Okaaaay, Climb Tribe, let’s get real for a sec. It’s that time of year AGAIN where we’re all feverishly looking at bookings for the next year and low key losing our shit because we’re not where we (airquote) should be. It hits me and allll my photog friends. I swear, my husband is ready with the chocolate and soothing voice this time of year, talking me off the ledge, reminding me that I have these anxieties literally EVERY year. At the same time. Right now. Are you feeling anxious because your calendar isn’t as full as you’d like for next year? You’re not alone. It’s time to prepare for booking season and get ready to book your dream clients like a pro.

To prep for booking season, listen to The Climb with Kelsey podcast episode!

Engagement season (fall through winter) is prime booking time for photographers, especially between January and April. But instead of spiraling into panic mode, let’s channel that anxious energy into action! In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to prepare your business so you’re ready to book dream clients when inquiries start rolling in.

Freaking Out About Next Year’s Bookings? Listen to the podcast episode where you can prepare for booking season!

Helpful Links: 

Inquiry Email Templates – downloadable *FREE* templates that you can customize 
Spice Up Your SEO Guide – get on the front page of google 
Legal Paige Contracts – you can purchase contract templates

00:00 Introduction: Booking Anxieties
01:02 Understanding the Booking Cycle
02:43 Common Mistakes to Avoid
08:47 Setting Up for Success
14:42 Legal and Financial Preparations
16:43 Final Tips and Encouragement

Understanding engagement season

Engagement season is prime time, running from fall through winter, with a massive uptick in inquiries between January and April. Here’s the deal: most couples get engaged over the holidays (shoutout to Christmas and New Year’s Eve proposals) and then spend the first few months of the new year figuring out what the heck they’re doing. They’re overwhelmed, Pinterest-obsessed, and so ready for someone (you!) to guide them. The best way to prepare for booking season is to understand what couples are going through during this crazy time! Help them through it!

Pro tip: This is why your SEO and website game needs to be on point. When couples Google “best wedding photographer near me,” you want your name to pop up.

Common Mistakes Photographers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

If you’re panicking about a slow season, don’t fall into these traps:

Drastically Dropping Prices

• The Mistake: Offering huge discounts out of fear.
• Why It Hurts: It devalues your work and attracts price-sensitive clients.
• The Fix: Create value-driven promotions like a free hour of coverage, a location guide, or partnering with vendors to offer a seamless experience. For example, bundle your services with an officiant or florist for an “all-in-one” package.

Over-Relying on Social Media

• The Mistake: Spending all your time on Instagram, hoping it’ll fill your inbox.
• Why It Hurts: Social media is unpredictable. Algorithms change, and posts have short lifespans.
• The Fix: Additionally, diversify your marketing. Optimize your website for SEO (grab my free “Spice Up Your SEO” guide in the show notes!) and start blogging. Did you know one SEO-optimized blog post could bring in $80k/year? Social media can’t compete with that. Since they’re such high return on investment, prepare for booking season by writing 12 super helpful blogs this year!

Ignoring Your Past Clients

• The Mistake: Generally focusing solely on new leads and forgetting about past clients.
• Why It Hurts: Past clients are referral goldmines!
• The Fix: Show them love! Send holiday cards, offer anniversary sessions, or create a referral program. Eventually, your past clients might want to work with you again and you don’t want them to forget about you!

Taking Every Job

• The Mistake: Booking gigs that don’t align with your niche out of fear.
• Why It Hurts: This leads to burnout and strays from your dream clients.
• The Fix: Stay true to your niche. It’s better to book fewer aligned clients than overcommit to jobs that drain you.

Neglecting Personal Development

• The Mistake: Skipping education during slow seasons.
• Why It Hurts: You miss out on growth opportunities.
• The Fix: Invest in workshops or coaching. My elopement coaching program helps photographers thrive, not just survive.

What You Should Be Doing to Slay Engagement Season

Set Up Systems

• Craft 4 go-to email templates. For example: “OMG, thank you for reaching out! I’m already obsessed with your love story!”
• Use tools like Tave, HoneyBook, or Dubsado to automate follow-ups, invoices, and reminders.

Refine Your Website

• Firstly, update your pricing page to include starting rates.
• Sprinkle in glowing testimonials and new photos.
• Tighten your messaging to speak directly to your dream clients.

Practice Your Inquiry Calls

• Confidence is key! Rehearse your pricing pitch and focus on their needs.
• Pro tip: Hype yourself up with a dance party before calls. It works—I booked a 2-day elopement in Greece after doing this!

Get Your Legal Ducks in a Row

• Use contracts from The Legal Paige to protect yourself.
• Set up a business bank account and accounting software like QuickBooks.
• Insure your gear because nobody’s got time for expensive surprises.

Final Pep Talk for the Climb Tribe

You don’t need to book every inquiry, just the right ones. Preparing now ensures you’re ready to show up confidently during peak season. Lastly, your dream clients are out there—they just need you to guide them through their elopement adventure. Stop the freakout, start the prep, and let’s make this engagement season your best yet!

Need help? Grab my free inquiry email templates and slide into my DMs with your questions. Let’s do this, Climb Tribe!