How to Run a Photography Business on the Side While Working a Full-Time Job
I am a steady paycheck type of gal. I do not like waiting on my money, which is why I will probably never (never say never) go into photography on a full-time basis. The only way I will do that is if I have a man paying my bills or I win the lottery. Working a full-time job and running a photography business isn’t as hard as one may think. It’s easy if you set up some systems that can work for you while you work. Here are some tips on how to run a photography business on the side while working a full-time job.
The first thing is the light, especially in the winter months when that clock changes. It gets dark early, and you no longer have time on your hands to do shoots after work. All of your shoots will have to be on your days off. Luckily for me, I have Wed and Sundays off as my two off days a week. This gives me a chance to get all my regular clients on Wed (my influencers, brands, etc), and I can do my family and seniors on Saturday evenings (I get off at 2 pm) and Sundays. This schedule is perfect for me but if you only have weekends off I would pick one weekend day to schedule all of your shoots and the other day for rest. Do grocery shopping and other stuff in the weekdays if you can. Also, in the winter, look for indoor spots. You may have to use some extra lights but it works if you need to do it.
How do I find clients with no spare time? Word of mouth. It’s your friend. Blog posts and social media are like the 2nd best friend. 60% of my clients come from word of mouth. 30% comes from my blog posts, which I have SEO working for me in the back end for people who search. The rest comes from me just being at events and booking people on the strength of who I am and having my camera with me at all times. I have to this day (as of me writing this blog) have never gotten a client from social media, which is why I went private because it’s a waste of time to sell on there and I can just keep social for fun.
But editing takes up a lot of time. It does. Outsource it if you can. For me, I will edit during the weekday. I do not have little kids, so there are no after-school activities taking my time. I also have Instacart, which I will use if needed, and I eat a lot of leftovers. Basically, my evenings are free after work at least 3 nights a week, and I take those nights to edit. Now I may be up till 3 in the morning depending on my load, but it’s workable.
Focus on one thing a month to drive sales. Maybe one month, tell yourself to attend one or two events. Another month, focus on maybe offering mini sessions or quick deals to garner some attention. Another month, work on a project that aids in helping you learn your craft. Another month, learn something new. One thing a month to help you will make a world of difference. Slow and steady wins the race.
Set boundaries. My gawd, please do this. I take clients via email. If you are a regular, you have my number and can text me, but other than that it’s all email. I run my life on email and coffee at home. Email me what you’re looking for. Do not call me; text me…my clients know this. If you call me, I will look at the phone while it rings and text you back. My clients know that I can’t work on Saturday mornings, so if you are looking for a Saturday morning, I’m not the photographer for you.
You can be selective if you have a full-time job, and you don’t always have to sell sell sell. The good thing about keeping your job while pursuing your dream is that you’re not coming from a place of desperation.
Here are a few quick tips
- Have one weekend a month to yourself and don’t book anyone (unless it’s a huge client with coins)
- Keep your daily paycheck and side business separate. My photography money I don’t even see it goes straight into my savings account
- Don’t talk so much at your daytime job about your other job. The less they know, the better.
- If you are editing take that time to catch up on shows or listen to a podcast or audio book to learn
- Outsource and use Fiverr if you need to. It’s my go-to for quick things, and it’s cheaper than most.
