follow Adam On Facebook Visit His Website   TLP Resources: Do You Need A Model Release - Blog Post Become a TLP Insider Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

Business owner, are you dealing with a massive rise in costs of supplies and goods? Is it leaving you looking at current contracts, budgets, and amounts wondering how your business is going to survive?   Maybe you've routinely practiced in your mind how you would tell your clients that the price has to increase... Only to immediately shy away from the conversation because you're not sure how to legally adjust pricing. Here's the thing inflation is predictable. It happens year after year, and as a business owner should be upping your packages and prices to reflect that.   But what many, many, many service providers are dealing with right now is the unforeseen massive spikes in cost of goods due to inflation, political happenings around the world. Which have been impacting cost beyond our control. We're also still dealing with COVID reschedules from 2020 and 2021, and those clients probably had your old 2019 or early 2020 pricing. So what's a business owner to do right now in our current situation? In this episode, I'm going to break down what clause you need to add to your contract, and how to correctly modify your existing contracts through addendums. The Legal Paige Shownotes   Episode Highlights   The clause you need to add to your contracts to help reflect current inflation that is costing your business.  How to communicate this clause with your current clients through addendums, and putting customer service first and top of mind. How to adequately prepare for the increase in cost of goods and how, and when you should impute costs on your client or bear the cost yourself. Why at TLP we suggest not increasing the amount you charge for travel in contracts, but mainly increasing amounts surrounding wholesale goods.     Worth Noting   "I want you to have a clause in your contract on the ability to adjust pricing for customers. You need to be clear that you will only adjust pricing on costs of goods, not on gas, not on incidentals, so on and so forth. I hope you're catching my drift here. Be very clear in this clause and language in your contract. Be clear that you will notify them of changes to their original price quoted at least, 30 days in advance, 60 days in advance, etc. So that you can adequately place your order for the goods in advance, and so that your clients have the right to make modifications to their order." - Paige's advice on adjusting pricing on costs of goods in contracts.   "The US inflation rate right now has accelerated to 7.58%, which is the highest since 1982. That's something you could say to your clients. If they're rescheduled clients, inform them of other pricing adjustments you've made to your packages and that they've not been charged for those. Explaing how clients who booked you at the end of 2020 into 2021, we're charged this amount so that they can see your just up-charging them a little bit. But that they are still getting a great deal compared to other clients that have booked recently." - Paige's advice explaining to current clients your reasoning for having to increase certain prices within the contract   "Be ready for your client to say no and be okay with that answer. As a party to the original contract, you have to realize that your client has a right to say no to future changes. But, also that if your client has the right to say no, then you can cancel the contract yourself."- Paige's advice on providing customer service first, but understanding either party can say no.     TLP Resources: Purchase the TLP Adjusting Price Clause Purchase TLP's Contract Addendum & Amendments for General Purposes   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

Don't do it! Over here at TLP we don't recommend changing your contract language, it's there for a specific reason. Except in limited circumstances, which I am going to share with you because at one point or another any our journey as a business owner you will run into these situations.    This is a tough subject to navigate on your own, which is why I am giving you my legal advice if you were my client emailing me this very question. First thing I want you remember is don't panic... TLP is here to help. The Legal Paige Shownotes Episode Highlights What you should and shouldn't be taking out of your contract (I.E. nothing if possible).  How to read the room and figure out if; a) your client has lawyered up, and b) if you should seek out an attorney in your hometown as well.  My tips to still oblige your client but also to hold your ground, and not delete anything that could hurt you down the road.  Red flags to look our for in this situation as you navigate customer service, and deciding if this is even the client you should be working with. Why clauses that deal with things like harassment, inclement of weather, safe working environment, and service specific clauses should never be removed.    Worth Noting "I want you to remember that good customer service does not equate to changing your contract. Don't let yourself fall into that trap. It's actually quite the opposite. If you let your clients dictate your working relationship with contract modifications before they even book you and they're finagling you into modifying some of your policies. Now, I think that's a huge, huge orange or red flag for them being challenging clients in the future. Now I say orange or red, because I think you'll know. You'll know after a couple of back and forth of communicating with this particular client or clients." - Paige's advice on customer service and changing your contract.   "For photographers, this would be like your delivery of images, clause, your editing clause, posing artistic style, reproduction clause, etc. For wedding planners, it's going to be, you know, like planning calls, how many trips you'll do back and forth from the venue, mood boards, when the client can or cannot change the theme or style of their wedding, you're catching my drift here. These are the specific clauses related to your business that you would never budge on." - Paige's advice on service specific clauses that should never be removed from a contract. "If your client is reaching out to you saying, we're not going to agree to this indemnification clause, you can indemnify yourself for your own negligence, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. They are probably reading that clause wrong and didn't read it as only pertaining to third-party claims. So maybe just first point that out to them."- Paige's advice when a client doesn't agree to the Idemnification clause in your contract, and how to provide excellent customer service in this situation.    Join TLP Insiders and Get Exclusive Access To All The Top-Notch Resources TLP Has to Offer Become a TLP Insider     Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop     Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community  

