Where do you spend your time?

Good point. I spend wayyyyy too much time on the 3rd and not nearly enough on the 1st.

Not sure how accurate this is. I did not know what units of time were being referenced.

What's your hunch

The last question... is it hours per week? Or hours per wedding? I assumed it was hours per wedding...

It's meant to be hours per week.

Well up until last week, I would have voted many more hours on the last one, but now I'm outsourcing it, and getting so much more quality time back. I'm now outsourcing post production as well as album design...and I do believe it's going to be the best decision I've ever made.

I'll have a better idea in a few weeks when I get the images back, but I'm very optimistic.

I am blown away by the first question! How can I be the only one that spends 20-25 hours a week working on attracting new clients? Thats madness! I am appalled that 60% do not spend any time on this! Wow! You guys' bookings must be coming from thin air!

Most of my marketing is word of mouth, most of my editing is done my Photographers Edit now, so most of my time is one the second one. I guess that's good. It allows me to keep my other job that I also love.

Well...had the poll been posted in December or January...I'm sure the number would be higher.

I concurr.

I have NO idea what I'd be doing in that regard that could fill up 20-25 hours... certainly not calling my 20 inquiries (haha) that week.

If you fully employ the principle of the 4 hr. work week, then it's MINUTES! Dang, that'd be sweet to only spend minutes editing. Wait...you probably actually do!

no adjustments for bathroom breaks?

I think the poll would have been much more useful had it been % of time instead of total time. For example, I spend about 5 hours a week, which is 30% of my time, "acquiring" clients, but I only work on photo stuff about 15 hours a week. Someone could be spending 10 hours a week "acquiring" clients and be spending a smaller percentage of their time on it if they worked 40 hours a week on their photo business. Who is putting more of their effect/resources into growing their business, me at 30% of my time or the other guy at 25% of his/her time?

I consider some of question 3 part of question 1. I consider my show it shows and blogging my marketing. So, the two questions cross over.

Point made. Thanks, DJ.

(PS - You forgot an option that lets me vote how much time I spend on forums..... )

Interesting me thinks a few adjustments are in order.

Hey there~
I really hope that when you get your stuff back you will post about it! I am interested in doing this.. outsourcing.. here is what stops me..
1. Insecurity. I feel like my photos have to be absolutely perfect for someone else to edit them! Some of my straight out of the camera stuff sucks, but * I * know what to do to bring it to life so to speak.
2. Will it have been worth the money.. will they do enough editing that I still don't feel the pressure of doing more editing after they have edited?
I would *so* appreciate any uncensored thoughts regarding outsourcing once you have done it!
thx!

I spend zero time on marketing. zero. Not even 5 hours. Yeah, I need to change this!

edit: when I say I wonder if they will do enough editing.. I don't mean run actions.. I mean if there is noise, clean it up, curves. etc

You forgot to ask how many hour a week of playing! Mine's 15 for me (I like to ride my bike), 20 with family.


I'm shocked almost 20% of respondents said they edit/make albums/fulfill orders for 30+ hours a week! Yikes! Given that more than half are shooting less than 6 hours a week that's kind of crazy. A good proportion of my work is portrait, commercial and other types of shoots that don't call for all that much editing but anytime my wedding editing gets crazy I just farm it out. Save yourself the stress and have someone else do it if you are working consistent 50+ hour weeks.
You definitely should be spending more time shooting and marketing and less time editing. I believe in a 40 hour work (including my travel time to shoots) so anytime I'm working less or more I make the appropriate adjustments. If I don't have any jobs I set up personal projects that pad my portfolio and I can show to clients. If my editing is crazy I farm it out. If I have too many client meetings...well, that's a good problem to have!