9 Ways To Save Time In Your Photography Business
Freelance photography is an exciting venture, presenting endless possibilities. You can call the shots, balance your analytical and creative side, and help businesses shine with awesome snaps. But being a pro photographer can sometimes feel like a never-ending hustle.
Between those tight deadlines, the constant email replies, and what feels like hours lost in the Photoshop vortex, it’s easy to wonder if you’ll ever be ready for your next gig. But worry less! You can utilize these nine super time-saving tips for your photography business.
These tips will make you fall in love with your photography business all over again! Image Credit: Shamblen Studios
Focus your services
Like every business owner, it is tempting to try and offer everything. However, spreading yourself thin by offering everything from product photography to pet pics and boudoir shots may cause you to lose precious time. It is okay if your creativity knows no bounds, but narrowing your niche to just one thing, like product photography, can save you much time in the long haul. Plus, it will help you focus on what clients want and how to nail it.
2. Create packages
After pinpointing your specialty, it’s time to work smarter, not harder. Create slick packages for your clients, like Gold, Diamond, Platinum, or Basic. Not only does this make their life easier, but it’s also a time-saver on your end. No more back-and-forth emails trying to figure out what your clients need. They will let you know which package they need and also communicate if they want extra services.
Create concise packages that your potential client can easily choose from. Image Credit: Shamblen Studios
3. Automate as much as possible
Photography goes beyond just taking pictures. There’s marketing, contracts, and invoices, not forgetting the many other admin tasks. That is where automation can come in handy. You can create email templates and get automation tools to handle your contracts and invoices. And for social media, plan ahead with a scheduler like Hootsuite or Facebook’s scheduler. This step means less manual work and more time for what you love.
4. Get organized
Being organized is all about getting your gear ready, making traffic plans, and getting ahead of your digital chaos. But you probably know this is not that simple if you have ever had a mini heart attack trying to locate a spare battery on the morning of a shoot or found yourself in a traffic jam, praying for a time machine. Here’s the inside scoop: organization is crucial. Keep your gear in one convenient spot, take a peek at your route ahead of time, and you’ll leave no room for surprises. And for those countless photos, you can explore online for smart moves to help you master your digital asset game.
Organization is key! Image Credit: Shamblen Studios
5. Gear up and know your equipment
Your equipment can impact your photography game more than you’d imagine. After all, what is the point of investing in high-tech gear if you can't get the most out of it?
The night before your big shoot is no time to give that brand-new 85mm lens a whirl. You want to acquaint yourself with your gear well in advance. Get handsy with it, test it out, and figure out all its little quirks. That way, when the big day arrives, you’ll master the equipment, knowing which tools to grab and what they can do. And speaking of cool gear, don't forget about drones.
Top-notch gadgets like the DJI M3D can zip around, covering vast areas in no time. They’re perfect for scoping out locations, grabbing epic time-lapse shots, or capturing those sprawling events.
6. Don't skip the checklist
Even seasoned pro photographers sometimes have brain hiccups, and it is easy to overlook or forget something. It happens to the best of us and can seriously mess up your photo day vibe. Please keep your thoughts in order by making a snappy checklist of all your must-haves and do it the night before. You’ll catch those sneaky details like a battery begging for a charge. Your future self will thank you when you’re all packed and ready to roll.
7. Maximize your focus with tasks batching
Task batching is all about working smarter, not harder. Mastering this step helps ensure you’re always organized and reduces the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. So, dedicate specific chunks of your day to one thing at a time. Instead of juggling emails, Photoshop, photo edits, calls, and invoices all at once, give them their own time to shine. Picture this: a marketing hour, an editing hour, a communication hour, you name it. It’s like having your own mini-knight unit for each task, and you’ll get them done faster because your brain won't be pushed into overdrive.
Deconstruct your tasks into their own special time so you can give them the attention they deserve. Image Credit: Shamblen Studios
8. Reinvent your go-to gear
This simple photography hack can be a real game-changer. When you’re snapping similar stuff day in and day out, you’ll notice some items can shine solo while others crave a bit of prop magic. Think about it; pop that elegant necklace on a smooth pebble for extra glitter. If you photograph a wooden spoon, add an extra touch by throwing a bright tea towel in the mix, and you’ve got some serious context. You can use these same props repeatedly without losing your creative mojo. Plus, it’s a serious time-saver because no one’s got hours to spare shopping for props every time. So, jot them down on your checklist, and you’ll be prepped for future shoots like a pro.
Don’t be afraid to branch outside your comfort zone and experiment with your prop collection. Image Credit: Shamblen Studios
9. Learn on the go
If you are always on the move, you have some prime for learning. You can line up some podcasts to learn serious photography, business, and marketing wisdom while on the road. However, this doesn't mean following every podcast and absorbing every episode. You want to save time and not waste it. There’s so much info overload that you could end up getting nothing to put into action. So, it would be best to trim your podcast playlist down to the essentials. When you press the brakes or hit pause, you can jot down the golden nuggets you want to remember and use. Also, you want to set up your podcast app or YouTube to autoplay if you are driving. Safety first!
There you have it! Would love to hear how these tips helped you in the comments below.
