Building Systems That Actually Work for Your Photography Business

I've seen photographers spend an incredible amount of time researching software, setting up automations, and building elaborate workflows because somebody told them it was the best way to run a photography business.

And sometimes, after all that work, they're still struggling with the same problems they had before.

The trouble is that a system can work beautifully for one photographer and be completely wrong for another.

I joined Kim Beer on The Business Animal Podcast to talk about creating systems that support your business goals, rather than trying to make your business fit somebody else's idea of how things should be done.

Figure Out Where You're Going Before You Build the System

One of the things Kim and I discussed was how your vision for your business influences the systems you need.

For example, a photographer who wants to photograph 100 sessions a year is going to have different needs than someone who only wants to photograph 20.

The same goes for someone who offers in-person sales versus someone who uses online galleries. Both need a way to manage their clients, but the steps involved are going to look different.

And if you're running your photography business alongside another full-time job, your available time is going to influence how you schedule appointments, communicate with clients, and handle the work that happens between sessions.

That's why I think it's important to understand what you're trying to accomplish before you start building systems to support it.

Otherwise, you can spend an awful lot of time setting up processes that don't actually help you run your business.

What's Actually Causing the Problem?

Before deciding you need new software, take a look at what's not working.

Let's say you're constantly behind on client communication. Your first thought might be that you need a CRM with more automation.

Maybe you do.

But what if the real problem is that you don't have a consistent process for what happens after someone inquires? Automating a process that doesn't work particularly well isn't necessarily going to fix it.

You may need to figure out the steps first, decide what information clients need and when they need it, and THEN look at whether automation would make the process easier.

That's a much better starting point than buying software and hoping it solves everything.

Your Systems Need to Work for YOU

Kim and I also talked about the different ways people prefer to work.

Some business owners love technology and want to automate as much as possible. Others would rather keep things simple.

I use plenty of technology in my businesses, but I'm also a big fan of a legal pad and clipboard. If writing something down is the easiest way for me to keep track of it, that's what I'm going to do.

I'm not particularly interested in whether somebody's system is sophisticated. I'm interested in whether it works.

Can you keep track of what needs to happen? Does it help you avoid forgetting important steps? Does it make your work easier without creating another job just to maintain it?

And if you've spent weeks setting something up only to discover that you hate using it, you're allowed to change your mind.

Listen to My Conversation with Kim Beer

We talked about how business goals influence the systems you need, why there isn't one workflow that's right for every photographer, and how outsourcing or automation can help when they're solving an actual problem.

You can watch our conversation on YouTube or listen to the episode of The Business Animal Podcast.

If you're thinking about changing how you manage your photography business, it's worth figuring out what needs fixing before you spend your weekend setting up yet another piece of software.