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Now that off-season is officially here, you have the opportunity to take a step back and breathe. Although your business could always use adjustments and improvements, it is important for your well-being to slow down a bit. Busy season can take a toll on you, so this is the perfect time to regroup.

The off-season allows time for you to revitalize yourself as a photographer and business owner. One of the top qualities of a successful business owner is the desire to learn. During this time, you have the chance to attend photography workshops and seminars, network with local photographers and vendors, and read as much as possible. Because understanding how to approach the next busy wedding season is crucial, we put together nine books you should read during the off-season.

1. START

Written by Jon Acuff

With an ever-changing industry, you may feel as if you need to revamp your business and try a new strategy. After all, the same techniques you used years before may not be what gets you to the next level this year. Making large changes to your business can be challenging and frustrating at times, especially if you are not finding success right away.

Related: Are you setting achievable goals for your business?

Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters helps you to achieve your goals in an efficient and timely manner. Using the five stages most people go through in life, Acuff provides actionable tips to speeding up the process of making your business awesome with limited roadblocks.

2. The 5 Choices

Written by Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill, and Leena Rinne

As a busy wedding photographer, even in the off-season, you are in communication with clients, vendors, and other photographers. With tasks looming over your head at any given second, it can be difficult to know what exactly you should focus on each day to grow your business.

The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity gives realistic advice to help you focus your attention on what matters most for your business. The best time to reinvigorate yourself is during off-season, and the authors assist you in creating a clear and concise plan of action to accomplish your goals.

3. Picture Perfect Practice

Written by Roberto Valenzuela

In addition to growing as a business owner, it is important to place attention on advancing your skills as a wedding photographer. One of the best ways to become a better photographer is to practice, practice, practice. The more real-world experience you get, the easier it becomes to master photography techniques.

Picture Perfect Practice focuses on ways you can become a more accomplished photographer and produce better images. Valenzuela’s strategies and techniques to mastering his craft can help you find confidence in your ability and increase the value of your images.

4. The E-Myth Revisited

Written by Michael Gerber

Within the photography industry, there are thousands of photographers working to build their business and book ideal clients. In order to have success as a photographer and business owner, it is crucial to change the way you think as you approach larger goals.

The E-Myth Revisited shares the keys to running and maintaining a successful business. In the theme of changing your thinking, Gerber offers actionable tips for business owners to produce results. When you understand the keys to a successful business, you have the ability to change the way you approach any situation that arises.

5. How to Win Friends and Influence People

Written by Dale Carnegie

As a photographer and business owner, one of the main goals for you is to connect with your clients, vendors, and other photographers. Each person you meet through your business wants to connect and work with someone who is trustworthy and reliable. Without strong connections, your business will suffer and it can become difficult to reach your goals.

Related: How do you build connections with clients and vendors?

How to Win Friends and Influence People helps you to understand the fundamentals of relationships, as well as how to make people like you and agree with your unique way of thinking. Carnegie offers advice to becoming someone who easily connects with others, which is crucial for you as the face of your business.

6. The 4-Hour Workweek

Written by Timothy Ferriss

In your business, you spend most of your time reaching and connecting with clients and fulfilling their orders after the wedding day. You also have the responsibility of day-to-day tasks which take up the rest of your time. This off-season, it is necessary to look into how you can take tasks off of your plate and allow you to have more free time.

The 4-Hour Workweek encourages you to eliminate the unnecessary parts of your workflow and place more focus on things outside of work, such as family, friends, and your hobbies. Finding balance between work and your personal life is key to your happiness and the success of your business.

Tip: Outsource the tasks you do not need to focus on. Specialists in wedding photo editing and fast album design can lessen a majority of your workflow, allowing you to do more of what you love.

7. Love is the Killer App

Written by Tim Sanders

Since the world is constantly evolving in technology and ways to connect with people, it is important for you to stay up to date. There are constant upgrades to software and systems you may have just learned how to do. Although this may be the case, it is important to quickly adapt to newer technology and use it to advance in your business.

Love is the Killer App shares how you can grow as a photographer and business owner through obtaining as much knowledge as possible. Sanders also shares how you can use your knowledge to grow and nurture your relationships, as well as become an expert in your craft.

8. The Virgin Way

Written by Richard Branson

When you made the decision to pursue photography, much of your choice was based on how shooting beautiful images made you feel. If you are not passionate about your business and what you accomplish, it will be more difficult to accomplish your goals and meet clients you want to work with.

The Virgin Way: Everything I know About Leadership enforces the idea that you must be passionate in what you are doing. The more you enjoy working with clients, meeting vendors and other photographers, the happier you will be. When you feel pride in your work, it will become clear to couples who are searching for a wedding photographer.

9. True North

Written by Bill George and Peter Sims

As you begin making changes to your business for the upcoming wedding season, it is necessary to have an idea of where you want to be at this point next year. Any updates you make to certain aspects of your business should still reflect you as a photographer and match your unique brand message.

True North gives actionable tips to help you feel empowered to take ownership of your business to accomplish your goals. Discovering how to be the owner of your business while staying true to who you are as a brand can be the key to your success.

During off-season, take the time to learn as much as you can about running a wedding photography business. The more knowledge you have as a photographer and a business owner, the higher your chances are of meeting and booking your ideal clients. Learn more about what you can do during the slow season to improve your business with The Wedding Photographer’s Guide to the Off-Season!