How do balance you workload?

[4mr4do4sho]

I, like many other photographers, do photography on the side as a "part time" job. I'm married (my wife is the second photographer in our business), no kids yet, and we both work 8-5 (M-F). Money made from photography has never been a priority for us and we got into it because we enjoy photography whether it is for leisure or business. We will have a busy year and find ourselves doing photography work after our real jobs quite often.

I'm just curious to see how other "part timers" handle their workload. How often do you find yourself busy with photography after your primary job? How do you catch up with photography work (photo sessions, photo editing, business related paperwork, client meetings) and balance your daily lives? Do you work a little here and there or work only on weekends? We plan on having kids and I'm sure that becomes an obstacle..

So, how do you balance things without being tired, burnt, and stressed?

[Highlight_Photography]

Each night I arrive home at 5pm and start with the catch up (Editing etc) which usually goes through til about 2am. Go to sleep and wake up at 6am and start it all again.

On weekends I mainly catch up on sleep during the day and go into the Melbourne at night to photograph various things.

Without being tired and stressed...i dont know but I would love to hear how other people manage so I can try.

[egordon99]

It was much easier before kids. I don't get to my photo stuff until ~8 at night (after kid is in bed and dishes/dinner is all cleaned up....) so when I have work I need to get done, I'm up until about 10-10:30 each night. Then up again at 5 AM to head to my day job. Coffee (LOTS of coffee) helps alot! My "biz" is just starting up, but in April I am shooting Bar Mitzvahs 3 out of the 4 weekends, so that's going to be a fun month :)

[sspellman]

For most people with serious but part time businesses, time management is an issue. For me, I spend time every day on my business even if I do not have a shoot.

My guidance to you is to have your income guide your time. Prioritize goals for your business based on income and let the less important stuff go. Focus on projects that gain the most income, and if you are too busy-raise your rates. Also think of your extra time as if you had to pay an employee, and this help you focus your time. Streamline your contracts, workflow, and business processes to be very repetitive, consitent and time-efficient. Make sure that you charge extra for special items outside your workflow.

I have found that using web galleries with SmugMug for proofing and image delivery saves me a huge amount of time.

-Scott

[4mr4do4sho]

It was much easier before kids. I don't get to my photo stuff until ~8 at night (after kid is in bed and dishes/dinner is all cleaned up....) so when I have work I need to get done, I'm up until about 10-10:30 each night. Then up again at 5 AM to head to my day job. Coffee (LOTS of coffee) helps alot! My "biz" is just starting up, but in April I am shooting Bar Mitzvahs 3 out of the 4 weekends, so that's going to be a fun month :)

I find myself close to your schedule. After dinner and a little relaxation, it's to the office for editing, reading, or client meets. It's gotten to the point that when there is downtime, I feel like I "need" to be reading, learning, and practicing. I've always been a go,go,go type of person and so this is up my alley, but I imagine when kids come....it'll change.

[4mr4do4sho]

For most people with serious but part time businesses, time management is an issue. For me, I spend time every day on my business even if I do not have a shoot.

My guidance to you is to have your income guide your time. Prioritize goals for your business based on income and let the less important stuff go. Focus on projects that gain the most income, and if you are too busy-raise your rates. Also think of your extra time as if you had to pay an employee, and this help you focus your time. Streamline your contracts, workflow, and business processes to be very repetitive, consitent and time-efficient. Make sure that you charge extra for special items outside your workflow.

I have found that using web galleries with SmugMug for proofing and image delivery saves me a huge amount of time.

-Scott

Good stuff! As a new business, we have pretty much gotten to where we have done well in developing a system. I'm the main photographer, so I do the photo organization, editing, finalizing, etc. My wife does more of the paperwork, finances, and client management. We have a dual office setup in our home, so we can work together closely. I guess over time things will become second nature and long processes now will not be as long later....hopefully.

[Alleh]

If you are actually getting to heavy of a workload than you are willing to deal with as a part time edevour you have two choices. Quit your day job and attempt full time photography or increase your prices. If you increase your prices you will lose a % of your client while still maintaining a similar income.

What I don't understand is why you even run a photography business at all. I looked at your photos at you obviously only hold a basic understanding of photography with no creativity what so ever. I am sorry but the tacky over used couple poses don't constitute creativity. People just like you are a dime a dozen. They can shoot slightly better snap shots than the average person and they start a business. The moment you try to push yourself creatively your images will fall apart. I guess I just don’t understand why that huge stack of SLR kits at Costco looks more like a stack of business opportunities to so many people. I know I am just a big bad jerk but honestly for the masses that want to be professional photographers I can’t imagine that it is a true passion, more or less it’s just and idealistic idea that people have. This isn’t about me being bitter toward armatures or any of that bull. I just find it a little contradictory for someone to complain about having to spend time doing something technically they should be in love with. Photography is an Art not a business opportunity.

Why not try just practicing photography and not business for a while? Maybe you won’t find enjoyment in it without the business side in which case you should let it go and find something you do enjoy.

