Software or website for tracking phases of a job?

I'm looking for a program that will allow me to track different phases of a job via some form of timeline, like days I have to get edits done, prints to clients, etc... I've been looking at project management software but unsure if that can do what I want.

I essentially want to track the from the day I do the shoot how long I'm spending to get stuff done, especially if I have multiple jobs at a time.

Have you seen basecamp? We use this to keep track of website building progress.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm looking for something free hopefully. I'm going to try out this http://www.ganttprojec​t.biz/ I like have the bars to visually show me how long I have to for certain things.

Microsoft Project might be what you're looking for. It's been a little while since I used it, but you can make up a gantt chart in it, it will tell you your critical path, assuming there are coinciding processes, and can work out how much labor time and man hours are spent on a project. Everything has to be programmed in by you though, it just kind of organizes everything for you.

Consider a simple spread sheet if you're familiar with configuring those. The advantage of going that route is that all your reports, fields, and calculations are based on YOUR needs and procedures, not someone else's.

GarethLeigh wrote in post #15582630
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm looking for something free hopefully.

You sound like one of the clients people like to complain about in this forum

If you want to make money, you need to spend money on tools that will help you. Software is one of those tools, especially software that helps you save time and track your work. Even if the software only saves you 1 hour per month, how long will it take at your billable rate to make up that money? 1 hour? 2?

It takes money to make money.

[/rant mode off]

Take a look at Tasks if you have MS Outlook.

I highly recommend the easy-to-use and update, free, everyday Joe Soap Google Calendar.

Google Calendar is amazingly useful (for both keeping track of your bookings and making notes of when you should be finished doing things or delivering prints, etc.

It lets you colour-code different events so you can alter how important you feel they are, and you can invite others to use it too (handy if you work alongside another photographer/s and juggle jobs around).

If someone took my Google Calendar off me, I'd be absolutely lost.

JacobPhoto wrote in post #15595687
You sound like one of the clients people like to complain about in this forum

If you want to make money, you need to spend money on tools that will help you. Software is one of those tools, especially software that helps you save time and track your work. Even if the software only saves you 1 hour per month, how long will it take at your billable rate to make up that money? 1 hour? 2?

It takes money to make money.

[/rant mode off]

Perhaps I do. But there is a lot of great open source software out there that I use. I was curious if one exists. Also in my country I earn a fraction of the hourly wage that many American photographers charge. I have a lot of other things that take priority for my money at the moment.

D Thompson wrote in post #15596183
Take a look at Tasks if you have MS Outlook.

Thanks, but I don't use Outlook.

chokeslamcena wrote in post #15597083
I highly recommend the easy-to-use and update, free, everyday Joe Soap Google Calendar.

Google Calendar is amazingly useful (for both keeping track of your bookings and making notes of when you should be finished doing things or delivering prints, etc.

It lets you colour-code different events so you can alter how important you feel they are, and you can invite others to use it too (handy if you work alongside another photographer/s and juggle jobs around).

If someone took my Google Calendar off me, I'd be absolutely lost.

I do use Google Calendar for some stuff. Perhaps I need look for better examples on how best to use it.

We use ShootQ

JacobPhoto wrote in post #15595687
You sound like one of the clients people like to complain about in this forum

It takes money to make money.

[/rant mode off]

Not when it comes to software. There is mountains of amazing open-source software out there that is as good (and many times better) than large retail titles.

transcend wrote in post #15599414
Not when it comes to software. There is mountains of amazing open-source software out there that is as good (and many times better) than large retail titles.

And the fun thing is that open-source software doesn't mean it is totally free and the developers never get paid. Projects get funded in many different ways, and there are more than a few companies making mad profits on developing open source software. One of the most common 'for-profit' models revolves around a primary client who wants/needs the software designed to their own specifications, and is willing to pay for the developers to customize and provide technical support. The developers in turn provide the software to the community at large where others with a similar need/interest can look at it and offer their input on improvements. I've worked on more than a few open source projects over the years simply because they are a fun and interesting way to be part of a far larger system than you could develop on your own, and offer a great deal to learn for newer programmers.

To compare people seeking out open source software solutions to people begging for free/cheap photography is apples to oranges. The software is already written, the work has already been done, and more users on an open source project means more exposure. More exposure means the greater likelyhood of another interested developer seeing it and becoming involved. The more interested developers involved, the faster improvements and bug fixes are implemented.

check out studio cloud

I have used MS Project for big and little projects.

I prefer to use a spreadsheet.

Current fave: Google's set of tools - Google Calendar, Google Talk (to IM employees in the field), Google Docs, Google Mail and Google Drive. Basically, I use a spreadsheet kept on Google Docs to keep track of orders and due dates (or other important dates). It is kept on Google Drive. Appointments are kept on Google Calendar. I pay $5/month per employee and everyone can access everything they need from anywhere - via tablets, laptops, notebooks, phones, or desktops.

Spreadsheet is color-coded by order status, and so are appointments (by geo-area).

digirebelva wrote in post #15600160
check out studio cloud

Looks interesting. I'll try it out.

alintx wrote in post #15601406
I have used MS Project for big and little projects.

I prefer to use a spreadsheet.

Current fave: Google's set of tools - Google Calendar, Google Talk (to IM employees in the field), Google Docs, Google Mail and Google Drive. Basically, I use a spreadsheet kept on Google Docs to keep track of orders and due dates (or other important dates). It is kept on Google Drive. Appointments are kept on Google Calendar. I pay $5/month per employee and everyone can access everything they need from anywhere - via tablets, laptops, notebooks, phones, or desktops.

Spreadsheet is color-coded by order status, and so are appointments (by geo-area).

I'll try the spreadsheet method. Know of any templates or examples I could build from?