One thing I have a hard time admitting over the years is that I struggle wearing multiple hats. It’s SO easy to just think about your photography and that is the only thing that goes into your business. Especially when you are a newbie photographer and still trying to define your style. It’s very hard, ladies and gents, and it doesn’t always come easy.

I want to talk to all of you about being MORE business oriented and the reason why is…if you only focus on your photography and neglect the business side, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Being accountable is a mindset and when you are your own boss, you set your hours. You have to be determined to make sure your books are up to date and that you are making good decisions for your business. It’s easy to stop and say you don’t have time. It’s easy to take more pictures and book more couples. That’s the FUN part of the business. Here are some things that have really helped me over the years and have CHANGED my business for the better.

Make a list

• Ladies, I know this sounds so elementary and simple but it’s a game changer. When you start the day and think about the things you need to accomplish, it can be overwhelming. The first thing I do when I wake up is make a list of EVERYTHING I need to accomplish. If that’s editing, I write it down. If that’s laundry, guess what? It goes on the list. By the end of the day you are going to be surprised at how many MORE things you can accomplish. It’s also pretty satisfying to start crossing things off your list.

Find a way to stay organized

• This is something that I really needed in my business. I am so old fashioned and LOVE paper and pens…and LISTS! but I was losing track of phone numbers, addresses, client paperwork, and I felt like I was losing control. I then signed up for 17hats. WOW, ladies it changed the way I do business. All of my contracts, questionnaires, invoices, and payments get sent through this program. It also keeps a record of ALL my clients and allows me to see when I have an unread email. When I make an appointment on the calendar from 17hats, it syncs with my calendar on my phone making it NEARLY impossible to miss things. I am now able to track all payments, forms, and make sure that I am the best business woman that I can be. Not only that, it makes you look so much more professional when you are taking the accountability to make sure your documents are all together. Trust me, your couples will notice when you are not all together! There are so many programs or ways to get organized…make sure to research what works best for you!

Reward yourself 

• This is something I feel like we need to pay attention to. Most of you know, I work a full time job on top of spending 20 to 30 hours a week on my business. Ladies, I am busy but one thing I do really well is make sure to reward myself. When I come home from work, I normally have editing or emails to catch up on. I spend my weekends taking pictures and coming home and getting those to the clients. There are points when I need a break. I make sure I listen to my body. If I feel overwhelmed I put things on hold and take a break. Sometimes that is reading a book, watching Netflix, or honestly just talking with Ben for a little while. What you have to realize is that if your “cup” so to say is empty…you can’t give back to work, or your business, or even your relationships. You have to take time for you and reward yourself. When I get something done, I will immediately cross it off the list and give myself a 15-20 minute break. By doing this, it makes working so much easier. I don’t exhaust myself over my list and push myself to get it done unless I am rewarding myself for my time.

Guys, it’s hard work to own a business BUT it is so rewarding to be able to do what we do. Just keep working. Don’t worry about everything you have to do. Make a list, find a way to stay organized, and reward yourself. You are going to find that when doing these three things, you are going to have a business that’s not a stressful and way more productive.