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VO LU M E 1

CONQUER
Y O U R D AY :
DESIGN AGLOW’S

PRODUCTIVITY
TIPS

D E S I G N A G L O W. C O M
 WELCOME

Th i s S u cce ss Gu id e is d e d icate d to the i ndustri o us pho to graphe rs who are the

b a c kb o n e o f De s ig n Ag low, al l ti re l e ssl y wo rki ng toward maki ng the i r busi ness
b e t te r, eve r y d ay a n d in eve r y way.

We co m p ile d t h is list o f o u r own pro ducti vi ty hacks--bo th mo nume ntal (take an

h on e st inve n to r y o f yo u r fr ie n ds) and mi ni scul e (use drawe r o rgani ze rs)--that add
u p to lo t s o f re cla im e d t im e and e ne rgy. No t to ge t al l O prah o n yo u, but De s ign
Ag l ow wa n t s to h e lp yo u a ch i eve yo ur be st l i fe. G o o d habi ts, be st practi ce s, and
s m a r t sh o r tcu t s fre e u p b ra in space i n and o ut o f the studi o, so that yo u can
con ce n t rate o n b ig t h in g s like cre ati vi ty, f i nanci al f re e do m, and what yo u’ l l cook
for d i n n e r to n ig h t .

Wh i l e we re co m m e n d in co r p o rati ng mo st (o r al l ! ) o f the se sugge sti o ns i n yo ur life,

j u st l i ke eve r y p ro d u ct we cre ate, the se ti ps are custo mi z abl e to yo ur si tuation.
Con s i d e r t h is list a P S D file o f so rts; thi s advi ce i s co mpl e te l y e di tabl e to f i t your
ow n wo r k a n d life st y le.

So g o fo r t h a n d g e t o rg a n ize d! Le arn a new co mpute r sho rtcut, dri nk mo re water,

f i g u re o u t w h at t im e s o f t h e day are mo st pro ducti ve fo r wo rki ng o n bi g pi cture
t a s ks . P la n a p a cka g in g st at io n and cre ate so me new e -mai l si gnature s. We know
you ’ l l u se t h e se id e a s to a cco mpl i sh gre at thi ngs.

Love,

D e s i g n Ag low
We’ve done things the hard (slow, painful, inefficient) way
so that you don’t have to. Here are Design Aglow’s 50 most
productive suggestions to maximize YOU:
 A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
everything in its place

C H O OS E A N I NT U I T I V E P LACE FO R ALL YO U R ST U FF...AND T H E N

K E E P I T T H E R E . Fo r exampl e : w h en yo u wa lk in t h e d o o r, yo u u s u a lly d ro p
you r keys , p u r s e /wal l e t , an d p h o n e o n t h e co u n ter to p. B u t w h en yo u ’ re b u sy,

1 you occas i on al l y p ar k you r st u f f o n t h e kitc h en t a b le, yo u r d es k, o r even yo u r

b e d . So wh e n i t ’s t i me to l e ave t h e h o u s e a g a in , yo u ’ re s ea rc h in g in 4 p o ss ib le
p l ace s for you r n e ce ss i t i e s . C reate a la n d in g zo n e- - a b ea u t if u l b ox o r n ice t ray
wor k s --an d n eve r waste t i m e s ea rc h in g fo r t h es e lo st item s a g a in .

C LE A N YO U R CO MP U T E R DE S KTO P! H ere a re o u r b est p ra c t ices : d o n ’ t

ke e p fol d e r s d i re ct l y on you r d es kto p, b u t in a s ep a rate fo ld er o n yo u r h a rd
dr i ve (s u ch as “ D ocu m e n t s ” ) . I f yo u n eed q u ic k a ccess to s o m et h in g , yo u c a n
2 cre ate an al i as for i t to ke e p o n yo u r d es kto p w it h o u t h av in g a n im p a c t o n
yo u r comp u te r ’s s p e e d or p e r fo r m a n ce. N eed s o m e ex t ra d es kto p o rg a n iz at io n?
Ch e ck ou t t h e wal l p ap e r i n cl u d ed in t h e St u d io Wo r kf low A ss ist a n t .

