Hey,

I'm curious how much time you guys spend on editing pictures, shooting, answering emails, meeting with clients, marketing, posting on osp, updating website, fooling around on the internet...(in percentages and/or actual hours).

What are the top priorities? Is it to get the already shot wedding edited, or to find new clients....etc

let me know.

would be real interesting to know what you guys say

Get the book:

http://www.davidco.com/video/index.php

For me:
My top priority is to enjoy life.
As far as business is concerned. When I book a shoot, I also book time on my calendar to do all of the things necessary to clear that client. Meaning all of the the steps from shooting to archiving to thank you notes get slotted time on the calendar.

Finding clients.... Well Starbucks is where I do most of that. That also ties into my top priority. I enjoy a good latte.

There are a lot of books out there that can give you advice.

What has worked for me is to be - lazy. If I am really organized than I can be lazy. If I always put things away, I don't have to spend time searching for things. If I do the things that I don't like to do first, then I can be lazy and not stress about it. If I spend time planning (at Starbucks), I can not worry about when I will have time to do things. I can be lazy.

Don't forget to make time for studying, learning, and researching. That way you too can be lazy.

-bill

Since most of my business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, I find it most important to work on posting the work I've already done, versus going out and looking for new clients (which I don't actively do). Emailing and processing are about 50/50 when I'm in the office on "work hours". Customer service is a huge priority for me because I want to make sure my clients have a great experience so that they can feel confident referring their friends to me. Surfing the net/Message boards/etc. are part of my relaxing time.

I think you need to prioritize what is important to you, and you have to decide how you want to run your business. My goal is to provide the absolute best service and experience to my clients so I spend a majority of my time catering to the current clients that I have. Like Anne said I make sure to quickly post my work from weddings, slideshow the next day for example. And I always answer e-mails and phone calls as quickly as possible.

Anne said it perfectly "Customer service is a huge priority for me because I want to make sure my clients have a great experience so that they can feel confident referring their friends to me."

Reading, research and practicing my photography is also very important; as well as building relationships with other photographers and vendors.

Like I said you need to determine what is important to you and what you want to get out of your business.