We are discussing one of my favorite topics both business wise and legal wise: growing your team. And, specifically, this episode is for photographers or wedding industry professionals who are building out an associate team. Which is why I wanted to have Grace Troutman on the podcast! Grace is a photographer, but also a business coach! Grace Troutman is a Midwest based wedding photographer and business educator. She also is the head of the Grace T Photo Team, and has a team of 3 associates who shoot under her brand. She started shooting about 6 years ago and has traveled to places including Iceland, Ireland, Hawaii, Colorado, California, and Oregon to shoot sessions and weddings. Grace lived in California when she was first starting her business, but Iowa called her home and she was determined to live a life of travel while still being close to family and friends. She is a wife and a mom to her 3 year old daughter and expecting their second addition in early July.   The Legal Paige Shownotes   Episode Highlights Loaning equipment versus renting out your equipment to your associate photographers. How to legally build your associate photography team, and some legal contracts you are going to want to have in your legal toolkit. What legality insurance you will need as you build your team. Grace's tips for becoming a mentor and leader to your associate team.  What to do when it's time to start building your associate team, and how to deal with team members during the process.   Worth Noting "I would say if you're thinking about hiring teammates and building a brand of associate photographers working under you. You need to start that process now, only because it does take a little bit. You can't just hire someone on and be like, okay, let's start booking. You have to touch on training as well as a few other things before they get started." - Grace's advice on when to start building your associate team.  "This is where I preach outsourcing, because you have to have the main checkpoint of where all of the images go through. So what happens after my associates get done shooting a wedding, they do not touch the images. They do not scroll through them. They do not do anything else. They hand the cards over, I go through everything and make sure everything's there. Then what I do is I have an editor that edits everything." - Grace's advice on keeping the editing style the same with an associate team. "If you can keep your team local, I would honestly recommend that. But if you do have people flying for your weddings, you need to take a look at your contract, especially with your associate on. You have to think, what are they covering? What are you covering? Are all their meals like taking care of like, do you have to cover all of that stuff? Because then obviously your packages need to increase because you still need to profit. They still need to profit it. Especially if you're taking on all of those expenses."- Grace's advice for keeping your associate team local   Grace Troutman's Instagram Grace Troutman's Instagram   Grace Troutman's Facebook Community Grace Troutman's Facebook Community Grace Troutman's Website Grace Troutman's Website   The Legal Paige's Associate Photography Resources The Legal Paige's Associate Photography Resources   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

