Last spring during the middle of “peak” season, I often felt overwhelmed and actually dreaded answering my phone and reading emails from clients. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy shooting, I actually loved it, but running a photography business while working a full time was secretly draining me beyond measure. I felt like I was on an island with the hurricane in sight but had not taken the time to board up one wall of my business. I wasn’t nearly prepared for the storm of senior clients that would come my way.

Thankfully, I survived but not without a few snags along the way. But fortunately, I was able to salvage my business before I drowned in a sea of unforgiving clients.

This year, I decided to be proactive and face the storm head on!

Here’s my personal “Storm Guide” for this senior season:

1. Define your workflow: I personally use 17Hats Workflows and have incorporated by own workflow and wow has this streamlined my business!  This allows me to see the “big picture” of where I am in my business daily and make adjustments as needed.  The Client Management System can be found by visiting this link to 17Hats.

 

2. Become Efficient: Creating and using email templates for my business has saved me time and time again!  I can’t tell you how many times I would open my email and copy and paste the same verbiage from email to email- a little from this client- a paragraph from another- and the closing from another. Saving them and putting in one place allows me the freedom to send emails from practically anywhere in a few minutes versus 30! #minutesmatter

 

3. Utilize a desk or electronic calendar: Before I commit to even dinner with friends I check my calendar to pace myself accordingly and not over stuff my weekends. I’ve also learned to take time off for myself to rejuvenate.

 

With these Senior Storm Survival tips, I’m ready to take this Sea of Seniors by storm this year!  How will you survive your ‘senior storm’?

Be ready! My workflow and email templates are available to save you time!