2026 New Year Checklist for Photographers

A Thoughtful Reset for Your Business, Craft, and Growth

The start of a new year is a natural pause point.
A chance to step back, reflect on where you’ve been, and intentionally choose where you’re headed next.

This 2026 New Year Checklist for Photographers is designed to help you reset your business with clarity and confidence. Whether your focus this year is refining your systems, strengthening your skills, preparing for professional credentials, or planning to enter competitions, this checklist gives you a calm and practical place to begin.

You don’t need to do everything at once. Many photographers choose one area of focus for the year ahead, such as:

This checklist will help you reflect, organize, and plan in a way that supports steady, meaningful progress throughout 2026.

Learn more about APNPI Certification, Accreditation, and Competitions

Refresh · Refocus · Rise into 2026 with Confidence

If last year felt like a blur of editing, sessions, and late-night emails — you’re not alone. The start of a new year is the perfect time to pause, take a breath, and rebuild your studio on your terms.

Whether you’re aiming for a healthier work-life balance, more consistent bookings, better pricing — or simply want to feel grounded and clear about where you’re headed — this Business Reset Kit is here to help.

Read through, pick your action items, and get ready for a year where clarity, creativity and success go hand in hand.

Bonus: Scroll down for short video tips from APNPI educators and judges to guide you through different parts of the checklist.

What This Kit Will Do for You

  • Give you a fresh, organized start — clear systems, reset workflows, tidy finances

  • Help you honour what you loved last year — and let go of what drained you

  • Empower you to set sustainable business and income goals without burnout

  • Help you update pricing, contracts, and studio-policies confidently

  • Support you in getting back in control of your schedule, stress, and creative joy

Your Newborn Photographer’s Reset Checklist

1. Clean Slate: Organize & Refresh

  • Update website year (homepage, footer, anywhere outdated)

  • Refresh Lightroom metadata presets to the correct year

  • Create / update physical folders for receipts, invoices, client paperwork

  • Set up digital filing for images, financials, bookkeeping — and archive last year’s files

  • Get a new calendar (monthly planning, blog schedule, session planning, holidays, etc.)

  • Update client welcome packets, contracts, templates, policies (terms, deposit info, price lists)

  • Inventory your gear: list serial numbers, track what needs repair or upgrade — good for insurance too

  • Choose or build a task-management system (project management, scheduling, deadlines) to streamline workflow

2. Legal & Financial Health Check

  • Review all contracts and agreements — ensure legality, up-to-date language, clear client expectations

  • Confirm business license / registration and any required local permits (if applicable in your region)

  • Verify your business insurance is valid (liability, equipment, studio)

  • Gather last year’s financials (income and expenses) — ready for taxes or bookkeeping

  • Set up quarterly reminders now so finances stay manageable (avoid last-minute scramble)

  • If you don’t yet have a business bank account or credit card — open one now for easier tracking

  • Track any mileage or business-related expenses (e.g. travel for sessions, props, studio costs)

3. Get your bookkeeping in order:

Collect last year’s tax information to get ready for this year.  Before tax season arrives, go through and organize your expenses, receipts, and payments.  Have everything ready to go for your accountant and avoid stress in the spring.

  • Plan time to keep financial and tax records up to date this year.  Schedule in time to tend to these items each quarter.  Keeping on top it will not only decrease your workload next year, but will also help you keep on track with your financial goals.
  • Check on your bank accounts – if you don’t already have a business bank account and credit card, get one now.
  • Expense and mileage tracking – take a photo of your car odometer to start the new year!

Bonus tip from Jennifer McNeil: Track everything all the time. (Lifesaver when tax time comes!)

5. Reflect on What Worked — & What Didn’t

What work brought you the most joy and made you feel energized and passionate? Was it a specific type of session, event, or client? Or perhaps the creative process behind the scenes, whether building sets or editing photos in Photoshop?

Now, let’s flip the coin! What tasks or aspects of your work felt draining or just didn’t spark joy? Can you outsource those tasks in order to make room for more of what you love?

Take a moment to look back:

  • Which sessions energized you? Which drained you? What types of clients or sessions lit you up?

  • Which tasks felt like a joy, and which felt like a burden? Could any of those be delegated or simplified?

  • Ask peers, mentors, or trusted colleagues for feedback — a fresh perspective can reveal blind spots

  • Try eliminating or pausing one draining task — see how your workflow and energy feel without it

Tip: When you remove what doesn’t serve you, you make space for what you truly love.

Remember, cutting out activities that no longer serve you can free up time and energy for more fulfilling and productive endeavors.

