Let’s Get UnStuck
Quieter months are the perfect time to reset, refocus, and push your creative momentum forward. Whether it’s refreshing your website, launching a passion project, reconnecting with past clients, or streamlining your workflow, these moments of pause are opportunities to build for the future. Instead of waiting for work to pick up, take intentional steps to refine your craft, expand your reach, and set the stage for new opportunities. Progress isn’t always about being busy—it’s about being ready!
Thanks!
Thanks so much to our online HSM members today! We’re incredibly grateful for your ideas, questions, and participation—it’s a humbling reminder that we all experience moments of feeling stuck, and that inspiration often comes from shared ideas and community.
A special thank you to Anita Ruivo, our creative partner at Dwayne Brown Studio, for her valuable insights and suggestions.
Below are some general suggestions—some we covered during the chat, some we didn’t have time for, and a few that have worked well for our studio here in Ottawa.
We hope today’s video helps you feel a little more UnStuck!
Cheers, Dwayne + Jennifer
Getting UnStuck: 9 Ways to Kickstart Your Year
Emailing Existing Clients with Gratitude
Send a warm Happy New Year message to past clients, expressing appreciation without mentioning new work or sales.
Keeps you on their radar in a positive, no-pressure way.
My creative partner, Anita, did this in early January, crafting personalized emails instead of using a CRM.
This approach resulted in several clients booking us for headshots for new hires.
Reviewing & Refining Your Website
Polish the design, update images, and fine-tune SEO.
Optimize page titles and sub-domains with location and service-related keywords.
Update homepage imagery and ensure it contains more than just visuals—add meaningful text and links.
Reflect the work you want to attract in 2024 by featuring relevant projects and demand-driven services.
We added a dedicated services page for team and group headshot sessions, which we re-indexed with Google.
Launching a Personal Creative Project
Start the project you've been putting off—like Creative Process, photographing creatives and capturing their thoughts on creativity.
Helps keep inspiration flowing and generates fresh content for social media.
Demonstrates your creative mindset to clients and potential clients.
Streamlining Your Social Media Strategy
Align messaging across LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, and other platforms for a consistent and sustainable approach.
Example: "We love photographing students and creative learning environments—huge thanks to Algonquin College for the opportunity!"
A well-structured strategy makes frequent posting easier and more effective.
Refreshing Your Portfolio with Purpose
Audit your portfolio—does it showcase your best and most relevant work?
Replace weaker images, update descriptions, and consider adding a “recent work” section.
Utilize slower periods to add ALT info to your photos to improve SEO.
Reconnecting with Industry Peers & Collaborators
Reach out to fellow photographers, makeup artists, stylists, and creatives to check in and discuss potential collaborations.
Strengthening relationships can lead to new opportunities and referrals.
Tightening Up Your Workflow & Business Systems
Optimize booking, invoicing, contracts, proposal formats, and communication systems to save time when business picks up.
Automate where possible to reduce admin tasks and improve efficiency.
Exploring AI & Tech for Efficiency
Utilize tools that enhance (not replace) your workflow, such as AI-generated captions, scheduling apps, and automated client communication.
Example: ChatGPT can be a valuable creative partner for brainstorming and refining content.
Discuss ethical AI use in photography and how it can support, rather than diminish, creative work.
Fine-Tuning Pricing & Offers for 2025
Assess your pricing—does it align with your experience and market demand? (Consider using ChatGPT for a price analysis tailored to your city or region.)
Explore new service options like mini-sessions or subscription-based photography.
Maintain an optimistic presence on social media—avoid appearing desperate.
Resist offering discounts in slow times; instead, consider selective free work to build momentum.
An abundance and growth mindset is key to long-term success!
Please feel free to share your ideas and/or questions about getting UnStuck.
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