Can you believe we’re past mid-January already? If you’re feeling like this little guy, I’m right there with you. Whether the current events have got you feeling down, or you’re just tired from last year, I feel you. BUT if you haven’t started to at least think of being productive in 2021, now is the time to get started.

If you’re on the East Coast like I am, you’re likely in your off-season, and if you’re somewhere warmer, you’re probably still feeling the effects of the pandemic. Either way, I would venture to guess that, if you’re a photographer, you’re not as busy as you usually are at this time of year. So what to do with the extra time you may have at this time?

Every year, I spend some time from January through March tackling my off-season projects list. It’s a great way to help me close the door on the previous year and do my best to prepare for the current year so that when wedding season is in full swing, I’ve got workflows in place to keep me sane.

If you’re feeling like busy season is just about to sneak up on you, I encourage you to not let your off-season slip through your fingers. This is such a good time of year to get some rest, but it’s also the perfect time to get ahead in your business. Once you feel rested, use the slow season of your business to prepare for busy season and create better systems for your business.

Make a list of the things you want to get done and start checking them off as you complete them. You’ll be so happy you did when it’s time to start shooting regularly again and you feel like you’ve accomplished a ton. To get you started, here are 20 ideas for off-season projects for photographers, and an opportunity to get another 20 ideas at the end of this post!

Ideas for Off-Season Projects for Photographers

1. Get ready for tax season. This is definitely not the most fun item on the list, but it’s at the top because the sooner you can finish this dreaded task, the quicker you can put it behind you. If you haven’t done so already, organize your receipts and finalize your bookkeeping so that you can be ready for your accountant.
2. Re-evaluate your workflow. Figure out what worked well and didn’t work well in your business the previous year and figure out which changes you’d like to make for this year. Find the bottlenecks in different aspects of your business such as editing, blogging, and marketing.
3. Update your client management software. Re-evaluate your current CRM and make sure it’s still the best choice for you. If you’ve outgrown it, research other options and use the off-season to set up your new system. If you aren’t already using Táve, I highly recommend it!
4. Test out new apps. Several years ago around this time, I set up MileIQ and I cannot tell you how easy it has made mileage tracking for us! These days, I’m testing out apps to create Reels more easily this year!
5. Learn something new. You know all those lifetime-access online workshops you signed up for on Black Friday? Now is the time to immerse yourself in them! This is also a great time to invest in coaching sessions to help you streamline your workflows and improve your marketing this year.
6. Send your cameras and lenses in for maintenance. This is a great time for your camera to get a check-up and for your lenses to be professionally cleaned. There’s no better feeling than starting the new season with squeaky-clean gear.
7. Replace memory cards. It’s a big expense, but we like to replace our memory cards once a year. Remember to label your new cards with the year so that you can keep new ones separate from old ones.
8. Replace old external hard drives. Along these same lines, it’s also a good idea to evaluate your back-up system and replace old drives before they fail.
9. Update your website. Is your website working for you? If so, great! Skip this one. If not, evaluate why it may not be working for your business anymore and make some improvements. Don’t forget to update your portfolio.
10. Re-Purpose Content for IG Reels. Use past work and behind-the-scenes to re-purpose content and make Instagram Reels! Reels are the best way to get your content seen on Instagram right now so you should definitely spend time this off-season creating short-form content.
11. Create sample albums. Take some time to choose the weddings and sessions you’d like to showcase at client meetings this year and make brand new client albums that you’ll be proud to show potential clients.
12. Create albums for vendors. Think about the venues or vendors you’d like to continue working with and make them an album that features their work. If you’re a wedding photographer, focus on venues that agree to display your album on-site.
13. Take care of vendors. Make a list of the vendors you had the opportunity to work with last year and make an effort to send them images that will help them promote their business.
14. Jumpstart your blog. Create a blogging strategy and set your blog up for success this year. Spend some time creating content so that you have content lined up to publish even when you’re in the midst of busy season.
15. Start an email list. Don’t depend on social media to get your content to your tribe. Set up an email list and start making real connections with your clients.
16. Clean up your Pinterest boards. Pinterest is a platform that often gets forgotten about, especially during the busiest of seasons. Set some time aside to re-evaluate your Pinterest strategy and update your boards.
17. Submit last year’s work for publication. I’m not going to lie: this one is time-consuming. Between finding a blog or magazine that is a good fit for your work, curating a set of images, and preparing vendor credits and submission descriptions, submitting for publication is no easy feat. However, it is so exciting for your clients to see their work featured and so rewarding to see your images published that it’s worth all the time and effort.
18. Scout shooting locations. Going stir-crazy? If you’re a portrait photographer, use scouting locations as a reason to get out of the house one day. Make a list of local parks that you’ve never been to and find some new places to shoot at this year to add to your list of go-to spots. Once you’ve got your list, make it into a resource for your clients. Click here to see my list: NJ Engagement Photo Locations.
19. Refresh your workspace. We all know how much time we spend at our desks. Do a little cleaning, de-cluttering, and re-organizing, or find a way to spruce things up a bit.
20. Re-evaluate your pricing. Get ready for the new inquiries that will come in by making decisions about your new pricing. And while you’re at it, update your pricing guide, too!

20 more ideas

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