Amy Koughan - Time Management Tips For Freelancers

One of the biggest challenges that Amy Koughan faced when she embarked on her career as a freelance photographer was managing her time so she could provide her service, market her business and deal with the administrative tasks that come along with the work. Freelancers who fail to do this will find themselves missing deadlines and allowing work to accumulate, so consider these pointers if this is an area where you need to improve.

Keep A Schedule

Your memory may be great but it is not immune to slipping. Keep this in mind as you start to take on more work, as it can be very easy to forget about small tasks that are important to your clients. Keep a written schedule that defines all of the tasks you need to complete in your working day and stick to it as closely as possible.

Eliminate Distractions

There are so many distractions that can pull your focus away from your work. Many freelancers make heavy use of computers, whether it is to do their work, find new clients or communicate with existing ones. Those fifteen minutes that you spend browsing Facebook takes away from time you should be dedicating to your work, so exercise some willpower and eliminate distractions.

Understand Your Limits

New freelancers can often feel uncomfortable saying “no” to clients, which results in them taking on more work than they are capable of doing. Amy Koughan understands her limitations and will be clear and polite with clients when she is unable to take on more work. Endeavor to do the same if your schedule is full.
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Amy Koughan - Tips For Budding Photographers

Amy Koughan has enjoyed a passion for photography since she was a young girl and has dedicated her life to developing her skills. She delights in working with amateurs and new professionals alike to help them to do the same. “Anybody can become a good photographer,” she says. “All it takes is a passion for the art and the dedication needed to develop your technical abilities.” Of course, everybody has to start somewhere, so these tips are intended for those who are picking up their cameras for the first time and wish to develop their skills.

                                   

Choose Equipment Wisely

A lot of new photographers make the mistake of buying the most expensive equipment on the market under the assumption that it will serve their needs. In truth, most novices should budget themselves and consider the sort of photos they wish to take before investing in any equipment. Spending too much at this early juncture could result in you resenting the purchase if you struggle to develop your skills, plus you may find that a lot of the features your expensive camera has are lost on you until you get better.

Extra Memory Cards

Most photographers start out with digital cameras as they are cheap, efficient and convenient. The memory card that comes with your camera will be able to hold a lot of photos, but you will soon start to find that this space ebbs away, especially when the camera is on its highest settings. This may result in a situation where you find the perfect picture, only to discover that your card is full. To avoid this, always make sure that you have a back-up or two spare so you can keep snapping away.

Experiment Often

Much of the joy of photography comes through experimentation. While there are a lot of useful techniques that you can learn to improve your skills, many of which can be found online, you shouldn’t feel constrained in any way when pursuing the hobby. Experiment with different lighting and angles. You never know, you may end up finding a technique that you really like, allowing you to come up with photos that are unique to you.

Be Patient

“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” says Amy Koughan “and neither were my photography skills.” The point she is making is that it often takes a lot of practice and patience to develop your skills as a photographer. In can be easy to look at your early efforts and allow them to dissuade you from pursuing the hobby altogether. This would be a waste of the talent that you have. Instead, treat every photo that you take as a learning experience and don’t be afraid to ask for help from others.

Amy Koughan - Entrepreneurship and the Photography Business

Many successful freelance photographers, such as Amy Koughan, became profitable in their careers by planning and managing their small businesses efficiently and effectively. There are some essential points that all photographers who are planning on running their own business need to contemplate before getting started.

When starting a small business, the freelance photographer should familiarize herself with all legal recourses necessary, such as state, federal, and local tax filings. Small business should be set up as such, and the photographer would be wise to learn about limited liability partnerships and incorporation to determine which process is best for her situation. The photographer then needs to get the word outabout her business and offerings; this can be done through social media and through meeting and networking with other small business owners and local venues.

There are also challenges that must be overcome in regards to customer contracts and relationships. Many professional photographers struggle to deal with the legal aspects of contracts that many clients may not fully understand upon signing. Extra efforts may be needed to help walk clients through the contract step by step, which can be time consuming and frustrating. Finding the right computer and automated programs for small business can often help alleviate these issues.

Amy Koughan and other freelance photographers who have grown their own small business have found great satisfaction in what they accomplish on a daily basis. Their creativity and final works of art allow them to take pride in their skills and talents, and what they have offered to the community at large.

Source: http://femaleentrepreneurassociation.com/2014/04/building-a-photography-business-2/
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Amy Koughan - What to Know Before Becoming a Freelance Photographer

Successful freelance photographers, like Amy Koughan, quickly learned what was required to become a professional photographer, and adapted their skill set to achieve that goal. Although the idea of being a freelance artist, beholden to no one, is an attractive concept, the reality is that it requires dedication, hard work, confidence, and little luck to make it a profitable career.

 The number of individuals who have become freelance artists was estimated in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Labor as around 10.3 million. That amount increased over the last decade, with more than four million freelancers in 2013, according to a group from Economic Modeling Specialists. Many freelancers have risen above these numbers by employing smart approaches to their business. Finding a specialty rather than trying to be or do too much in photography is more likely to bring in business, and thereby create success. It’s also important for photographers to be aware of the competition in their market and also the demand that market clamors for. 

Amy Koughan and other profitable and prominent freelance photographers know that talent is only one aspect of success; many talented photographers never see commercial success because they do not develop the necessary business acumen to promote and sell their work. Marketing one’s work is vital, as is stating costs clearly and upfront, and getting all contracts in writing and signed. This means that photographers need to learn how to bid and price jobs so that they don’t price themselves out of the market, but do make a profit for their talents and skills.

Source: http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/07/11-things-photographers-wish-they-knew-before-going-freelance/