‘Tis the silly time… for photographers! Or at least that is what I always hear in this industry as soon as November rolls around. 

As small business owners, we are no strangers to pushing ourselves to the very limit to get in as many sessions as we can before the holidays. That might mean booking extra mini holiday sessions and taking more sessions than usual in your monthly bookings. We don’t often think of the photographer burnout that will result. Many of us are mothers and the holiday season is busy enough! Running yourself on low energy can mean your business suffers with you, which turns into a whole whirlpool of adverse effects. To help combat burnout (and to hopefully convince you to take a little break over the holidays), I’ve created a list of tips for you for how to avoid photographer burnout. Find them all here!

4 Tips for How to Avoid Photographer Burnout

  1. Give yourself a firm “cut-off” point that you will stop taking sessions and take some time with your family. If you are primarily a newborn photographer that means that your last due date need sto come 2-3 weeks prior to Christmas. If you have to take sessions until Christmas Eve, be transparent with your families that galleries will not be delivered until the New Year. 
  2. Set a time that you switch off work each day.  It can be tempting to just push through and work all night, whether that be editing photos or working on your studio redesign, but it can quickly exhaust you. Setting a firm “cut-off” point for the day, a point can be very helpful in ensuring you actually get enough time away from your business to rest. You will be more efficient in your work if you allow for rest.
  3. Don’t be afraid to turn down work or reschedule if need be. During the early stages of your business, the thought of turning away a customer can be terrifying. However, sometimes it is necessary. If you’ve reached the maximum number of sessions you can handle in a month, don’t be afraid to say no to the person pressuring you to book. Squeezing in too many people can affect your work output and may lead to you cutting corners somewhere in your business to get it all done.
  4. Outsource the work you find most time consuming. For most of us, photography is our passion, it is the work that we are best at and where our energy is best spent. Start building a relationship with an editor that can take some of the menial tasks off your plate. You are providing them with work that they are best at and saving yourself countless hours sitting in front of the computer. 

The most important thing is to remember to let yourself take breaks; get up and go for a walk to get some fresh air, do a stretch every half hour to avoid back fatigue and make sure to take a lunch and dinner break. We all need rest, and we all need a break. Plan ahead so that you can enjoy some relaxing time with your OWN family over the holiday season. You got this!!

Next week we are starting a series of tips on Newborn Digital Backdrops, starting with Tip #1 – Helping you Plan your Digitals. If you’re not already on the email list make sure you join here and receive a free Newborn Digital Backdrop!

See you then!

Amanda xo

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