As promised in last week’s episode, i’m going to give you guys a weekly update of what i’ve been up to. Not because I think you guys want to follow my every move, but as an example of what someone running a photography business is doing day-to-day. This isn’t a guideline by any means (because i’m an imperfect and over-committed creative person with nowhere near enough time to complete every task I want to - which we all are) but a list of tasks / activities / actions of what i’m up to to move my particular business forward (or not as the case maybe some weeks), in case it helps you think of something you’re not doing, or jogs your brain in some way. Selfishly it’s also a way for me to hold myself accountable to doing something - anything- every day, so I can write it down here, in this diary.
I’ve been inspired by an Instagram i’ve been following, A Photographer in Real Life, who just writes out what he/she (they’re anonymous) has been doing that week. It’s so simple, and yet I find it so compelling. Showing the reality of some weeks just ‘nothing this week’ has really made me feel comforted, so i’m hoping to do something similar but with a little bit more detail, a little bit more insight, in case it helps you in some way.
EASTER MONDAY
The lighting for a shoot in Gloucestershire on Wed/Thurs this week isn’t going to arrive in time so messaging one of my assistants about hiring her lights and couriering them over to the client the next day before they leaves London at lunch time.
TUESDAY
Shooting the next two days so today I need to tie up loose ends and make sure I’ve got everything I need for the next two weeks as I’m travelling all next week too. So - lots of admin:
Ordered courier for lighting and equipment for this Gloucestershire shoot. Bought film and Super8 cartridges for shoot next week in Bermuda and chased the Super8 lab to see when the film for a job last week will be ready. Sent deposit invoices to 2 clients for upcoming shoots.
Finalised 2nd round of retouching for a job I shot 9 days ago in Richmond Park, which was very rainy / grey and cold. Updating skin tone issues, adding some lens flare and a golden feel to make it feel sunny.
Final retouching for an interiors project I shot in Jamaica in January for client.
Sent low res to client for fashion project we shot 7 days ago in Brighton (lots of rain again…).
I’m not going to be in the dark room for two weeks, which means the chemistry needs to be drained out of the paper processor before it oxidises or crystallises in the machine whilst i’m away. Emptying tanks, putting chemistry in air-tight containers. Cleaning tanks etc - takes about an hour.
PM - packing kit for this week’s shoot, heading home for kids bed and bath time, then driving down to Gloucestershire in UK for two nights - arrive 10.45pm.
WEDNESDAY
Shoot Day 1 - studio shoot, shooting High Summer collection with a repeat client.
Confirmed dates for next two Picture Papers. interviews over instagram DMs in lunch break.
PM - (in hotel room) sending low res straight over the the client from today as there’s a quick turn around and they need to paginate their lookbook. Editing Super 8 video for Richmond job - delivery is tomorrow but have Day Two of the Studio shoot so need to get it done this evening.
THURSDAY
Shoot Day 2 - starting at 10am, shooting Autumn/Winter with a different model from yesterday, but on the same set as yesterday so minimal equipment tweaking which is nice and relaxed. Get up for hotel breakfast, and journal before heading to set. Am planning an editorial and client shoot combo trip in Europe in early July, so writing out my intentions for that to clarify my hopes and plans.
PM - Drive back home for 10pm.
FRIDAY
Fridays I am (mostly) with my kids who are 2 and 4 years old but there’s always something to do. So, I send the high res selects from the Brighton shoot to retoucher for some light skin work, send out low res for the Autumn/Winter from yesterday and then try to ignore my emails until kids have a bit of quiet time after lunch. Until then - trampolining and playground time!
…and in the interests of transparency…
* THINGS I DIDN’T DO BUT SHOULD HAVE *
Send receipts to my accountant to get up to date pre-end of year accounts and VAT return. Sign a contract for a commercial shoot in May, finished hand-printing a test i shot in *January*, pitched July editorial. All will be pushed into next week… or the week after…
Thank you, Alicia! As always very helpful and makes total sense!
Hi Alicia, I really love this week diary thing, I find it very useful. I feel like I will start doing it myself (privately). Sometimes a week passes and I think I didn’t do a lot (and most of the times it is based on the assumption of ALL the things I wanted to do). But in reality there’s always some activity and some movement. Also a question: when do you decide to outsource your retouching and when do you do it yourself? Just based on client budget? Do some clients directly ask for images to be retouched by someone else? Thank you! 💛