The New Year is the perfect time to start fresh and get your photography organized. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a hobbyist, these tips will help you stay up-to-date, streamlined, and more importantly, free up time to do what you love - take photos!
Update all of the equipment you use to capture or edit photos with the latest software or firmware versions, including your computer, monitor, phone, camera, lenses, and any other devices that utilize software. This step is especially important because it ensures you can take advantage of the latest features, bug fixes, or security updates. Make sure to also update your graphics card, if needed, and calibrate your monitor for better color accuracy. Don’t forget to charge all your batteries and make sure you have enough memory cards to store your photos.
This is a great time to purchase or renew software that you plan to use throughout the year. New versions of software typically offer better support for newer digital camera models as well as useful new features. I suggest monitoring the software providers for special offers, especially when they bundle multiple programs.
If you are in the market for new or used equipment, now is the time to make that investment. Post-holiday inventories are usually higher due to trade-ins. You can find quality equipment at your local photography store as well as any reputable online merchant.
One task that is often ignored is cleaning your gear, equipment, and storage area. Starting off the new year with a clean and organized area will make it so much easier to find what you need and be ready to grab it quickly. It also helps us determine what we may need to restock, replace, or purge from our inventory.
If you find items that you no longer want or use, then consider selling them or getting a trade-in credit for the gear you need. You’d be amazed at the variety of offerings for quality, used equipment.
One of the most important things we can do with our photos is to rename the filenames so you can find them, organize them in specific folders, and then back up everything. You should back up your phone photos and computer files to an external drive, and then back up again onto another external drive kept offsite or uploaded into the cloud to avoid total loss caused by an unforeseen disaster.
While renaming files and backing them up, it’s a good idea to convert and update older photos and files into the latest digital format. This will save you time and money!
Don’t forget to print your favorite photos or create a memorable coffee table photobook. No one can enjoy your photos if they can’t see them!
Because photography is constantly changing, make sure to learn new skills by signing up for in-person or online training classes. There are so many options to choose from and the depth of information is vast.
Most importantly, plan photoshoot fun in your calendar, be spontaneous and grab your camera to capture family antics, weather events, or anything that leads you to capture a memorable moment.
By following these steps, you’ll be ready to tackle the new year with your photography life organized and ready to go. Now let’s get busy and enjoy a year of photo fun!
Rhonda Proctor
www.RhondaProctor.com
IG: @rhondaproctorpics
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Rhondaproctorphotography
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