If you’re someone that struggles with getting bookings in the summer or you’re worried about bookings more than usual, I want to give you some tips to help you increase your summer photography bookings. As we move into the summer months, you have to remember the ebb and flow of bookings is normal in business. I’m encouraging you to get really creative in how you market your summer sessions.

1- Stay Consistent

This comes as no surprise to you and me, but you must be consistent on social media. Your marketing dictates what your bookings will look like. I’ve said it before and I will continue to preach it- consistency is key. So, if you want to have a fully booked out summer, then you would have needed to be consistent on social media for 90 days prior. If you looking for more social media marketing tips check out my Social Media Marketing Playbook.

If you haven’t been consistent, don’t panic! Simply ask yourself what you can do to today that is different from what you have been doing. Take a few minutes to look at your marketing to ensure you aren’t letting it go. Maybe it’s time for you to expand into other methods of marketing. Or, it may be time for you to get creative and consistent with your marketing strategies. 

2- Create Quality Marketing Content

Summer will generally slow down for social media views so don’t get too caught up in the lower engagement numbers. As you are working on your marketing, focus on quality content. I suggest that you post less often, but post high quality content to help you with your summer photography bookings.

Give your audience education and value in your content. Here are some ideas for posting:  do or don’ts, your client experience, behind the scenes, etc. Make your content engaging and informational. Ask yourself – how can you get the most amount of comments, shares, likes, reactions? Juicy polls, opinions, funny memes, and videos get people involved and paying attention to what you are posting so utilize them in your content. 

3- Offer Mini Sessions To Increase Summer Photography Bookings

Create a Father’s Day mini or lakeside mini that will get the same amount of profit that you would have made in a week of full night sessions.  Mini sessions create an easy yes for your leads and clients. A key of using mini sessions is that they will work if you offer them sparingly. I wouldn’t host more than 4 mini sessions a year so that you don’t hurt your full price sessions.

As you begin to design your summer sessions, create urgency with your offers. Help your clients answer the question of “Why should I book now?” Some ideas for you are: specific summer holidays, better weather, seasonal locations (ie beach, lake, pond), etc. 

Flodesk is my top choice for email marketing for a multitude of reasons including thier easy to customize email templates, analytic dashboard, & their top notch customer support. Flodesk offers a variety of features & products including email marketing, checkouts, workflows, landing pages, & more. Design emails people love to get. You can save 50% off your first year by using my link.

4 – Implement High Value Email Marketing

While most people scroll social media less in the summer, they are still checking their email inbox. Create a unique, full of value email to send to your list once a week or even every other week. Juicy tip- get creative, give value, and ask yourself what is going to make your ideal client want to open your email?

Advertise what you have, and give your audience what they are looking for. One idea I have for you is to cater to the clientele you want. For example send out a tip every Monday with free or easy activities for kids to do with you while they are home for the summer. You could even send out a series of summer must-haves each week. This tip alone will increase your summer photography bookings.

Stay Consistent & Push For Those Summer Photography Bookings

As we are transitioning into summer, remain consistent in your marketing efforts. Continue to give consistent, valuable information for your ideal client. Not every client or lead will you book this summer, but you will be on the top of their mind when they book in the fall. Good luck increasing your summer photography bookings.