[4mr4do4sho]

If you are actually getting to heavy of a workload than you are willing to deal with as a part time edevour you have two choices. Quit your day job and attempt full time photography or increase your prices. If you increase your prices you will lose a % of your client while still maintaining a similar income.

What I don't understand is why you even run a photography business at all. I looked at your photos at you obviously only hold a basic understanding of photography with no creativity what so ever. I am sorry but the tacky over used couple poses don't constitute creativity. People just like you are a dime a dozen. They can shoot slightly better snap shots than the average person and they start a business. The moment you try to push yourself creatively your images will fall apart. I guess I just don’t understand why that huge stack of SLR kits at Costco looks more like a stack of business opportunities to so many people. I know I am just a big bad jerk but honestly for the masses that want to be professional photographers I can’t imagine that it is a true passion, more or less it’s just and idealistic idea that people have. This isn’t about me being bitter toward armatures or any of that bull. I just find it a little contradictory for someone to complain about having to spend time doing something technically they should be in love with. Photography is an Art not a business opportunity.

Why not try just practicing photography and not business for a while? Maybe you won’t find enjoyment in it without the business side in which case you should let it go and find something you do enjoy.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.. first if I came off complaining about my workload..that was not the intention. By no means, did I ever say.. "I hate having to balance time and do this photo crap!"... that is complaining. I was just curious to see how people balance it when they do it as a part time job. Do you have clients and make money off of it? Because if you do, is that not you using it as a business opportunity? Heck, if photography is more of an ART and not business opportunity, why do we have thousands of photographers charging thousands of dollars. Why not make photography free!

Yes, I am still learning and yes, I am not to par with "PROFESSIONALS" like you. I have tough skin and can take criticism because it'll make me work harder to improve. Hence, the practicing and reading and learning. I think there are a lot of assumptions in your statement. I did enjoy photography for years before it became a business and I still do.

[egordon99]

Oouch, some rough critique from Alleh...The site in question is currently blocked at my "day job", but I'll check it out tonight. That said, I don't think I've ever seen a 5D/70-200L/etc... stacked up at Costco.

OP - Good luck with the biz! My wife says she'll help with the paperwork/contract/emails once things take off. Don't think she'll second shoot, she has to stay home and watch the baby while I'm off shooting :)

[egordon99]

Just checked out the Blog (yay for my Blackberry), I think your stuff looks REALLY good! Not sure what Alleh's problem is....

[tim]

Alleh could've phrased things better, so as not to come off as an arse, but I agree with him. They're better than my Mums photos, but not professional standard, not even close. Side shadow is not a good look, and many of your subjects look unhappy and uncomfortable. Work on the basics and develop your skills. Though I realise this isn't the point of your post it does need to be said, if only to motivate you to put more time and energy into becoming a great photographer. egordon has lost all credibility by telling you the photos are "REALLY good". They're not. Really not. Maybe they were trying to be nice, but nice isn't helpful. Please take this as at least mildly constructive criticism from a working professional photographer. You need to work on making people comfortable in front of the camera, developing a rapport. I joke around with my customers, have fun, I do whatever it takes to make them comfortable and happy. You also need to work on your lighting, it's obvious you use on camera flash as the main light more often than not. Often you'd have been better off with no flash, but really off camera flash and knowledge of lighting is required to come up to the standard of real professionals. Once you understand this you may choose not to use it, but it's something you need to understand.

Now, balancing a workload. It's tough if you have a full time job. The best suggestion I have is not to take on more work than you can handle. If you overload yourself you will get stressed, and your performance will drop, both at the day job and photography, and you won't be happy. It's pretty much all bad.

Please take my post as constructive criticism. If this post motivates you to improve then it will have achieved it's aim. You'll find many people on POTN who will be happy to help.

[4mr4do4sho]

Alleh could've phrased things better, so as not to come off as an arse, but I agree with him. They're better than my Mums photos, but not professional standard, not even close. Side shadow is not a good look, and many of your subjects look unhappy and uncomfortable. Work on the basics and develop your skills. Though I realise this isn't the point of your post it does need to be said, if only to motivate you to put more time and energy into becoming a great photographer. egordon has lost all credibility by telling you the photos are "REALLY good". They're not. Really not. Maybe they were trying to be nice, but nice isn't helpful. Please take this as at least mildly constructive criticism from a working professional photographer. You need to work on making people comfortable in front of the camera, developing a rapport. I joke around with my customers, have fun, I do whatever it takes to make them comfortable and happy. You also need to work on your lighting, it's obvious you use on camera flash as the main light more often than not. Often you'd have been better off with no flash, but really off camera flash and knowledge of lighting is required to come up to the standard of real professionals. Once you understand this you may choose not to use it, but it's something you need to understand.

Now, balancing a workload. It's tough if you have a full time job. The best suggestion I have is not to take on more work than you can handle. If you overload yourself you will get stressed, and your performance will drop, both at the day job and photography, and you won't be happy. It's pretty much all bad.

Please take my post as constructive criticism. If this post motivates you to improve then it will have achieved it's aim. You'll find many people on POTN who will be happy to help.

