2025 Is Here. How To Jumpstart Next Year and Be Ahead of The Game by March
December is slow... take advantage of the downtime.
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As 2024 slips silently into the depths of wherever the hell it came from, we are now facing a new year - a mid-century year. A year of change and renewal and hope and blah blah…
A chance to start again, that is what it is.
And another opportunity to possibly get it right.
Or righter.
And an opportunity to finally get our framework in position, and create a positive bottom line.
I know a lot of negativity is floating around out there - but the bottom line is there is also a lot of work out there and someone is going to shoot it.
I think that should be you.
2025 started a week ago, and we are playing catchup.
no, not that read
Alright, here’s a pretty simple framework—so you stop barely getting by in December and, instead, totally start thriving next year.
1: Sort Out What Growth Actually Means to You
Right, let’s start:
How much money do you want to make in photography in 2025?
How much more is that than last year?
Are the kinds of jobs you are doing now capable of bringing in that income?
If yes, you need to double down on getting more work from those types of clients.
If no, you need to identify and market to a higher level of client.
Example: Let’s say you’re shooting for $80,000 gross in 2025. Just break it into something a bit easier to chew. (Note: I am just using this number as a guide. If you are a part-time shooter, your goal may be less, and if you are already at this level, you may want to double it for 2025.)
Basically, that’s about $6,666 each month or so.
If your average gig is $1500, then you’re talking about, well, roughly 4 clients per month, or one per week.
How many clients are you meeting now to get the amount of gigs you are currently getting?
How many clients will you have to meet to get four gigs per month?
What kinds of projects, portfolio pieces, or packages will make those clients notice you faster?
What kind of bidding structure would induce more clients to commit?
Suddenly, that big number seems less like a marathon and more like just a few steps each month. OK, maybe a mini-marathon for some of us. Nothing impossible—just manageable chunks.
Now we have to look for clients that will spend $1500 or more per gig with you.
Research your client base.
Do a Channels Discovery Process (See Find Photo Clients Now - Free course)
If you don’t have one, start building your potential client list as soon as you can... today, even.
Review 2024: What Worked, What Sucked
Honestly, you have to look back, right? Reflecting isn’t optional.
What was your best method of bringing in clients?
How often did you employ that method?
What were your worst methods of bringing in clients?
How much time and effort did you spend on that method?
What were the things that drained your energy or time for no good reason?
What strategies can you implement to make it easier or maybe just a bit less frustrating next time?
Quick; speakl one thing that stops you from getting your work in front of 20-30 clients a month?
Good... now work doubly hard on that.
For instance: If those cold emails brought in business but your Instagram strategy was a total dud, there’s your sign! Put your energy where it pays off, and either tweak what failed or just cut it loose.
Plan Your Stuff to Create Deliberate Growth
Now that you’ve got a rough idea of your goal and what’s working, it’s time to figure out the “how”:
How are you gonna find those 3 to 4 clients every month?
Is it going to be social media, more referrals, or maybe knocking on some local doors? Remember what worked and what didn’t as you plan.What systems could make client handling easier? Anything to streamline your workflow? AI tools to save time?
How many clients do you believe you have to see to get four jobs a month?
How will you develop a system to see that many clients per month? What will it look like? And is it sustainable even after you get some steady work?
What new skills do you need to add? I have my strong beliefs that photographers must grow their tool kit.
1. Writing
2. Design (including web)
3. Motion (video, stop-motion, cinemagraphs)
Operation Jump Start: the First 60 Days
As you are well aware, 2025 is not going to look like 2024, or 2023 even. There will be changes coming from every direction. AI is here, and it is becoming more established every day. Agencies are looking for ways to get their clients noticed. The noise is almost deafening
Some ideas:
January: Send out a bunch of emails to 60 possible clients who you identified in December. Honestly, don’t be shy. Just go for it. Add an additional 60 new names to this list in January - you should be in the habit of mining leads by now.
Prepare and send your first postcard to a select list of clients you have identified as being on your “Hot 100” - the top clients you want to work for.February: Resend the first list and develop your contact strategy. Add packages to your offering. Get creative in your marketing. A lot of photographers are productizing their work and finding clients for whom that works well. Send your second set of postcards.
If you have never had a list before, you should be moving toward 150 names by this point. And that is a good number… IF you have researched them well.I believe in the three contacts per day (once an initial list has been sent) and doing it religiously to spike growth.
It is always reach and frequency. Always.
How many people can you see (contact) and how often can you do it?
This will vary from person to person, but I promise you if you can contact 3 people per day, your business will look different by March 1.
Bottom Line: 2025 Has Already Started…
… and if you are not taking advantage of this down time, you are already behind.
Folks, next year isn’t starting in January—a lot depends on what you do in December. Put in the effort now, and you’re building the whole setup that’ll keep things rolling for all the months ahead.
Want to jumpstart into January? Here's a deal from me.
Join my Mentorship Group for weekly meetings, inspiration, image reviews, and marketing advice. These are live meetings that you can attend and learn from. This month: Lifetime membership for one low fee. Act fast, only a few spots open.
If you are wondering what to do next year, book an hour with me and I will review your portfolio, and your goals, and give you some ideas for increasing your quality of clients, portfolio, work, and more. These sessions are $125 and I can only do a few each month. Well worth your time, and if you decide to join the Mentorship Group, I will credit the payment toward the fee. Contact me by email or respond to this email to set a meeting up.
When you are ready, here is how I can help you succeed.
Group Mentorship: a small group of photographers who meet to show images, work on their portfolio, and build their businesses with help from a wonderful group. Lifetime membership for one fee.
One-on-one Mentorship: You and me - working together in an intense 6-month push to get you on the way to over $30K in additional revenue. The work we lay down will help you increase and scale your business for years ahead.
Coming in 2025, a One-on-One, 6-week plan to get your marketing system in place. You will see results immediately, and by results, I mean assigned work that pays you. More coming.
Seen and Noted
Pre-order pricing is available. Limited Edition, signed and numbered, matted print included.