magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Hi everyone

A little over a year and a half ago I started a little photography business taking photos of horses and events. It has grown so much so quickly it's starting to get away from me.

When do you say it's time to get some help.... that won't cost t he earth. I was thinking of photography students who might need experience in editing and shooting at events.
I am fussy with my work but it's too much for me as I'm booked up until end of year and almost fully booked up until March.
I have had to refuse jobs quiet a few times as I am already booked on those days.
I have just finished editing 5000 images from last weekend and posting 85 % of them .Already having sold 4 lots of images to riders before all photos were posted today.

How does everyone keep up with shoots and orders.... it's very over wealming at times.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Kellie

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Congratulations on your success.
Your business has grown like that because of the high quality of work you do, both with the camera and in post. A question to ask is, will the photography student be able to maintain that quality? And will the photography student bring the same passion and commitment to the job that you bring?

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Thank you Mac
That is a fear I have but on the other side I can teach the student my fussiness and eye to detail so I can take them on board as a second photographer if I keep growing bigger.

I have been booked to work along side a very well known respected photographer at a big job which I am very pleased but surprised at. Thank you.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Will you spend too much time going over everything that a student does? Will you spend too much time training and will a student meet your expectations?
Kind of a good dilemma to be in, Congrats.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

A student or intern won't be very helpful in the beginning, as they generally just help you carry gear. It takes time for them to learn your style and work their way into shooting for you.

You can get them to do some light editing for you, and that may free up some of your time. But again you are checking on their work until they get to know your style and that takes time as well.

If you need to immediately free up some time, you have to hire a photographer. This would be someone who has a body of work you already like. Pay them per job. You may not make a whole lot off their work, but you turned down less jobs and build a reputation for quality and service.

Of course you can also farm out your editing, there are companies out there that can do it at a reasonable price. This would also free up more time to shoot and take more assignments. You could also hire an office manager who manages your assignments, website purchases and maintenance. They can also be your main customer interface. This will free up some time for you.

I just want you to understand, there are a lot of budding photographers who work cheep or free for the experience, their work will reflect their inexperience. In the end they will cost you time, you won't gain any. I am not down on interns, in fact I am for them. But if you expect to immediately free up time to take more jobs, you won't with an intern. They take a time investment. Free is never free!

Good luck, let us know how it goes. BTW you have a problem most would love to have.......being too busy!

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

Ok Im no pro , just a budding amateur who loves photograpy but one thin that struck me in your post was - 5,000 images from last weekend - isnt that a huge amount ?? perhaps a bit more selective culling could cut processing time down significantly ??? what are the chances that even at 85% keeper rate you really need to edit post that amount ??

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

One more thought. Double your prices. You'll cut your work in half but bring home the same amount. You're obviously in high demand.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

You might consider hiring a Photoshop/LR/NIK geek rather than a shooter. By hiring just a shooter you will be training a competitor in the long run.

amehta Loc: Boston

Excellent suggestion! A number of pros, especially wedding photographers it seems, outsource their post processing. I was told by one that LR has an "export with preview" type feature specifically for this.

amehta Loc: Boston

When you can afford to pay an assistant, or to pay someone to do some of the work, it may make sense to hire them.

When the employee/vendor can do some of the work which is "inefficient" for you, freeing you to do what is efficient, then it is time to do it. For example, if you can hire someone to do the post processing at a lower total cost, you can spend more time shooting, where you are more likely to be stronger.

I've been watching a few CreativeLive videos on photography businesses, it can be very helpful.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Good recommendation!

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Not a well thought out idea! You are assuming he will retain 50% of his business, which statics do not bear out. I may agree with ramping up your pricing, but doubling is not very smart!

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

He's swamped in a specialty market and is considering hiring someone, which is going to take time, the cost of hiring and the cost of training. Let's just say he needs to find his niche's breaking point before he goes that route.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

He needs to find the market clearing rate for his services. In a slightly free market economy such as ours we do not set prices, we take them. Also don't make the mistake of only thinking of one solution, when in fact there are many. Its far cheeper to outsource PP work than to hire an assistant. If he does this he can slightly increase his cost to cover the PP work and retain most of his customer base.

I will say however that he will need to either cull the images better, because sending 5K images to PP will be cost prohibitive.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

:thumbup: