Hi, so I shoot sporting events mainly MLS games. However, I am not being paid for it. It’s more of a get you foot in the door type thing
So if I travel let’s say 6-7 hours and spend the night at an hotel. Can I write those things off?
I do other paid photography events like weddings etc.
It sounds to me like you’re building a portfolio and making contacts in order to develop a future line of business. If so, then yes it’s deductible from other lines of business. Is it good business to travel all of that way? That’s for you to decide, but as long as the expenses are reasonable the IRS won’t question them. You are expected to show an overall profit eventually. (This is what my CPA told me.)