If I could give one piece of advice to photographers – a piece of advice that, I feel, would help them build a successful photography business – it would be to outsource. I wholeheartedly believe in outsourcing because I know from experience that we simply can’t “do it all”… and admitting this is NOT a sign of weakness. I remember reading a quote from Mary Marantz a while back that said something along the lines of “you can’t GROW your business if you never get out of MAINTAINING it” – and that’s SO TRUE!! There comes a time when you need to take a hard look at all of your responsibilities and decide which tasks you NEED to do within your business and what tasks you can let go of.
For me, I feel the need to handle direct client communications because I am so invested in my relationships with each client and I always want to be their point of contact throughout the process. I also need to be behind the camera because… well, I think that goes without saying. Currently, I personally edit 300-500 images from each wedding. These are the images that will be used for blogging, social media, the website, etc. and I feel that these images require my own personal touch because they are the images that will be the “face” of my business. I still handle blogging because it’s my voice and my vision being put out there. Same thing with my social media management. I still do all of that myself.
For everything else, I outsource! My AMAZING personal editor Emily takes care of all of the rest of my photo editing – and occasionally some culling. She is simply amazing and I don’t know what I’d do without her. I have a fabulous album design team that takes care of all of my clients’ album designs. I have an awesome bookkeeper and accountant who keep track of all of the financials for me. I have a cleaning crew + lawn care team to take care of my home. I have three part-time assistants that help me on the wedding day, as well as with computer work and Pinterest posts. I also utilize several computer programs that make my life so much easier including Tave, a studio management software program that I’d truly be lost without; CoSchedule, a blogging + social media scheduling tool; Later, a program for scheduling + posting content to Instagram; and Tailwind, a program for Pinterest posts.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily operations of your business, especially when you’re just starting out. But the only way you’re ever going to have the time and energy to really grow your business is to outsource! Trust me, you’re not alone if you’re questioning whether it’s the right decision for you. So many entrepreneurs struggle with outsourcing because they feel like they are giving up control. It’s scary, but it’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever done – and continue to do – for my business! Just start small and I am confident that you’ll quickly see just how beneficial outsourcing can be. Your time is precious, so free up some of it to focus on growth. It’ll be worth it, I promise!!
With a well-worn passport in hand, and an affinity for a good cocktail, Dana works with fun-loving and kind-hearted clients around the globe.
I met up with Dawn + Joey in February for their beautiful engagement session here in Charleston. They brought their two beautiful pups, Willow + Cricket, along for part of the session… and boy, did they have a blast at Hampton Park?!? I am totally OBSESSED with the photos of them walking together (below) because […]
Audra + Rahul’s beautiful traditional Indian wedding in Charleston was definitely one for the books. I absolutely LOVE everything about South Asian/Indian weddings… the colors, the attire, the music, the food, the traditions, the rituals, the family element, the dancing. There really is nothing like it and if I could specialize in shooting only South […]
From the very first time I spoke with Martha Camille, I knew that her Boone Hall wedding was going to be EPIC. I also knew that she was going to be a dream client for me – and she absolutely was! I love all of my couples, but it’s so extra special when someone has […]
When Martha Camille told me that she wanted to recreate her mother’s studio bridal portraits, I’ll admit… I was a little hesitant. I’ve never done studio bridal portraits before and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to bring her vision to life. As a creative, I love doing things that are outside of […]
2023 was definitely one of the best years yet for my business. I had the honor of working with so many fabulous couples, in so many fabulous locations… including Spain, Italy, and Hawaii! I feel extremely lucky that I was able to experience such a tremendous year of growth and travel. Here are some of […]
This colorful winter wedding at Sea Pines Resort was the perfect way to start 2024. On one of the coldest days of the year, Caitlyn + Mark said “I do!” on the iconic 18th lawn at Harbourtown Links, overlooking the Calibogue Sound. Surrounded by their closest family + friends, their day was everything that Caitlyn […]
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