I was very young when I began shooting weddings in 2008 at 22 years old, right out of college. By 2010, I was shooting about 20 weddings a year and had an incredible mentor who I became an associate photographer for.

In 2012, I relocated to San Francisco and my business was growing. In 2013, I quit my part-time waitressing job and dove into photography full-time. Although it was terrifying, the work kept coming in and I was feeling excited.

The busier I got, the more questionable my work habits became - late-night editing in bed, no client boundaries, and taking on too much. I was on the verge of burnout and knew something needed to change before the quality of my work declined.

Burnout and lack of business strategy go hand in hand…

#1 reason photography businesses fail or plateau is from lack of business strategy. Photography is an art and creative passion, but owning a business requires learning and implementing strategic systems. Without a business strategy, photographers get stuck in the day-to-day without working towards larger goals.

Is this you?

Common issues & pain points caused by lack of business strategy:

Wearing all the hats in your business - from editing to marketing to admin work. The endless hats and repetitive tasks can get exhausting.
Not booking enough clients or making enough money (which is stressful AF!)
Feeling confused about the next steps to take the business to the next level
Knowing you have talent and skills to offer but not feeling sure how to differentiate yourself in a crowded market.

Systems are your golden ticket to creating efficiency and leveraging your time, people!

Desired Outcomes & Taking Action (aka the how and the why):

If you’re already overwhelmed and have already hit a wall this is much easier said than done. So let’s break this down into bite-sized pieces that leave you inspired, not overwhelmed!

1. Let’s dive into the WHY (desired outcomes) and the HOW (action plan) to demystify all of this :)

There's no quick fix or single solution. Building a successful photography business requires implementing the right systems to be rewarded with time and growth.

The good news is it’s totally possible to streamline your business and begin leveling up so you can set the foundation for sustainable growth and more profit RIGHT NOW.

This is almost always what small business owners want: more time and more money in their bank accounts.

More importantly…why?

…time, money, and freedom. That’s WHY!

More time - to focus on your art, be present with your family and have a better work/life balance. When you implement systems in your business, you will free up more time to work on high-level tasks instead of being bogged down by repetitive administrative tasks and constant client communication.

More money - when you have efficient systems in place, you can take on more clients and projects. You'll also have more time to dedicate to marketing efforts to attract your ideal clients. More clients and less busy work equals more money in your bank account.

Streamlining your business through systems and outsourcing is the key to achieving these desired outcomes of more time and more money.

2. Time to Take Action!

Now that you are envisioning yourself with more time and more money, probably feels good, eh?

Now it’s time to discuss ACTION and ensure you can begin applying these simple things to your life and business now not later.

You do not have to make each change and develop each new system alone. I’ve got you. Let’s move into an action-based mindset and talk about ways you can begin moving in the right direction today (not tomorrow, not next week….today!)

Here are some key actions you can start taking today:

Identify areas of your business that feel repetitive or draining. These are great places to start outsourcing or delegating. Make a list, save it to your iPhone notes, google doc or somewhere you can add and edit this list.
Review your current workload and figure out what tasks you can eliminate or optimize. Say no to things that don't serve your business. Make a sub-list of all of the things that MUST be done by you and in the tier below, all the things that can be potentially offloaded and outsourced. Do not let limiting beliefs about money or time get in the way - think big.
Map out your ideal workflow and the systems needed to support it. Look for gaps or bottlenecks.
Invest in education through courses, coaches, or masterminds. Learning from experts will save you time and money. Not ready to invest cash? Invest your time. The internet is filled with resources that are valuable and free. Watch my free training 3-Step Strategy here.
Schedule time each week to work on your business, not just in your business. Dedicate time to planning, strategy, and growth. Add these time blocks to your calendar and stick to them 1,2,3 times a week as your business depends on them. It takes 3 weeks to build a new habit so stick with this, it will pay off!
Start small. Don't try to overhaul everything at once. Make a list of EVERYTHING you want and need to create and or improve in your business (usually this all comes down to your systems). Pick one or two areas to improve your systems.

Find an accountability partner. Share your goals and have regular check-ins to stay motivated. Join a community of like-minded people, or start one!
Celebrate small wins along the way. Changing your mindset and habits takes time but it's worth it.

The path forward requires a commitment to consistent action. When you focus on progress not perfection, your business will continue to evolve. Be patient with yourself and trust the process.

INTENTIONAL ACTION TO BUILD A BUSINESS THAT REWARDS YOU WITH TIME + FREEDOM:

Now to the creme de la creme of this post, below are the 4 main things that I did to take my business from surviving to thriving and when I doubled my income in one year. After hitting mid-six figures I replicated these 4 processes on a deeper level to hit multiple six figures many years in a row!

01 → Invest in Your Education

02 → Identify Weaknesses to Streamline Your Business & Develop Systems (with help if you need it!)

03 → Outsource and Delegate

04 → Build Your Brand

01 Invest in Your Education

I invested in my education early on, which was crucial to leveling up my photography skills and business strategy. After about 2 years in business, I hired an incredible mentor - Amanda Jones - who really showed me the ropes of running a photography studio. She taught me everything from styling tips, to managing clients, to pricing my work properly. I soaked up every bit of wisdom she shared!

