Introduction
Hey friend, let’s get real—running a photography business isn’t just about capturing those adorable family moments and editing photos in a quaint cafe. It’s about juggling emails, deadlines, social media posts, and remembering when you last took a break (seriously, when was that?). Managing all those moving pieces can be a little… a lot if you’re like me.
Enter Motion, my secret weapon for keeping everything on track without pulling my hair out. As someone managing three businesses (yep, three), Motion has been a lifesaver. Motion helps me organize, automate, and get stuff done. And if you’re curious about how it could help you—I’ll break it all down for you, and I promise, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
Oh, and speaking of saving time—there’s a course in the works called “Ain’t Got Time” that’ll help you streamline all these things, whether you use Motion or not. More on that soon!
Section 1: Do You Need Motion?
First things first—do you even need Motion? Well, if you’re constantly drowning in a sea of emails, missing deadlines, or wondering why you’re spending more time organizing your business than actually shooting photos, then yes, you might need it.
But hey, if you’ve got your life together with a good ol’ paper planner or a solid routine, more power to you! You can still make big improvements without Motion (hint: I’ll show you how in “Ain’t Got Time”). But if you want to automate, streamline, and make your business run like a well-oiled machine, Motion might just be your new best friend.
Section 2: How I Use Motion to Stay Sane
Here’s a peek behind the curtain at how I use Motion to keep my three businesses running smoothly:
- Weekly Task Dump: Every Monday, I start by brain-dumping my tasks into ChatGPT (yes, I’m obsessed) to get time estimates and priorities. Then I plug those tasks into Motion, where it works its AI magic, scheduling everything into my week.
- Photography Client Workflow: This is where Motion really shines for me. Every time a client signs a contract, I create a project in Motion with a repeatable workflow. There are three main stages:
- Onboarding: Includes reaching out to confirm the session details, coordinating wardrobe, location, and more. I have a studio manager, so it automatically assigns those tasks to him.
- Post-Session: After the shoot, it takes tasks like culling, editing, and uploading photos and puts them on my calendar.
- Delivery and Post-delivery: Motion keeps me on track with sending galleries, creating slideshows, and—bonus—sending thank-you gifts and following up for client feedback. This way, nothing slips through the cracks, and it’s all scheduled out automatically.
- Deep Work Time Blocks: I’ve learned that without blocking off time for deep work, nothing creative gets done. Motion helps me protect that time, so I can focus on editing, shooting, or creating new things for my businesses (like the upcoming “Ain’t Got Time” course).
Section 3: What If You Don’t Have Motion?
If you’re not ready for a tool like Motion, no worries! You can still get organized and save time with tools you probably already have. For example, I started by brain-dumping all my tasks into ChatGPT, getting time estimates and priority lists, and then just using a planner or a simple to-do app to manage things.
The best part? You don’t need fancy tech to get organized—you just need a system that works for you. And in “Ain’t Got Time”, I’ll show you exactly how to manage tasks and projects with or without Motion, because, let’s face it, some of us just want to keep things simple.
Section 4: The Pros & Cons of Using Motion
Now, let’s talk about the good and the not-so-good of using Motion.
- Pros:
- Motion automates all the stuff I used to do manually (hello, more time for creative work!).
- It makes sure I don’t forget anything, like sending thank-you gifts or following up with clients.
- I can customize my workflows to fit my photography business, and it scales as I grow.
- Cons:
- Setting up workflows takes some time upfront (but honestly, it’s no more effort than organizing your life in a planner).
- There’s a bit of a learning curve, especially when it comes to using all of Motion’s features effectively.
Conclusion
So, is Motion the answer to all your business woes? Maybe! If you’re struggling to manage the day-to-day operations of your photography business and want something to help automate and organize your tasks, try it. But if you’re looking for a simpler approach, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered there too.
Whatever path you choose, having a system in place is key. And if you want to dive deeper into how to streamline your workflow and save time, keep an eye out for “Ain’t Got Time,” coming soon. Trust me, you’ll want to be the first to know when it launches!
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