Photography is not just a job; it’s a passion that captures life’s essence in a single image. In this media job post, we’ve spoken to sixteen professional photographers to give you an insight into what a typical working day entails. You’ll gain insights into their daily routines and the skills and qualities needed to enter this exciting industry.
Table of Contents
Coordinate With Clients and Edit
Most of my job as an elopement and intimate wedding photographer is spent in coordination and communication with my clients. Meaning, while photographing itself is the absolute best part of the job, most of my days are spent at a computer.
Between editing galleries, coordinating logistics, researching permits and hikes, and creating timelines, I spend time online. With the help of some incredible programs, I am able to streamline my daily activities and keep the wheels running smoothly!
Rose Groves, Photographer, Matlai Photography
Manage Studio and Post-Process
Since I’m a studio photographer, my day includes setting up my notebook computer so I can shoot tethered, charging up my controller/transmitter for my lights, setting the lights for my first session, and preparing props. After sessions, I load images into my primary RAID via Lightroom Classic, review them, crop them, adjust light and colour, and look for favourites.
Time permitting, I will do some editing in Photoshop, including using plugins like Portraiture, as well as applying color and texture using a system of Actions I developed in Photoshop. Amidst those activities, I may do some cleaning of the studio, reorganize backdrops and props, and contact clients and models.
Doc List, Photographer, Doc List Photography
Network and Craft Content
While most people only see photographers with a camera in their hand, most of my job actually takes place behind a computer screen. All of the photos I take need to be processed and edited out of their RAW form so that they match my style. But when I’m not editing, I invest most of my time connecting with new couples on a video call or writing content to continue my marketing efforts. Emotional intelligence and strong writing and communication skills are actually the bedrock of my business.
I need these traits to network with new vendors in my industry, connect with new couples, foster relationships with my current couples, create blogs that drive traffic to my website, and craft social media posts that connect with couples on the hunt for their perfect wedding vendors. So while you might think of a photographer solely holding a camera, the majority of the time I’m behind a laptop, talking to people in one form or another.
Christine Murphy, Wedding Photographer, Christine Hazel Photography
Balance Client Interaction and Editing
In a typical working day, I’m speaking with prospective clients, bidding on future projects, preparing for current projects, and editing images to deliver to clients. On a shoot day, there is no time available for any of these essential business tasks, so it’s important to take care of all pressing issues on non-shooting days.
The skills and qualities I use the most are responsiveness and adaptability. I’ve booked many shoots by being the quickest to respond and follow up with an inquiry and then adapting my skill set to the shoot the client needs accomplished.
In the commercial photo world, no two days are the same, as the scope of work, lighting conditions, and client expectations vary greatly from shoot to shoot. I recently photographed Canva Create at SoFi Stadium and spent the day before the event scouting the event spaces, previewing the speakers and performances, and finding the best locations to shoot from.
This extra level of preparation paid off with one-of-a-kind imagery that showcased the bold, colourful uniqueness of the event. This would have been harder to achieve without the proper preparation of the location scout and client walkthrough.
Jonathan Young, Photographer, Jonathan Young Photography
Prioritise Client Relationships and Organisation
The skills and qualities I use the most as a photographer go beyond just taking pictures. Staying friendly and having good relationships with clients is probably my most important skill.
On shoot days, I prepare my gear the day before and spend a lot of time talking to clients to understand what they want. When I’m not shooting, I focus on planning, organizing my schedule, and networking to find more work. Each day is different, and being organized, good at communicating, and staying flexible are crucial.
Krystian naja, Freelance Real Estate Photographer Videographer, Estate Motion
Focus on Business Management
I have met a lot of photographers. Most of them think that being a photographer is all about taking pictures all day, every day, which is far from the truth most days. I’m a landscape and nature photographer, so it is very important for me to plan out my shoots before I head out to shoot something, but also to run my business.
On most days, I’m mostly focused on running my business and making sure customers’ requests are being met, orders are placed, shipping notices are sent, my website is updated with fresh content, my accounting is done, and I could go on. The business of photography keeps the joy of photography going. If there is no business, there is no joy.
Daniel Forster, Fine Art Photographer, Daniel Forster Photography
Adapt to Varied Daily Activities
On a shoot day, it’s all about prepping my kit, making sure I’ve got fully charged batteries, cleared memory cards, and both cameras and all my lenses, lighting, and accessories before heading to a photo shoot. During the shoot itself, apart from the skills needed to be able to take great photographs, I’m mostly using my skills and qualities as a friendly human being to relax my subjects in front of the camera!
