Off Season: What do you all do?

With the wedding season pretty much done save for a few individuals,

and high school seniors and families winding down, what do you all do

for the dreaded Jan. Feb. Mar. season? I am a full time professional

photographer and am looking for other ideas to make it through the

slim season. Any advice or ideas would be great! Thanks in advance.

I'm going to try my hand at the darkroom, maybe do some handcoloring, work on studio lighting and add to my creepy tree collection. This is the "Lightning Tree".<div></div>

John you could drink beer and watch TV all winter. Or maybe not.

 

I still have a day job but hopefully not for long. Your question is a good one.

 

I'll be working to put together a gallery show the next couple months but income from that can't be counted on to pay the bills.

MMMMMM....beer.

Off season? We don't have one. It's actually busier around the holidays with weddings, plus portraits and holiday parties. I've been surprised how many companies wait until Jan & Feb for their employee party.

Rich,

 

Working in a retail enviornment (OK IT support of retail), we dont have time to party until after Xmas is over, the customers have done thier returns and we have had some time to decompress. Jan is a good time for it. Besides the bosses can get a better rate.

spend a week in Mexico....practicing landscape photos, :-)

most of the folks in the Boston area I know go on vacation between early December and mid January, since mid January kicks off the

start of all the wedding shows that are happening.

Continuing your education. Sort out your strengths & weaknesses and try to imporove yourself. I had a nice conversation with Monte Zucker today and my wife and I are spending a week with him in California next year. I also plan on attending the WPPI convention & attend many of the seminars offered.

 

I've also got some non-wedding gigs in December and January.

 

I get withdrawl if I go just a day or so without creating images of people's faces.

 

You know what, I'll stay really busy.

 

Just some ideas to consider. Happy Holidays!

I am shooting santa in a mall.

<< I am shooting santa in a mall. >>

 

Yeah, we've all been there...but don't you think that's a little drastic? :)

Do you have to dress up like an elf? Our mall photog does...I couldn't do it.

This is a good time of year to work on marketing. Update, or redisign your web site with your latest work. Rework/create promotional materials. Put together some sample albums. Contact all the couples that haven't ordered albums. Contact all your clints that you haven heard from in 3 years and offer them a deal on buying their negatives/files. Get all you gear that isn't working quite right fixed. Examine your pricing and work flow.

 

There must be any number of things to get you better positioned and prepared for next season.

I agree Bruce. That's what I'm finally going to attend to. My web site sucks and is need of a

total redo. Basically, I got what I paid for.

 

The key is to also rethink the process and the way of working with clients. I've got a

completely new angle I tried today, and it looks promising.

 

Most importantly, back to the Art of wedding photography in the new year...

 

... and a week at a fat farm to shed the blubber gained while spending the summer in front

of the computer ... not just doing wedding photography either ; -)

Shooting santa is easy. Big target you know. Mind you he does play hell with DOF even at F8.

 

No I am not in an elf suit. I wanted to be but the mall would not let me. Too wierd or something. My niece does wear a santa hat. She actually shoots. Her face does not scare the kids like mine.

 

So far we are not earning like they did last year. Sales are down.

Well, I'm retired so I'm going to take naps and watch Court TV!

 

No, no...I'm going to try to get all of this digital photography nailed down and to drum up some business for the season.

I'm with Bruce and Todd. I'm going to work on my price structure and my brochures. I am also going to create a promotional CD for weddings that I can give to prospective clients. I am also swithcing to Digital when the S3 comes out, so I'll have a LOT of playing to do with my new camera and my new computer!

I also agree with Bruce about the website and coming up with some new promotional stuff for the coming year. I too am bored with my website (johnsloanphotography.com for anyone who would like to give some suggestions!)). I also have a bridal show in Jan., but what I am looking for is actual ways to increase sittings in Jan. Feb. Mar. and Apr. Any ideas for this ie. some kind of valentines promo. etc. I think I will try writing letters offering some kind of sitting discount for all of my High School senior families. Also, I did the negative selling thing and made a little money doing that. Just looking for some other ideas. Thanks!

Continue my three ongoing projects. Handheld self portraits in various places with and without assorted other people using my Bessa L with a 15mm lens. Writing a book about my life experiences. Printing up some of the thousands of B&W negatives in my files going back over 40 years ~ rock stars from Bob Dylan to Janis Joplin, Miccosukee and Seminole Indians before casinos made them wealthy, political figures from local mayors to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson to Abbie Hoffman. Even a Republican or two like Florida Governor Jeb Bush. It's been an interesting life and fortunately B&W negatives are stable and all my files are in order. To see some of them do a search here on photo.net or click on my name.

Do your income taxes. That should take up about two weeks of your time.

 

 

 

Depending on where you are, the out-door (and indoor) sports are areas you can see what sells. High school wrestling, baketball, soccer, swimming, girl's weight-lifting (a newly 'sanctioned' high school sport in Florida.)

>>> this is our portrait time of year..we have very mild weather year 'round. Also continue scanning my 100's of images, for fine art galleries....maybe sell some Euros and buy some gold..

I've got 4 weddings in January and in the meantime I'm waiting for the snow so that I can race off to the Lake District for three days of heavy landscape shooting.

I am currently planning my marketing and website re-design; however, I think that I will begin to have a pretty steady flow all year. Being in Charleston SC, the winters are mild. We have a couple of 32 degree days, but most Christmas' are in the 50's so people are still getting married. I hope that after one more year of increasing marketing, I will have a chunk of next years business.

Al,

 

I'm with you on your projects. Keep it going, and put me on the list for your book.

Thanks Todd! The taking pix of myself project is coming along nicely and I'm spending a couple hours a day tying up my adventures. I'm not looking forward to the editing job, putting it all together in a semblance of order! Staying on topic, here's a shot of me with a bride and groom that I did with my Bessa L and 15mm Skopar lens held in my outstretched arm:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/uploaded-file?bboard_upload_id=20101684

That should say "typing up my adventures".