Growing a wedding photography business can feel super overwhelming. Then you throw real life in the mix, a family, lack of funds and it may feel like you just want to throw in the towel. So these are some ways I have simplified my photography business and life….and you can too.
1: Done is better than perfect
If you’re anything like me, you have sat WAY too long in the editing hole going between +1 or +2 of your exposure, contrast, or highlights. Edit your photos well, call it a day…and send it over to your clients. Truly, only you are noticing the tiny tweaks and all that time is eating into your cost.
2. Finish one task at a time
There’s definitely this glory in today’s world about how many things you can do at once. “I’m a mom, a photographer, a teacher, a podcaster, a yoga teacher AND I am the head of the school’s PTA!” This carries over into our work – instead of multi-tasking everything, close your screens, turn off your phone, and focus on ONE thing until it’s done.
3. Pick TWO marketing avenues
Literally just two. One SEO-driven and one social media. If you committed your next 12 months to absolutely KILLING it in only two? To the stars baby. But please don’t feel you need to be on the Tik Toks, Pinterest, Google +, Facebook, Email, Youtube, etc. Focus on two and do them better than everyone else.
4. Photograph Less, Make More Money
I am a HUGE proponent of positioning your business in the luxury price point. Because…doing 30+ weddings a year is going to get old real quick. Instead…learn how to grow a business where you charge $5k+ so you can really take your time serving clients well, have plenty of weekends left over for your family and still make more than you are making now.
5. The Instagram hustle is completely unnecessary
Stop spending so much of your time figuring out what to post. I personally haven’t posted since 2021 and we are still bringing in regular leads from the account. Instead, learn how to use it in a non-hustle way and spend that time doing something else…or just not working.
6. Learn to say no
This one was hard – I’m a people pleaser. And from what I’ve heard…so are many other people. But saying no to opportunities, people, and clients that you don’t want right now…means you’ve now given yourself the space to say hell yes to things you have been dreaming about. So trust me…next time, if it’s feeling like a no….say no. And trust that something better will come.
7. Digital Minimalism
I used to be one of those people who said “If I only had more time!” until I installed a timing app on my phone that showed me how much time I spent on it. Guys, I’m talking 4-7 hours A DAY. Install the app on your phone and you will be SHOCKED. You’re welcome to get hours of your life back. But seriously…delete the apps from your phone and instead check them on your laptop or desktop. So that when you are using Instagram you are at your desk/or table/or bed purely to work.
8. Set a cap on your hours
Think about how you want to spend your life, who you want to spend it with, and how you want to spend it. Now think about your work – how many hours per week are you committed to putting in? When you work backward like that, it will likely be considerably less than 40 hours per week. Whatever that number is to you – you can’t go over. Now with that information – you get to decide what I really important and cut out the rest.
Everything I teach is based on building a photography business that works WITH your lifestyle, because otherwise what’s the point? Today, I want you to go check out my 4 Step Method Masterclass where I give you the framework of what took me from totally free shoots to booked out with luxury weddings all while working less than 12 hours a week.
1. Free Masterclass: 4 Secrets To Booked Out With Luxury Weddings
3. Quarterly Marketing Calendar
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