As creatives and as photo business owners, we often rely on getting out of the house to work on our craft. But it turns out there are quite a few things you can do for your photography business without ever leaving the house.
Although going on adventures and photographing outside might seem more ideal, there are lots of ways you can stay productive and work on your photography business from home. Here are a few ideas you can implement any time the weather isn’t cooperating, when you need to rest between project, or during other times you might need to stay home.
1. Organize your Lightroom catalog or photo archives.
Sorting through your collection of images can seem like a daunting task. Take this down time to organize, cull, self-critique, keyword, and backup your photos. A good way to get started is to set a goal to go through a certain number of images or folders per day over a set number of days. Determine how you want to organize ahead of time so that you can be consistent as you begin the work. At the end of each day, you’ll be able to see measurable progress!
2. Update your website.
Keeping your photography website fresh and up-to-date is so important and yet so often neglected. Use this extra time to go through each page of your website and determine how you can improve it. Grab a notepad and make notes as you work through each page, sketching out ideas for new wording, fresh layouts, or updated imagery. Write new content, blog posts, and upload new photos to your galleries.
While you are looking things over, check for formatting or spelling errors. Because sizing and formatting can vary, don’t forget to also preview your website from your mobile devices, including your phone, tablet, and laptop.
3. Review your business and marketing plans.
When was the last time you sat down and really mapped out a business plan? Even if it was recently, did this period of downtime change those goals? Once restrictions are lifted, what is your plan moving forward? Take a moment to consider who your target market is, and map out a plan for what you can do to reach them. Set aside time in your days to build a stronger social media strategy. Make time to actively engage on social media to organically grow your following. Create a newsletter and email list to keep in touch with your followers directly.
4. Make photo books.
I love making Blurb books using Adobe Lightroom. Photo books can be great gifts for friends and family who are also stuck at home and missing spending time together. Personally, I make a large annual photo book as well as a photo book for each of our vacations. My mother-in-law loves to receive copies of these books as well! You could also create photo books with your photo assignments, 365 projects, Click Pro set, pets or favorite landscape photos.
5. Review what you’ve learned.
Dust off old workshop, breakout or other e-learning materials and see what you may have missed the first time around. What ways have you improved since first learning the materials? In what ways can you continue to improve? Many workshops offer alumni groups on social media where you can continue to post for feedback or find a partner to work through materials together. This is the perfect time to reach out and connect with other photographers.
6. Make a results list.
I recently read Girl, Stop Apologizing, where author Rachel Hollis recommends that rather than using a to-do list, you make a results list. Results lists have specific and measurable actions that end in a desired result. Take a look at your current to-do list and see how you can change it into a results list. Need to organize your office? Then list out the tasks it will take to get to that result. Your first step should be to identify the result that you would like to achieve and then you can create a step-by-step plan to accomplish that action.
6. Inventory your gear.
Record the serial numbers and models of each photo gear item you own. Collect receipts in a folder on your hard drive. Send this list to your insurance company to be sure all your gear is covered in the event of a catastrophe. If you are in business, your gear most likely needs to be on an independent policy, but hobbyists can typically cover their gear under their homeowner’s insurance policy.
7. Give yourself permission to rest.
Things seem scary and stressful right now and your emotions might hide themselves in unrecognizable ways. While there are certainly ways to be productive with more time at home, it is just as important to allow yourself down time to handle unfamiliar emotions.
I have found that taking a morning walk and practicing restorative yoga help clear my mind and balance out my feelings. In the afternoon, I like to make a cup of mint tea and spend a few minutes with a fiction book, losing myself in a good story.
Consider the compassion you would offer to a friend, and offer it to yourself.
You might like: Why taking a break from photography can be good for you
While these times and experiences are unlike anything we have gone through before, we can find ways to not only stay safe and healthy but also continue to feel productive and inspired. You can work on your photography business without leaving your home… or, you can use this time to rest and recharge.
Photos by Jennifer Carr
More ways to work on your photos or photography business from home:
28 Unexpected places to create amazing photos at home
9 Creative products to get your photographer energy flowing
The great indoors: 6 Pro tips for photographing interiors
How I used photography as therapy to heal after a traumatic life experience
6 Unexpected ways to use window light to add magic to indoor photos
