Checklist: What to Look for in a Photography VA

So you’ve decided that your photography business needs a virtual assistant. Congrats, we knew you’d come to your senses ;) 

But now comes the hard part. Where do you find a VA? How do you know they’re any good? What exactly should you be looking for? 

Having worked with virtual assistants in our own photography businesses for years, we know how important it is to find and work with the right VA team. 

An awesome virtual assistant for photographers can be your solution to growing your business stress-free. While an average VA can add more work to your already heaping plate. 
Below we’re sharing five things you should look for in a photography virtual assistant, plus how to take the stress out of finding your perfect VA by working with a proven team!

Experience

Now that you know you need a VA, one of the most important things to understand is their experience. What is their background in photography VA work? 

Are they photographers themselves with years of experience in the industry? Have they worked as a VA before? If so, for what kind of companies and for how long? 

You can also ask about their experience in certain skills or their educational background. If they’re new to VA work, they may have gained related experience through other jobs or courses. 

Excellent communications skills

You need a virtual assistant for photographers who you can easily, effectively and efficiently communicate with. Because a VA is virtual - meaning you won’t be working with them face to face - their online communication skills are even more important. 

You can tell a lot about someone’s communication skills from the get go. How do they respond to your initial emails? Are their responses timely? Do you have to follow up? 

Beyond timeliness, you also want to make sure that you and your potential VA understand each other. When you assign work, will it be understood and executed properly? When your VA team reaches out, are you clear on what they’re asking? 

Proven systems in place

A great photography virtual assistant already has systems in place that are proven to work. They’re not starting from scratch or depending on you to design every workflow. 

Having systems means that your photography VA will be organized and ready to assist you from day one. Of course, they should be able to tweak their systems to meet your unique business needs. 

At Together We Co, our systems are built on our 17+ years of combined experience in the photography industry. We’ve tested, refined and updated our systems so we know that they’ll work for your business too. 

Trained in specific tasks

The whole point of hiring a virtual assistant for your photography business is to lighten your load by taking tasks off your plate. If you have to spend weeks (or months!) training your VA, that almost defeats the purpose.

Look for a photography VA who is already trained on the specific tasks you need help with. This will save you time and ensure you’re working with an expert. 

If your photography blog needs to be resuscitated, your virtual assistant should have experience with content writing and be trained on SEO best practices. If you need help posting on social media, your VA should be familiar with the platforms and tools you want to use. 

Good vibes! 

Of course you want a photography virtual assistant who is experienced, good at communication, trained in specific tasks and who has proven systems in place. But at the end of the day, you also want a VA that you enjoy working with. 

Your virtual assistant is supposed to make your life easier. So it shouldn’t feel like a drag every time you email them or see their number on your phone. 

Take the time to research the photography virtual assistant company you want to work with and ensure you’re compatible. You’ll have a better working relationship - and more success in your business - if the vibes are good for everyone. 

Make hiring a virtual assistant for photographers easy with Together We Co! 

It can be hard to find a photography VA who offers everything you need, who has experience in the industry and who you can trust to help you grow your business. 

That’s why we started Together We Co, to simplify the VA hiring process and your life! 

At Together We Co, you get to work with two experienced photographers who have over 17 years of combined experience in the industry. Not only are we sharing our proven systems and strategies with you, but we’re also handling all of the hiring, training and managing of your VA team.

You can trust in our team of photography VAs and content experts to deliver for your business with custom packages catered to your needs. 

Let our VA team show you how we can level up your business! Learn more about how to work with us here.