Overwhelmed With Editing? How To Push Through Year-End Photography Burnout

Let’s talk about what so many of us are dealing with this time of year: photography burnout. If you’re a wedding photographer, chances are you’ve hit that point where your editing queue feels never-ending, and every client is sending a “when will my photos be ready” email. These fall and winter seasons, with back-to-back editing and holiday deadlines, feel like a marathon you didn’t sign up for.

Photography burnout happens, but it doesn’t have to define you or your business. Let’s talk about five practical strategies to help you push through—and maybe even add a little joy back into your business in the process.

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Keep scrolling for show notes, and a full transcript!

Break Down Your Editing Goals

Looking at an entire season’s worth of sessions and weddings can feel like staring into an endless black hole. The secret? Take it one small step at a time.

Start by focusing on what you can realistically finish today. Instead of thinking, “I have 800 photos to edit from this wedding,” break it down into sections. For example, aim to finish the getting-ready and ceremony sections by lunch, family formals, wedding party, and newlywed portraits by dinner, and candid reception shots in the evening if you’re pulling an all-day-er.

This approach makes everything feel way more manageable, and crossing smaller tasks off your list throughout the day is so much more motivating.

Reward Yourself Like the Boss You Are

Let’s be real: the promise of a reward makes everything better. It doesn’t matter who you are! So, when you’re stuck at your computer for hours on end, plan little pick-me-ups to look forward to.

Maybe you edit the first half of the day’s photos and then treat yourself to your favourite latte. Or schedule a walk, watch your favourite show, or have a guilt-free scrolling session on Threads after wrapping up the next big chunk.

The key? Your reward should take you away from your computer. Even a quick five-minute break can help reset your focus and keep you from totally losing it when Lightroom decides to crash mid-export (because of course it will).

Rethink Your Workflow

Have you ever tried editing the day backward? Some photographers swear by this trick. Starting with the less exciting reception candids and saving those dreamy portrait shots for last. The theory is that it keeps you motivated because you’re working your way toward the more “fun” edits.

Does it work for everyone? Nope. (Hi, neurodivergent brain over here!) Personally, I’ve tried it, and all it did was stress me out when I didn’t see the portraits I knew I’d taken. For whatever reason, after several attempts I just couldn’t actively remember that the day was in reverse and that I just hadn’t gotten to those photos yet. But, if your brain loves a good shake-up, it might be worth a try.

The takeaway here is to try to experiment with your editing process. Whether you work chronologically, backward, or in random bursts, find what keeps you moving without adding extra stress.

Over-Communicate with Clients

If your inbox is full of clients asking, “When will we get our photos?” it’s time to take a hard look at your client communication. Spoiler: this is usually a “you” problem, not a “them” problem.

Your clients aren’t trying to be annoying—they just don’t know what’s going on. So, let’s make sure they do! Drop turnaround times everywhere: in contracts, confirmation emails, session follow-ups, and even sneak peek galleries (if you send them). The goal is to over-communicate so they don’t feel the need to ask.

Bonus? The less time you spend replying to emails, the more time you can actually spend editing.

Photography Burnout Happens. Give Yourself Some Grace

This might be tough season, but it’s just that—a season. Photography burnout doesn’t mean you’re a bad photographer or a bad business owner. It means you’re human.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that this busy stretch doesn’t define your whole year. You’re allowed to take breaks, even when deadlines are lurking. You’re allowed to say no to last-minute requests. And most importantly, you’re allowed to ask for help if you need it.

Preparing for Next Year

Once the chaos dies down, take some time to revisit your systems. What worked? What didn’t? Where can you make things smoother for next year? Tools like workflow templates or a solid CRM system (hello, HoneyBook!) can make a world of difference.

If you’re ready to streamline your processes and start next season strong, check out my shop for tools like email swipe files, workflow outlines, and smart file templates. These are designed specifically for photographers who want to simplify their systems and save time without sacrificing client experience.

Let’s Chat About Photography Burnout

Burnout is tough, but you don’t have to go through it alone. I’d love to hear how you’re navigating the busy season and what’s helping you push through. Come find me on Threads or Instagram (@simplysandrayvonne), and let’s swap stories (and maybe vent a little, too!).

You’ve got this, friend! And remember: this is just one season in your amazing photography journey.

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Show Notes

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TRANSCRIPT

Episode 062

[00:00:00] Sandra: Welcome back to Keeping it Candid friends! It is the first episode of season three, and I am so excited to be back. If you are new around here. My name is Sandra Henderson. I am a photographer, system strategist and your host here on Keeping it Candid.

