Most photographers that I know love what they do. The art, the relationships, the creativity – it’s so fulfilling, right? Unfortunately, there’s so much more to running a successful photography business than the ‘fun’ parts. When I ask photographers about the thing they hate the most about their businesses it is hands-down the behind-the-scenes tasks, (you know, the essentials that actually make your business run). Some of these business tasks include:
Marketing
Invoicing
Emails
Client Follow-up
Editing
Posting to social media…
(The list could go on… but you get the idea!)
As a photographer who has been in business for over a decade, I’ve spent YEARS working on these behind-the-scenes tasks. I can say that I also did not like spending my time on the ‘boring’ back-end stuff… until I discovered a secret:
When your behind-the-scenes tasks are streamlined, they are no longer stressful. They actually give me more consistent income, less stress, and more time to do what matters most to me.
So, how the heck do you streamline your photography business for success?
Here’s my advice:
- Take an inventory of your business. Ask yourself some questions including what’s taking most of my time? What do I dislike about running a business? If I could press the ‘easy button’ and have a business that felt joyful and easy, what would it look like?
- When you have your (honest) inventory, it’s time to look at your current systems. What processes do you use for each part of your photography business? I recommend looking at your client communication, invoicing process, marketing strategy, and how you run your sessions. Are there areas where your stress is the highest? If the answer is yes, that usually means your systems and processes in that area need to be streamlined. (Now it’s time to get creative!!)
- Now the fun part – simplify, streamline and delegate. This step may sound daunting, but it’s essential if you want to streamline your business! In order to feel more at ease in your photography business, you’ve got to spend some time making it work for you. If you have no idea where to start, I recommend hiring an expert to help you simplify your systems or delegate the tasks that you genuinely do not enjoy doing. I know the cost can be a barrier upfront but remember: if you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will get the same result. Your systems are not going to fix themselves and your work can be SO enjoyable when you get them working properly!!
If you’re ready to get your systems and workflows aligned in your photography business so you can reclaim your time, feel less stress, and have more energy for doing what you love, you will LOVE my coaching program, where I spend every week helping you do exactly that. Learn more right here.
