Hey, Hey Photographers! Are you fearing that busy season burnout?
I want to dive a little deeper into a topic I introduced earlier on the blog, which is systems for busy season. If you’d like to read my first post ‘How to Survive Busy Season as a Photographer’, click here! Today I’m shifting my focus to the top two systems you as a photographer should have in place, in order to manage your busy season without burnout. (Yes, they actually are that good.)
The two systems we’re delving into are Task Management and Client Workflows.
Let’s get started!
Task Management:
One of the main causes of burnout during busy season are all the tasks that come with it and feeling as if you’ll never get your head above water. Well, without a big picture point of view, that may seem true always but with a good task management system in place you’ll find the moments to catch your breath.
- Staying organized on what editing needs to be done and by when. Do you know the order of your photoshoots? Do you have deadlines for getting finals back to clients? Are certain shoots prioritized over others? Make sure you have these specifics figured out so that you don’t fall behind.
- Separating work and personal tasks. I talked about this a lot in my last blog (here). But the point I’m trying to make with this is that when all aspects of your life are out on paper it’s easy to see where to place things in your schedule.
- Outsourcing. After completing the above two points, you should be able to see where the gaps in your business are. This is where outsourcing comes in. If there is anything you don’t have the expertise for, hate doing, or don’t have the time to complete – outsource it. Whether that’s to a virtual assistant, copywriter, or social media manager – It may be an expense, but it’s also an investment. And one that is 100% worth the cost and will allow you to pour yourself more into the parts of your business that light you up.
The most important thing I want you to take away from learning about task management is that by having a system in place, you reclaim your time. That half hour to hour every day you spend trying to organize your business can be yours again. By utilizing task management in the above ways, you’re able to re-prioritize yourself instead of feeling overwhelmed with your business.
Client Workflows:
If there’s one thing I will forever hound photographers about, it’s to have workflows in place. Without dedicated workflows, you are literally throwing away time, money, and energy. Every. Single. Day.
- The way you can best utilize workflows is through a client management software like Honeybook. Your workflow should have dedicated steps (ie: From Inquiry to Final Images and beyond!) If you want to learn more about the magic of Honeybook, click here!
- The second half of workflows I preach on are templates. I don’t believe in using templates for everything, but they can be extremely handy and time saving in terms of ‘replies’ to leads and clients. This includes auto responses for inquiries with brochures, out of office notices and more.
Again, the most important thing I want you to take away from client workflows is that by establishing these workflows before busy season hits, you guarantee that nothing falls through the cracks. (Even on a wild three wedding weekend!) Workflows are the number one way to set up your business for success in the long run.
Bonus: Marketing
To preface, I want you to know that a marketing system does not have to be complicated. Truly, the best systems for you are what work for you. Even if it’s as simple as having an idea list where you drop your thoughts as they come up. This list can be something you go back to as you’re creating and scheduling your content so that you always have something to go off of! And remember – never delete an idea just because you used it already! Ideas can and should be used over and over again.
- Batching and scheduling content for your business is a necessity in this day and age. I know it can be a huge chore, but again, this is where prioritizing and time blocking come into play! Schedule specific time every week or month for batching and scheduling content so that when you find yourself in the middle of busy season, you don’t ghost all your followers for weeks!
- Keep things simple. If you can’t stay consistent with a goal, you need to re-focus and make sure it’s manageable for you. That can look like one blog a month instead of two, posting three times a week on Instagram instead of five, etc. You don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing. Find what works for you and stick with it. All your audience wants is consistency from you – whatever that looks like.
- Ask for reviews! The easiest way, in my opinion, to do this is by building it into your workflow. Make sure that one of your final steps include sending out a testimonial request to your clients. Nine times out of ten you’ll get responses. I know it can feel strange or bothersome to ask for reviews, which is why it needs to be a seamless part of your business systems.
Most importantly, don’t ever let marketing loom over your head and increase your burnout during busy season. Allow it to align and flow as easily as it can, don’t try to keep up with algorithm, just do you.
If you’re struggling to find the time to implement these systems into your business or just don’t know where to start – you’d be the perfect candidate for my VIP Day! My VIP Days are completely customized to your specific needs in your business. I work with you – before, during, and after – to ensure things are airtight for you.
Truly, every photographer (and business owner) needs some form of systems in order for their business to run smoothly – especially during their busy season. Let me help set you up for success! Together we can avoid that busy season burnout!
Here for you always,
Savannah Bell
