We’re starting to come out the other side of what we photographers refer to as the “slow season.” Every year between January and March or so we see business die off a little bit (or a lot). It gets cold and dreary out, and people are starting to recover from the holidays. Not many people are thinking about having their portraits taken in the early months of the year. And so we as photographers tend to take this slower time as an opportunity to recover from the mad rush of fall and get ready for the new year.

Even though it’s slower now, doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Honestly, running a business is so time consuming and there are so many working parts – I feel like God gives us this slow season just to help us recover! There are so many things to get done during the 2-3 months our business is slower. So I thought I’d share with you some of what happens behind the scenes in our slower season.

1. Personal Projects
Often during the busy season we have to set aside our personal projects while we take care of our clients. So during these slower months is the ideal time for us to work on our own personal projects. You’ve seen me working on my personal projects throughout the year, but during these slower months I try to really give myself the time to focus on them.

It’s also the ideal time to work on portraits for our own families. It’s easy to put off creating albums, ordering canvases and prints for ourselves when we’re busy during the year. So the slower season gives us the much needed time to do that for ourselves.

2. Get Organized
In the rush of busy season my office often ends up looking like a hurricane blew through. So this time of year is perfect to get my office cleaned up and back to it’s more organized state. I also usually use this time to organize the rest of my home too. This year, we’ve been using it to prep the nursery for our future little one. Something I know I won’t have time to do once he/she gets here.

Slow season is also the ideal time to start planning out the year. There are specific times that I advertise certain things, there are specific blog posts I usually write, and in general there are a slew of things I can start to plan during this time.

3.  Finances and Taxes
Speaking of getting organized, this is when I prep my taxes for the previous year and get those sent off to my accountant. I want to make certain I don’t miss anything and that my business is operating legally and professionally, which is why I trust all those end of the year financials to my trusted accountant, Joey. I also take this time to start organizing my financial paperwork for the new year. There is so much to keep track of as a business owner and without my trusty excel sheet and tracking system – I could be in big trouble.

4.  Connect With Other Photographers
This is something I do all year long, but during the slower months it is so much easier to get together! We have a wonderful community of photographers here and some of my dearest friends are my fellow photographers. I love getting to connect with these lovely people, share our ideas, and lift each other up. It’s been hugely beneficial to my professional growth to have a network of fellow professionals who understand this industry and can help critique me so that I can continue to grow and improve in my craft!

5.  Clean Up the Computer
Sometimes the busy season results in my computer desktop getting piled up with work. So this time of year, I get back to cleaning up my computer so it can run smoothly. An efficiently running computer is crucial to a speedy workflow. And the better my workflow – the more quickly I can deliver products to my amazing clients!

6.  Polish Up Your Branding
I am a big believer in keeping your brand consistent and not changing your logo every year, but it’s always a good idea to look over your business and make sure that every aspect of your marketing materials reflects your brand. I want all of my packaging, mailers, my customer service, …. everything to reflect the ideals of my business – professionalism, friendliness, authenticity, and quality. During the slow months I have a chance to double check that everything I’m putting out there reflects these qualities.

7.  Education
A lot of the big conferences and educational opportunities occur during these slower months. Things like Imaging, FotoChaos, Reset Conference, etc. all happen when our businesses are slow. There is also a slow of education that can be found through places like PhotoVision or Creative Live. This time of year, really is the perfect time to learn new things and grow your abilities! This is something I try to make sure I consistently do every year so that I can continue to provide my clients with the best quality of work I can.

8. Spending Time with Family
Lastly, I make sure I use this time to spend time with my family. Once work starts to pick up it gets more and more difficult to schedule time to just “hang out” with my loved ones. So this time of year I really focus on cherishing the time I have with those who are most important to me.

So yes, even though business is slower in the first few months of the year, I still have ample work to do. From marketing prep, to education and finances, being a business owner means that my work is never truly done. I love my job! I love what I get to do – capturing memories and moments for all of my amazing clients! But I also enjoy this little break from the rush to get reconnected with myself, my business and my loved ones.

Let me know if you like these little behind the scenes peeks. I keep trying to provide you with fun and interesting content 🙂