2024 - Another Year Done - Where will we go now.
Here I am a couple of days before the business end of 2024 thinking about all I have accomplished, all I have captured as a photographer, what I have done with them, how many satisfied customers I’ve had, how many potential customers I may have lost, why did I lose them, why did I get the ones that I did, what was the difference, should I change anything for 2025, what did I learn from 2024, is any of that relevant for 2025 and many other questions, some with answers some without. And I guess that may be the same for many other Freelance Photographers as well as other small businesses.
So looking back at the year what have I actually completed.
So 50 commercial shoots - plus a few freebies ( showing goodwill / marketing / giving back etc ), which included a variety of shoot types ( mostly Events but also Property plus some personal / family photography / AND a couple of school photography shoots - with some already rebooked for 2025 events ( which is always a good sign ).
Financially what does that mean - well my financial year doesn’t end until April 2025 so we have a further 3 months to go - indications are however that I will end the year based on this run rate, at a similar number to my last financial year end ( April 2024 ).
So what may be different in the next 3 months
Well I am just about to commit to a lose agreement ( initially anyway ), to renting a room as a Photography Studio in what is a Hair & Beauty Hub. This is partly a nod to my past in that I really liked having my own previous studios for many different reasons, BUT also being in the environment that it is, with a Sports Gym next door and Beauty business in the same Hub, it may be the key to new opportunity with good footfall already expected so advertising to these people and the other businesses which range from - Nail & lash specialists, To Laser Hair Removal, to Baby massage specialists, to up market Hair Salon etc etc, much easier to target those markets. That doesn’t mean that it may be all easy or straightforward BUT it does say opportunity to me.
New Calendar year - New Opportunity
As a business owner I like many other businesses, are always looking for opportunity - With that optimism comes a responsibility to assess what that opportunity really means - Yes it may initially require some expenditure for set up and Marketing, but that should not break the bank. As I’m getting older I’m thinking “ Lets see where this may take me for a couple of years “, and if the agreement remains flexible then getting out should not be as expensive as initial set up. BUT having said that I would never go into any potential opportunity thinking how to get out before it’s even started BUT as a business owner if you don’t have plans at least in the back of your mind to call upon should they be needed then that may well be foolish.
I hope everyone has had a Great Xmas and are ready for 2025.
Yes 2024 was not perfect with learnings for me including ‘ Reviewing my rates & charging, Reviewing my Styles & shoot types and applying that learning to how I will setup for 2025 & beyond.’
There is still a lot that I plan to do before retirement spends too long in my head, so to all Photographers and small business owners - Good luck in 2025 BUT don’t leave it all to luck, plans are required, with marketing a priority, relationships to build with other businesses and pricing and product positioning also key. Speak soon and Hello to 2025 ( in a couple of days time that is )..
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