Photographers may make magic with their cameras, but they\u2019re still subject to the same 24-hour day as everyone else. Professional photographers must work efficiently to maximize their income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting a schedule dictates what photographers do and when they do it, but doesn\u2019t answer the question of how much time to leave between shoots. The amount of shoots a photographer can complete in a given day correlates to the amount of income he or she will earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though the exact amount of time to leave between shoots varies from photographer to photographer, there is an easy process of determining that number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before determining how much time you should leave between shoots, first determine how long an average shoot takes. For events like weddings, you can reasonably expect to invest most of an entire day to the single shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What about real estate photography? If you\u2019ve been shooting real estate<\/a> for any length of time, you likely already know the average length of time you spend in properties of different sizes. If you offer portrait or headshot photography<\/a>, you can dictate the length of sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the average length of time a given type of shoot takes, you can extrapolate how many of each you can feasibly fit into a single day. If you can shoot an average-sized home in an hour, you might be comfortable booking five or six homes per day, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After determining how many shoots you can fit into a given day, you still need to leave time for the other aspects of your business \u2014 and your life. After all, professional photography consists of more than just taking photos. You still need to run your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How are your shoots scheduled? Many photographers choose to allow clients to book shoots online. Others may prefer face-to-face meetings. Sometimes, you may have to schedule a consultation prior to the actual shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though this is all client interaction, it still takes time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, you still need to run your business by handling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what about your normal day-to-day needs? When traveling from shoot to shoot, you need to set some time aside for food, bathroom breaks, and even a short rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Develop and implement a routine and scheduling system<\/a> that works for you. Block out time for certain tasks. Perhaps you\u2019ll use Thursdays to get all your boring admin and office work done, or set time aside in the morning to return phone calls or market yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you get into the habit of following a schedule, stick with it. Try to schedule blocks of 90-minute chunks<\/a> and group similar tasks together. When armed with a schedule, you\u2019ll maximize your efficiency and make every second of your workday count.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBe Efficient With Your Scheduling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plan For Unforeseen Circumstances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n