What in the world are we supposed to be doing in our slow season? The slow season in photography is when you have the least amount of sessions or none at all. The slow season is also referred to as the “dead season.” This blog will cover what you should be doing in your slow season.
I am located in Oklahoma and I typically shoot 10 months out of the year. My slowest season is during the months of December and January and that is because it is our winter. Not very many families want to be outside shivering during their session.
#1 – Take a break during your slow season
It’s okay to take a break in your business. In fact, I encourage it. If you are currently feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and at the point of burn out, you need to take a break. Sign off of social media, quit taking sessions for a couple weeks, and relax.
Spend your time sleeping and resting until you begin to miss it. You cannot pour from an empty cup. If you’ve ever heard that saying, it could not be more true. Especially if you are also a wife or mother or any other role outside of being a photographer.
#2 – Work on the back end of the business
This is the perfect time to look at the back end of your business and see what is working and what is not. It’s time to make your processes better and your systems more concise.
During October, I had 5 guest experts on to talk about various topics including websites, SEO, copywriting, sales funnels, and bios. This is your invitation to listen in to those episodes and implement their advice.
Are there any changes you need to make to your workflow? From onboarding clients, following up with leads, editing sessions, and delivering sessions. Is there anything that can improve?
#3 – Post on Social Media
During the busy season it is hard to keep up with posting on social media. The slow season is the perfect time to play catch up and showcase all the work you did in your busy season. Spend some time coming up with a schedule and creating content that you can post in the coming weeks.
Making Money in Your Slow Season
How can you make money in your slow season? Here are a few ideas you can implement: Start promoting and booking for your next season of sessions. Upsell your current and past clients with prints or wall art. Put together an indoor session using an Airbnb nearby or a venue that you can rent out or borrow for a day.
Your slow season doesn’t mean you are doing nothing. It does mean you are taking time to rest and renew, refresh the backend of business, and promoting upcoming sessions. We can always grow and get better. So use your slow season to your advantage.
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