First off, CONGRATULATIONS! We made it! Whether you are a brand new photographer that just wrapped up your first round of holiday minis or a seasoned photographer that’s been here way more times than once, give your self a huge pat on the back and pour a celebratory glass or two of wine. Marathon minis are not for the faint of heart and you deserve a break, but first please read this post!

With super crazy busy season in the rearview mirror it’s all too easy for us to pack up the props and forget about holiday minis until next year. But I’d like you to see why it’s SO important to start planning 2025 holiday sessions NOW!

I’m a part of way more Facebook photography groups than I like to admit and some common questions that I see over and over include “Why aren’t my Christmas Minis booking?” “What’s everyone’s set-ups for holiday photos?” “How are you marketing to get clients?” “I spent hundreds on my set-up and no one is booking, why??” These pain points can cause enough stress to want to throw in the towel and give up even trying. But I’m here to tell you that when executed properly, holiday minis can be your biggest money-maker for the year. And that’s exactly why you need a clear and solid blueprint now while 2024 is fresh in your head.

So what’s the secret? And what does it have to do with planning 10 months in advance?? Read on and see :)

1.) Grab a pen and paper and your deepest thoughts

Yes, it’s actually that easy. Reflection. And facts. I want you to write down the following things about your 2024 Holiday sessions:

What did you love about your set?
What was the biggest compliment your clients gave you about your set?
What did you feel was missing?
What challenges did you face with lighting, space, durability (were things getting knocked down/blown over) and accessibility (was your location easy to find, how was parking, etc)
What was your total overhead cost? (Don’t leave anything out!)
What was your total profit?
How many images were included? Did you feel you gave too many??
Did you have the option to upsell your gallery or products? If so, what was your profit?
And most importantly, besides pooped, how did you feel after you sent off the final gallery.

I told you we’d be reflecting. This step is crucial to do as soon as possible while all of these thoughts and emotions are fresh in your brain. Don’t wait until next year to jot all this down, it will make things so much more clear when you are planning to have something tangible to look back on. Now go and tuck this note away for a later date.

2.) Grab your mail

Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, J Crew, Vineyard Vines, Nordstrom, Gap, Frontgate, etc all have these amazing holiday ads and set designs that WORK. Look at how successful theses companies are, their ads SELL! And why do they sell?? They are on-trend, gorgeous and full of eye candy. The last 5 years I’ve pulled all of my holiday session inspiration directly from all of the above stores. Find brands that you connect and identify with and study what they are putting out right now. Cut out pages that speak to you and use that as your idea board for next year. There’s no need to buy those exact products, but pull what you love from each one and make it your own.

3.) Grab a seat

Ok, so now you have a hard copy list of what worked this year and what didn’t as well as a vision board of ideas that you love! Next step is to sit back and wait for those post holiday sales! I’ve snagged trees in the past for 50-75% off, those bigger items especially are so important to find when the discount is high! Create a nice little stockpile of deals and tuck them away. You will be SO happy you did this come next year. I already have my eye on some big ticket items that I’m dying to use in 2025.

And while you’re in that seat……. WORK ON YOUR EMAIL LIST!!! I say this with such importance. There’s no easier way to market your sessions than to send out an email to your followers. Call it whatever you want, VIP group, early access, priority booking, but if you don’t already have one in place, or if you could use more addresses on that list, now is the time to start building it up! Nearly all of my Christmas families are repeat customer and they booked straight from my VIP email list. It’s such a huge stress reliever to not be posting constantly on local groups for bookings. Put yourself out there now and start collecting!

Happy Planning! Now go relax! Next year will be here before you know it!