As a wedding photographer, our busiest time of the year takes up a big part of the year. When your wedding season happens depends on where you are.
For example, in Saskatchewan, our season usually happens in the spring and summer. During the winter months, we work on updating our stuff and planning for the business. As the exciting wedding season gets closer, I want to share how I’ve been getting ready during the off-season and some tips I’ve learned to avoid getting too tired during the wedding season.
Without further ado, here are some tips on how to prepare for the busy season and not get too tired during upcoming weddings:
Choose Inspiring Work
Sometimes, you might want to say yes to every job, even if it doesn’t make you excited. But if you take on too much work, you won’t have time to rest.
For this, you want to think about how many clients you can handle each month while still giving great service and having time for yourself. Taking care of yourself is super important for your success.
Make a Schedule
Decide when you’re going to work and when you’re going to take personal time. It’s really important to take care of yourself so you can do your best for your clients.
Be picky about the days you work so you can focus on the type of photography you love the most. If weddings are your favorite, be careful about booking too many other kinds of sessions.
Just keep in mind that working too much might stop you from doing what you really love.
Take Care of Yourself
In the busy season, we can end up working a lot and not having time for ourselves. Use the slower times to get your life back in balance. Clean up your space, see your friends, and make appointments. Make a plan to stay well during the busy time.
Take days off, exercise, go for walks, or take breaks from screens. They might sound like little things, but they can greatly help you stay healthy and happy.
Get Organized
Before the busy season starts, make sure your systems and plans are ready. I use a tool called Honeybook to help me manage my clients. It has contracts and invoices that I can use without a lot of changes.
I also set up reminders for myself to stay in touch with clients. Having a system from the beginning to the end of a project helps me stay organized and make sure my clients are happy.
Work in Batches
During the slower times, do a lot of work at once so you’re ready for the busy season. I do this for things like writing blogs, social media, and emails. Instead of doing a little of everything every day, spend a whole day on just one thing.
This helps you focus better and get things done faster. You can have specific days for different tasks, like emails on Mondays, social media on Tuesdays, and so on.
Get Help
Sometimes, being a wedding photographer means doing a lot of things by yourself. But it’s good to ask for help when you can. You might not want to give up control of your business, but you can still get help in other areas of your life.
You can hire someone to clean your home or get groceries delivered. For your business, you could hire an assistant or someone to help with editing. Getting help lets you focus on the important parts of your work.
Learn from Each Season
After each busy season, think about what went well and what could be better. Take notes so you can do even better next time.
Remember, as creative people, we need time to rest so we can do our best work. Choose projects that inspire you, get help when you need it, and work smart during busy times.
