Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
See below for a janky version of the outline I used to make this video:
Business tips for working professional photographers
Effective use of time
The first tip I have - and I would say this is the second most important tip I have - is to follow the 80/20 rule which states that 80 percent of the output from a given situation or system is determined by 20 percent of the input.
So in other words: Don’t waste your time obsessing over little things like the color of the font on your website.
A lot of people do things like this to avoid doing the real work that will actually have results
Essentially its a way to rationalize you got stuff done today when you didn't.
There are a lot of great productivity tips out there, but I really feel that we need to identify what’s the most effective use of our time before we try to maximize our use of time.
Emails / Correspondence and how to convert inquiries into bookings
Always email people back right away
I have lost job opportunities simply by emailing someone back an hour or two after the email went through.
For most jobs, at least big corporate ones, the process will be slower and you are not going to be at risk of losing the gig if you don’t get back to them right away.
But responding quickly within reason shows you’re serious about the work.
And sometimes you may get the job simply because you got the ball rolling quicker than anyone else.
One reason people aren’t emailing back right away is because they get hung up on how to respond, what to charge, etc.
THE SOLUTION TO THIS is :You should Have a price sheet, a template response, but at the damn least know your rates!
Know your rates, write them down! (you do not want to panic price! Or worse delay and lose the job!)
ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT (and speaking of which, SEND IT RIGHT AWAY!)
Protects you
As much for them as it is for you (don’t be afraid).
Take a deposit (because let's be real, is suing ever worth it?)
AND SPEAKING OF CONTRACTS: send those right away too! Sometimes you’ll have multiple people within an organization tasked to find a photographer and more than one finds one, with the job going to the person that got the contract signed first! \
Itemize your pricing - within reason
Helps you to work within someone's budget without devaluing your services
If you lump price everything and it’s not in their budget 1 of two things will happen:
They go in another direction or
They negotiate- which now has you in a situation in which you are devaluing yourself.
But if you’ve itemized your services, your client is
Helps with any complications down the road
etc.
PROFESSIONALIZE the way you do things, from how you write your emails to how you conduct yourself. Show you know your stuff and you can dependably be worked with- that you’re a serious consummate professional
Its really important to WRITe PROFESSIONALLY No matter who the client is.
But to be clear: professional does not mean you can’t be personable as well.
I could probably make a whole video on the subject of how to write, but if you're looking to improve your writing game I recommend ____The Elements of Writing by Strunk and White
INSURANCE
To me, having insurance is worth the peace of mind. But more importantly you will need insurance in order to do certain jobs when venues require it.
Personally I have actually had to file a claim when I had a theft. And although Ive spent twice as much on my insurance than I received back in that claim- the peace of mind insurance has given me has been worth it.
But more importantly having insurance will protect you against liability and simply allow you to do certain jobs. Some venues or clients will actually require you to have it and when that comes up you don’t want to have to scrabble to try to quickly insure yourself in order to take the job.
Follow the links below to see my work.
mikmilman.com
Patreon | patreon.com/mikmilman
Instagram | @retrograding instagram.com/retrograding
Facebook | facebook.com/mikmilman
#eventphotography #eventphotographer #eventphotographyshottypes #eventphotographyshotlist #eventphotographytips #eventphotographytipsandtricks #howtoshootanevent
#eventphotographyshotlist #howtophotographanevent #professionalphotography #professionalphotographers
See below for a janky version of the outline I used to make this video:
Business tips for working professional photographers
Effective use of time
The first tip I have - and I would say this is the second most important tip I have - is to follow the 80/20 rule which states that 80 percent of the output from a given situation or system is determined by 20 percent of the input.
So in other words: Don’t waste your time obsessing over little things like the color of the font on your website.
A lot of people do things like this to avoid doing the real work that will actually have results
Essentially its a way to rationalize you got stuff done today when you didn't.
There are a lot of great productivity tips out there, but I really feel that we need to identify what’s the most effective use of our time before we try to maximize our use of time.
Emails / Correspondence and how to convert inquiries into bookings
Always email people back right away
I have lost job opportunities simply by emailing someone back an hour or two after the email went through.
For most jobs, at least big corporate ones, the process will be slower and you are not going to be at risk of losing the gig if you don’t get back to them right away.
But responding quickly within reason shows you’re serious about the work.
And sometimes you may get the job simply because you got the ball rolling quicker than anyone else.
One reason people aren’t emailing back right away is because they get hung up on how to respond, what to charge, etc.
THE SOLUTION TO THIS is :You should Have a price sheet, a template response, but at the damn least know your rates!
Know your rates, write them down! (you do not want to panic price! Or worse delay and lose the job!)
ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT (and speaking of which, SEND IT RIGHT AWAY!)
Protects you
As much for them as it is for you (don’t be afraid).
Take a deposit (because let's be real, is suing ever worth it?)
AND SPEAKING OF CONTRACTS: send those right away too! Sometimes you’ll have multiple people within an organization tasked to find a photographer and more than one finds one, with the job going to the person that got the contract signed first! \
Itemize your pricing - within reason
Helps you to work within someone's budget without devaluing your services
If you lump price everything and it’s not in their budget 1 of two things will happen:
They go in another direction or
They negotiate- which now has you in a situation in which you are devaluing yourself.
But if you’ve itemized your services, your client is
Helps with any complications down the road
etc.
PROFESSIONALIZE the way you do things, from how you write your emails to how you conduct yourself. Show you know your stuff and you can dependably be worked with- that you’re a serious consummate professional
Its really important to WRITe PROFESSIONALLY No matter who the client is.
But to be clear: professional does not mean you can’t be personable as well.
I could probably make a whole video on the subject of how to write, but if you're looking to improve your writing game I recommend ____The Elements of Writing by Strunk and White
INSURANCE
To me, having insurance is worth the peace of mind. But more importantly you will need insurance in order to do certain jobs when venues require it.
Personally I have actually had to file a claim when I had a theft. And although Ive spent twice as much on my insurance than I received back in that claim- the peace of mind insurance has given me has been worth it.
But more importantly having insurance will protect you against liability and simply allow you to do certain jobs. Some venues or clients will actually require you to have it and when that comes up you don’t want to have to scrabble to try to quickly insure yourself in order to take the job.
Follow the links below to see my work.
mikmilman.com
Patreon | patreon.com/mikmilman
Instagram | @retrograding instagram.com/retrograding
Facebook | facebook.com/mikmilman
#eventphotography #eventphotographer #eventphotographyshottypes #eventphotographyshotlist #eventphotographytips #eventphotographytipsandtricks #howtoshootanevent
#eventphotographyshotlist #howtophotographanevent #professionalphotography #professionalphotographers
