Photo by Geber86 via iStock
As the age-old saying goes, time equals money. And from experience, we know that’s especially true for professional photographers. Unfortunately, photographers usually have a never-ending list of tasks to accomplish, and there are only so many hours in the day. They need to shoot photos, edit them to perfection, print and ship them to their clients on time, and more!
We also understand that managing your photography workflow can be overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s exactly why we wrote this article! To help you optimize your schedule, save time, do more, and eliminate stress. Here, we’ll share five tips and tricks we use to simplify and streamline our professional photography workflow.
We'll cover everything from investing in the right equipment to efficiently organizing and editing your images to the benefits of partnering with a professional printing company. So, regardless of the type of photographer you are, we promise that your productivity levels will be off the charts if you implement the practices covered below. Ok, with that said, let’s get to it!
Check out the video above by Roman Fox to learn more about the day-to-day workflow of a successful professional photographer.
Table of Contents
- Photography Workflow Tips: Invest in the Right Gear
- Photography Workflow Tips: Be Organized and Plan Ahead
- Photography Workflow Tips: Use Presets When Editing
- Photography Workflow Tips: Don’t be Afraid to Work With Others
- Photography Workflow Tips: Leave the Printing and Shipping to the Professionals
- Final Thoughts on Improving Your Professional Photography Workflow<
- Recommended Photography Gear
Photography Workflow Tips: Invest in the Right Gear
Photo by jacoblund via iStock
Every photographer has a unique style, shoots different subjects, and works in different environments. Because of this, the first step to streamlining your photography workflow is to invest in the right gear for you and your needs. Remember, just because one piece of equipment or software works great for someone else doesn’t mean it will work the best for you.
Besides your camera and lenses, other important photography gear includes a sturdy tripod, a durable camera bag or backpack, a fast laptop or tablet, professional editing software, and storage devices. We strongly recommend always researching and testing multiple options before buying anything.
Photography Workflow Tips: Be Organized and Plan Ahead
Two more keys to working effectively as a photographer are planning and organization. We decided to discuss them together because they go hand in hand in many ways. For starters, properly planning for a photo shoot and being organized during the shoot will save you tons of time. As little as five minutes of planning and organizing can save you hours down the road.
Keeping your photos stored in an organized fashion is also crucial. Nothing is worse than having to scour a folder full of photos just to find the one your client wants or the one you want to post on social media. Two tools we find particularly helpful for organizing photos are external hard drives and Adobe Lightroom.
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- Use Peel and Stick Photos as an Add-On to Your Photography Packages
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Photography Workflow Tips: Use Presets When Editing
Photo by grinvalds via iStock
While Adobe Lightroom is great for cataloging and organizing images, its primary function is to edit photos in post-production. Editing is essential in today's competitive work environment, but unfortunately, it can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when you have hundreds or thousands of photos.
An easy solution is to use photography presets. Lightroom (or any other editing software) comes with a handful of pre-installed presets you can use. Alternatively, you can find tons of free or paid preset packages online. We recommend using presets people created specifically for the type of photography you shoot.
Photography Workflow Tips: Don’t be Afraid to Work With Others
Photo by LeoPatrizi via iStock
Collaborating with others is another excellent way to optimize your workflow. When starting a photography business, most people feel the need to do everything themselves. Whether that’s because they are afraid to ask for help, to save money, or for any other reason. However, we are here to discourage that train of thought and encourage you to work with others.
Let’s be honest. Like in life, we all have our own strengths and weaknesses as photographers. While one of us may be better at composing images, someone else is better at editing. Accepting this and learning when to hand tasks over to someone else might cost a little extra upfront, but it will save you money and make your life easier in the long run.
Photography Workflow Tips: Leave the Printing and Shipping to the Professionals
Lastly, you have to find a trustworthy and reliable company to print and ship your work. These final stages of the photography workflow are often the most tedious and easiest to mess up. However, by partnering with the right business, you can skip it altogether and sleep easy at night, knowing that your prints will be perfect and that they will be delivered on time.
With that in mind, our go-to resource for printing and shipping is the Pro User Program by Lumaprints. It’s a dropshipping service that prints and delivers your orders directly to your clients. Furthermore, they don’t include any branding or labeling on the packages, meaning they will look like they came straight from you.
Who are Lumaprints? They are an innovative online printing company known for their state-of-the-art printers and high-quality products. Additionally, they have affordable prices and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, allowing you to work with them confidently and worry-free.
Final Thoughts on Improving Your Professional Photography Workflow
Now that you know how to better streamline your professional photography workflow, what are you waiting for? Start implementing the strategies discussed above today to grow your photography business by working smarter, not harder.
More importantly, improving your workflow will give you more free time to do the things you love most, whatever that may be. So, whether you want to spend more time with your family and friends or capture more moments on camera, you can finally do it!