I thought it was time that I gave all of you service-based business owners a COVID update.   This is a tough subject to talk about because, I feel like it's unending and we're all a little bit sick of it. But it's no secret that there are various popping up left and right. The threat of COVID is still here and is probably unfortunately here to stay. With that means more questions from clients.  The Legal Paige Shownotes   Episode Highlights What changed from previous TLP updates regarding COVID and contracts. An in-depth look at the newest supreme court decision regarding the vaccine mandate for businesses. A brief synopsis on what is OSHA.  COVID concerns your clients may have and how to best address them while still being legally legit.  My answer to common questions getting asked from various service-based business owners. Including rescheduling fees, variants, pushback from clients regarding clauses in relation to COVID, and more.    Worth Noting "First of all if you have used our covid addendums where it specifically stated a rescheduling deadline, and the bride let it lapse. Then you have no obligation to reschedule them or return their paid fee. Do not let these attorneys bully you. The addendum is not in our opinion an adhesion contract but even if it was it is enforceable in court. It is completely in your right to plant your feet in the mud and let thier attorney try to convince a Judge in small claims court that this contract addendum is invalid. Of course this is not legal advice as we are not your lawyer but we are just letting you know that this is something you can do." - Paige's advice on rescheduling deadlines.   "Since our last update we have also been introduced with a new variant Omicron. From what I am seeing and hearing this strain is looking less aggressive than Delta. And may be the sign of the beginning of the end for this virus. Even if that proves to be untrue we always want to hope right? With that being said we are still seeing events being postponed and many events still have COVID restrictions. So for now keep those clauses in even if you never need to use them. It is better to be prepared for the worst scenario with a lifesaver than without. " - Paige's advice if COVID clauses still need to be in contracts.  "A reasonable rescheduling fee can be anything from $100 to 30% of your fee. Here is how I look at this, you are giving them the benefit of rescheduling, and  really anything under 30% will be more than reasonable in the eyes of a judge and hopefully a client. Where It may seem unreasonable in the eyes of a judge or even the client is if you go over that 50% mark. At that point it might be better to not allow rescheduling and ask for a new contract and retainer. This is a completely fine way of doing it! It's your company you get to make the rules."- Paige's advice when it comes to reasonable rescheduling fees.   The Legal Paige's COVID Resources The Legal Paige's COVID Resource Roundup   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

If you're ready to file an LLC yourself and take the DIY approach, I want you to know as much as possible to help you prepare to file. A Limited Liability Company (or an LLC), provides very similar protections as a corporation. But LLCs are easier, and much cheaper to form and run. It's a way for business owners to protect themselves from personal liability. It separates the personal liability from the business liability.     The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes     Episode Highlights An in-depth look on how to really start filing for your LLC, and why it's important to familiarize yourself with your home state's filing process.  What is a name reservation, and why it's very different from a trademark registration which is a different form of protection. What is an effective date, and what to choose if you want to be an LLC right away.  A breakdown of what is registered agent, and what you could do if you're not comfortable leaving your home address listed. Why different states may have larger filing fees, but I don't want this to deter you from filing. Because the benefits of forming an LLC outweigh the filing fee.    Worth Noting "You don't want your business assets and liabilities co-mingled with your personal assets. We've worked hard to create a savings account, 401ks, build a home for ourselves, and we don't want those to be interrupted or be at risk with the business that we're creating. Which is why an LLC essentially creates this entire bubble around your business." - Paige on why forming an LLC and keeping your assets separate is important.  "You can't have a PO box here where your LLC receives official mail. So oftentimes business owners just choose to simply put themselves as registered agents and then they list their home physical address. Remember, this is public information, your LLC registration lives in a public area that people can search and access. So if you're not comfortable providing your home address for privacy reasons, you're going to need to find another registered agent in your home. And that is really easy to do." - Paige on what is registered agent. "Keep in mind that being an LLC owner has benefits, including being able to write off many, many business expenses. So keeping your funds separate allows you to keep track of expenses easier, which will ultimately help you write off more during tax season. Your accountant will thank you for this. You will thank yourself for this at the end of the year, when you have this business bank account all set up. Not only is it absolutely mandatory and necessary, legally speaking to keep your LLC actually an LLC, but it's also great for keeping track of your finance." - Paige on why you need a business bank account.   Purchase The Legal Paige's DIY LLC Guides:  The Legal Paige's DIY LLC Registration Guides   Read More About Manager-Managed LLCs Versus Member-Managed LLCs Read The Legal Paige's Manager-Managed LLCs Versus Member-Managed LLCs Blog Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop: The Legal Paige Shop Join Our Free Facebook Community: The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