[00:00:15] I decided to take the fall off before bringing the podcast back for another season, because let’s be real. The fall is chaos. If you’re a photographer anywhere in the Northern hemisphere, especially my friends here in Canada, you know how crazy things can get once the leaves start changing colors. And you’ve got all of that editing from the summer still waiting to get finished, and it just is madness.

[00:00:37] So I decided I was going to push pause on the podcast so I could dedicate my time and energy to that. And also because I really have just been feeling like I needed a fresh new energy this season.

[00:00:51] One thing I really thought a lot about is how for a podcast that’s supposed to be unfiltered, which this podcast is- even though I just call it, keeping it candid. It is Keeping it Candid- Wedding, Photography Unfiltered, and truly, I feel like I have been filtering myself the last couple of seasons.

I really try to not ruffle feathers because I never want to make anyone feel bad and let’s be real. There is plenty of negativity in this industry without having anyone else add to that. But at the same time, I think that things can still be talked about in a more constructive way. And so I hope to be doing just that this season. My favorite episodes of real Housewives are always the uncensored reunion episodes. Hearing everybody actually swear. And not having it all beeped out gives me life and I am a pretty unfiltered person outside of business.

[00:01:46] So for this season, I’m really going to be trying to make these episodes more raw, real, and unfiltered.

[00:01:55] You’re still going to get all the tips and tricks that you have come to know and love from podcast. But I’ve got a few other things in store that I hope are just going to breathe a little bit of new life into things around here. Now since the last episode I am so, so excited to say that my shop has finally launched. This was a labor of love that I started back at the beginning of 2024, and I had to keep pushing the launch date back for so many reasons. But I finally got it finished and I am so, so happy with it.

I’ve gotten some amazing feedback from people who have already purchased some of the templates and I can’t wait to share some more with you. So if you haven’t checked it out the shop yet, you can find that at simplysandrayvonne.ca/shop and inside you’re going to find everything you need to help you get your inquiry, workflow and processes up and running in a more simple and streamlined way in time for engagement season, which is already just around the corner.

[00:02:58] You’ll find HoneyBook smart files, email swipe file templates, workflow outlines -so much to help you get your CRM, especially if you’re a HoneyBook user up and running.

[00:03:09] After the shop launch, I did a quick little rebrand, which I didn’t launch officially in any capacity, but kind of mentioned it and teased it a little bit here and there on my social media accounts, but that’s all wrapped up on my website. Everything is finished and it’s so much fun.

[00:03:26] I switched from. A more soft pink branding to a really fun, bright yellow, and teal and blue branding, which I think of really suits my personality more, suits the brand that I wanted to have more. So yeah, it feels really good and I’m really happy with it.

[00:03:45] So that’s what I’ve been up to for the last couple of months.

[00:03:49] And I want to hear all about what you have been up to, whether it’s small wins or huge wins. Come over and hang out on threads or on Instagram, you can find me on both @simplysandrayvonne. And I want to hear all about what you have been up to you. This podcast is not just all about me after all.

[00:04:07] Okay. Now I promise that you are still going to get all the same tips and tricks that you have come to know and love on the podcast. But before I get to that, I want to introduce a brand new segment that I’m going to be doing on every episode called All The Rage. I chose this name for this segment because I feel like it has a couple of different meanings and I’m trying to embrace the fact that I’m 37 years old.

[00:04:33] I am an elder millennial. This for whatever reason 37 was the year that I really started to feel my age. Um, I had a lot of moments where -my stepson is almost 18. And so it’s just really making me see that, like, I’m coming into the later years of my life. I’m not as young as I used to be. And so again, I’m just trying to embrace that.

[00:04:56] So with all the rage, the word rage, we can use that in two different ways, right?

[00:05:00] There’s the obvious one where things that people are raging about, they’re angry. They’re upset about. We see a lot of that on social media and especially in the photography industry.

[00:05:12] But for all of my millennial friends and any gen X friends that may be listening. You guys might remember that all the rage back in our day, which I hate being able to say that, but back in our day something that was all the rage was actually a good thing. It was things that people love, they were really excited about and had a total opposite meaning to what we read about these days.

[00:05:36] So on this segment, I’m going to be talking about things that are sort of hot topics in the industry right now. I don’t want to call them hot topics or hot takes because I personally am just over everybody sharing their hot takes. But what I’m doing is actually paying attention to real conversations that are happening on social media outside of those hot takes, on places like Threads and Reddit. There are so many conversations happening amongst photographers about the industry. About things that they’re dealing with about things they’re super excited about and worried about. So I’ve been paying a lot of close attention to those conversations. I spend a lot of time in these spaces because text is my jam.

