photo by SelectStock via iStock
If you’re running a photography business right now then chances are things have really slowed down over the last few months.
While it’s easy to bemoan your fate (I especially feel for photographers who recently opened up a photography business), this downtime does mean that you have the capability to streamline your photography business before things pick back up again.
The problem is that a lot of people don’t know what their photography business is lacking, or how they could run their photography business more smoothly. After all, most days are so busy it takes all you’ve got just to keep your head above water.
This article is filled with different ways that you can help your photography business right now so that it is ready for an onslaught of clients next year.
Use the Technology Available to You
A lot of photography business tips don’t center around the fact that a photography business truly isn’t that much different than other businesses.
What I mean is that a lot of photographers understand how to run a photography business, but they don’t understand how to run a photography business. All of the creative aspects of the business are handled while a lot of the important administrative processes are sort of forgotten about.
One way I’ve combatted this in my photography business is through the use of technology. For instance, I use a studio management tool to keep track of all of my deadlines and to track my profits from month to month.
One of the most helpful apps I recently came across is Podium, which is a software that pulls all of my communications from Yelp, Gmail, text messages and social media accounts and lets me respond to them from the same platform.
Podium even lets me send invoices from its platform so that chasing down clients for a paycheck is so much easier. I know Podium has a free trial available (because I used it before actually purchasing a package) so you can try it out right now while your business is slower in order to figure out if it will work for you.
Finally, on the personal side of things, I use a freelancers app to save money for taxes, healthcare and vacation time.
Create Your Go-To Packages
If you’ve never watched anything by Togs in Business, I highly recommend the video above about the psychology of pricing structures. It completely transformed my photography business.
The basics of the video, though, is that you need to have your 3 go-to packages that you want your clients to purchase. The go-to package, the package that is easiest for your business and brings in more money than cheaper packages, will be priced between one cheaper option and one more expensive option.
People want to feel like they’re getting a deal while simultaneously not feeling cheap. So, 9 times out of 10, they’ll pick your all-inclusive package that is neither the most cheap nor the most expensive package you have available.
Learn More:
- How to Expand the Reach of Your Photography Business
- 3 Things You Can Do to Make Your Photography Business Better
Organize Your Equipment
photo by Prostock-Studio via iStock
Your photography business is going to suffer if you don’t have your equipment organized. I would argue that if you don’t have your equipment organized, then it probably already has.
You need to create different checklists for different kinds of shoots your business regularly participates in, and then you need to store your equipment in such a way that packing your bag for that shoot takes under 20 minutes.
Of course, make sure that your equipment is also stored somewhere safe, where it isn’t in danger of water damage or damage from heat or cold.
Don’t Be Afraid to Outsource
photo by Deagreez via iStock
Running a photography business is difficult. We definitely don’t get paid enough. Our service is oftentimes drastically undervalued. So there’s no reason for you to make it harder on yourself than it needs to be, especially in the age of the gig economy.
If you are finding out that you have trouble keeping up with one specific aspect of your business, like reaching out to potential clients or balancing your accounts, you can find a trusted assistant to help you do those things for a lot less than you probably think. You can use any number of gig websites, like Fiverr or Upwork, to find someone.
Plus, for every task that you hate and outsource, you’ll have more time to spend with your clients doing things you love and clients recognize that.