The Road to Seasonality: Part IV - Stop Overthinking!

You can't be the kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it.
​You have to go down the chute!
Tina Fey

by Skip Cohen

​Tina Fey's quote isn't new to SCU - I've probably used it as an intro to at least two posts previously. However, it seems incredibly timely for today's Marketing Monday post. Over the last two weeks, I've shared three previous posts on ideas to help you ramp up for the upcoming holiday season.

Well, there are still too many of you sitting on the sidelines watching the parade go by instead of being in it! So, here are a few things I know about this year's seasonality.

1. Family portraiture is going to be back with a vengeance. Think about it for a second - what's grandma missed the most since the start of the pandemic...HER FAMILY! That makes a new family portrait one of the very best gift ideas for this year.
2. The pandemic hasn't slowed down technology. Professional labs are offering the most extensive collection of new products in the history of the industry. They can print on just about everything - but don't underestimate the power of just a great canvas print. Canvas isn't new to us, but it is unique to so many of your clients.
3. The hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories used to go brides, babies, pets for the top three. My guess is that brides, only because of the delays in event scheduling over the last year, have dropped down to the third position, and pets and babies have moved up.
4. Pet photography is huge right now! While the excerpt below is from an article from Morgan Stanley regarding investing - think about what it means for photography!

The $100 billion pet industry is poised to nearly triple to $275 billion by 2030, creating potential tailwinds for pet-friendly stocks...The pandemic has upended the lives of humans, but for pets, it's been a bonanza: Their owners have been home all day, showering them with attention and treats...Morgan Stanley's housing strategists estimate that the growth trend of US pet ownership more than tripled during the pandemic. 

Years ago, I worked for a company whose owner loved to ponder every significant decision. In the end, he pondered himself and the company right out of so many great opportunities. There's no such thing as a "sure thing" these days - so that means you have to take risks. But the great thing about imaging and business is that nothing has to be forever. Take risks, stop pondering at the top of the waterslide. Stop overthinking what you're going to do next.

Like the Nike tagline...​Just do it!