My Business Goals for 2025 - Hitchin Branding & Portrait Photographer
I don’t typically take the time to reflect on the coming year until January, because December is so busy! Hello two kids in two different schools…I need a PA just to keep up with the emails and remember which kid I’m collecting loo rolls for to make Christmas Crackers and which day is who’s play and who needs what costume and when. Thank goodness for WhatsApp groups so as long as one parent is organised it keeps the rest of us in line.
The New Year always has such a gorgeous fresh energy for me, and I can look ahead with a clear mind and really take stock of the months that came before and what I would like from the year ahead. However, this year feels different. Work has slowed right down unexpectedly, which is a bit nerve-wracking money wise but is a real relief for daily life as I can be more present with the kids and not feel overworked, on the verge of burnout and running my immune system into the ground. Instead, I’m fighting fit while everyone around me seems to be dropping like flies.
I wrote a little about this in my last newsletter, but 2025 is going to be a year of some big shifts in my working life. For the last ten years or so, I have been a self employed photographer and for the most part I have loved every minute of it. I adore the freedom, the mix of long shoot days and cosy days at home editing or catching up on admin. I adore my clients, the creative freedom and the pride that comes from building a business on my own in a way that aligns with my values. There is a lot to love about being a freelancer, especially as I have two relatively young children who I need to fit my work around. When freelance life is good, it’s magical…but when it’s bad, it can be so tough.
It’s no secret that when you’re self employed in the creative industries, it’s a fairly constant hustle to find your next client. Income is unpredictable, and that can be really hard going when you don’t have a partner with a reliable income to fall back on. I’ve got a vision for a few years into the future when I’m able to take on a mortgage by myself (mine is currently in my ex-partner’s name because we share two kids together) and not have to worry about money.
So, 2025 may look a lot different work wise to the last decade of working by myself and planning my own schedule. But I am ready for a shift! And, more importantly, I am ready to do whatever it takes for the next two years to make sure I can provide for myself an my family without needing to rely on anyone else.
My business goals for 2025…
Update my CV and look for work to fit alongside my photography business.
Ideally I am looking for some PAYE work for 2-3 days a week, leaving me another 2-3 to work as a branding and portrait photographer. I’d like a reliable source of income so I know my bills and mortgage are covered every month without having to worry. I plan to cast a fairly wide net in my job search, and I’m not ruling out going back into the arts or charity sector and picking up that side of my career again. I’m excited for a new challenge and to see what’s out there for me. It’s absolutely not the end of my freelance work, and if I’m lucky it’ll be something that complements it. I’ll keep you posted!
Finish my website
I have been procrastinating heavily with this task, because as much as I love writing…I really dislike copy writing! As the online storefront of my business, it’s really not a good enough excuse to have put this off for so long. I have been working hard on creating more content for my blog, and this is all the more reason to finish the rest of my site. I want to make this a priority for January and February when work is likely to be quiet.
Take an ‘evergreen content’ approach to my marketing
Like a lot of creative business owners, I have focused my marketing efforts heavily on Instagram. For a good long while, it worked for me! But the algorithm has changed things, and I’m not seeing the results that I used to. Instagram can make you feel like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel, constantly creating content and posting to keep people’s eyes on your work. It’s exhausting!
So, I’m focusing my marketing efforts on using my blog as a solid foundation for my business. I can create content with a long life-span, improve SEO on my website, share content to other platforms such as Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and share educational and informative posts with my clients and other photographers.
Level up my client experience
My client experience was a huge focus of my business in 2021, but to be really honest it has been tough to support my clients to the same level while I’ve been going through a huge personal shift these last few years. But now I’m out of the trenches and full of energy to throw myself back into creating the best experience for my clients that I possibly can.
This looks like…
More client calls before and after each photo shoot
Blog posts and client guides to walk you through the process of a shoot, how to prepare, what to wear etc
Thoughtful client gifts
Extra special touches along the way that align with my values, and how I want my clients to feel when they work with me
Start pitching to potential clients
This is something I have been meaning to do for the last few years, instead of relying solely on word of mouth and social media to bring me new clients. It always fills me with imposter syndrome to reach out directly to clients I’d like to work with, but it’s time to face my fears and go for it. I’ve been keeping a database of local creatives and businesses I’d like to approach, and I’m going to start the year off by writing a pitch email that I can personalise and start sending it out to everyone on my list.
Shoot more film, and offer this as an add on service
I absolutely love shooting film, although the boxes of undeveloped film in my fridge would tell you that I am better at taking the photos than I am at getting them developed. Haha! I would really like to start taking my film camera to portrait and branding shoots and snapping a few frames, with a view to offer it as an add-on service to my photography packages.
If you’re signed up to my email newsletter, you would have seen that I’m offering to shoot a free roll of 35mm for every portrait session booked in January, February and March 2025. Contact me if you’d like to book!
Host workshops!
My friend Jo and I launched a Smartphone Product Photography workshop this year which we were so excited about, but unfortunately had to postpone it due to some personal circumstances. We plan to run this again in the first half of 2025, so if you’re local to Hitchin keep your eyes peeled for that.
I’ve got a few other ideas of workshops to develop as well, and offer some additional ‘shoot with me’ and one-to-one photography education services. I really love meeting new people, and always love sharing my passion and photography knowledge with others. Sign up to my mailing list to be the first to hear about my workshops!
Explore creating videos for my clients
I’ve dabbled with video a bit in the past, but never taken it very seriously and I wish I had! I’d like to experiment with making short videos my clients could use to create reels or on their websites to promote their work. Video content can be so compelling and it would make a really lovely addition to my services for my clients. I’m planning to use my down time between Christmas and New Year to experiment. If you’re local to Hitchin and you’d like to be a guinea pig for my video making, get in touch!
Honestly, I’m really proud of what I have achieved this year during the tail end of a turbulent time personally. Since moving house in April, I’ve gone full force back into my work but it has felt in part like I’ve been starting from scratch again which is really hard! As always, the best part of my business is always the people I get to meet and connect with. I’ve been so blessed with some wonderful clients in 2024, many of whom have become new friends and people that I am really grateful to know. We voice note each other most weeks, cheer each other on and pick each other up when we feel down.
Being self employed can be tough at times, and it’s so important to have good people along for the ride. So thank you to all of you for being part of this year for me!
I’ve still got a few weeks of work left before I break for Christmas, so I’ll be spending my work time getting through the last of my edit pile, publishing some blog posts and getting all my admin in order for when I start back on January 6th.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, friends!
Thanks for reading, and stay wild,