“Do more of what you love!” Marggie Duncan… check out her inspirational quick tip in the video.

    6. Dream, Plan & Set Goals for 2026

    Whether “big” or “quiet,” give yourself room to dream:

    • Financial or lifestyle goals: pay down debt, save for a studio upgrade, invest in gear, plan maternity leave or time off

    • Creative growth goals: master a new posing style, deepen editing skills, build a cohesive portfolio, pursue accreditation or competitions

    • Business milestones: update pricing, refine ideal-client profile, launch a marketing plan, schedule sessions strategically

    • Personal & creative goals: carve out time for passion projects, self-care, continued learning

    Some members also choose to work toward APNPI Certification or Accreditation to support their development as artists and professionals. These credentials provide structure, feedback, and recognition as you grow your craft over time — not as a requirement, but as one intentional way to level up your work in 2026.

    Make a list — then choose 2–4 “must-do” goals and 2–3 “dream” goals — realistic growth is steady growth.

    Explore APNPI Certification & Accreditation options here

    Looking for help and guidance?

    Check out Joanna Booth’s helpful course, How to Set Financial Goals and Achieve The Income You Want.

    7. Review & Update Your Pricing + Client Materials

    • Evaluate last year’s prices against your time, skill, expenses, and desired income — is it time to raise rates?

    • Update your website, price lists, contracts, and printed materials to reflect any changes

    • If hiking prices, consider a soft rollout: make it effective Feb 1 or March 1, announce ahead, maybe offer “last-chance” pricing for existing clients

    • Communicate changes clearly and confidently to clients — you’re valuing your artistry and time

    8. Revisit Your Business Plan & Ideal Client Profile

    • Who’s your ideal client in 2026? Have your target market or audience preferences shifted?

    • Where did you excel last year — and where did clients feel friction? Map out what client experience felt smooth, and what needs refinement

    • Outline marketing strategies for the year: social media, referral campaigns, seasonal sessions, promotions, or workshops

    • Consider systems and workflows: bookings, communication, session prep, editing, delivery — streamline what you can

    8. Collect Reviews & Testimonials

    This is easier than you might think, and for those of you who cringe and feel shy… press on through those feelings because the pay-off here is worth it!  You may even find the experience to be rewarding!!

    Keep it simple

    • Make a list of clients you know have been happy with your services.
    • Reach out and ask them to leave you a review.  Provide them with a link to the platform you want them to use.
      • or add in an email to your workflow in your CRM so that it goes out them automatically after their session.
      • Be sure to thank them, and reply to them on their review.

    That’s it.  Many people are more than happy to support small business owners and this is a lovely, quick and easy way for them to feel good about helping make a difference for you.

    For more encouragement, listen to Tara Graham’s quick business tip on collecting client reviews in the video to the right (or below on your mobile!)

    9. Plan for Growth Through Competition

    Image competitions offer more than trophies — they’re structured feedback environments that help you benchmark your work against peer panels and refine your style over time. Many photographers plan competition participation alongside their certification or accreditation goals, using both as tools for measurable growth and focused artistic development.

    Learn more about APNPI image competitions and how they can fit into your planning.

    10. Schedule Time for Yourself – Make Self-Care a Priority

    Schedule it in and give yourself the gift of time! Whether it’s a stroll around the block, a weekend getaway, or a full-blown vacation, stepping away from work is crucial for recharging your creative batteries and coming back stronger.

    So don’t just dream about a vacation, schedule it! Map out the timing that works best for you and your business. Many entrepreneurs find it beneficial to schedule downtime during slower periods. For photographers, the off-season can be a great time to travel and score deals. But if you have a family, plan ahead – block out summer vacation time now so you can balance family adventures with those sunshine-filled sessions.

    Remember, self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential. When you prioritize your well-being, you set your business up for success and ensure you can keep doing what you love for years to come. For a dose of inspiration, check out APNPI Ambassador and Judge Shan Fisher’s video for her quick tip on self-care.

    What’s Next — Go Deeper with APNPI

    Need more than a checklist? Inside APNPI and the APNPI Academy, you’ll find:

    • Detailed courses on pricing, marketing, and business-building skills in the APNPI Academy of Newborn Photography

    • Mentorship, community support, and safe-posing education for newborn photographers in APNPI

    • Guidance on credentials, accreditations, and professional development to help you stand out and gain trust with APNPI

    If you’re ready to go beyond the checklist — build a business you’re proud of, with clarity, safety, and creative freedom — APNPI has your back.