Running a business isn’t always easy. As solopreneurs, we have to wear many hats – and it often makes you feel like you’re being pulled in a lot of directions. As photographers, we are so lucky to have a job that we enjoy, but the realities of running a business can make things feel difficult behind-the-scenes. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the best way to make everything feel a bit easier as an entrepreneur is to streamline my business. Investing energy to set up systems that allow you more freedom and time back in your business will allow you to focus on doing more of what you love.
Why You Should Streamline Your Business
The old saying “Work smarter, not harder” has some truth to it. When we can work in a more streamlined fashion, we’re saving ourselves time and energy. Take the time to figure out methods that can save you time. As a business owner, you have the advantage of having control over your business. Make sure you invest time to make your business work for you and not vice versa.
When we make our business more streamlined, we also get time back for what we love. While we’re all motivated in different ways and “time freedom” varies person to person, the bottom line is the same. If you had hours back in your day, what would you do with it? For some, it’s spending time with loved ones. For others, it’s being able to take on more of what you love – like photographing more sessions. Whatever motivates you in this season of your life, taking the time to streamline your business will help you find this time.
Here are 3 things you should be streamlining in your business
1 | Client Management
As your business grows, keeping up with client management can be extremely time-consuming. From invoicing, emails, check-ins, and more….there are many things you need to keep up with to continue to offer exceptional service to your clients. It can be exhausting trying to manage all the moving parts without a good system in place. Take the time to set up a system that will work for you! Whether it’s a full client management system or a manual system you create, invest your time to set this up before you get too busy. Sprout Studio is a powerful system to help you manage all of this if you are looking for an all-in-one system. You can learn more here, start a free trial and save 20% off an annual subscription here! Remember, this is your business so do what works best for you – but definitely find a system for yourself!
2 | Repeatable Tasks
Similar to your client management systems, take the time to evaluate your business and find a way to automate any repeatable tasks. These could be setting up templates for responding to emails, creating an FAQ page or blog posts on your website to answer common questions you answer often. Anything that you do more than once, take the time to think about whether or not there is a way to automate it. More often than not, there is.
Zapier is a very versatile tool that can allow you to connect and automate almost any digital process. If you find a bottleneck in your processes or find a common task that you are repeating over and over, check out Zapier. It’s likely that they’ll have a “zap” that will help you out!
3 | Editing
Understandably so, one of the biggest investments of time when it comes to running a photography business is the editing for each session. When you consider outsourcing your editing, you’ll be surprised at how much time you get back every week. Professional editors are here to make your life easier and they spend time capturing your style and unique vibes. They also work quickly and are way more affordable than you might think! Check out more of my thoughts on why I outsourced my editing here!
Those are three quick ideas to help you get more time back in your photography business. Remember, streamlining your business allows you to find time for what you love – and energy to do those things, too. Running a business is hard but it shouldn’t be so draining every single day. Give yourself the freedom to make your life a little bit easier and more enjoyable!
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