Book More Photography Clients Podcast
Episode: 5 Things To Batch in Your Photography Business So You Can Work Less
Host: Brooke Jefferson
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Introduction
In this insightful episode, Brooke Jefferson, a seasoned family photographer and business coach, delves into the art of batching tasks within a photography business to enhance productivity and reduce workload. Brooke emphasizes the importance of strategic task management, aiming to help photographers streamline their operations and achieve a more balanced work-life dynamic.
Understanding Batching: Productivity vs. Busyness
Brooke begins by distinguishing between being busy and being productive. She explains that while a busy schedule might feel overwhelming and scattered, productivity involves making meaningful progress towards business goals.
“How many times do you try to explain your life or your day as being busy? ... If you're productive, yes, you have a lot of things on your plate, but you're actually making progress.” (02:45)
Brooke stresses that batching—focusing on one type of task at a time—can transform chaotic workflows into efficient, manageable processes.
1. Social Media Captions
The first area Brooke recommends for batching is social media content, specifically captions. Instead of creating captions in real-time, which can be time-consuming and mentally taxing, she suggests dedicating specific days to plan and write multiple captions in one go.
“Instead of showing up four days a week to post in real time ... make your content for one month at a time.” (05:10)
Key Steps:
- Topic Planning: Identify themes and topics for your posts, such as behind-the-scenes glimpses, client testimonials, or educational tips.
- Content Calendar: Utilize a content calendar to organize and schedule posts in advance.
- Consistency: Batching ensures consistent posting without the daily hassle of creating content on the spot.
2. Client Emails and Templates
The second batching task involves client communications, including emails and templates. Brooke highlights the efficiency of creating standardized templates for various client interactions, such as booking confirmations, prep guides, and follow-up emails.
“Create a template that you can use where all you're doing is plugging in their name ... or create the entire email.” (12:30)
Benefits:
- Time Savings: Reduces the need to draft individualized emails for each client interaction.
- Professionalism: Ensures consistent and professional communication across all client touchpoints.
- Automation: Integrates with CRM systems for automated email dispatch.
3. Instagram Stories and Reels
Brooke addresses the demands of maintaining an active Instagram presence by suggesting the batching of Instagram Stories and Reels. This approach involves creating and scheduling video content in bulk, freeing up time and ensuring a steady stream of engaging posts.
“Batching your reels ... you can sit down in one setting, you're going to edit them, you're going to create text for them ... ready to go reels for you to just add a caption to.” (20:05)
Implementation Tips:
- Content Harvesting: Collect multiple B-roll videos during photo sessions.
- Dedicated Editing Sessions: Allocate specific times to edit and prepare videos in bulk.
- Scheduled Posting: Save drafts and schedule posts to maintain consistency without daily effort.
4. Client Prep Materials
The fourth batching focus is on client preparation materials, such as guides, checklists, and reminders. Brooke emphasizes the importance of having these resources ready to enhance the client experience and streamline post-booking processes.
“These are those big projects ... give yourself like one or two days to where you're 100% focused on knocking out these projects.” (27:50)
Advantages:
- Efficiency: Prepares essential documents in advance, reducing last-minute rushes.
- Professionalism: Provides clients with comprehensive and organized information.
- Scalability: Facilitates handling multiple clients without additional workload.
5. Editing Sessions
Finally, Brooke discusses the significance of batching photo editing tasks. By setting aside specific days solely for editing, photographers can significantly speed up their workflow and maintain higher quality standards.
“Find these blocks, you will actually shock yourself with how much faster you can get through editing your sessions.” (34:15)
Strategies:
- Dedicated Editing Days: Allocate specific days each week exclusively for editing.
- Workflow Optimization: Streamline editing processes to maximize efficiency.
- Focused Work Environment: Minimize distractions to enhance productivity during editing sessions.
Conclusion and Challenge
Brooke wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to implement batching in their businesses. She challenges photographers to choose at least one area to batch within the week, promising that even small changes can lead to significant improvements in productivity and work-life balance.
“My challenge for you is to choose one specific thing to batch in your business and get it batched this week.” (40:00)
Brooke's actionable insights provide a clear roadmap for photographers looking to optimize their operations, reduce burnout, and focus on what truly matters—delivering exceptional photography services and growing their businesses sustainably.
Final Takeaways
- Batching is Essential: Streamline repetitive tasks to save time and maintain consistency.
- Strategic Planning: Effective batching requires upfront planning and disciplined execution.
- Long-Term Benefits: Implementing batching leads to increased productivity, reduced stress, and a more balanced business approach.
By adopting these batching strategies, photographers can transform their business operations, allowing them to work smarter, not harder, and ultimately achieve greater success and satisfaction in their professional endeavors.
Connect with Brooke Jefferson:
- Instagram: @brookejanaephoto
- Email: brooke@brookejefferson.com
- Website: www.brookejefferson.com
This summary encapsulates the key points and actionable strategies discussed by Brooke Jefferson in her podcast episode, providing photographers with valuable tools to enhance their business efficiency and client engagement.