Planning Your Travel Calendar as a Photographer

As a photographer, planning your travel calendar is more than just picking dates and booking flights. It starts with a dream. You imagine the places you want to go, the clients you want to serve, and the moments you want to capture. Planning your travel calendar as a photographer helps you stay focused, excited, and ready for your best year yet.

Hi, I’m Kellie, a photographer turned mentor helping creatives build sustainable, intentional businesses. If planning your travel calendar feels overwhelming, I offer 1:1 mentoring to help you simplify your schedule, stay booked, and protect your energy. Ready to create a plan that works for you? Reach out to learn more.

Start with the Dream When Planning Your Travel Calendar as a Photographer

Before you open your planner, close your eyes. What shoots light you up? Are you dreaming of ocean cliffs, desert light, snowy peaks, or wide-open prairies? Write those dreams down. Where do you want to go, and why? Is it for creativity, connection, or to build your portfolio? Every reason counts. Starting with the dream helps you shape a year that feels inspiring and aligned. This makes planning your travel calendar as a photographer feel like possibility, not pressure.

Thinking about a fall travel session? Before you book, read these 5 tips to make the most of your experience and avoid common surprises.

Know Your Seasons (Busy, Quiet, and Everything In Between)

Every photographer has a rhythm. Maybe spring is full of family sessions. Maybe fall is packed with weddings. Look at last year’s calendar. When did you feel stretched thin? When did you have breathing room?

Block off your busy seasons first. These are the months to stay local or limit travel. Then look for quiet months. Those slower times are perfect for travel or passion projects. Knowing your seasons helps you avoid burnout and plan smarter. It’s a key part of planning your travel calendar as a photographer.

Slow season doesn’t have to mean stalled growth. Read how to make the most of your slower months and set your business up for success.

Choose Travel Destinations with Intention When Planning Your Calendar as a Photographer

It’s easy to chase beautiful spots. But choosing your travel locations with intention helps your business grow.

Ask yourself:

• Do you have a client base in this area?
• Is there a market for your style?
• Can you build long-term connections there?

Let your heart lead, but also look at the strategy. If you love coastal sessions, think about booking a beach town where your dream clients live. If you shoot rural ranch weddings, a Montana road trip might make perfect sense. Make your locations work for your vision and your audience.

Getting ready for your next photography trip? Check out these travel photography must-haves to stay prepared and shoot with confidence.

Build Your Travel Schedule Around What Makes Sense Financially

Travel isn’t free. You need to plan for it. List out all the costs: flights, stays, gas, food, gear, insurance. Then figure out what you need to charge to make a profit, not just break even. If you need four bookings to cover the trip, aim for six. Always leave room for change. Also, update your pricing to reflect travel costs. Make it clear what’s included in your packages. Planning your travel calendar as a photographer means making sure your time and energy pay off.

Headed out for a destination shoot? Learn how to pack smart so you’re prepared, organized, and ready to focus on creating your best work.

Announce Early, Build Hype, and Book Smart

Once you know where and when you’ll be traveling, spread the word. Don’t keep it to yourself, clients can’t book what they don’t know about.

Start by posting a clear travel schedule on your website and across your social platforms. Keep it easy to read and up to date. Share the location, dates, available spots, and how to book. You want potential clients to get all the info in one quick glance.

Then, focus on building genuine excitement. Your energy is contagious, and it helps people connect with your vision. Let them in on your “why.” Why you chose that destination, what you’re looking forward to, or what kind of sessions you’re offering there. Use stories to make it feel personal and real.

Give your audience plenty of time to plan. Announce travel dates at least two to three months ahead when possible. And don’t forget to keep reminding them, one post isn’t enough. People need to see things more than once before they take action.

Here are a few ideas to help you build hype and book with ease:

• Create a travel calendar graphic to share in your stories and highlight section.
• Send a newsletter to your email list announcing your travel dates.
• Pin a post or story with your travel info to the top of your feed.
• Share behind-the-scenes content from past trips or similar locations.
• Talk about who your sessions are perfect for, help people see themselves in your work.
• Offer limited-time booking bonuses, like a free print or extra sneak peeks.
• Set deadlines for booking to encourage early sign-ups and better planning.
• Use countdowns or waitlists if spots are limited to build urgency and excitement.
• Follow up with past clients in the area to invite them to book again or refer a friend.
• Share your travel planner or tools you use to stay organized and prep clients for destination sessions.

The key is to stay clear, consistent, and excited. Planning your travel calendar as a photographer means setting yourself up to book with intention, and giving your clients a reason to come along for the journey.

Leave Room for Personal Projects or Rest Days

Don’t fill every single day. Rest matters. Leave time to explore, sleep in, or shoot just for yourself. Creative projects recharge you. So does stillness. Travel can be inspiring, but it can also be exhausting if every hour is booked. Build in white space on purpose. Maybe it’s a slow morning with coffee and journaling, or an evening walk with your camera and no plan. Maybe it’s a full day off between sessions to reset your energy. Those quiet moments help you reconnect with why you love this work in the first place.

You don’t have to hustle the whole time you travel. Some of your best ideas and most meaningful images come when you step away from the schedule and just let yourself be present.

Remember: planning your travel calendar as a photographer should include time for you, too, because your creativity is your most valuable asset, and it needs care to grow.

Why Planning Your Travel Calendar as a Photographer Sets You Up for a Successful Year

Planning your travel calendar as a photographer is part dream and part strategy. When you lead with heart, honor your energy, and choose destinations with care, your year becomes more than busy, it becomes meaningful. Start now. Look at your goals, your seasons, and your budget. Give yourself the gift of a travel calendar that lights you up and keeps your business growing strong.

Planning your travel calendar or looking ahead to your next season on the road? I’ve got resources to help you do it with more clarity and less stress. Browse Pinterest for shoot inspiration, or come hang out on Instagram for behind-the-scenes tips and honest advice for photographers like you.

And if you’re ready for deeper support, whether it’s mapping out your year, setting up systems that support travel, or building a business that works wherever you go, I offer 1:1 mentoring. You can reach out here. I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you plan a year that feels aligned, sustainable, and full of purpose.

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