On edit days, it’s all about getting into the zone as I work through culling and editing the images I took down to a cohesive set of photos I can deliver. Here, I rely on my ADHD skill of hyperfocus to get the job done! And in between, it’s all about the admin and organizing and all the other bits that happen when you run a business, answering emails, and arranging planning meetings. I love that every day is so different, and that’s mainly why I do what I do.
Sarah Wayte, Copywriter & Brand Photographer, Sarah Wayte Creative
Embrace Photographic Diversity
A typical day working as a photographer simply does not exist—at least, not in my experience. Diversity is one of the best aspects of photography. Of course, certain tasks always come up, like post-processing my images, maintaining my websites, and posting on social media, but that’s all part of being a photographer.
For me, the most meaningful and fulfilling aspect of being a photographer is picking up my camera and chasing moments. And that is different every single time—even after more than 30 years of being a photographer—as photography is about embracing serendipity and preparing for the unexpected.
That’s how I approach every situation, whether it’s working with clients, roaming the streets, or photographing during my travels. Being open and ready for those moments that reveal the beauty and essence of being human is the most important skill a photographer can have. And then, of course, having the technical skills and creative vision to make those moments come alive.
Karin van Mierlo, Photographer & Educator, Photography Playground
Multitask Artistry and Business Operations
As both an artist and a business owner, I navigate a multifaceted role that spans beyond capturing images. From managing social media presence and marketing strategies to preparing detailed shot lists and maintaining and preparing equipment, I like to ensure every client’s event or session is seamlessly executed.
I use a variety of skills throughout my work as a photographer providing my clients with a high-touch experience that is unique to them. From digital uploads to mailing out film for processing, I manage every aspect of image delivery, offering clients a personalized experience that extends beyond the shoot itself.
Jennifer Nolan, Owner and Primary Photographer, Jennifer Nolan Photography
Split Workload and Manage Client Expectations
We are Nate & Mika, a husband-and-wife team, so the workload is split. Each day does look a little different, but for the most part, our day goes as follows:
- 7:00 Wake up & have coffee while responding to clients
- 8:00 Hit the gym/workout and get ready for the day
- 9:30 Have breakfast
- 10:00 Respond to clients & create posts on Instagram/Facebook
- 10:30 Wife sorts through photos
- 10:30 Edit photos & videos
- Client management throughout the day
- 14:00 Lunch
- 15:00 Work on website
- 17:00 Shoots
- Times change depending on the season, and we always aim to shoot at golden hour, the hour before the sun sets
- 19:00 Dinner/relax
- Over weekends, we usually shoot weddings, so we take it easy in the morning and usually begin shooting around 14:00.
Regarding skills & qualities that we use the most, I’d say that client management is a massive one, as you need to prioritize them as much as possible since photography is a luxury, not a commodity. We want our clients to have the best experience possible, and it starts with the booking process and not keeping them waiting the whole time.
A good eye for editing is also very important, as it is the thing that draws your potential clients in, and so you have to have really great work to show. Knowing Lightroom is massive, and not just relying on presets, but rather knowing exactly how to edit each photo in each scenario while being able to craft your own unique style.
Nathan Prahl-Andresen, Owner, Capture the Moment Photo & Film
Pre and Post-Production Efficiency
Every day is different as a working photographer, but more of my days are spent in pre- and post-production, ensuring that the client’s experience is flawless. To ensure a shoot goes well, proper planning is key. Asking the right questions, mood-boarding, creating a schedule and shot list, collecting props, and planning lighting setups are all part of the pre-production process. That way, when we step on set, we know that we are prepared to capture everything.
An efficient and effective photoshoot will gain trust with your clients on set. Where we shine the most is in post-production. I’ve been retouching for over 15 years and have developed processes that help not only ensure our client’s images look polished and eye-catching but also that move quickly so that they aren’t waiting for the final step of the process.
So really, for one day of shooting, I spend about two weeks of planning and post-production, which means most of my days are spent on the computer! Because of this, I value my organizational skills the most. Having organizational processes will give me confidence in a project as well as make all of the computer work maintainable.