AS S O O N AS YO U DOWN LOAD IMAG E FILE S TO YO U R CO MPU T E R,

O R GA N I Z E T H E M! D on ’t p u t t h em o n yo u r d es kto p (s ee t ip #2) . F ile t h em
3 im m e d i ate l y i n t h e ap p rop r i ate fo ld er, a n d ren a m e t h em . Fo r ren a m in g , we like
to u s e t h e n am e of t h e c l i e nt _ m on t h /ye a r, like “s m i t h _ 0114_ 001.” L ig h t ro o m o r
Br i d g e m ake s t h i s p roce ss e a sy.

O R GANI Z E YO U R E MA I L INTO FO LDE RS WIT H IN YO U R MAIL

P R O GR AM. A s you ch e ck yo u r em a il, f ile it away in to a system t h at wo r ks fo r
4 yo u , l i ke “In P ro g re ss,” “A rc h i ve d,” “ M a r ke t i n g,” etc . I f yo u u s e G m a il, yo u d o n ’ t
eve n n e e d fol d e r s ; i t s p owe r f u l s ea rc h f u n c t io n a llows yo u to f in d A N Y TH I N G in
yo u r arch i ve wi t h j u st a cou p le o f keywo rd s .
 K E E P A T I DY O F F I C E . Tim e s p en t s ea rc h in g fo r s u p p lies , p a p er wo r k,
packag i n g , e tc. i s t i m e --an d m o n ey- -wa sted . I f yo u n eed to c lea n yo u r o f f ice,
pu t on e d rawe r (or on e cor ner ) at a t im e o n yo u r to - d o list u n t il yo u r en t ire
5 sp ace i s cl e an . We f i n d i t h e lp f u l to h ave a n em p t y d es kto p, a n d o n ly p u ll o u t
the f i l e /d ocu m e n t s /p roj e ct yo u a re c u r ren t ly wo r kin g o n ( a n d p u t it away a s
soon as you move on to you r n ex t t a s k) .

D R AWE R O R GANI Z E R S ARE YO U R B E ST FRIE ND . I KE A h a s m a ny

6 a f ford ab l e op t i on s , an d t h ey a re inva lu a b le!

PU R GE . If you d on ’t n e e d it /a re n o t s u re w h ere to p u t it /c a n ’ t f ile it away,

the n i t ’s l i ke l y n ot u s e f u l to yo u . Do a s m a ll c lea n u p ea c h d ay o f u n n ecess a r y
7 fil e s , p ap e r wor k , an d anyt h i ng els e t h at h a s a cc u m u lated s o t h is p ro cess w ill
neve r b e too ove r wh e l mi n g !
 U R BEST LIF
YO E

CL E AN HOUSE WI T H YO U R FRIE NDS H IPS (AND NOT JU ST ON

FAC E B O O K ! ) . R i d you r s e l f o f a ny tox ic p eo p le w h o o n ly a d d n eg at iv it y to

8
you r l i fe. Su r rou n d you r s e l f w it h p eo p le w h o en co u ra g e yo u a n d a re s u p p o r t ive
o f you r l i fe an d you r b u s i n ess . Ta ke J im Ro h n ’s q u o te “ Yo u a re t h e avera g e
o f t h e 5 p e op l e you s p e n d t h e m o st t im e w it h ” to h ea r t , a n d c h o o s e yo u r
re l at i on s h i p s accord i n g l y.

