p.1 #1 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Do you ever get to a certain point in your season where you just feel like the amount of work you have ahead of you is insurmountable?
This is by far my busiest season to date - and for that I'm extremely grateful, but at this point, I'm scrambling to try and keep everything on schedule as far as post production and album design and delivery. I want to keep my clients happy but I feel like I am chained to the computer all the time.
Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with how much I have to do it becomes hard to even motivate myself to do the work. Do you guys ever feel this way? If so, how do you kick the blues and get moving again? Please, I need some help. Ideas?
p.1 #2 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Have you thought of getting help? Also, some album companies have design services.
Jun 12, 2008 at 11:28 AM
hassy501 Offline • • • • [X]
p.1 #3 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Hey Michelle, YES ! I'm feeling that way now.......it happens to me every season......just continue to plug away and edit every chance you get......take your breaks, don't let the workload deter from enjoying some time to relax......otherwise you'll get very frustrated.........if clients call asking about their images, let them know you are working on them and the second you are done with them you will let them know.........."quality takes time to produce".
I make my clients sign a notice stating that it takes 6 to 8 weeks to FULLY edit their wedding and deliver and post online proofs.
That takes the pressure off of me.
For ME, i have to not only edit my weddings, but also any daily walk ins to the studio.....business, senior and family portraits..................talk about pressure.....!!!
p.1 #4 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Today's photographers try to do to be everything and end up doing far too much. Unfortunately the control mentality can turn into an exhausting negative.
Outsource
Jun 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM
DavidWEGS Offline [X]
p.1 #5 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
I feel for you.
a few years ago, quite a few now, I realized my limitations. It began with the designing of the new fangled coffee table style books. I spend time on them and if I shoot more than about 30 weddings with books to design, I get overwhelmed the next season.
It seem inevitable that as the anniversary of year one approaches, that last years couples begin to think about their book. Then I get overwhelmed with requests for books and it happens right at the time I am busy shooting.
So, I limit my bookings now and always have time to deal with the results.
Hope you get a handle on it all. Don't throw your hands up yet, just do one thing at a time and keep up the good work.
Best, D.
Jun 12, 2008 at 11:47 AM
DavidWEGS Offline [X]
p.1 #6 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
cordellwillis wrote:
Today's photographers try to do to be everything and end up doing far too much. Unfortunately the control mentality can turn into an exhausting negative.
p.1 #7 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Depends on your definition of overwhelmed .. my current LightRoom folders needing final processing (quick PS trip) include two weddings, one from May 31 (609 files), and another from June 07(594 files), one commercial headshot portrait session from May 28 (32 files), three team basketball T&I & action shoots (205 files), an e-session from June 04 (182 files), and a children's fitness location shoot from June 10 (587 files).
Plus I'm bidding today on two commercial contracts .. this along with the usual day-today sending of invoices, emailing contact sheets, handling phone calls, and also finalizing the travel arrangements for an out-of-town shoot next week and contracting an upcoming commercial shoot.
And my wedding season starts in two weeks with 20 weddings scheduled between late June and early September, with another 5 sprinkled throughout the rest of the year.
Under no circumstances should you feel overwhelmed .. do not take on any more work than you feel comfortable completing in the time frame you & and your clients have agreed on. If there are demands for your services beyond what you can comfortably deliver, then start to raise your prices. Generally speaking don't work more that 10 - 12 hours a day.
Outsource at your own risk .. the only things you can really outsource are post-processing and album design. Remember YOUR name is the one on their contract.
I've often thought about the possibility of partnering with another shooter (or post-processor). My son assists me on some shoots and may be ready to take on some jobs of his own in a year or so. Give his old man a break
p.1 #8 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
here's what's worked for us.... 1) reduce your workload by raising your prices (good for a couple years). 2) Become more efficient in your workflow (I stay with one raw convertor that I've used for 5+ years - weddings are now processed in 40-60 minutes - used to take 6-8 hours/ know your keyboard shortcuts in PS). 3) consider a design source for some of your albums (we use 2 designers when things get crazy). 4) Restructure your wedding packages (pull a few hours coverage out - or get a 'kid' to shoot receptions for you). 5) Extend your turn-around time for final orders (our Albums take 12 weeks to 'deliver' - I can design/have printed + bound in 1/2 that time if needed). Been at this full time for years - but things were absolutely NUTS when I did 30 weedings per year(part time) and worked an outside full time job, and that was before digital... couldn't imagine doing that now!
p.1 #9 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
divide your work into smaller chunks and tackle them one at a time. Have a task list that is common for each wedding and check it off as you go. Take frequent breaks.
p.1 #14 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Shoot less. I am not trying to be a wise guy, I am serious. We tried it this last weekend with two weddings. We actually cut our images in half, it was fairly easy I just kept reminding myself I was using film today. Less images equal less workflow and less archiving. As digital photgraphers we all tend to shoot way to much and get killed on the other end.