Amber Andrews, CEO and Digital Artist, Andrews Artistry
Accommodate Last-Minute Customer Requests
Sometimes, you need to put down your inner ego and spontaneously shoot something entirely different than planned. Customers are professionals at having last-minute ideas. If you just tell them that it’s not possible and you should’ve been briefed, this won’t make a lasting impression. We rather have to put our egos aside sometimes, bite the bullet, and shoot some photographs that aren’t pushing us creatively to make the customer happy.
Damian Ruchti, Founder, kordial GmbH
Balance Editing with Client Interaction
A typical day working as a boudoir photographer is probably not as exciting as one would think! Most days are spent behind the computer editing photos, working on my website and blog, answering emails, and all the not-so-fun but necessary business tasks required to maintain a smooth-sailing and successful photography business.
On photo shoot days, I spend the morning going over my client’s contract and questionnaire to refresh my memory on the important answers she gave to the questions I asked. Then I tidy the studio while she’s in hair and makeup, and make a plan for the outfits for her session.
Then it’s go time, and the fun can begin with the actual photo shoot. I do same-day reveals, meaning I show my client her images on the day of her session, which keeps the excitement going while she chooses her favorite images and the portrait products she loves. A typical shoot day for me is about 5-6 hours from start to finish.
Melisa Ford, Owner/ Photographer, Melisa Ford Boudoir
Organise Business and Creative Tasks
People imagine a photographer’s job as very creative, forgetting that first of all, it is a business with everything that comes with it.
I created and try to follow my weekly calendar to keep things organized and my business running smoothly. Mondays are administrative days, as it is not very common for me to have shoots on Mondays. I start by creating a plan and tasks for the week, adding clients to the CRM, and booking time in the calendar for networking events, calls, and upcoming projects.
I also do bookkeeping, including logging receipts and updating my mileage journal for the previous week. I outline my marketing plan, plan themes for social media, and if there’s any time left, I work on time-sensitive tasks like editing. I try to keep half a day on Thursday just for marketing, so I have dedicated time for writing storylines, post descriptions, and shoot content. It is so easy to skip this part if you don’t have time dedicated specifically for this task.
The rest of the week is more fluid; I follow the main tasks I set up on Monday, and try to keep at least one day a week just for editing. I often work on Saturdays, so usually Wednesday is a day off.
If I have a day with a photoshoot scheduled, I start by double-checking my gear – I usually prepare everything in the evening and do a final check in the morning. I make sure I am on top of my communication with clients, ensuring they know where to go, what to bring, and any other necessary details.
I might go over a mood board for the shoot one more time just to feel more confident, then head to the studio or location for the shoot. After the session, I back up everything, making sure I have at least two copies of the photos, and start the culling process. Then, of course, comes editing. Depending on the photographer’s process, editing can take a huge chunk of time. AI tools have made our lives easier, but it is still a lot of work.
It might be surprising, but your photography skill doesn’t have that much to do with how successful you are as a photographer. The most important skills are marketing and business skills. It doesn’t matter if you take the most beautiful photos if no one sees them, and pricing your work too low will put you out of business in a couple of years; we see that all the time.
Finding Your Niche and Seasonal Changes
As a photographer and the owner of an elopement wedding service, my day functions generally the same every day, but varies some by season. Basically my life is centered around marketing and finding new clients. Most of it happens on its own, but sometimes you have to do new and more things to reach more people. Being self employed is always a thing that contains a lot of uncertainty.
On days that there actually are jobs, I have to make sure that my equipment is all working, in place, batteries charged, memory cards ready. Then go to the location, meet everyone, do the photos, hopefully (fingers crossed!) have a great time (but doesn’t always happen) and make amazing photos.
My advice for anyone wanting to become a professional photographer – at first, find other photographers in different niche markets and ask if you can shadow them, assist them, second shoot with them. Anything. Do ALL OF IT. Try it all: weddings, babies, elopements, portraits, real estate, headshots, senior pics, corporate parties, and shooting for a newspaper. If you find something you LOVE to do, because trying to say that you can do it all is just not realistic.
Elizabeth H Raley, Owner, Elope to Savannah
Plan Shoots and Capture Moments
When I’m out in the field, my task is twofold. Before my day begins—often, days or weeks in advance—I make a list of places I plan to go, and things I plan to photograph. These end up serving as my touchstones on the day of, a map of sorts. However, the real work is being able to translate those (whether via my eye, or via muscle memory through my camera or lenses) into shots that move me, and hopefully move others.
Robert Schrader, Travel writer and photographer, Leave Your Daily Hell
