Making the Most of Slow Season as a Photographer
If you’re still relatively new to your photography business, you might be in panic mode right now. The holidays have ended, and with them, the busy fall family photo season. Now you’re looking at your bookings, your numbers, and thinking, Oh my gosh, what happened?! I’ve been there. But now that I’m eight years in, I’ve learned to appreciate and make the most of slow season as a photographer. When approached intentionally, this time can be a gift to both you and your business. In fact, slow season can become your secret weapon for a more sustainable, less stressful year.
How to Plan Your Year as a Photographer
One of the best things I’ve done during slow season as a photographer is intentionally sitting down with a planner (I use this one as well as Google calendar and an app on my iPad) and mapping out my year. Scheduling your sessions in advance not only helps with organization but also makes marketing easier.
Ideally, you should start promoting upcoming sessions or launches at least six weeks in advance. When you already know your dates, you can create content ahead of time and avoid last-minute stress. Plus, planning prevents overbooking and burnout—something every photographer wants to avoid. Looking at a year-long calendar gives you a big-picture view of how much you’re taking on, helping you set a sustainable pace.
Photography Marketing During Slow Season
When you’re in the thick of back-to-back sessions, with 25 galleries in your editing queue, marketing is usually an afterthought. But now that things have quieted down & you know what the year ahead will look like, it’s the perfect time to focus on content that will drive traffic to your business.
Use this time to brainstorm and plan:
- Newsletter topics
- Blog posts to improve your website’s SEO
- Reels and carousels for Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook
Marketing your business is just as important as shooting sessions. If you’re in the middle of slow season as a photographer, shift your energy to the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep your business running.
Update Your Photography Business
Now that you have time to breathe, you also have the time to tweak your CRM to streamline things behind the scenes for both you and your clients. Take a look at your current systems. What’s working? What isn’t? This is a great time to tweak your workflows or even simplify them. Personally, I’m a big fan of Dubsado, and I mentioned it in a social media post earlier this month in case you missed it. While you’re at it, you should probably update your website with recent galleries and photos of yourself. After all, if they’ve made it to the CRM automations, your clients have likely also been a website visitor.
P.S. I have senior questionnaire templates available here if you want to make it even easier for yourself!
Self-Care During Slow Season
We both know what mid-October feels like as a photographer—especially if you serve families. It’s pure chaos. You’re running on fumes, keeping raccoon-like hours, and self-care? Nonexistent.
But we’re not beginner photographers anymore. We’re building sustainable businesses, which means prioritizing self-care.
Use this downtime to enjoy the quiet and recharge. Just because you don’t have a packed schedule doesn’t mean you should stress. Instead, view this season as an opportunity to invest in yourself. Whether that means: hitting the gym more often, finally tackling your TBR stack gathering dust on your night stand, & binging all the shows you missed in the fall.
And here’s the key: we’re not going to feel bad about it, okay?
Investing in Education During Slow Season
I’ve talked before about the importance of continuing education in photography—because improving your skills is an investment in your business. Slow season is the perfect time to:
- Take online courses
- Work with a mentor or business coach
- Attend workshops or retreats
I’ve done all of the above, and soon, I’ll be offering some of these resources myself. If you have the time to commit to something that will pay off tenfold, it’s absolutely worth the investment!
Photography Educator & Mentor
Hi, I’m Kellie– a North Dakota-based lifestyle photographer, educator & mentor. I’m passionate about my craft & supporting other photographers pursuing the businesses of their dreams. Have you been searching for a sounding board or the guidance of someone who’s been where you are now? Let’s talk about how I can be that mentor for you. And don’t forget to check out the free resource guide I have available! In the meantime, you can check out some of my other blog posts, follow along on Pinterest, or join in on the fun on IG!
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