Most people panic when business slows down, but this time of year is an opportunity, not a setback. A slow season gives you space to refine your strategy, attract better clients, and strengthen your brand. What you do now will determine how successful your next busy season will be.
Coming to you from Chelsea Nicole Photography, this insightful video lays out five key actions to take during a slow season to build long-term success. First, she suggests scheduling a "photo CEO date" with yourself. This means stepping back and evaluating where your business stands. Are you booking the clients you actually want? If not, the issue might not be pricing—it’s perception. People pay top dollar for things they want, not just things they need. Your goal is to create that kind of demand for your work, so pricing stops being the deciding factor.
One of the most effective ways to shape perception is through social proof. Reviews carry the same weight as personal recommendations, yet many struggle to get them. Nicole shares a simple tweak to improve response rates: Give clients a clear reason and a deadline when requesting testimonials. Once collected, reviews shouldn’t just sit on your website. She recommends integrating them into pricing guides, social media, and blog posts so potential clients see proof of your value everywhere they look.
Refreshing your portfolio is another powerful way to influence how clients perceive you. Nicole points out that a portfolio should reflect where you're going, not just where you’ve been. She advises reviewing each image critically—does it showcase the kind of work you want to attract? If not, cut it. Unflattering images, inconsistent editing, and distracting backgrounds weaken your brand. A strong portfolio should feel cohesive, like it came from a single artist, not a mix of different styles.
That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Nicole.
