Home Working Tips for Photographers

10 APR, 2020 | BY DYLAN YU

With the downtime across cities and many photo sessions coming to a grinding halt, we are all experiencing the affect of the COVID-19 with photo business. Studios were temporarily closed, bookings were canceled, and we were told to work from home.

In the center of any uncertainty and ‘pause’, especially at home, I understand how hard sometimes it can be. Rescheduling, handling complaints and dried up budgets can cause anxiety.

This article intends to help you be clear about the challenges that lie ahead and know what you can do to move forward.

Possibly A Different Working Situation

The outbreak of the pandemic has brought about the recession of world economy. As one of the service industry, photography business also won’t be exempt from the financial impact. Photography has been classified into non essential business, which have been stopped by health department and government in some cities and states.

‘I had to postpone my sessions. I do them in my home and in have 4 kiddos, youngest at 4 months. I can not risk it.’ said one of Kate Group members. Besides rescheduling your sessions, you should also anticipate the change in demand.

Set a Workspace in Your Home

It can be a big challenge for photographers when it comes to working from home is separating your daily life from work. If you used to working in the studio and there are requirements to finish the job in home, it’s time to set up a home studio or designated a space for sessions in your house. Otherwise, your work  and your home life may have impacts on each other. Entering a workspace will help you quickly enter the working state and raise your work productivity. If there are some questions on starting a home studio, please read: How Much Space Do You Need For Studio/Home Photography?

Take This Opportunity to Improve Your Skills

If you have to stop your business temporarily for some inevitable reasons, don't get depressed, get busy! You can absolutely take this opportunity to improve your current skills through online courses and try some New Ideas that you've never tried.Eliminate unnecessary subscriptions and expenses. Spend more time in researching light use and photo editing, in order to achieve better works after this time. Moreover, decrease unnecessary expenses and postpone the investment in new equipment to cope with income decrease and save the budget.

Check out Kate Blog Post for more inspirations!

New Working Habits

As the spread of COVID-19 is still happening, photographers need to adapt new working habits according to related personal protection management from health agencies and governments. As the virus can spread through contact infection, physical contact needs to be avoided for everyone’s sake. Also, you should be highly aware of what you and your clients are touching during the sessions, disinfect your equipment and studio and wash your hands frequently.

Check out An Open Letter to Kate’s Customers for more protection information!

Communicate and Share!

If you don’t usually work from home, chances are there will be some bumps in this time if you have to suddenly start your work at home. The key to resolve these bumps is communication—especially with your clients, partners and suppliers.

Plans can be easily changed in a time like this, You’ll also encounter some problems as you try to do your job in your home under limited conditions, such as lack of necessary equipment or compliments from clients.

Make a To-Do list, check out the coming plans and consider how you’ll convey changes or assignments. Don’t confine your communications to emails or text messages, try to talk with your clients through phones or video chat. Online face-to-face communications will better convey your ideas and explanations.

Please feel free to reach out to someone for help. You can always achieve inspirations, and new relations through share and communications in those familiar communities. And this will help you positively face the difficulty and uncertainty!

‘I know it feels hard now. We will get through this!’, said Arica Kirby 

Be sure to join our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/katebackdrop.au/. to share your experience with tag #StayHome, #working from home, #katefromhome. Please feel free to contact us by e-mail us: support@katebackdrop.com.au 

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