G O T H R O U GH AL L YO U R MAIL IMME DIAT E LY AFT E R CH E CK ING IT,

9 STANDI N G AT T H E R E CYCLE B IN.

O U TS O U R C E B E YO ND P H OTO E DIT ING . D o n ’ t like to d o la u n d r y? H ate

c l e an i n g you r h ou s e? Hi re s o m eo n e els e to d o it . S ay yo u r b u s in ess is n et t in g
you $50 an h ou r. Is i t wor t h s p en d in g yo u r t im e at m u n d a n e, ter r ib le t a s ks if

10 you can h i re s ome on e at yo u r rate to d o it fo r yo u ( a n d t h ey en joy d o in g it ) ?

Take t h at h ou r you ’d s p e n d o n la u n d r y a n d wo r k o n s o m et h in g els e fo r yo u r
b u s i n e ss , s u ch as h avi n g co f fee w it h a lo c a l n et wo r kin g co n t a c t o r m a kin g
a t r i p to on e of you r favor i te lo c a l b o u t iq u es to d ro p o f f b u s in ess c a rd s a n d
m ar ke t i n g mate r i al s .

CH O OS E YO U R S N AC KS WIS E LY. Fat c h a n ce t h at d o u g h n u t is g o in g to

11 m ake you more p rod u ct i ve, reg a rd less o f h ow a m a z in g it w ill t a ste. Co n s u lt t h is
list of 100 s mar t food s for i d ea s ( w h o kn ew t h at p lu m s a re b ra in fo o d ? ) .
 DO N ’T WATC H T V A I MLE SS LY. Reco rd yo u r fave s h ows o n DV R , o r a ccess
12 t h e m on d e man d vi a N e t f l i x o r a n o t h er s er v ice. B o n u s : yo u c a n fa st - fo r wa rd (o r
s k i p ! ) com m e rci al s al tog e t her.

STA R T DR I NK I NG MO R E WAT E R (E S PE CIALLY DU RING T H E WINT E R).

13 Be i n g d e hyd rate d --i f you ’re feelin g t h ir st y, yo u ’ re a lrea d y t h ere!- - d ra in s yo u r
e n e rg y, mak i n g you l e ss p ro d u c t ive.

TAK E A DVANTAGE O F AMAZO N’S FANTAST IC PRIME ME MB E RS H IP

TO R E C E I V E F R E E 2 - DAY S H IPPING O N MILLIO NS O F PRO DU CTS , a n d

14 u s e A mazon ’s Su b s cr i b e an d S ave p ro g ra m to s c h ed u le rec u r r in g p u rc h a s es o f

n e ce ss i t i e s l i ke p ap e r towels , to ilet r ies , a n d d o g fo o d , w h ic h w ill a u to m at ic a lly
s h i p to you r d oor at a d i s co u n t o f 1 5 % .

L E A R N TO SAY N O. Lot s o f p eo p le p rea c h it , b u t ver y few a c t u a lly p ra c t ice

i t . In ste ad of i mm e d i ate l y say in g “ S u re! I ’d love to ” w h en s o m eo n e a s ks yo u to
com m i t you r t i m e to a p ro jec t o r c a u s e, m a ke yo u r a u to m at ic rea c t io n a kin d
15 b u t f i r m “ C an I t h i n k ab ou t it a n d g et b a c k to yo u ? I ’ m p ret t y s c h ed u led r ig h t
n ow.” Th e n g i ve you r s e l f p er m iss io n to s ay “ t h a n ks fo r t h in kin g o f m e, b u t I
can ’t comm i t to s ome t h i n g els e at t h e m o m en t .” W h ic h is a rea lly n ice way o f
s ayi n g n o.

U S E YO U R CO MMU T E TO YO U R ADVANTAG E . L isten to a u d io b o o ks t h at

are m ot i vat i n g an d cre at i ve, s o a ll o f yo u r t ravel t im e is n ’ t s p en t a n g r y at t h e
16 d r i ve r i n f ron t of you or s co o t in g away f ro m t h e p er s o n s it t in g TH I S C LOS E to
you on p u b l i c t ran s p or t .
 I NV E ST I N YO U R C R E AT IVE S PIRIT BY K E E PING AN O NG O ING FILE

17 O R P I NT E R E ST B OAR D W IT H YO U R INS PIRAT IO NS . Th is w ill s ave t im e

in t h e f u t u re wh e n you are t r y in g to co m e u p w it h n ew id ea s .

