The Ultimate Photography Content Calendar
I'm creating this list in the hope that it helps other photographers, but if I'm being completely honest, it's also for future me.
You know the feeling. You're scrolling through social media when you see another photographer sharing an incredible image for Earth Day, World Wildlife Day, or some other special occasion. Your first thought is, "That's a great post." Your second thought is usually, "Wait... I could have done that!"
Unfortunately, by the time that realization hits, the day is over, the opportunity has passed, and you're left making a mental note you'll probably forget by next year.
This list is my attempt to fix that problem.
The idea is simple: keep track of photography-friendly holidays, awareness days, anniversaries, and personal milestones so there's enough warning to either create a new image or dig through the archives and find something worth sharing.
Think of this as a living blog. As I discover new dates, or if you suggest some good ones. I'll keep adding them.
Not Every Meaningful Date Needs to Be an Official Holiday
One thing I've realized while putting this together is that some of the best content opportunities aren't tied to a date on a calendar at all.
For example, since moving back to Nova Scotia, I've been fortunate enough to experience a few truly spectacular Northern Lights displays. (Norhern Lights are where I started my photography after all) Those are memories worth revisiting every year.
Not only is it a great excuse to share images you're proud of, but those photos often carry more meaning than simply posting because it's "National Something-or-Other Day."
Plus, let's be honest: everyone creator loves a free content day.
Another example for me is May 8th, the anniversary of my first real owl encounter. If you've followed my adventures for a while, you'll know that was a pretty special moment. Although I hope it becomes less significant as I don't want it to take 7 years for the next time!
Personal milestones like that can become annual traditions for your audience. They're authentic, memorable, and uniquely yours. But here's the calendar "so far"
January 1st: A good time to showcase your best work from the previous year. You can also use the last couple of days in December if you wanted to.
January 5th: National Bird Day. Great for those bird photographers
January 27th: National Geographic Day. Share that cover photo!
February 22nd: National Wildlife Day
March 3rd: World Wildlife Day. Yes, if you missed the February 22nd you have a another chance. And there is a difference. World Wildlife Day is a UN backed Observance vs National being US. I found numerous that had different dates.
March 12th. National Milky Way Day. This is actually after the chocolate bar, but it's also the time (at least for me) where the core of the Milky Way starts to show up in the night sky again ,well early morning.
March 21st: International Day of Forests
April 1st: April Fools. Play a joke on your fanbase.
April 15th: World Art Day. Photography is a form of art that allows us to express creativity, tell stories, and share our unique view of the world through light, composition, and timing. So it fits!
April 19th: Day Of The Mushroom
April 22nd: Earth Day, (Highlighting outdoor, nature, and adventure photography)
May 2nd: National Space Day
May 3rd: Sun Day and is also International Drone Day
May 4th: Bird Day
May 20th: Flower Day
June 8th: World Oceans Day
June 15th: Nature Photography Day (The biggest specific industry milestone for landscapes and macro plant shots)
June 20th: The First Day Of Summer
June 21st: National Selfie Day (A Great way to show the photographer behind the lens)
June 29th: National Camera Day
July 1st: Canada Day or your National holiday (Like July 4th - Independence Day for those US folk)
July 20th: National Moon Day
July 26th: National Dog Photography Day
June 28th: World Nature Conservation Day
July 29th: Nature Photographer Day (Another high-traffic day to re-engage your fans)
August 7th: National Lighthouse Day (a good one for me)
August 8th: International Cat Day. IG loves those cats!
August 19th: World Photography Day!!
September 3rd: National Skyscraper Day for those architecture photographers.
September 27th: World Tourism Day, perfect for travel photographers or showcasing your favourite landscapes. It's also Save Your Photos Day. So back your work up!
October 4th: World Animal Day
October 6th: World Architecture Day
October 31st: Halloween. Share that spooky shot.
December 18th: National Snowflake Day. This is why I made this list. I keep missing this one and love snowflake pictures.
December 25th: Christmas, Wish everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays
Other Ideas Worth Celebrating
Some dates don't come from a calendar at all. They come from your own experiences:
- The anniversary of visiting a favourite location.
- The day you captured your favourite image.
- The anniversary of buying your first camera.
- The day you launched your photography business.
- The day you started your YouTube channel.
- The day you photographed a species for the first time.
- The anniversary of your first published photo.
Nobody else can celebrate those moments quite the way you can. There are plenty of specific things that you can Google to see when the date is. Most animals have a specific date; like Lion is World Lion Day and it is August 10th.
The Unexpected Things You Learn
One of the more entertaining discoveries during my research was that there is apparently a National Velociraptor Awareness Day. It's on April 18 if you were curious. Personally, I feel you should always be aware of Velociraptors. Remember it's not the one you see... "clever girl"
So here's the list I've put together so far. If you think I'm missing something, let me know. There's a good chance future me will appreciate it when he's looking for an excuse to share an old photo instead of admitting I forgot Earth Day again.