Photographer’s Daily To Do List
I wish I could say I wrote the following photographer’s daily to do list, but I did NOT. The Ohio photographer, George Remington, whose work is at: www.georgeremington.com wrote this. Read the list carefully, to begin to get a better sense of all the things involved in being a professional photographer.
Though I should, I do not do all of the things listed, every day. Pay attention to the end. It is the best part.
• Read emails
• Answer emails
• Send new emails
• Network on Facebook
• Update my MySpace page
• Network on Linked In
• Network on Plaxo
• Read web forums
• Post on web forums
• Research consumer trends
• Research the next shoot
• Plan the next shoot
• Scout locations for next shoot
• Speak with talent for next shoot
• Add new images to web site
• Write new opinions on blog
• Upload images to blog
• Optimize website for search engines
• Add new links to website
• Add new images to Archive to sell prints
• Keyword images
• Caption images
• Study image sales data
• Retouch photographs
• Scan model’s release forms
• Add identifying photos to model’s release forms
• Upload model’s release form to Stock agency’s portal
• Upload low rez images to Stock agency’s portal
• Upload high rez images to Stock agency’s portal
• Archive photographs
• Find image that you promised to someone
• Retouch image that you promised to someone
• Post images on ftp for download that you promised to someone
• Make prints people requested
• Research web marketing strategies
• Make photo calls to ad agencies to beg for work
• Update email mailing list
• Update postcard mailing list
• Design and layout post card
• Send post card print order
• Buy stamps
• Address and mail post cards
• Send marketing emails
• Plan to teach photo seminar to supplement income
• Market photo seminar
• Teach photo seminar
• Speak to client about possible photo assignment
• Research possible photo assignment
• Create estimate for possible photo assignment
• Send invoices
• Pay invoices
• Research new available equipment
• Find out why camera is not working properly
• Order new strobe lamps
• Test new camera that just arrived
• Learn how to use the new camera that just arrived
• Repair cameras and equipment
• Sell old cameras and equipment on ebay
• Spend hours on phone with tech support to figure out why upgraded software doesn’t work
• Download and backup the 120 GB of images shot last trip
• View at 100% and edit and renumber (could take weeks)
• Backup your 6, 12 or whatever terabytes of data
• Double check all the missing keywords your agency did and write to them
• Register all images shot last month to the copyright office
• Organize and register published and unpublished analog file of 250,000 slides
• Update new software on computer
• Update new software on laptop
• Learn new Photoshop techniques
• Learn new web gallery techniques
• Learn new Lightroom functionality
• Learn new proprietary camera software
• Read about new computers you should buy
• Read about new software you should buy
• Fix broken computer
• Buy more data storage
• Update Digital Asset Management system
• Relax and think creative thoughts
• Take photographs
I wish I could say I thought of it, but I did not. I agree with everything he says and I aspire to do as many of the things listed, as best I can. The last two points had me doubled over in laughter.