G O O F F T H E GR I D. Be i n g rea d ily ava ila b le to ever yo n e’s S OS m ea n s t h at yo u

have l e ss t i m e for you r s e l f a n d less t im e to b e c reat ive. P ic k a d ay ea c h week

18 to s p e n d s ome t i m e com p l e tely f ree f ro m tec h n o lo g y ( t u r n o f f yo u r p h o n e, TV,

comp u te r ) an d i nve st i n yo u r p er s o n a l en erg y. G o fo r a wa lk, ex p lo re a n ew
p l ace, an d d o s ome t h i n g you wo u ld n ’ t h ave d o n e h a d yo u b een tex t in g .

WANT TO P I C K U P A N EW S K ILL? C h ec k o u t ly n d a .co m to lea r n at yo u r

19 own p ace an d ke e p u p wi t h o u r in d u st r y ’s tec h n o lo g y.
 R U L E YO U R C O M P U T E R
tips, shorcuts & more

ST R E A ML I NE YO U R T I ME S PE NT O NLINE . X m a r ks is a n in ter n et b rows er

ad d -on t h at store s an d c ateg o r izes yo u r b o o km a r ks . L a st Pa ss is a b rows er

20 ad d -on t h at re me mb e r s a n d a u to f ills yo u r p a sswo rd s . I f yo u s p en d a lo t o f

t i m e on t h e i n te r n e t ( l i ke we kn ow yo u d o !) , t h e s eco n d s s aved w ill s o o n a d d
u p to h ou r s .

O P E N A N Y A P P O N YO U R CO MPU T E R WIT H O NE K E YST RO K E . F in d

21 f i l e s wi t h a s i n g l e cl i ck . S eem s to o g o o d to b e t r u e, b u t A lf red fo r M a c a n d
L au n chy for P C make i t h a p p en .

DO N ’T L E AV E YO U R E -MAIL O R S O CIAL ME DIA O PE N IN T H E

B AC KGR O U N D WH I L E YO U ’RE WO RK ING O N T H E CO MPU T E R; IT ’S
J U ST DI ST R AC T I NG. C hec k yo u r e- m a il 2-3 t im es a d ay at s p ec if ic t im es
( u n l e ss you ’re wai t i n g for s o m et h in g s u p er im p o r t a n t ) . STAY O F F Fa ceb o o k.

22 Un l e ss you ’re s p e ci f i cal l y in tera c t in g w it h c lien t s , c h ec k Fa ceb o o k 2-3 t im es

a d ay s o t h at you d on ’t get s u c ked in to watc h in g 20 v id eo s o f g o at s eat in g
D or i tos . To t u r n i t al l of f, dis a b le yo u r in ter n et a ccess w it h F reed o m, a b rows er
b l ock i n g ap p t h at l ock s yo u o u t fo r u p to 8 h o u r s at a t im e. B e g o n e, p ia n o
p l ayi n g cat s !

F O R E DI T I N G A L A R GE NU MB E R O F IMAG E S , U S E LIG H T RO O M. I t ’s
faste r t h an P h otos h op. It ju st is . I f a b atc h o f 20 im a g es h a s t h e s a m e co lo r
23 cast an d l i g h t i n g , you can a d ju st t h e f ir st im a g e a n d t h en co py a n d p a ste t h e
ad j u st me n t s to t h e n ex t 19 im a g es .

