The holidays are just around the corner, and if you don’t get ahead of it now, your whole season could become overwhelming quickly. That’s why I put together this checklist of things to do this week so you can make the most out of every holiday photo session and boost your photography print sales.
Streamline Galleries and Navigation for Photography Prints and Photo Sessions
Both print sales and photo sessions need a holiday makeover.
To boost print sales, consider creating a “Gifts” gallery with categories like “Friends,” “Kids’ Wall Art,” “Husbands & Wives,” and “Family.” Make it easy for visitors to browse and find photos they can order as wall art, on coffee mugs, or on other fun gift items for the special people in their lives.
Portrait photo session clients want to see if your style matches their needs, while others seek ideas for their holiday photos. If you don’t have a holiday portrait gallery, create one now and include a few sub-galleries.
Some fun ideas could be “Classic Holiday Portraits,” “Couples,” “Howl-iday Pets & Pawtraits,” or “Ugly Sweaters & Holiday Fun.” By showcasing your range and your ability to capture their holiday spirit, you can encourage them to book on the spot and keep your calendar full!
Verify Your Website and Online Listings Are Up to Date
If you haven’t checked your website, social media profiles, or Google Business Profile lately, now’s the time to do it. Many of these platforms offer special features for holiday hours, and updating them now can help you show up ahead of other photographers for clients searching for holiday appointments.
For example, if you’re open until 8 p.m., but your website or Google Profile still says 4 p.m., someone looking for a 6 p.m. slot might skip right past you—or worse, Google might not even suggest your studio because they think you’re already closed.
While at it, double-check that your address, phone number, and other contact details are correct so clients can quickly contact or find you if they’re running late. This is also an excellent opportunity to add an interactive map to your site so people can click for directions straight from their phones.
Photo Session Packages
Still using the same pricing from last year—or even five years ago? It’s easy to overlook updating packages, so let’s fix that now.
If your schedule is filling up faster than it did a few years ago and availability is tight, it’s a good time to raise your prices to match the demand. Fewer bookings mean more time for you, and you can still earn more with the higher rates.
Also, if clients often ask about different print sizes or add-ons each year, now’s your chance to include them in your packages. This way, customers who didn’t know those options existed can see and buy them upfront, boosting your average order value. If your photo site has a solid e-commerce setup with flexible printing options, this can help you increase your earnings without extra effort.
Simplify Your Workflow
You usually have more breathing room for processing and printing during the wedding season and spring. However, a holiday photo session needs a quick turnaround so that cards and gifts arrive before the holidays or in time for parties. Now’s the time to evaluate where you’re losing time and find solutions.
If it’s taking too long for images to move from your camera to storage, editing, and final galleries, look into apps that can speed up the workflow or consider switching to a system that can handle large image transfers seamlessly (I’ll share a recommendation in a bit).
If your retouchers are taking longer because they’re stretched thin, start looking for backup options now. Get them familiar with your style so they’re ready to jump in when needed, without delaying client deliveries.
Not all print shops deliver the quality your clients expect, so could you find ones that meet your standards and note their holiday order deadlines? You might get last-minute print requests for gifts, and if you’ve got a go-to print shop that offers 2-day print and delivery, you can snag some extra sales!
Here’s a Solution I Recommend
That’s a lot to take in, but there’s an easy solution for most of it: SmugMug.
SmugMug gives photographers an easy-to-use website builder with built-in security features to keep your images safe and prevent clients from downloading without paying.
They also offer custom workflow tools created by photographers for photographers. With a Pro account, you have complete e-commerce flexibility, letting you set your margins to control your earnings. Plus, you get unlimited high-resolution cloud storage and pro-level photo organizing tools to keep everything neat and accessible.
I’ve partnered with them, so if you click here to start your free 14-day trial, you’ll automatically save 15% on your new account if you decide to sign up after the trial.
Happy holidays! You can also share your favorite holiday portrait planning tips to help others in the community.