Having a Repeatable, Sound Process is Critical to Success - Even for Creatives

If you’re in business, likely you already understand the value of having a defined process for what you do. Since Henry Ford invented the mass produced automobile, it’s understood that processes in design/manufacturing are key to be able to produce products on any scale. Service providers also understand that processes provide structure and a framework for understanding problems, and developing solutions.

One of the keys to a successful process for service providers is flexibility – unlike manufacturing, service providers are often faced with challenges/situations which are different from client to client. Rather than changing the client to adapt to the process, it’s important to have a process that is adaptable to the specific needs of your client, yet still can yield successful results – and it is the service provider’s job to determine how to adapt that process successfully.

The same is true for creatives – writers, graphic designers, website designers, and yes photographers who are able to repeatedly deliver results that delight their clients and meet/exceed their clients expectations most likely have developed a repeatable process. That process can actually enhance creativity by providing a framework/structure creating a solution – a structure for gathering enough information to inform the creative process, along with a ways to insure the client is “on board” with whatever creative path the creative is going down.

Success in creativity is not just about coming up with great concepts/ideas in a vacuum – it starts with understanding the client’s goals, needs, desires, preferences, etc.. You can’t design a creative solution in a vacuum – the solutions come from a collaborative, informed effort. You have to ask questions, listen, lather, rinse, repeat. It’s a collaboration.

In my headshot photography business, having a defined, repeatable process has allowed me to create solutions for my clients that help them achieve their goals of having headshots they love that amplify their brand. This process allows me to successfully adapt to not only the variety of brands I’ve worked with, but also the different personalities and “emotional states” of people when they step in front of my camera – some people are terrified, some can’t wait for it to be over, some have never had a good picture taken of themselves, and some are a “natural”. My process have allowed me the framework/structure to be able to work with this variety of people and get results where most often they walk out with a smile on their face. It also frees me up to inject creativity into the work that I do.

I’ve created a video about my approach/process that gives you an idea of “how the sausage is made” – see the video at the top of my homepage.