Summer is fast approaching! ☀️🏖️

And for us wedding photographers, that also means the busiest time of the year is just around the corner.

The arrival of the warmer months means wedding bookings are really taking off! And as usual, we’re finding that our diaries are pretty much booked out before the season has even begun.

Just like every year, we seriously can’t wait to work with so many lovely couples.

But while our heads are filled with dreams of beach weddings, summer can also be a pretty overwhelming time for wedding photographers.

We want our photography to be better than ever before. We want lots of happy customers. And we want our businesses to soar to new heights. But when we start the season with such high aspirations, it’s no surprise that many of us feel burned out just a few weeks in.

The problem is, when we’re so focused on our work — and caught up in the whirlwind of travelling to a different city every weekend — our mental health and wellbeing can sometimes be put on the back burner.

But this can be detrimental to both you and your business. Thriving during a busy wedding season relies on you being fit, well, and mentally ready to take on any challenge!

So, don’t underestimate the importance of looking after yourself. Instead of viewing self-care as another thing to fit into your already hectic schedule, try to see it as a tool to becoming the best person and photographer you can be.

And you know what else? If you’re feeling on top form, your business will follow. It’s all about finding ways to achieve more, without negatively impacting your mental health.

So, this wedding season, forget the stress. Let happiness, motivation, energy, and confidence take its place!

In this blog, we’ll explore how to thrive during a busy wedding season. Read on to learn all of our tips and tricks!

As an independent wedding photographer, you’re probably all too familiar with the stresses of running a business.

You can’t just concentrate on your photography. You’re also responsible for pretty much everything else. Sending invoices, managing your social media pages, and filing your taxes — the list goes on and on.

But when your diary is booked out, it can sometimes be hard to find time for all of the extra little things.

And you know what’s great? You don’t have to.

This is exactly where outsourcing can help.

Outsourcing tasks which you don’t have time for, aren’t qualified in, or just find plain boring is the fastest route to giving yourself more time to focus on the things you love — and more headspace to go with it!

If you haven’t outsourced before, worry not. It’s a pretty simple process.

In short, there is someone out there who specializes in the area you’re struggling with. Whether that’s managing your finances, writing content for your blog, replying to emails, or designing your website — there is a professional who can help.

Outsourcing to a freelancer or an agency lets you put these tasks in the hands of a specialist who will do the work for you.

This leaves you with more time to focus on what you love most, and a whole lot of stress taken off your shoulders!

If you want to dive deeper into how to outsource in your biz, check out our article on outsourcing as a wedding photographer!

If you’re guilty of neglecting your mental health throughout the year, you’ll really feel the effects during a busy wedding season.

While you might feel like you can keep going, keep pushing, and keep doing without giving yourself a chance to breathe, this is probably not the case.

The truth is that we all need time to take a step back and check in with our mental wellbeing. If we’re not doing this, we’re leaving ourselves open to stress, anxiety, and a whole host of other mental health problems.

So, make sure to be more mindful of your mental health this wedding season!

How?

Well, the first step is giving yourself a chance to have time away from work.

While taking time off as a business owner is more difficult, it’s not impossible. Consider when your less busy periods are likely to be, and plan time off in advance. After all, you definitely deserve it!

Another great way to be more mindful of your mental health is to switch off your notifications.

We get it: you’ve got emails you need to reply to, and social media to manage. But taking a step away — even if just for a few days — is a fantastic way to give yourself some headspace and be more present in the moment. Remember, you can always schedule social media posts ahead of time!

And, of course, the ultimate way to be more mindful of your mental health is to get stuck into some feel-good meditation. Dedicate some time each day to practicing meditation, yoga, or learning simple relaxation exercises — trust us, it’ll be worth it.

We totally know what it’s like. You’ve got clients contacting you on Instagram, others emailing you directly, and some going for the good old-fashioned method of picking up the phone!

When you’re arranging meetings and booking in weddings via so many different channels, it’s not surprising that you feel overwhelmed.

And that’s because you haven’t got everything in one place!

While tools like Google Calendar can be great for event reminders, the problem is that we sometimes forget to add in the meetings which we organize outside of Google.

That’s leaving far too much to memory — and increases your risk of double booking.

No one wants that, right? Of course not. So, there has to be a better solution.

Here at Dirty Boots and Messy Hair, we’re huge fans of HoneyBook, a software that makes managing your booking and clients a breeze.

If you draw out a plan in advance — and gather all of the information in one place — you’re less likely to have things slip through the cracks.

You could create your schedule by hand, or even purchase a diary. The idea is that, by having a physical copy of your schedule, you can add in bookings and events as you go — and ensure that nothing gets left behind as an Instagram message!

We all know that the relationships we have with our clients are key to building a successful photography business.

And these relationships begin way before the big day.

Which is exactly why it’s so important to make a good first impression. And for many clients, this first impression comes in the form of an email.

So, replying quickly, and in a professional and friendly manner, is an absolute must for thriving during a busy upcoming wedding season.

The trouble is, when you’ve got so many other things to think about, you might start to push emails to the bottom of your to do list.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, that’s completely understandable. After all, good email replies take time — and we don’t always have it!

Whether it’s a response to a generic enquiry, an email thanking a couple for choosing you as their photographer, or a short message to accompany an invoice, there are probably lots of emails that you find yourself writing over and over again.

So, speed things up with some simple email templates.

Take some time to write these email templates in advance — and save them to your ‘drafts’ folder so that you can easily access them when needed.

This gives you a chance to produce emails that you’re really proud of. What’s more, you’ll never send another spelling mistake again (and we all know that spelling errors are one of the quickest ways to turn a client away, right?)

Your clients will be impressed with your speedy and professional replies, and you’ll have dodged a whole lot of stress. Trust us — email templates are the easiest way to thrive this wedding season!

Without wanting to sound like a nagging parent, we really can’t emphasize the importance of eating well enough.

While it can be tempting to live on a diet of takeaway pizzas and fizzy pop when you’re working non-stop, this is the quickest route to burnout.

And while many of us understand the link between the foods we eat and our physical health, we don’t all consider how what we put into our bodies can affect our mental health, too.

But the facts are out there. In fact, one study even found that eating vegetables was directly linked to higher levels of mental wellbeing!

So, try to eat a balanced diet as much as you can. You should be giving your body plenty of fiber, protein, fruit and veg — and cutting down on sugary and fatty foods where you can.

This is the ultimate way to make sure you have the energy and resilience you need to tackle a busy wedding season head on!

We hope these tips have helped you to feel more prepared for a busy upcoming wedding season.

Ultimately, it’s all about finding ways to balance your wellbeing with the success of your business.

It’s completely possible to do both. And when you find that balance, you’ll be ready to take on the world!

We’ve got more tips for you from none other than Nik Reese — energy and mindset coach for wedding photographers. Check out his article now and get ready to approach this wedding season with energy and confidence!