I am SO grateful for a season of s-l-o-w-i-n-g down! But what do I do in the slow season? Often times I get asked about what else I do besides shooting, or if this photography gig is my full time job. Just as I have no idea what accountants and real estate agents and many other jobs do during their day, there are A LOT of other things that go into owning a business besides the photography part, actually the photo sessions and weddings make up just about 15% of what I actually do! So I completely understand that this is a valid question!
So what DO I do during the slow season? The short answer…. all the other things I can’t do when I am photographing everyday!!
The long answer:
- Updating my web-site and online presence with SEO
- Taxes (need I say more!)
- Maketing (materials, updating social media,)
- Planning for the year (planning my blog, Facebook and Instagram calendar!)
- Cleaning (literally my gear, but also decluttering my inbox, desktop, my and workspace)
- Networking (being able to go to events to meet other wedding vendors, which I LOVE!)
- Client meetings with prospective brides and grooms
- Updating and organizing all my contact information
- Researching new gear
- Education through conferences, local meetings with wedding vendors, online workshops
- Self care! (Yes, getting my hair and nails done with NO regret. I don’t have a lot of time for this in the busy season, but you better bet that I will spend time doing it in the off season!!)
- Creating albums for clients and creating sample albums
- Styled shoots with other vendors
So those are just a FEW things I do in the off season pertaining to the business. There are many other personal thing I try to accomplish in these winter months as well as trying to invest more into my friends and family! It is a great season of resting and getting ready for another year and I am so thankful for it!