10 Proven Tips to Get Early Photography Booking for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is quickly approaching! I have seen some photographers say they are already booked for Christmas, while many others are waiting and checking for messages. I know, I have been there too! But believe me, this isn’t just luck. This is about planning early, being visible, and knowing what works.

As a mom and photographer, I have learned a few simple tricks over my years that make a big difference. In this article, I am going to share 10 simple tips that I know will help you get early bookings every holiday season. Let’s make this year your busiest (and happiest) one yet!

1. Reconnect with Past Clients Before the Rush

Your past clients are your best referrals; they are used to your style and trust your work. You should reach out to them before the holiday craziness begins. Announce your holiday mini sessions at least one or two months early so your loyal clients can have first pick of the best times.

You can also send a sweet reminder email to families who booked last year. Include your booking link in there too & perhaps a little sneak preview of your new holiday backdrop. It’s such an easy way to fill your calendar before new clients even contact you!

Plan Your Year: Backdrops, Promotions and Shoots

The first step to winning is having an annual plan. Simplify, adjust your schedule to match your workload and your clients' habits. Purchase seasonal backdrops early, style your sets and make your promotions roll just in time in order to maintain a consistent and non-stressful atmosphere.

Here's is simple timeline to keep your sessions running throughout the year:

2. Offer Minor Bonuses to Spark Early Bookings

Even if the bookings are slow, a little incentive can work wonders: free prints of your Christmas cards, or an upgraded picture frame, for instance, to the first few clients to book. Small gestures show that you appreciate their custom, and can help to increase excitement about your holiday mini sessions.

Continue advertising regularly on social media and via your email list, even during the quiet periods. Be patient and visible, some of the families make their reservations early and others do it towards the end of the fall. The trick is to remain at the top of their mind when they are ready to select a photographer at last.

3. Offer Limited-Time Holiday Mini-Sessions

One of the best ways to secure early bookings is to ensure your holiday sessions have a different feel to them. I’ve noticed that people are more likely to respond faster when they know that there are limited openings.

You can mention things like, “Only 5 openings left!” or “Booking closes this weekend!” This helps families be able to decide what they want to do faster before all of the openings are gone.

When you announce your offer, also show some cute photos of your setup. Include twinkling lights, cozy props, and a festive backdrop. I love using Kate Holiday Backdrops because they make every setup look so warm and pretty, and I don’t have to spend hours setting up!

4. Keep Reminding Clients About Your Sign-Ups

Sometimes clients don’t always skip your posts, they just miss them in the scroll. That is why gentle reminders will be the most important to fill your holiday sessions early. Repost your sign-up links on Facebook and Instagram several times towards the beginning of the season, not just once.

Create hype by informing the followers of the specific time when the bookings will be opened so that they can know when to put the date in their calendar. And remember your email list, write a brief note to previous clients, reminding them that the booking link is open. You will be surprised to know how many of them will rebook after they receive that friendly reminder in their mailbox.

5. Get Your Sessions Noticed in Your Locality

In case you would like to reserve early photography, you should target the local families who will probably have been noticed and will be most likely to book. Create communal or mom groups in Facebook where your targeted clients interact and update in Facebook about your mini session holiday.

Make it more visible by putting flyers in local pages or bulletin boards or even local web pages. You can also consider trying little local adverts or coupon book placements to focus in the homes nearby. When posting online ads, make sure you target a 30-50-mile radius. This will make sure that your adverts are displayed to individuals who can visit your studio or a designated location.

6. Staying Visible by Consistently Posting

Once people discover you, consistency keeps your name in their mind. Post to your business page, Instagram, or local community boards at least once a week to remind clients of your presence and willingness to take bookings. Share behind-the-scenes clips, fun model calls, or highlights from past sessions to keep your feed lively.  

Don’t be afraid to repeat your best photographs, familiar images will develop trust and brand recognition. The more people see your work, the more likely they will think of you when the time comes to book their holiday photographs.

7. Encourage Interaction to attract more attention to your posts

Engagement is what makes your posts visible and your sessions noticed. Ask your followers, friends, and former clients to comment on, like, or share your posts about your holiday minis. A simple “Tag someone who needs updated family photos!” can spark quick interaction.

Always respond to comments and continue a conversation, active posts remain in the feeds of people longer. The more your posts are buzzed the more new clients will find out about your work and be motivated to book before your schedule is full.

8. Organize a Promo Event to demo your setup

There is nothing more attention-grabbing than seeing actual people having your holiday set. Invite a local family or model to do a mini promo shoot, and capture real, happy shots. These images immediately make potential clients imagine their sessions with you.

Post them on social media, your site, and even groups in the community to create buzz. To keep your visuals updated, be sure to update them each time you add new props or festive things. It only takes a couple of warm, well-decorated shots to increase early photography booking in the season.

9. Combine Reels and Photos to Reach More People

Short videos are a fun way to get people’s attention! They allow your clients to see your real personality and how much you love what you do!

I like to do a few short behind-the-scenes reels while setting up for my holiday mini sessions and then show a few of my finished photos at the end. It looks so simple but so pretty! You can put those on Instagram or Facebook to promote your sessions.

Keep your video light and festive and real, people love to see those little happenings. To make this easier, I use a Kate Photo Kit, it matches everything perfectly, I can change my set quickly and my photos will still appear neat and professional.

10. Share Client Testimonials and Previous Results

There is no try of faster trust building than happy clients! I really enjoy posting little stories or quotes from families who have booked with me before.

You can also show some before and after photos from the holiday mini last year. This is a fun way to show how far you’ve progressed as well.

I like to post things in Instagram stories or reels, a kid giggling, a cozy family hug or a cute holiday detail from my setup. Those things always make people smile!

You can also tell them that many of your bookings come from returning families. When they see how much others enjoy your sessions, they will also plan to book theirs early!

Get Ready for Early Bookings

Early photography bookings don’t just happen overnight; it takes a little planning, care and consistency. When you plan your promos, photos and messages early, everything flows easily and you are not rushed at the last minute! Get started now with a few of these simple ideas, and before you know it, your holiday calendar will be filled with happy families, and relaxed, fun sessions!