Adventure Elopement Photography has seen an explosion post pandemic, and really since 2020. More intimate weddings were on the rise, people opted for smaller weddings opposed to the bigger events we traditionally saw. This brought on a whole layer of legal situations that needed to be addressed. Nina Larsen Reed is joining us today, to really break down those sticky situations and how to best protect your Adventure Elopement Photography business Nina Larsen Reed is a Colorado-based elopement photographer and hiker chick. She grew up on a tiny island in Norway, moved to Boulder in 2010, fell in love with the sunny Rocky Mountains (and her now-husband), and never looked back. Now a mom to a baby girl, Nina specializes in tiny elopements close to home.     The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes     Episode Highlights: An in-depth look on what to do when you show up to national park, only to find it's your clients and 20+ of their closest friends.  Why guest count is so important when you are visiting national parks.  Nina's take as an experienced photographer why permits are put in place in National parks.  Increased responsibility and planning that has occurred post pandemic. Tips for protecting your business, as the industry continues to grow.   Worth Noting: "No one reads a contract, as frustrating as that is. If people are just excited to book and they scroll to the bottom when they sign and say that's fine. So there are other places where people can put that type of education too, such as location guides, even before that in the questionnaire. I have my couples fill out before that, so I can make them a location guide. And I cover questions like, do you want ceremony decor?"- Nina Larsen Reed on Location Guides and Contracts.    "The number one thing I want you to know, is that people should be charging at least as much as they would for a traditional wedding. If not more, because if this episode has not driven home how much work is involved with this beyond showing up and taking photos." - Nina Larsen Reed on What To Charge.    "If they show up with more people than what they have told me in advance, and that is against the rules of location, I will leave and they will not get a refund. They will not get any photos. I think the more clear you can make that, the more seriously people will take it. Because no one wants to show up and find out that they paid a lot of money for a wedding photographer who will walk away and not give them a single photo." - Nina Larsen Reed on Handling Guest Counts That Exceed Location Rules.   Purchase The Adventure Elopement Contract:  The Legal Paige's Adventure Elopement Contract     Follow Nina:  Nina Larsen Reed's Instagram Nina Larsen Reed's Website Nina Larsen Reed's Facebook Page   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop: The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community: The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

What's the difference between 1099-MISC, 1099-K, and 1099-NEC Forms? Let's clear the confusion and understand what exactly each of these forms is needed and used for with the help of Brittney Suttle!   Brittney is an Indianapolis-based CPA, founder of Knies & Co, a virtual CPA firm, and Prosper Simply, an online financial course catalog for business owners. She joins us on The Legal Paige Podcast to talk all about 1099s. If you have questions regarding getting your 1099s prepared and ready for January, including updated tax laws, and the new $600 threshold for 1099Ks, this episode is for you.  Brittney's mission is to make money more approachable for women, and she passionately works to help female entrepreneurs get more out of their business (& life) through great money management & simple systems.    Episode Highlights: How to properly prepare your 1099s and have them ready in January. A full in-depth explanation on the different 1099s, including 1099-K's, NECs, and MISC.  Who needs to be sent a 1099, and who doesn't.  Updated tax laws, including how 1099s now work with third party payment processors like PayPal, Venmo, etc.  And Brittney's course that's going DIYing your 1099s so much easier!  The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes     Worth Noting: "A 1099-NEC stands for non-employee compensation and this is a newer form. So think back to two years ago, this form didn't exist. This for is really for your independent contractors, anyone who is providing a service for your business, they will get a 1099-NEC. For a majority of you listening, that's probably the form you are going to stick to."- Brittney Suttle on the definition of a 1099-NEC form.    "A 1099K is not something you are going to have to file, but it might be something you receive. 1099 Ks are forms that third-party payment processors, which has visa like credit cards, American express, Venmo, Cash App, etc. Those processors have to send 1099Ks, for amounts paid to people for business income., So you don't have to fill out 1099 Ks, but you may receive it if you get paid above the limit that is set by the IRS via those third-party processors."- Brittney Suttle on 1099Ks and when you will likely receive them and why.    "If you send a 1099 to someone that you shouldn't have, that's signaling to the IRS that they made more than they actually did. Again, this could cause a lot of headache for them because the IRS is going to come back and say we are applying this much more in taxes, fees, and penalties and all of this because you under-reported income. So if you catch that someone sent you a incorrect 1099, or you as the sender figure out that it was incorrectly sent or there's a mistake. You can always file a corrected form that will then get sent to the IRS, you also you provide it to the client and then it will get taken care of." - Brittney Suttle, explaining what happens if you get sent an incorrect 1099 form or you sent out a form with a mistake.   Learn More About 1099s and The Legal Paige's Resources Page:  The Legal Paige's 1099 Resources     Follow Brittney:  Brittney Suttle's Instagram Kines & Co's Website Prosper Simply's Online Course Catalogue - Including Her 1099 Course   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop: The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community: The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

