Developing Professional Practice: Workflow

Because I work in different environments, my workflow has to reflect that flexibility.

The very first step in the workflow is to decide which aspect of my Business is involved:

Is it Paid Work?
Is it speculative work?

​Speculative work is always on an ad-hoc basis. And idea will come to me, I will decide to pursue it, and work accordingly.  It may be purely for projects, a speculative agency application, or a piece of work destined for publication later, etc., but these will be less formatted than if a customer actually contacts me.

The checklist with Speculative would look something like:

• Concept
• Equipment needed. (Does it require loan equipment, say from the college, etc.?)
• Any specific props / sets?
• Create
• Catalog
• Process
• Backup
• Submit (If necessary)

With a Paid / Commissioned work, the regime is stricter...

• Initial contact from customer.
• Discussion with customer. Align concept with capabilities.
• Create Quote / brief for the assignment, and have it signed off by the client.
  
• Equipment needs? (Same as for Speculative).
• Props / Location.
• Agree Fees / Sign contract.
• Arrange dates / times.
• Produce the images.
• Catalog them.
• Back them up.
• Send proofs.
• Backup again.
• Edit / process further.
• Submit them to client.
• Invoice.