Around the same time, I also started attending WPPI each year - the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International convention in Las Vegas. This was such an enriching experience where I got to network with photographers from all over the world, attend educational classes to improve my skills, and gain inspiration from industry leaders.

The combination of working with Amanda as my mentor and taking classes at WPPI were game-changers for me. My work improved tremendously over the next year. I also implemented many of the business, marketing, and management strategies I learned, which allowed me to streamline my operations. Investing in education gave me the confidence I needed to level up as a photographer and business owner. It paved the way for future growth and profitability. I highly recommend finding a mentor and investing in educational training early in your photography career. It will pay off exponentially.

02 Identify Weaknesses to Streamline Your Business & Begin Implementing Real Systems aka Start Leveling Up NOW

02a: Identify Weaknesses to Streamline Your Business

You cannot expect different results if you keep doing the same thing over and over again.

The good news is it’s totally possible to streamline your business and begin leveling up so you can set the foundation for growth and more profit RIGHT NOW.

Start by taking an honest look at your current systems and processes. What's working well and allowing you to be efficient? What tasks or workflows feel cumbersome, repetitive or draining for you?

Look for ways to simplify and automate where you can. For example, implement an online booking and payment system so clients can schedule their own sessions. Use batch image processing to speed up editing. Create templates for your most common communications.

The goal is to strip away everything that is inefficient or no longer serving your business. Delegate or outsource tasks that don't require your personal expertise. This not only saves you time but also clears mental bandwidth so you can focus on high-level strategy.

Strengthening your foundations now will pay dividends as your business grows. When your systems are robust, adding more clients or revenue streams is much more scalable. The momentum builds upon itself.

You've got this! Start leveling up today by taking small steps consistently to build better workflows. This will reduce frustration and put you in control of your business, instead of the other way around.

02b Begin Developing and Implementing REAL Systems

Implementing systems and processes (SOPs) in your business allows you to work more efficiently, avoid repeating tasks, and most importantly - provide consistency for your clients.

Some essential systems to develop are:

A client management system for streamlining communication, contracts, payments, etc. This could be a CRM software or even a simple spreadsheet to track details.
An efficient workflow from inquiry to delivery. Create checklists and procedures for each step. For example, have a checklist for your process from the initial inquiry call to signing a contract or a post-wedding workflow checklist for culling, editing, and delivering final products.
Template emails, contracts, invoices, etc. to systemize your communication and business transactions.
A detailed photography production timeline you provide to clients ahead of their session. This sets clear expectations.
An editing and post-production system with presets, filters etc. to streamline editing and ensure consistency.
Putting processes in place takes the guesswork out of daily tasks and helps you confidently scale your business. The goal with systems is to create consistency for your clients while increasing productivity and profitability.

03. Outsource and Delegate

Focus on your zone of genius, and hire help. One of the biggest mistakes photographers make is trying to do it all themselves. When you're wearing all the hats in your business, it's easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out.

The solution is to outsource tasks that don't require your creative genius so you can focus on what you do best. For example, hire an assistant to handle administrative tasks, bookings, and correspondence. Outsource editing to a professional editor so you can spend more time behind the camera.

Leverage virtual assistants for social media management, blog writing, and other marketing tasks. Free up your time and mental space by delegating repetitive tasks to reliable professionals. This allows you to focus on high-level strategy, creative work, and client relationships.

When you only work in your genius zone, you'll produce better quality work in less time. Outsourcing elevates your business and sets you up for growth. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but it's one of the best investments you can make.

04 Build Your Brand

To thrive as a photographer today and make an impact, you need to lead with your WHY and build an authentic brand that sets you apart. More than ever, people want to do business with people they know, like, and trust - not faceless corporations.

Focus on identifying your core values, unique perspective, and the change you want to create in the world. Then, infuse that consistently throughout your brand.

Think about:

- What makes your photography style unique? How do you connect with clients differently than your competitors?

- What change do you want to create through your work and business?

- How does your "why" inform the decisions you make for your business?

- How can you weave your core values into your content, visuals, copywriting, products/services and client experience?

Getting clear on your purpose and allowing it to shine will magnetically attract your ideal clients. It also provides a framework to confidently price your work and say no to opportunities that aren't aligned.

Your photography reflects YOU. So don't be afraid to make your brand distinctly yours. Prospects connect with the person first before the product or service. Give them insight into you as a creative entrepreneur and human being.

Let your brand tell the story of how you uniquely see the world and connect with people. That is how you'll stand out and build a sustainable business around your creative gifts.

I hope that each nugget in this post inspired you and got your mind thinking differently!

Just remember putting all of this into place takes time but is possible. If you are feeling stuck or in need of a roadmap to follow, I’ve got you covered.

Momentum Method, my 6-Phase Photography Business Roadmap and Group Coaching Program will help take you to the next phase. By learning and implementing the essential systems and workflows it requires to achieve a sustainable business model, you will finally be able to reclaim balance in your life and have clarity on your path forward, all while building a robust multi-six-figure photography business.

Click below to watch my FREE 15-minute session packed with transformative information you can put in motion today. All of my trainings are designed for individuals who want to reclaim work-life balance and thrive both personally and professionally.

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