Taking time off is easier said than done, am I right?! I love my business. You love your business. We've poured our hearts and souls into them. Oftentimes though, we're so scared to take a vacation because we feel like things just can't run without us. Even though, as entrepreneurs, we actually need time to unplug. Taking that break is going to do us all a lot of good as the creative CEO of our business.   Episode Highlights: How you can plan to actually take time off in 2022 Why it's so important to actually put this time in your calendars and fully disconnect As the business owner and CEO this is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and business (besides getting legally legit courtesy of The Legal Paige) The difference between working vacations and personal vacation, and why you need both (I am a huge fan of scheduling both in my calendar) Why I am giving you full permission to take time off over during the holidays    The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes   Worth Noting: "I want you to plan one long weekend a quarter, if not one long weekend a month, that's like the ultimate goal in my opinion. But if you are feeling a little bit of pressure, that you can't take that much time off from your business. You really need the income, and you need to continue working on your business. I get that! You might be at a different place than others in their own entrepreneurial journey and that's ok."   "As you're strategically taking time off as a business owner, I also want you to think about seasons of business. So if you are in the wedding industry, for example, taking time off in the middle of a wedding season might not be the best idea. Taking long weekends is a really good idea or long periods of time during the week. Right? Because, we all work on the weekends in the wedding industry. Taking an actual Monday through Thursday as time off would be beneficial to you, but you are probably not going to be taking big trips during those times and taking weeks off at a time."   "As a business owner, the memories that you create, the personal experiences, and rest and relaxation are filling up your cup. When you take time off it's priceless, you can't put a price on that. I want you to have that in your life. You need work-life balance, you need vacations, and you need time. So just do it right now, and plan at least one to two in the next six months. We can't pour from an empty cup period."   The Legal Paige's Free Passive Income Guide:  How To Set Up Your Biz For A Profitable & Legal Passive Income Stream   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop: The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community: Join The Legal Paige's Facebook Community

Hope Taylor is a senior portrait and wedding photographer serving both Charleston and Savannah joins us on The Legal Paige Podcast. If you are ready to get organized for Q1, or every quarter for that matter, this episode is for you! Hope began her business at 16 years old and decided as a senior in high school to pursue her business full time, instead of going to college. Eight years later, she teaches photographers and small business owners how to grow their business quickly and strategically. I knew she was the expert to have on the show!   Episode Highlights: How to plan for Q1 the right way Hope's go-to resources to help make quarterly and yearly planning more fun Why planning is going to really help you see both seasons of your life (busy in business, and busy in your personal life) and help you integrate them together  The ROI planning is always going to give you in life and business And Hope's entire process from start to finish when she is sitting down to plan   The Legal Paige Podcast Shownotes   Follow Hope:  Hope Taylor's Instagram Hope Taylor's Website Hope Taylor's YouTube Channel   Quarterly Planning Calendars Hope Uses:  Kat Schmoyer's Printable Calendars   Find Contracts & Clauses in The Legal Paige Shop: The Legal Paige Shop   Join Our Free Facebook Community: Join The Legal Paige's Facebook Community