U NS U B S C R I B E TO O N E E MAIL LIST PE R DAY. W h o n e e d s a l l t h a t

24 digital clutter?
 B AC K U P YO U R F I L E S I MME DIAT E LY. We c a n ’ t st ress t h is en o u g h ; it m ig h t
b e # 1 on ou r l i st of t i p s for a ll t h e p o ss ib le h ea d a c h es ( a n d lo ss o f t im e a n d
m on ey) m i ss i n g f i l e s can cre ate. I m a g in e t h e g ia n t w ren c h in yo u r p ro d u c t iv it y
w h e n you h ave to ex p l ai n to 20 c lien t s w hy yo u c a n ’ t o rd er t h eir im a g es .
25 B EC AUSE YOU HAV E TO R ETA KE TH E M. I n a d d it io n to h av in g a s p a re ex ter n a l
hard d r i ve t h at b ack s u p auto m at ic a lly, a n o n lin e b a c ku p s o lu t io n is a g reat ,
wor r y f re e ( an d h an d s -f re e) a p p ro a c h . Th ere’s a m u lt it u d e o f o p t io n s , b u t we
like C ar b on i te.

D E V E LO P A SYST E M S O T H AT ALL FILE S --B OT H IMAG E S AND

T E MP L AT E S - -A R E F O R MAT T E D T H E SAME . Keep yo u r d at a o rg a n ized by
26 incl u d i n g t h e d ate i n t h e t i t l e to en s u re yo u h ave t h e co r rec t wo r kin g f ile (s ee
o u r “s m i t h _0114_001” s u g g e st io n in t ip #3 ) .

LE A R NI N G K E Y B OAR D S H O RTCU TS FO R PH OTOS H O P AND OT H E R

P R O GR A MS C AN I NC R E AS E PRO DU CT IVIT Y 10 0 FO LD. S h o r tc u t s a llow

27 you to swi tch b e t we e n tool s ef f ic ien t ly, t h u s c u t t in g d ow n o n d es ig n t im e. Tr y

t h i s on e for q u i ck l y p l aci n g p h o to s in to a c lip p in g m a s k:
M AC : Op t +A l t +G ; WI N DOWS : C t r l+ A lt + S h if t + E .

USE E - MAI L S I GN ATU RE S TO RE S PO ND Q U ICK LY (AND

AU TO MAT I C A L LY ) TO F RE Q U E NT LY AS K E D Q U E ST IO NS . C u t a n d p a ste
28 you r re s p on s e s i n to a s i g n at u re tem p late, t h en a p p en d t h e tem p late to yo u r
re p l y s o you d on ’t h ave to t y p e o u t t h e s a m e p a ra g ra p h 5 t im es a d ay.

U S E A WACO M TA B L E T I NST E AD O F A T RACK PAD O R MO U S E ! O n ce

29 you g e t u s e d to i t , you ’l l m ove t h ro u g h yo u r ed it in g p ro g ra m s o m u c h m o re
q u i ck l y. You r wr i st wi l l t h ank yo u to o .
 T HINGS DO
E T NE
G

DO I T N OW! He re ’s ou r r u le: if yo u c a n t a c kle a t a s k in u n d er 2 m in u tes , t h en

d o i t . R IG HT N OW. W hy l e t lit t le t h in g s p ile u p ( like d ir t y c lo t h es) , w h en yo u

30 can t ake care of t h e m i mm ed iately? Res p o n d to t h at e- m a il w it h a yes o r n o.

P u t you r cu p i n t h e d i s hwas h er. Du st a d ress er. S ig n a p er m iss io n s lip. “ Wa it ”
r hym e s wi t h “ p rocrast i n ate ” fo r a rea s o n . Watc h t h is g reat v id eo t h at illu st rates
exact l y wh at we m e an .

P L AN YO U R TAS KS A R O U ND YO U R E NE RGY LE VE L. E x h a u s te d a t 3

31 p m? D o n ’ t t r y to st a r t a p ro j e c t t h a t re q u i re s h i g h - l eve l t h i n k i n g . D e d i c a te
t h a t t i m e to s o m e t h i n g m o re a u to m a te d , l i ke e d i t i n g p h o to s o r u p d a t i n g yo u r
social media.

