Photo by Carley Mae Photography.

The holiday season is quickly approaching, which means photography season is in full swing. Your to-do list is growing, your inboxes are about to explode, and schedules are booked full with photo sessions. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, we’re here to help. We’re equipping you with the best ways to deal with holiday stress. Consider this your busy season survival guide. 

1. Stick To Your Schedule And Set Boundaries   

Preparation is crucial to successfully surviving any busy season without stress. And one of the best ways to prepare is by creating a business schedule—with a set number of hours and off-days—that works for you. It’ll give you a good work-life balance. 

Holding yourself to a set schedule will keep you on track and help avoid overworking yourself—that’s where photo sessions come into play. We know it’s sometimes hard to turn down work, but we’re here to remind you to say no. Every wedding photographer has a limit, determine yours and stick with it. Don’t burn yourself out by trying to stuff your schedule full of clients

Photobug Tip:

If you’re worried about the cost of turning down clients, get your business finances in order. With an accurate budget, you’ll feel empowered to protect your time. 

2. Automate Your Workflow 

Automating your workflow will save you time and limit your stress. Removing repetitive tasks from your day-to-day schedule allows for you to delegate more time towards important business components. This is the key to growing, building, and running a successful wedding photography business. 

Start by using email templates and setting up autoresponders. Email templates are a great copy and paste tool to save yourself time and boost client satisfaction. Autoresponders allow immediate communication with potential clients, letting them know you’ve received their messages and will respond during your office hours—setting their expectations for when they’ll hear from you. 

If you’re looking to adopt an efficient business workflow, check out these Photobug-approved business workflow tips that’ll help you save time and limit your stress. 

Recommended reading: Email Templates Every Wedding Photographer Needs

Photo by  Flora Gibson Photography.

3. Consider Outsourcing

There are many professional ways to lighten your post-shoot workload but outsourcing is our favorite. Sure, relinquishing full creative control can be scary, but it’s the key to growth. By doing this you free up valuable time in your schedule—another win for your work-life balance. 

Your time is a precious resource. Allocating the hours you spent editing into different aspects of your business can be a total game-changer. If outsourcing is for you, check out these Photobug-approved culling and editing companies fit for every photography style.

4. Hire An Intern Or Associate Photographer 

Having an extra set of eyes and hands working on your photography business—whether it’s behind the scenes or behind the camera—will double what you can accomplish during the busy season. It’s also a sure way to shorten your to-do list, minimize stress, and grow your business. 

You should also consider hiring an associate photographer to shoot weddings in your absence. If you’re not quite ready to let go of full creative control, there are plenty of administrative tasks that can be taken off your plate in order to free up some of your time. Hire an intern to help with culling, social media management, or even just responding to emails. 

Recommended reading: Ultimate Guide to Hiring an Associate Photographer For Your Wedding Photography Business

Photo by Jessica Gomez Photography.

5. Re-Evaluate Your Business Model And Workflow 

Take note of what specifically causes you stress and use that to brainstorm a new business workflow that cuts out the stress-causing elements. 

• Does editing cause you stress? Consider outsourcing. 
• Responding to emails is filling up your schedule? Hire an intern or create email templates. 
• Hate culling images? Try culling software.

As your business continues to grow, your workflow will need to evolve. Making these changes now will protect Future You during the next busy season. 

6. Give Back By Volunteering 

Giving is good for the soul. It’s especially true during a stressful holiday season. If you find your stress levels quickly rising it may be time to consider giving back in some way. Minimizing your stress while also doing good—that’s a double win. 

Snap portraits at the local pet shelter, offer portrait sessions at a local nursing home, or even donating old gear are easy ways to give back this year. If you’re looking for more volunteer opportunities, check out these volunteer opportunities specifically for wedding photographers. 

Photo by Claire Fleck Photography.

The holiday season is anything but easy for wedding photographers. And feeling overwhelmed and exhausted is normal. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Check out these tips for how to come back from burnout and protect your creativity. 

Image by Anchored Image.