Tim, all that you have stated is the kind of criticism that all "improving/learning" photographers need. I am not offended by what Alleh stated, but just the assumptions he made. I know that my photos aren't "REALLY" good. I categorize them as "needs improvement". With the last 3 client/engagement shoots that I had, I have worked exactly with what you said i needed to work on. I have taken the more natural light use.....using only fill light when needed and learning how to "paint with light". Practice is the key and I dont want to be one of those photographers categorized as shoot, get paid, and forget.

Thanks for the input and advice.

[Alleh]

I know I sound like a jerk. My comments were not geared directly toward you they were more of a generalization of people at your skill level who would be considered your main compatition. The goal is to separate yourself from the pack and grow as a photographer. Running a business is not conducive to creativity. The mundane daily tasks will wear you down. I am just trying to give you better feedback than the common forum post of "I think your photos are great keep up the good work".

You shouldn’t be practicing while working. I know we always learn but you should be learning new things and practicing them then fine tuning them on the job at the least. If photography is more about having a business and being able to call yourself a photographer then maybe it’s not really your thing.

Honestly if you want to really grow and define yourself as a photographic artist you need to focus far less on the business and more of learning. I would suggest only excepting 1 wedding and maybe 2 portrait sessions ever 2 months. That will start to give you the working hands on knowledge you will need. The rest of the time you should be focusing on just your photography and trying new things. Hey maybe you will learn that you don’t even enjoy wedding and you would rather do commercial work. I think only a very small handful of people shoot weddings because they love it the rest just jump in because it’s one of the first and obvious places to make money and they don’t take the time to explore there options. Remember the real end goal of a true passionate photographer is to express themselves not to have a successful business.

To get you started on lighting try www.strobist.com go through both 101 and 102 lighting and don’t skimp you will come out far ahead of where you are now.

[Karl Johnston]

I use a scale.

Alleh; it's a part time hobby-business for him, grow up. No need to be an arse and bash his work, it's not like you're any better or worse. That was a shameful display of professionalism on any level.

[Alleh]

I use a scale.



Alleh; it's a part time hobby-business for him, grow up. No need to be an arse and bash his work, it's not like you're any better or worse. That was a shameful display of professionalism on any level.


Everyone has a choice to be mediocre and there certainly is a need for it in the market for people that can't afford high end photographers but still want to get something better than what there friend with a point and shoot can get. All I am doing is giving honest real life criticism. He has already said he can take it and he will be all the better for it because it will help him grow. There are plenty of people that are just looking for useless fluffy bunny critique you should probably waste your time commenting on there posts.

All this aside if the goal is always to just have a small hobby side business then ignore everything I have said and do what you do. You balance it by only accepting the amount of work you are will to take. Nothing complicated about it. If on the other hand you want to someday have a full time photography business then maybe some of what I said will have merit. If you take a step back on the business side hone your skills and develop your style when you come back even as a side business you will be in a far better place. You can start out charging more and build up. When the work load becomes too much and your prices have hit a cap for what your market will support you will know it's time to go all out.

[turbo212003]

^^^^

Someone needs to get off their high horse.

[harroz]

actually I don't think so, with his first post I thought he was extremely harsh without a doubt and if it wasn't for his later posts I would've had a different view, so I'm glad that he is following up on his comments because he has a point. I actually think Alleh can see that the op has potential, and is trying to help him. Sometimes it takes a shock to go that little bit further, and if the op does he'll most definitely benifit, because his images do have something, he just needs pushing his knowledge & creativity. And he is right in another aspect too, if you concentrate on doing what you love, your business will automatically grow because of it, if you concentrate on growing your business, but do nothing to hone your skills, you'll probably fail, or atleast not grow as fast as you could.

As for how to run your side business, sorry but I can't help any more than what has already been said. Basically you need to streamline it too be as effective as possible, whether it be part time or full time.

[4mr4do4sho]

ADMIN: First sorry if this has gone off a tangent, I just really wanted to see how part timers spread out their workload and how they became efficient at it....:)

Harroz, Alleh, Tim, and any other professional photographers out there who have comments similar to those stated in this thread, I have nothing against it. A lot of times in many of the threads you see people act as "confidence boosters" without any criticism and let's be real people dont always post "good stuff" but it gets warranted as "Awesome!, Beautiful, etc...". When people get a swift kick in the butt by someone who has more experience they should take it as they have been there and they want to help you. Can peoples' comments be rough...HELL YEAH!, but how can we get better at what we do if all you get is positive reinforcement. The art in photography is seen different in every person and in the end what matters to me is:
Am I satisfied?
Are my clients satisfied?
Did I give it the best effort possible?
Where can I improve?

[harroz]

thats exactly the attitude to have and the right way to think. you'll do well by sticking to those. They're my basic theories as well, although there's one other that I have, I suppose very similar to your "where can I improve"- what could I have done to make them better? there is very few times that an images is so awesome that I can't think of a way to make it better(although it does happen;-) ) even though both myself and the client is happy, so this helps me keep growing. I'm sure you do it anyway:cool:.


ADMIN:
Am I satisfied?
Are my clients satisfied?
Did I give it the best effort possible?
Where can I improve?