WA K E U P 2 0 MI N U T E S E ARLY (B E FO RE ANYO NE E LS E IN YO U R
H O U S E , I F YO U L I V E W IT H OT H E R PE O PLE ). Med it ate, g o fo r a b r is k
wal k , re ad s ome t h i n g i n s p ir in g , ret u r n e- m a ils , o r g et a h ea d st a r t o n yo u r
32 most i m p or t an t t as k . Th at ex t ra t im e- -w h ic h is f ree f ro m t h e d ist ra c t io n s o f t h e
r i n g i n g p h on e, t h e p i n g i n g in ter n et , a n d t h e o t h er d em a n d s o f yo u r life- -w ill
make you ce n te re d an d st ar t yo u r d ay o f f p ro d u c t ively. Even if yo u ’ re a n ig h t
owl , a mon t h of t h i s h ab i t w ill m a ke it , well, a h a b it !

WO R K S E T H O U R S . If you d o n ’ t c lo c k o u t at s ay, 5 p m , it ’s m u c h to o ea sy to
33 s ay “ I’l l j u st f i n i s h t h at ton i g h t ,” w h ic h s lices in to fa m ily, p a r t n er, a n d yo u t im e.
C re ate a s ch e d u l e an d ab i d e by it .
 E V E RY H O U R , TAK E A 5 -10 MINU T E B RE AK . Wa lk t h e d o g . E n joy a c u p
of te a. Re ad T M Z . Re ce n t res ea rc h s u g g est s t h at fo c u s d ec rea s es t h e lo n g er
34 you p e r for m a t as k ; ste p p i n g away f ro m yo u r d es k res et s yo u r b ra in b a c k to
p rod u ct i ve mod e.

DO N ’T CO N F U S E B U SY-NE SS WIT H PRO DU CT IVIT Y. Th is is w h ere g o a l

s e t t i n g come s i n ; e ach d ay, m a ke a list o f o n e m a in t a s k yo u wa n t to a cco m p lis h ,
an d 5 or s o m ore mi n or t as k s . M a ke s u re t h at at lea st o n e o f t h es e is co n n ec ted
35 to you r h i g h e r ord e r g oal s ( like b o o k 25 wed d in g s in 201 4 ) . Th e B ig P ic t u re
of fe r s a comp l e te me t h od fo r c reat in g a c t io n item s t h at w ill h elp yo u a c h ieve
you r d re ams .

C R E AT E MU S I C P L AY L I STS T H AT LAST 50 MINU T E S TO AN H O U R.

Th at way you r m u s i c wi l l r u n co n t in u o u s ly, w it h o u t yo u h av in g to sto p yo u r
36 wor k to make d e ci s i on s ab o u t w h at to listen to n ex t . W h en t h e m u s ic ’s d o n e,
i t ’s t i me to t ake a b re ak !

B LO C K O F F S E T T I ME S WH E N YO U ARE T H E MOST PRO DU CT IVE O R

C R E AT I V E . Sh u t d own ever y t h in g els e d u r in g t h is t im e, in c lu d in g e- m a il,
s oci al m e d i a, or any ot h e r d ist ra c t io n s t h at keep yo u f ro m p er fo r m in g at yo u r

37 b e st . Us e t h i s t i me as a s e t a p p o in t m en t a n d t reat it a s yo u wo u ld if yo u were
m e e t i n g wi t h a cl i e n t . For in st a n ce, yo u h ave a “ p ro d u c t iv it y ” m eet in g f ro m
10am -12 p m eve r y d ay an d d u r in g t h is t im e wo r k o n n o t h in g els e b u t w h at yo u
M UST g e t d on e. Sch e d u l e t h is t im e o n yo u r c a len d a r a n d co m m it to it !