[00:06:16] I get a lot of sensory overload with watching videos all the time. So you can always find me in these places that are a little less overwhelming. And that’s where I’m getting the ideas for the topics to talk about.

[00:06:29] So this week on all the rage, I want to talk about clients who are constantly pestering you for photos.

[00:06:35] And I know this time of year, this is something that almost every single one of you listening can relate to where you are knee deep in editing. You’ve been at your computer for hours. You take a quick little break to check your email and grab some water. And there is an email from someone whose photos were just taken a week and a half ago. Wondering when their photos are going to be ready. It is beyond frustrating, right? But here’s the thing.

[00:07:02] With the odd exception, because let’s be real. Some people be crazy. With the odd exception this is actually a you problem and not a them problem.

[00:07:12] And what I mean by that is that you are not communicating your turnaround times clearly enough for your clients to remember them and stop asking you this question.

[00:07:23] You know, that really popular saying, or people are like, “explain it to me like I’m five”? We kind of need to approach running a business like our clients are five years old. And I say that in the most respectful way possible.

[00:07:36] But we have to approach it that way because people are not thoroughly reading their contracts. They’re not remembering an email that was sent six months ago with information in it. You need to be actively repeating this information and making sure that it’s easily accessible for your clients to find so that they can get the answers to their questions without having to come to your inbox.

[00:07:58] In my own photography business I mention the turnaround times in my contract, the confirmation email that I send out after they’ve booked. I send the turnaround times in a thank you email after their sessions over. I used to send sneak peaks; I don’t anymore, but when I did send sneak peaks, there was a reminder of the turnaround times then as well.

[00:08:19] So that’s five different points that I’ve reminded my clients when their photos are going to be ready for them.

[00:08:27] Is it repetitive? Yes. But I want to drive that message home as many times as I need to, to make sure that they are not going to be emailing me because every single time I have to reply to one of those emails is time that I’m not actually editing the photos that they’re asking about, right?

[00:08:45] So, if you are getting pestered by all kinds of emails like this, I want you to take a look at your processes and figure out where you might be dropping the ball and getting this information to them and how you can fix that going forward so that you can take a little bit of that stress off your plate leading up to the holidays.

[00:09:03] So that wraps up the All The Rage segment for this week friends. These are going to be short and sweet and I think super fun.

[00:09:12] And it actually leads in perfectly to what I know you are all here for -the actual content of the day, where we’re talking all about how to push through year-end burnout when you’re overwhelmed with editing. For most of us have right now, we are at a culmination point where we’ve had a calendar full of fall sessions. And now we are working through editing from a long wedding season on top of all of those photos from the fall. And everybody of course is wanting their photos before the holidays.

[00:09:44] If you’ve been listening to the podcast for awhile, you know that normally I am all about avoiding burnout and making sure that you are always taking time to rest. That you’re always taking time to rest and always prioritizing your boundaries, but let’s be real. Shit happens and sometimes you just have to push through.

[00:10:02] Now don’t get me wrong when you’re overwhelmed and missing deadlines, rest is still important. But so is getting shit done, right? So let’s talk about some tips that you can use to make that happen and get you back to a place where you feel like you can breathe again around all of this work you have on your plate.

[00:10:18] First, I want you to set some realistic daily editing goals. It doesn’t matter if you have 30 sessions and weddings in your queue right now. We’re not going to be able to focus on them all at one time, we need to break it down into what is most important and what you’re realistically able to get done today.

[00:10:36] It’s safe to say that nobody is getting three full day weddings edited in one day. If you can do that props to you, that is a skill that I do not have, but I don’t think many people can say the same. So even if you have three weddings that are past due and three clients that are really looking for their photos, you can’t get them all done at once.

[00:10:57] So think about what you can get done today, focus on that one wedding or that part of one wedding that you know you’re going to be able to get done by the time you close your laptop or shut down your computer tonight.

[00:11:08] And then when it comes to editing those photos that you’ve set aside just for today, I want you to think about breaking down the wedding day into smaller sections. So instead of thinking that you have 800 photos that you have to get done, think about setting yourself some goals throughout the day. In the next hour, I want to be done the first section of getting ready photos. Before lunch, I want to have wrapped up all of the newlywed portraits. And that way you can pace yourself throughout the day with again, not having that daunting number of 800 photos that you have to edit, but instead, only looking at it as a hundred photos that you have to edit over the next hour or whatever the case may be.

