If you are a photographer, chances are you are currently experiencing the hard blows that the pandemic has brought into your source of living. In a line of job where having close contact with clients as well as attending gatherings have temporarily been taken out of the picture, it is normal to feel anxious about the future of your business.
As bleak as the situation seems to be, however, there are always efforts that can be done to at least keep things moving. For the photography industry, not all of them may be income-generating, but hey, if you plan them well, every initiative can bring good to your business. Check out some of the things you can occupy your time with to keep yourself afloat.
1. Work on your backlog.
There’s no better time to finish your backlog more than now. Not being able to go out and shoot for new clients is a big drag, but at least you can focus on editing your already existing files without distraction! This way, you can start with a clean slate once all of this is over—and you can even leave some clients impressed by turning over their photos early! Consider this a good but subtle PR move. With how uncertain things are, no one can actually be sure how the situation will be once society starts “opening” up again. New clients might be scarce, so it’s best to give your current ones a little bit of extra to keep yourself on their radar.
2. Advertise yourself better.
Don’t have a blog? Maybe your website and portfolio need some much-needed updating. Roll up your sleeves and use the time to work on them. These efforts may not translate directly into quick bucks, but they can help make your brand work for you. If there is a time when advertising yourself is more important than ever, it is now. Launching a blog or revamping your portfolio can tell people of your expertise and help you build your authority in the industry. Create unique content that can tell people why you are unique in the niche. Get inspiration from what you see on social media. Many photographers and editors have been posting a variety of content like creating layouts from things they can use at home. Maximize the perks the internet offers. After all, it’s the window that keeps people aware of what’s going on outside while everything is still shut down. Take advantage of it.
3. Improve your skills.
When was the last time you actually had the time to refresh your skills? Just because you do not have any gigs doesn’t mean you should stop working on what your business offers. Be productive and finally finish that module you’ve left hanging or train yourself to do a new style of editing. Who knows? You might actually earn from offering a new skill once things are looking more helpful in the business front.
4. Be creative with what you offer.
Entirely creating a new slew of services might be tough, but if you are really set on generating revenue during this time, then you’ll have to think of new offerings that can help you earn. These things don’t need to be complicated at all—the key is to look at what is already working for you and your business and maybe taking parts of it that you can do in the comforts of your own home.
Obviously, you can’t go out right now to do actual shoots, but what if you offer to do some professional editing of images instead? So many people are being very creative at the moment and taking photos of their quarantine journey—reach out to them and ask if you can tweak your photos for them. Maybe even offer to curate the shots that they can use for an online photo album. How about offering to do a series of online seminars about photography? You can do one for couples who want to do their pre-nup at home or create a class teaching about how to take professional-looking photos using their mobile phones. The good news is that so many are being active in sharing content online now so there is actually a demand for these things. The possibilities are endless.
A lot of industries have taken a hard hit from the pandemic. And while it is easier to panic because everything seems up in the air, wise business owners are always looking for ways to be one step ahead of everyone. Don’t forget to be productive, regardless of whether your efforts can give you revenue or focus more on brand-building. Of course, you should also take the time to think about your future plans once operations switch back to being Business As Usual. Always have a plan for the worst-case scenario—for example, there is a high chance that you might still not get the same amount of clients because big events and gatherings might still be regulated. Do not be afraid to adapt. Your creativity (in the business-front) is important now more than ever.