WO R K O N A B I G P R OJ E CT (LIK E A NE W MARK E T ING CAMPAIG N)

E V E RY DAY. St ay con s i ste n t a n d rep et it ive w it h it , s o t h e p ro jec t a n d it s g o a ls

38 st ay f re s h i n you r mi n d u n t il yo u g et it d o n e. St a r t in g a b ig p ro jec t a n d t h en
wai t i n g a few we e k s to f i n is h /g o b a c k to it m ea n s yo u h ave to r u n t h ro u g h a ll
of you r i d e as ag ai n , wh i ch s u c ks u p a h u g e a m o u n t o f u n n ecess a r y t im e.
 WR I T E DOWN AL L T H E TAS KS YO U NE E D TO ACCO MPLIS H O N A
DA I LY, WE E K LY, MO N T H LY AND YE ARLY LE VE L. N o m at ter h ow s m a ll t h e
t as k or g oal , i f you d on ’t w r ite it d ow n it ’s c lo g g in g u p yo u r t h o u g h t p ro cess es

39 b e cau s e you r b rai n i s wor k i n g to rem em b er it . Ever y t h in g f ro m “ C a ll J o h n S m it h

at 3 p m tod ay” to b i g p i ct u re item s like “ Ta ke a va c at io n t h is s u m m er ” s h o u ld
b e wr i t te n d own i n an org a n ized c a len d a r. We’ re o bv io u s ly p a r t ia l to Th e B ig
P i ct u re for ke e p i n g you r t a s ks c lo s e at h a n d .

DO N ’T MU LT I TAS K; I T ’S JU ST ST RE SS ING YO U O U T. “ W h en we’ re

40 con st an t l y d i st racte d , we l o s e t h e c a p a c it y fo r v is io n a r y a n d c reat ive t h in kin g .
We b e come ad d i cte d to ac t io n a n d rea c t io n .”

I F YO U AR E U NS U R E A B O U T H OW TO U S E O R MAK E S O ME T H ING IN
41 P H OTOS H O P, YO U T U B E, ADO B E , AND DE S IG N B LO G S H AVE G RE AT
ST E P - BY- ST E P T U TO R I ALS ( b o o km a r k fo r q u ic k referen ce in t h e f u t u re) .
TA M E YO U R B U S I N E S S B E A S T

MAK E A L L P R I NTS 8 X 1 0 ” AND U NDE R T H E SAME PRICE . Yo u r co st is

vi r t u al l y i d e n t i cal , you s p e n d t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f t im e c reat in g a n d ed it in g t h e
imag e, an d i t ’s d ou b t f u l t h at yo u wa n t yo u r a r t h a n g in g a ro u n d in s c ra p b o o ks
as s mal l e r p r i n t s . Says ou r fo u n d er Len a H yd e, “ Th is is t h e o n e d ec is io n I m a d e
42 th at i mp acte d my b ot tom l i ne m o re t h a n A N Y TH I N G . My c lien t s *g et it * a n d
ord e r b i g g e r i mag e s n ow. An d we n o lo n g er h ave to reto u c h a m illio n t iny
p r i n t s to p e r fe ct i on .” ( Af rai d to d o t h is? St a r t yo u r p r ice c h a n g es at 5 x 7” a n d
u n d e r, an d t h e n ste p u p wh e n yo u a re feelin g co n f id en t . )

L I ST P R I C E S O N YO U R WE B S IT E , o r at lea st s p ell o u t yo u r s ess io n fee/

wed d i n g p ackag e rate an d “ Co llec t io n s st a r t at … . .” P re- q u a lif y in g c lien t s ( a n d
43 wee d i n g ou t b arg ai n s h op p e r s a n d t h o s e lo o kin g fo r a d if feren t p r ice p o in t ) w ill
save you a h u g e am ou n t of t i m e a n d h ea d a c h e.

K E E P YO U R B LO G C U R R E NT. Even if yo u t r u ly d etest b lo g g in g ever y

44 sin g l e s e ss i on or eve n t , wr i t i n g a w ra p - u p p o st o n ce a week is b et ter t h a n n o t
b l og g i n g at al l . You wan t you r c lien t s to kn ow t h at yo u ’ re wo r kin g .

