Establishing a successful photography business requires more than just taking beautiful pictures. It demands careful planning, organization, and efficient workflows to attract clients, deliver exceptional service, and ultimately, thrive in a competitive market.
Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this informative video dives into the crucial initial steps for aspiring and established photographers alike. Trotti emphasizes the significance of a well-curated portfolio that aligns with your desired clientele and services. She highlights the need for strategic planning, including mood boards, shot lists, and location scouting, to ensure productive and cost-effective photoshoots. Trotti also stresses the importance of clear communication with clients and collaborators, advocating for comprehensive call sheets that detail schedules, expectations, and responsibilities.
Beyond the creative aspects, Trotti talks about the often-overlooked backend of a photography business. She underscores the importance of establishing efficient workflows for both the photographer and the client. This includes streamlining processes for inquiries, bookings, session planning, image delivery, and post-shoot tasks. Trotti suggests utilizing tools like Milanote, a visual organization platform, to create boards for project management, client communication, and internal workflows. By implementing these systems, you can save time, minimize errors, and provide a seamless experience for their clients.
Check out the video above for the full rundown from Trotti.
exactly how many videos on this subject are possible on 1 website?
Different photographers, different genres, different approaches.
This does seem more like an ad for the software, but I like the tips presented, and honestly might try the software out for getting myself organized with some upcoming shoots. I like the layout and workflow she showed in the video. I was actually considering Asana (which I use sometimes for my day job), but it's not "artistic" enough for me to feel motivated.
I temporarily took my website/portfolio down because I'm having an identity crisis and rearranging/re-editing my work to focus on more specific collections before updating it, and I feel like anyone in a similar position could benefit from being more organised like this.
I know there seems to be an abundance of videos and "courses" out there now on how to start a photography business, and many of you "seasoned veterans" in the industry don't need this stuff, but if you actually watch this video instead of judging the title... it just holds some smart tips for someone starting out and trying to build up their website/portfolio, and fine tune what they're putting out there to potential clients.
Maybe if you're already a seasoned professional who knows everything there is to know, this isn't the video for you. Just move on in that case. :) Some of us are still figuring it all out.