Being a photographer is more than just having a fancy camera and an eye for aesthetics. It’s a profession that requires passion, creativity, and dedication. Let’s delve into what my daily routine looks like as a photographer, exploring the challenges, rewards, and the sheer joy of getting the best shot.

Mornings and even the night before a shoot often involves organizing equipment, ensuring that the camera, lenses, and other accessories are clean, charged, and ready to go.  This way I’m always prepared when a client shows up for their shoot.

Depending on the type of photography, the mid-morning to afternoon period is dedicated to photo shoots. When I’m shooting portraits this may include checking out how the lighting looks and collaborating with the client.

During shoots, I’m exhibiting my interpersonal skills. I need to be able to communicate effectively with my subject, making them feel comfortable and giving them direction on which ways to pose.  Plus, I must demonstrate my technical expertise, adjusting camera settings, framing shots, and experimenting with composition to achieve the best end result.

Once the shoot is complete, I’ll head back to the office with my client.  Then, we will look at and select the best shots.  Oftentimes after selecting the best shots, the client will leave and that’s when the editing magic happens.

Editing can be a time-consuming task, requiring meticulous attention to detail.  I’ll usually start using Adobe Lightroom to adjust colors, contrast, exposure, and other aspects to create the desired aesthetic.  Next, I will take the photos into Adobe Photoshop to take out imperfections and stray hairs.  After I’m done editing I upload the photos to Google Drive or Dropbox and then send the client an email with the linked to the finished photos.

When I’m not preparing, shooting or editing photos I’m working on the marketing and the administration side of my business.  This includes marketing, client communications and managing an online presence.  I’ll often spend time updating my portfolio, creating blog posts and working on my search engine optimization (SEO).  Working on my SEO ensures that I can be found when potential clients are looking for a photographer.

All in all, a day in the life of a photographer is far from ordinary. It is a blend of artistic vision, technical expertise, and marketing acumen. From the evening and morning preparations to capturing the best shot, from post-processing magic to managing a thriving photography business my job is never done.