BE F O R E YO U STAR T A DE S IG N O R LAYO U T, DRAW U P A Q U ICK

45 SK E TC H . Th i s wi l l h e l p you wo r k t h ro u g h id ea s a n d s ave t im e w h en yo u st a r t
on t h e com p u te r.

H AV E A C L I E NT T H AT DR IVE S YO U B ANANAS? SAVE YO U R SANIT Y

46 A N D DO N’T WO R K WI T H T H E M ANYMO RE . Yo u w ill co n s er ve t im e in
b ot h cl i e n t care A N D t h e i n ev it a b le wo r r y in g /d rea d in g /m o a n in g a s well!
 U S E T E MP L AT E S . Th i s m ay s o u n d o bv io u s co m in g f ro m a tem p late co m p a ny,
b u t we s i n ce re l y b e l i eve i n d o in g 90 % o f t h e wo r k s o yo u d o n ’ t h ave to ! C u t

47 d own you r d e s i g n /mar ke t i ng t im e by m o re t h a n h a lf by invest in g in s o m e h ig h

q u al i t y al b u m d e s i g n s or m a r ket in g m ater ia ls t h at w ill p ay fo r t h em s elves over
an d ove r ag ai n . Tr u st u s on t h is o n e.

S E T U P A N I NE X P E N S IVE AND E FFE CT IVE PACKAG ING STAT IO N. I f

you are l i ke m ost cre at i ve s , yo u r t a p e’s in o n e d rawer, w h ile yo u r s c iss o r s a re
i n an ot h e r. Th os e cu te t ag s yo u ju st o rd ered ? S it t in g in a b ox by t h e f ro n t
48 d oor. A n d you r b oxe s an d b a g s a re sto red a ll t h e way in t h e g a ra g e. N o wo n d er
i t t ake s you 3 0 m i n u te s to w ra p a s im p le o rd er. Keep it a ll to g et h er, in o n e
org an i ze d s p ace.

H AV E A R E AS O NAB L E IMAG E CO U NT FO R YO U R S E SS IO NS . Du r in g
s h oot i n g , ke e p i n mi n d t h at t h e m o re yo u s h o o t , t h e m o re yo u ’ ll h ave to s if t
t h rou g h an d e d i t . D on ’t b e to o t r ig g er h a p py ; h av in g 25 im a g es o f t h e s a m e
49 ex p re ss i on or t h e s ame p os e w ill s low yo u d ow n . Fo r a n h o u r - lo n g s ess io n , we
s u g g e st s h oot i n g b e t we e n 1 0 0 -3 0 0 im a g es a n d t h en c u llin g yo u r f in a l s elec t io n s
to n o m ore t h an 35-50. C h o o s e im a g es t h at a re d iver s e a n d excep t io n a l.

E STAB L I S H A R O C K- S OLID S E T O F ST U DIO PO LICIE S AND MAK E

S U R E YO U DI S C U SS T H E M WIT H E ACH CLIE NT. A lm o st a ll c lien t a n d

50 b u s i n e ss mi s com m u n i cat i o n s c a n ea s ily b e avo id ed w it h t h e s im p le p relim in a r y

m e as u re of i n st i t u t i n g st ro n g p o lic ies . Wit h a lit t le fo res ig h t , yo u c a n en s u re
b u s i n e ss s u cce ss b e fore yo u even in tera c t w it h a c lien t .
HERE’S O N E L AST P I E C E O F S MART ADVICE : Do n ’ t feel yo u h ave to im p lem en t a ll
50 of t h e s e t i p s R IG HT N OW, cons id er t h at g ra d u a l, s u st a in a b le c h a n g es a re fa r b et te r
than q u i ck ch an g e s t h at can n ot b e m a in t a in ed over t im e. Rem em b er t h at yo u h ave t h e
rest of you r awe s ome l i fe to i n co r p o rate t h es e s u g g est io n s , a n d we c a n ’ t wa it to h ear
about t h e b oost i n you r s u cce ss w h en yo u d o.

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