It’s Monday morning, affectionately known as “First Tuesday” here and the start of new week.  It’s also the last week of July and I feel like I’m trapped inside an old Jimmy Stewart movie and the hands of the clock are spinning.  The summer is flying by and all the retailers seem to be wishing it away with back to school signage in every window.  As the retailers jump on the band wagon to get us thinking about everything a kid needs to get back to school, I wonder how many photographers are thinking about the seasonality in their business?

Think about it – the fall brings with it so many opportunities.  Vicki Taufer will be doing a “Fall Harvest” theme for children’s photography along with the obvious Halloween promotion.  Sandy Puc will be getting ready for her monster size Haunted House and photo shoot.  Thousands of portrait photographers have a chance to lay the ground work for homecoming portraits.   And let’s not forget November and December and the opportunity to plant the seed for a holiday family portrait!

The point this morning is simply Jimmy Stewart’s clock – you know the one with the magical spinning hands.  There are so many opportunities in the fall as we head into the holidays, but if you procrastinate you’ll miss the window.  So, take a tip from your local supermarket who’s already pitching you with pyramid displays of notebooks and other school supplies.

Now is the time to plan some promotions for the fall.  Now is the time to contact a local limo company or florist or both and work together on a joint mailing to the homecoming crowd.  Now is the time to lay the groundwork for the last quarter of the year and be ahead of the curve instead of watching it go by!

There’s a great quote from Zig Ziglar that I’ve used before,

“If you wait for all the lights to turn green you’ll never get started on your journey!” 

It’s time to get started on planning that next “trip” and your journey into marketing!