Being a professional photographer takes many skills beyond simply what you can do with a camera and a computer. Chief among them is the ability to manage time well and cut out any inefficiencies. This great video tutorial features an experienced professional discussing a simple way to cut down on a lot of wasted time and the frustration that comes with it.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this excellent video tutorial discusses a novel way to handle potential clients to reduce wasted time (of course, this mostly applies to commercial projects and clients). I have to admit I am guilty of getting dragged into seemingly endless conversations, only to later find out that I would never work with the client simply for reasons of mismatched budgets or demands. We often do this because we think if we talk to the client, there is a better chance of landing them, and yes, that is true, but there is something to be said for considering the order in which you do things, because if you can avoid wasting time with clients you will never work with, that is some valuable time you can use for other things. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
If you would like to learn more about the business of photography, check out "Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography With Monte Isom!"
All of the Fstoppers cross posted videos should be this brief and concise! I absolutely agree that one of the very first questions you should ask is: "what is the budget for the shoot." Asking that question early prevents a lot of pain later on.
Brilliant tip.