One of my fellow photographer friends -- Abby Grace -- who is SO talented and GORGEOUS by the way -- recently posted her Best and Worst practices for 2014.... I love how candid and honest her post was.... and I instantly wanted to share my own...
Let's start off by chatting about things that DIDN'T WORK!!!
1. Mailing System: Oh my gosh y'all.... 2014 was not the first year that my 'mailing system' wasn't on point... I think I've written before that one of my least favorite things to do is go to the Post Office... I really have no idea why... but I find it so time-consuming.
2. Blogging: This one is pretty obvious -- especially for those of you who are active blog readers... I even tried pre-blogging about 30 blog posts to get me 'caught-back up' -- and I still couldn't manage to get them posted... There are about 10-15 weddings that haven't been blogged and TONS of sessions and other things... Epic Blog Fail.
3. Filing: My filing system 'worked' -- but it didn't work as well as I like... especially with the move back home from the Studio... I'm pretty OCD and organized AND impatient.... so if I'm trying to organize something -- it has to be within CLOSE reach... so I realized I can't use any online systems for contracts/forms -- and I can't have my filing folders on the other side of my office... I need them right next to my desk... and I need to be able to hold the papers in my hands.
4. Scheduling: Oh dear heavens... So I have a max number of weddings I take on each year... and I'm VERY good about sticking to this.. I will NEVER take on a wedding just to fill up my books.... BUT... I completely dropped the 'book' on scheduling my sessions... I, without a doubt, overbooked myself last year with sessions and mentoring sessions... This year will be MUCH different.
So what DID WORK!?!?!?
1. Editing: I'm never one to 'boast' about things... it makes me feel weird.. but there is one thing I've always been okay talking about... and that's my love for editing... Although my blogging took a back seat this year... my editing certainly did not... My bride and grooms got their photos back somewhere between 2 days - 1 week following the wedding day... and my portrait sessions received their galleries either the next day or a couple days after their session.. I just really love editing!
2. Client gifts: I love sending adorable post-wedding gifts to my bride and grooms... just to say "thanks for sharing your day with me"... but this year - I had a goal to send a little something more... so I sent out some Christmas gifts as well... The feedback from my couples was great and I feel it showed them how grateful I really am!
3. The team: I know I've said this before but years ago I decided that I didn't want to continue looking for second shooters for every wedding... I wanted a TEAM... a team that consisted of people that my bride and grooms could count on and trust.. and I wanted this team to become a part of my brand... a part of Sharon Elizabeth Photography.... This year.. we definitely did that... I feel that we have created the perfect team and it's continuing to grow.. I never expected to be expanding the way that we are.
4. Expansion: And to elaborate a little more on number 3.... I've mentioned before that I have no desire to become a 'rockstar' photographer... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be growing... Even though I don't want to become an international wedding photographer or travel the world speaking... that doesn't mean that I want to stay complacent... I DO want to grow and continue getting better.. but like I wrote before... I love being home with my family... and expanding in a way that would allow my business to grow but still keep me close to home was a tough one... It was then that I announced the Associate Photographers Program... Because I trust my team and my bride and grooms trust my team -- this was a no brainer... and now we're even offering a super awesome photo-booth service. I'm excited to see where SEP is heading next!!! =)
Let's start off by chatting about things that DIDN'T WORK!!!
1. Mailing System: Oh my gosh y'all.... 2014 was not the first year that my 'mailing system' wasn't on point... I think I've written before that one of my least favorite things to do is go to the Post Office... I really have no idea why... but I find it so time-consuming.
2. Blogging: This one is pretty obvious -- especially for those of you who are active blog readers... I even tried pre-blogging about 30 blog posts to get me 'caught-back up' -- and I still couldn't manage to get them posted... There are about 10-15 weddings that haven't been blogged and TONS of sessions and other things... Epic Blog Fail.
3. Filing: My filing system 'worked' -- but it didn't work as well as I like... especially with the move back home from the Studio... I'm pretty OCD and organized AND impatient.... so if I'm trying to organize something -- it has to be within CLOSE reach... so I realized I can't use any online systems for contracts/forms -- and I can't have my filing folders on the other side of my office... I need them right next to my desk... and I need to be able to hold the papers in my hands.
4. Scheduling: Oh dear heavens... So I have a max number of weddings I take on each year... and I'm VERY good about sticking to this.. I will NEVER take on a wedding just to fill up my books.... BUT... I completely dropped the 'book' on scheduling my sessions... I, without a doubt, overbooked myself last year with sessions and mentoring sessions... This year will be MUCH different.
So what DID WORK!?!?!?
1. Editing: I'm never one to 'boast' about things... it makes me feel weird.. but there is one thing I've always been okay talking about... and that's my love for editing... Although my blogging took a back seat this year... my editing certainly did not... My bride and grooms got their photos back somewhere between 2 days - 1 week following the wedding day... and my portrait sessions received their galleries either the next day or a couple days after their session.. I just really love editing!
2. Client gifts: I love sending adorable post-wedding gifts to my bride and grooms... just to say "thanks for sharing your day with me"... but this year - I had a goal to send a little something more... so I sent out some Christmas gifts as well... The feedback from my couples was great and I feel it showed them how grateful I really am!
3. The team: I know I've said this before but years ago I decided that I didn't want to continue looking for second shooters for every wedding... I wanted a TEAM... a team that consisted of people that my bride and grooms could count on and trust.. and I wanted this team to become a part of my brand... a part of Sharon Elizabeth Photography.... This year.. we definitely did that... I feel that we have created the perfect team and it's continuing to grow.. I never expected to be expanding the way that we are.
4. Expansion: And to elaborate a little more on number 3.... I've mentioned before that I have no desire to become a 'rockstar' photographer... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be growing... Even though I don't want to become an international wedding photographer or travel the world speaking... that doesn't mean that I want to stay complacent... I DO want to grow and continue getting better.. but like I wrote before... I love being home with my family... and expanding in a way that would allow my business to grow but still keep me close to home was a tough one... It was then that I announced the Associate Photographers Program... Because I trust my team and my bride and grooms trust my team -- this was a no brainer... and now we're even offering a super awesome photo-booth service. I'm excited to see where SEP is heading next!!! =)
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