Spending more time at home during these difficult times across the globe doesn't have to mean you become less productive as a photographer. There are a few things you can do at home that can be helpful later on when you're back up and running at full throttle. 

Here are eight suggestions we have for you, although we're sure there are many more possibilities! 

1. Computer Cleanup

If you're like most photographers, your computer can probably do with some cleaning up. Even if you already dedicate time in your schedule for regular sorting and deleting, if you're like most photographers, there is a lot more you can do. Take advantage of this time to sort and catalog images, delete a lot of them, and do some general housekeeping on your computer. 

2. Edit Images

Again, if you're like most photographers, you likely have far too many images in need of post-processing. It's as good of a time as any to tackle those pictures! Start with your oldest ones and work your way toward your most recent ones - if for no reason other than to edit your oldest images and chip away at the backlog.

3. Update your Website

When is the last time you updated your website? Add some new images to your photo gallery and add some new written content. Go through all the written content to ensure the information is still accurate. If you have a blog, you should be updating it, at a minimum, monthly. Use this time to write several new blog posts and schedule them.

4. Update your Social Media

Social media is a lifeline of business for professionals today. Exposure is key if you hope to build or expand your clientele. Updating your social media accounts is also critical if you want to remain current and dynamic in your exposure. You should be active on these platforms and others: Facebook, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, 500px, Flickr, Behance, and Viewbug. You can schedule posts to run in the future on most of these, so we recommend taking advantage of that feature and time at home to do that. It will save you time in the future when you're busy again!

5. Browse Online

This is also a good time to browse the work of other photographers across the globe. Do that with ones you already follow, but take the time to find new (to you) accounts to follow. Inspiration is the birth of new work. We can all learn from other professionals.

6. Get your Homework Done

As professional photographers, we always have some "homework" to do for projects. Homework includes: 

• scoping out a new venue or one to which you've never been

• organize and/or anticipate your schedule for when you're back up and running 

• going through and cleaning up your client files 

• updating your client forms

• update your monthly accounting and financial records and budgets

• think of ways to better or differently network with others to generate more clients 

• print those images you've meant to print out

7. Study

This could be part of that homework we just mentioned in #6. Work on your skillset, either by learning new things or brushing up on ones you've not used in a while. Find some quality online courses, do some reading either online or pull out some photography books. Brush up on skills you haven't used in a while or learn some new ones! Watch some video tutorials. And, last but not least, browse through our blog posts for some handy tutorials, tips, and advice!

8. Sort your Gear and Studio

This is one we all can probably do! 

• sort through your gear

• create a catalog or inventory list of your gear

• dust your studio as well as your equipment

• check batteries

• make sure everything old still works

• set aside equipment to sell or donate

There are so many things you could do now while business is slow and your homebound during this pandemic. We hope everyone stays safe and is practicing social distancing as recommended by their government.