Podcast Summary: Start Booking Out Your 2025 Photography Calendar With These Strategies

Podcast Information:

• Title: Book More Photography Clients Podcast | Photography Business, Marketing, Leads, Business Plan
• Host: Brooke Jefferson - Oklahoma Family Photographer, Photography Business Coach
• Episode: Start Booking Out Your 2025 Photography Calendar With These Strategies
• Release Date: November 28, 2024

Introduction

In the episode titled "Start Booking Out Your 2025 Photography Calendar With These Strategies," Brooke Jefferson dives deep into actionable strategies aimed at helping photographers secure a full calendar for the upcoming year. Building on her extensive experience as both a family photographer and a business coach, Brooke shares personal insights, overcoming challenges, and practical tips to elevate your photography business.

Brooke’s Journey Through 2024

Brooke begins the episode by providing a candid account of her tumultuous 2024. She reflects on the initial months filled with confidence and love for her craft, which gradually gave way to mental exhaustion and burnout. This period was influenced by several factors, including seven years in education leading to burnout, the stress of an election year, and the subsequent impact on her business.

At [05:30], Brooke shares:

"Another reason, obviously is for political reasons because it was an election year, man. The media scare tactics out there. We're not going to get into all of that...it was really just a lot of different things."

This burnout culminated in a pivotal moment around April and May when Brooke felt a divine invitation to "lay it all down, to surrender the business," leading her to temporarily shut down her Facebook group and pause her podcast postings. This decision resulted in a significant decline in her income, as she explains around [12:45]:

"I watched my income basically decrease in half month after month after month, until now."

Despite these challenges, Brooke emphasizes personal growth and strengthened faith during this period, leading to renewed confidence in her business's future. By [22:15], she states:

"I really did grow my relationship with the Lord. And I have such a confidence that I've never had before. And I know that this industry is for me."

Strategies to Book Out Your 2025 Calendar

Transitioning from her personal narrative, Brooke introduces five comprehensive strategies to help photographers effectively book out their 2025 calendars.

1. Create a Waitlist

At [30:10], Brooke outlines the importance of establishing a waitlist to manage client inquiries for the upcoming year. She recommends two primary methods:

• Using a Notes App:
  Brooke shares her simple yet effective system:

  "In my notes app, I titled it 2025 Photography Wait List. I know, Genius. And then I pin it... So anytime people talk to me about sessions that they're wanting to have, I add them here."
  (Timestamp: [32:00])

• Through Email Lists:
  Utilizing platforms like Flodesk, Brooke segments interested clients to streamline the booking process:

  "I have a segment that basically says the exact same thing that the notes app says... then send it out."
  (Timestamp: [35:20])

She further advises promoting the waitlist through social media posts, enhancing visibility and encouraging potential clients to express their interest:

"It's amazing. That's like half the clients I need for the whole year."
(Timestamp: [40:15])

2. Leverage the Holiday Season for Promotions

Brooke emphasizes the strategic use of the holiday season to drive bookings. She discourages blanket price slashing but encourages creative promotions aligned with festive sentiments.

• Black Friday Promotions:
  Drawing inspiration from Black Friday, Brooke suggests launching limited-time offers or new packages during the holidays:

  "You could call it a promotion. Let's say that you're creating a brand new package... you can do a sale just like that."
  (Timestamp: [45:30])

• Gift Certificates and Promotions:
  Tailoring gifts for clients, she proposes offering gift certificates with conditions to ensure future bookings:

  "You could offer a little promotion where... it's fully paid and you know you have X amount of weeks to get back to me and actually book that session."
  (Timestamp: [48:50])

3. Develop Creative Winter Booking Ideas

Addressing the challenges of the slow winter season, Brooke advocates for innovative approaches to maintain a steady flow of bookings.

• Indoor and Studio Sessions:
  For photographers with studio spaces, Brooke highlights the advantages of indoor sessions, especially for genres like newborn or family photography:

  "I used to give myself all kinds of excuses on, oh, my studio is too small. Now I have a little studio space... It has just been a game changer."
  (Timestamp: [52:25])

• Alternative Venues and Collaborations:
  Suggesting thinking outside the box, she recommends collaborating with local venues that offer natural light and spacious environments:

  "There is a beautiful downtown building in El Reno... so how can you think outside the box?"
  (Timestamp: [55:10])

4. Focus on Local Collaborations and Community Engagement

Building local presence is crucial, and Brooke shares her transformative experience with joining the Chamber of Commerce.

• Joining the Chamber of Commerce:
  She recounts:

  "Joining my Chamber of Commerce back in the spring has been the single most best decision I've ever done... People trust that."
  (Timestamp: [59:05])

• Networking and Partnerships:
  Engaging with other local businesses and participating in community events can significantly boost visibility and client acquisition:

  "Get in front of new faces, new people, and get the network relationships going with other businesses."
  (Timestamp: [1:02:30])

5. Consistency and Daily Presence in Your Business

The final strategy revolves around the unwavering commitment to consistently market and manage your business.

• Daily Engagement:
  Brooke uses a storefront metaphor to illustrate the necessity of daily business operations:

  "If your photography business had a storefront... you would have to show up there every single day to let people walk through your door."
  (Timestamp: [1:05:45])

• Multi-Channel Marketing:
  She advocates for a diversified marketing approach, utilizing multiple channels without overextending:

  "Pick a couple, let's put them in our little basket... but we're spreading them out through a couple of different channels."
  (Timestamp: [1:08:10])

• Avoiding Complacency:
  Emphasizing growth and adaptation, Brooke warns against repeating ineffective strategies:

  "If what you did in 2024 did not get you the ultimate result you were looking for, and you Repeat that in 2025, that is insane."
  (Timestamp: [1:10:30])

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Brooke wraps up the episode with a quick recap of the five strategies:

1. Create a Waitlist
2. Use the Holiday Season for Promotions
3. Develop Creative Winter Booking Ideas
4. Focus on Local Collaborations and Community Engagement
5. Consistency and Daily Presence in Your Business

She teases upcoming episodes centered around maximizing the slow season, goal setting, and website optimization, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for more valuable insights. Additionally, Brooke expresses her gratitude towards her audience, urging them to share the podcast with fellow photographers to foster a supportive community.

At [1:15:20], Brooke passionately appeals:

"Will you just share this with another photographer or go throw this in a photography group that you're in on Facebook and say, hey, I just listened to this episode. It really, really helped me."

Key Takeaways

• Proactive Planning: Establishing a waitlist ensures a steady pipeline of clients for the upcoming year.
• Strategic Promotions: Leveraging holiday seasons can significantly enhance booking rates without devaluing services.
• Creative Adaptation: Innovating during traditionally slow periods can maintain business momentum.
• Community Engagement: Building local connections fosters trust and expands client reach.
• Consistent Effort: Regular and diversified marketing efforts are essential for sustained business growth.

Stay Connected:

• Instagram: @brookejanaephoto
• Email: brooke@brookejefferson.com
• Website: www.brookejefferson.com

For more insights and strategies, tune into future episodes of the Book More Clients Photography Podcast and empower your photography business to reach new heights in 2025.