Also, you absolutely must have some way to cool your engines. with out exaggeration I am putting in 16-18 hours 7 days a week. At the end of the day I use to just drop into bed, I know have built in a small amount of time to transition from working. Pick something that relax's you and helps to change your mental state. For me I am teaching myself guitar for you it can be anything. Working at home it is far to easy to never cool your jets and mentally be working 24-7, so learn to creat transitions and barriers to protect your sanity.
p.1 #15 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
I. Hear. You.
Seriously.
I could have written this post. Your description is perfect. We've taken on far more than we can chew (outside of weddings) and have actually had my assistant call 20 families and cancel their shoots (ranging from June appointments to November ones) just so I can breathe a little more.
I had a mini-stroke back in February, and even though they never pin-pointed the cause, stress is no help. And so I've needed to cut back just to keep me as healthy as I can be! But it's so difficult.
I make lists... I love striking things off. I even make sub-lists so that I can cross out STEPS in one particular project. I need to see forward momentum in order to stay focused and willing to keep going. But there are days when I get so overwhelmed that NOTHING gets done... which depresses me even MORE! *sigh*
Jun 12, 2008 at 09:17 PM
hassy501 Offline • • • • [X]
p.1 #16 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
cordellwillis wrote:
Today's photographers try to do to be everything and end up doing far too much. Unfortunately the control mentality can turn into an exhausting negative.
p.1 #17 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Unblinkable - I am obsessed with crossing things out. So funny you should say that! I have index cards that I keep tucked inside my planner that give me the day's "Must Do's." When I finally complete one, I cross it off. It's pure joy. Lately, I haven't been able to cross off as quickly as I'd like, and that drives me up the wall. I've always been a big fan of your work and it makes me feel better to know that even the best of us get bogged down sometimes.
The past few weeks have been hard. I caught a flu from a co-worker (I still maintain my day job until my studio can support me - hence the panic and work overload), and I was out of commission for a WEEK. I managed to shoot a wedding in the middle of it, which really ran me down and caused me to be sick longer than I needed to be. It wreaked havoc on my schedule and it was tough to get back into the swing of things. Hence, why I feel overwhelmed at this point. I've got this weekend off (thank god!) and I hope to bang out a lot of the lingering things. Next weekend I've got a BIG wedding and I want to have a clean slate going into it. We'll see how clean I can get it. Maybe I should buy a cappuccino maker.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and input. I don't have a ton of money at the moment, so I cannot afford to outsource much at all. The other problem is, I have a problem with sending out my color correction and album designs. I feel like a client chose me for my eye and design sense, and they should get ME. Besides, I'm a graphic artist at my day job so I actually ENJOY album design. I get to kill two birds, so to speak, working on both of my passions. The problem is, I'm tied to the computer. So, I have some decisions to make.
I bought myself a Mocha Latte with whipped cream and sugar tonight and managed to cross off a few things. I feel a bit better now, but will try and pace my schedule for next year a bit better, to give me some "nothing to do or think about doing" time. We definitely all need that. Best of luck to everyone else who's feeling the pressure.
p.1 #19 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Rbf311 wrote:
I am obsessed with crossing things out. So funny you should say that! I have index cards that I keep tucked inside my planner that give me the day's "Must Do's." When I finally complete one, I cross it off.
Of course you do - it's a girl thing.
Not meant to be rude - most of us guys depend on the wife making lists to keep us organized!
p.1 #20 · Feeling Overwhelmed. What do you guys do?
Corojo wrote:
things were absolutely NUTS when I did 30 weedings per year(part time) and worked an outside full time job, and that was before digital... couldn't imagine doing that now!
Tell me about it....I haven't even been able to finish restructuring my new site because every night getting home from full-time job means eat dinner fast, turn on MacBook Pro and get to work!
