Earlier today as I was sitting at my desk I was checking things off of my to do list and looking at the clock assessing how much time I had before I had to leave to get to the pre-school to photograph my sons class for their Christmas portraits. That’s when it hit me. I am a BOSS, A small business owner who is accountable to no one but myself and the clients I book. I have a team who is great, they do what I ask and I pay them. I have follow up work in the pipeline, edits to finish, a schedule to follow and a marketing calendar to implement. THIS IS CRAZY. Who said I was allowed to grow up and have this awesome life. Now when I go to mailbox there are checks in there, from clients that have paid their invoices and really that feels great. I get recognized for my work and people like it.
I am no where close to where I want to be please don’t think I am. But I am VERY FAR FROM WHERE I WAS!!! I share this because I believe you can have your dream life too.
The Following are just a few tips that have served me well and helped me as I have grown into the business owner I am today .
- I think aside from knowing yourself KNOWING who you are not is also every important.
- Learning how to organize your time is HUGE, This topic is a blog post in itself, but for starters spending less time on Facebook and social media is a must. Yes that’s the future of communication but there are ways around it like HootSuite, Buffer and other sharing outlets. Also checking emails at set times is also a MUST, if not it will consume your life.
- Never stop learning. When I lost my 9-5 I enrolled in the local Community College. I figured I would take a few lighting and studio classes, I received a certificate in Photography and am getting ready to graduate this spring. This doesn’t include the side learning I have done and books and online workshops I have purchased while in school.
- Network with other photographers. This includes photo walks, Meet Up and Facebook groups. Since we are loners by nature we tend to forget that we do need to bounce ideas off of each other. I like shooting alone but a lot of times its not a safe idea. So having someone with you that understands the nature of the beast we call photography is always helpful.
- Budget. Budget. Budget. We are in a field that, lets face it, is very expensive. If you don’t plan accordingly you will go broke fast. So after your account for your expenses anything extra should be put towards gear and savings.
- Don’t listen to ‘those people’ but learn to take criticism. Many times people will always have SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR WORK. Its the nature of people to comment on things. Now if you are questioning if an image is good enough you probably already have your answer. If you want honest feedback ask 3-4 trusted friends and if you are getting the same feedback you know to go back and fix the problem.
Are you a business owner? If so how do you manage your time and task? Share you tips in the comments sections below.
