Hey y’all, it’s Cole Connor—and I was put here to do three things: create, inspire, and love. And today, I’m breaking down my Q1 2025 Income Report, because while it’s not all about the money… the money is a powerful tool to bring our dreams to life.
Let’s get into it.
💰 My Highest-Earning Quarter Ever
Q1 is usually the slowest quarter of the year, but somehow… this one was my biggest ever.
Here’s the breakdown:
- January: $9,556
- February: $8,041
- March: $17,554 (😱 my highest-earning month ever)
- Total Q1: $35,151
That averages out to $11,837 per month. If I kept that pace all year, I’d be looking at $142,000 in 2025—compared to $104,000 in 2024. That’s a 27% increase… which is wild.
🏡 Where the Money Came From
As always, most of my income came from real estate photography and videography. But I’m also growing a few other income streams:
- Real Estate Photo/Video: $33,390
- Acting: $850
- Etsy: $667
- Shopify: $23
- YouTube: $199
- Skillshare: $51
It might not look like much yet, but seeing those digital income streams grow is honestly beautiful. Whether it’s presets, consultations, or just someone watching my videos—thank you.
🎯 What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m honestly proud to have hit $17K in one month doing what I love.
Years ago, I hit $15K in South Carolina—but that was with a whole team. This was just me, grinding it out in Los Angeles. And while LA is more expensive, you can also make way more if you know how to hustle.
And trust me, I’ve been close to $0 in my bank account more than once in the past six months. But I didn’t give up. I didn’t go get a job. I kept working—and it’s paying off.
😬 Dumbest Thing I Spent Money On
Straws.
Yes, straws.
Let me explain.
I wanted new straws and somehow bought three different sets that were either too big, too short, or just straight-up toddler straws. I finally found some that work… but I might have lost my mind a little in the process.
⚠️ The Riskiest Move I Made
I took out another Square loan, which always feels a bit risky. Square gives you loans based on your sales and takes a percentage of future sales to pay it back. I like the security blanket it gives me when my income varies so much—from $5K to $17K in a month is a big gap.
I also invested about $1,000 in new gear, which is always a calculated risk but felt necessary.
✨ Favorite Client Moment
This quarter, I started building real relationships with clients—being myself, and creating that true connection. That’s what I’ve always wanted from this business. It feels real, and it feels like mine.
🧠 How I Can Do Better
- Slow down.
Even when I know how quickly I can shoot, sometimes clients feel rushed—and I don’t want that. - Be more present.
Ask more questions. Connect with the people I work with beyond the job.
🔮 What’s Next for Q2?
I truly don’t know how Q2 will go—it could be slow, or it could be slammed.
But I’m shifting toward half-day and full-day shoots with boutique agents, interior designers, and architects. I want to spend more time creating luxury-level content for clients who value it—and are willing to pay $1,500+ per shoot.
Also: I might upgrade more gear. Or I might just chill on spending for a while. We’ll see.
💬 On a Personal Note…
These past four months have been tough emotionally—but I’m feeling good again. I’ve been brainstorming like crazy, working on my niche (or my lack of one), and using tools like ChatGPT to get clear on where I’m going.
I’m learning to stop holding on to things that hold me back. I’ve got to be more disciplined, manage my focus, and keep growing.
🏋️♂️ Fitness & Acting
I’ve been working on losing weight—I’ve hovered around 185–188 but my goal is 175. I also might jump back into acting in Q2 or Q3. We’ll see when the time is right.
🙏 Final Thoughts
If you’re still here reading, I appreciate you more than you know. I’m close to hitting 4,000 subscribers on YouTube, and this journey wouldn’t be possible without you.
Let’s see what Q2 has in store.
Stay creative, stay inspired, and stay loving.
– Cole
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