[00:11:47] Another thing that you can try is editing the day backwards. The theory behind this is that all of the candids that you take during reception are often the most boring photos of the day. Depending on how you feel about candids, of course. But we pour so much of ourselves and our creativity into the portraits and the details and things like that, that most people are not super excited when it comes to editing those reception photos. Personally, I love them. I could go on a whole side tangent about why I love candids and how much I love speeches because people are wildcards and you never know what’s going to come out of their mouth, but I’ll save that for another day.

[00:12:25] And so when you’re doing that, the idea behind it is that you are keeping yourself more interested and more excited because all the photos that you’re really looking forward to edit are going to be saved to the end, instead of having them all done at the beginning and then feeling like it’s painstaking to get through the rest.

[00:12:43] But I will say I’ve tried this method before and it does not work for me.

[00:12:49] The reason is that I’m neurodivergent and my brain, for whatever reason, just cannot keep the information that we’re looking at this backwards in a place where it’s useful.

[00:13:04] I’ll be going through the photos and I’ll be editing a certain point of the day. And I will have a full-blown anxiety attack thinking about I’ve lost photos because I’m now editing, let’s say speeches, but I haven’t seen any of the portraits yet.

[00:13:19] And then I panic and I have to stop what I’m doing. And I have to go back into Lightroom and go back into my files, see that the photos are actually there. Remind myself that I just haven’t gotten to them yet because I’m editing the day backwards and then get back to what I’m doing.

[00:13:34] So you can see how this really does not help with my productivity even a little bit.

[00:13:40] After having this happen a few times, I just decided to scrap it and realize that this method of editing was not for me. But if your brain works differently than mine, you can give it a try and see if that helps you get through your editing a little bit faster.

[00:13:55] Lastly, I mentioned breaking things down and giving yourself small rewards already, but let’s talk a little bit more about what that looks like. For me, I am very food motivated, so I like to schedule my breaks around my meals. I will set a goal for myself that I need to get through all the getting ready photos, the first look, and the ceremony in time for me to go eat lunch. And then I’ll set aside some more time in the afternoon where I set a goal that I’m going to get through the family portraits, newlywed portraits, and the wedding party photos. And then realistically by dinnertime, all that I have left is the reception.

[00:14:32] Your rewards for getting these different sections done can look a million different ways. But like I said, I’m very food motivated. So I like to use meals, but it could also be exercise.

[00:14:44] It could be going out and grabbing a coffee. It could be putting your favorite show on TV. It could be anything that you want to do that’s going to take you away from your computer. That’s the most important thing. You want it to take you away from your computer.

[00:14:58] Because everybody needs breaks.

[00:15:00] And especially if you are toe-ing the line of burnout or already there, you really want to make sure that you are still finding some sort of balance while you are pushing through and trying to get this editing done.

[00:15:14] So here’s your permission to go take a walk, give yourself a treat, watch an episode of a show. whatever that is going to look like for you. Because you still deserve to have a life outside of pulling these long hours to get these photos done.

[00:15:32] And I want you to remember that this period of burnout does not define your entire year. And it does not define who you are as a business owner. That’s something that I really struggled to grasp in the times that I was burnt out and working long, long, long hours to try and get all of the editing done. I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about it on the podcast before. I actually, one year on New Year’s Eve, had one of my brides sitting in my living room while her husband and kids were in the car, waiting for her photos to transfer onto a USB.

[00:16:06] So trust me when I tell you I’ve been there. I totally get the sacrifices that you need to make in order to get through this.

[00:16:14] And I remember all too well, the thoughts that were running through my mind and the feelings that I was having while all of this was happening. I felt like such a fraud. Like I was running my business into the ground, I was letting everybody down, and like I wasn’t cut out for this. I could go on. It was not a great time for me mentally.

[00:16:34] But I did eventually remind myself that bad times, don’t define us as people. They don’t define us as business owners. It’s how we recover from those bad times that is really going to make the biggest difference. Because the reality is that shit happens. And even the best possible systems and best big plans sometimes are going to get thrown off course by life. Life be lifeing and it doesn’t really care what else you have going on as a business owner or as a person.

[00:17:06] So I want you to give yourself some grace. Get through the work that you have on your plate. And then later we are going to talk a little bit more about what you can do so that this doesn’t happen again next year.

[00:17:18] And that wraps up the first episode of season three. Thank you so much again for being here, friends.

[00:17:24] I’m so excited for this season to kick off. And if you are just as excited as I am, I would love to hear from you come and send me a DM over at @simplysandrayvonne or @keepingitcandidpodcast on Instagram. And if you’re a Threads user, I would love if you would go and post on Threads, tell me what your favorite takeaway from this episode was, and make sure you tag me so I can come and cheer you on give you a follow and we can start to be online friends. Anyways, I have a great rest of your Wednesday and I will be back next week.

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