Each year I write out a list of goals that I want to accomplish for the year.  I try and ensure these goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely).  This is a team that I’ve learned during my career and it only makes sense.  I mean, I want to shoot a celebrity couple’s engagement photos but I don’t know any celebrities, so this goal isn’t very realistic!  You can revisit some of my 2013 goals here. Below are the updates to the ones that didn’t have updates at the time of the posting:

2013 Goals:

Become a Better Photographer

– Attend the Blink! Conference.  This was an original goal to meet Ike & Tash and learn from them as well as other leaders in the photography industry,but when they announced a workshop so close to me I decided to jump on that opportunity. [Completed!]

– Attend a Katelyn James 2-Day Workshop. Clearly there is a trend with the people that I desire to gain knowledge from!  I hadn’t planned on signing up for this workshop but Katelyn announced more dates in 2013 and on a whim I said to myself “Go for it”.  I learned so much from Katelyn in the short amount of time that we spent together that I was thirsty for more knowledge.  I have a number of 2014 weddings on the books so I felt like my slower months (although it hasn’t been slow at all) were the perfect opportunity to grow and develop even more as a photographer. [Completed!]

– Additional training happened when Justin & Mary announced a workshop in Virginia. I had not planned on this one, but I’ve heard so much about how they inspire photographers and share their wisdom that I decided to see that it was about.  This workshop was awesome and gave me additional tools need to have successful shoots with my couples.  I even made a few new friends! [Completed!]

Update my Home Office

– I am still working to this slowly but surely.  I have added new canvases to the office, a new desk and book case.  I have a few more sample albums that I want to add to the office before it will feel completed. [Completed- I placed my sample album order today and new canvases arrived for the walls last week!]

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Now on to review my 2014 Goals:

1) Shoot a Surprise Engagement Session

– I want to hide in the bushes as a loving couple are out and the guy begins to profess his love to his lady.  I want to be the one to capture all of that.  Hopefully, I wouldn’t be too busy crying to capture it!

2) Bridal Magazine

– I have been working on my bridal magazine to give to clients during wedding consults but it’s been a slow process coming up with all of the content.  This is something I will try and get completed during my down time over the holidays. [Completed!  Sort of…instead of an actual magazine as I originally planned I decided to do a brochure.  It makes more sense for my business at the moment and is something that I give to potential brides during our meeting]

3) Complete a Small Rebranding

– I have been making a few changes here and there based on feedback during my mentoring sessions.  I am working to define a more complete and cohesive brand so that potential clients truly understand the type of photographer that I am and the services that I offer simply by viewing my online presence. [Completed! I have finally nailed down my branding but I am working thru old marketing collateral so that I don’t waste too much money.]

4) Get published in a Wedding Magazine

– I have been fortunate enough that numerous wedding blogs saw fit to feature my work in 2013!  I also have already been featured once in 2014.  My next goal is to be published in a wedding magazine.  Magazines are very specific on what they publish,  they look for work that is fresh and different for their readers but work that still falls in line with their clientele.  I aim to look at every shoot and wedding this year with a fresh set of eyes and to shoot magazine-worthy images.

5) Essence Website Feature

– Essence magazine is one of my favorite magazines to read and I also follow their website and Instagram account.  My goal for 2014 is to be featured on their website once during 2014!

 6) Become a Better Photographer

– If you’ve spent any time on my blog then you’ve seen this goal before.  I think this is an area that I will never take for granted and I always want to find ways to improve my current skill set. In 2014, to satisfy this goal I will:

– Attend the United Conference- this is an annual conference held in California with photographers from literally all over the world!  I can’t wait to go an see some familiar faces as well as meet and learn from photographers that I have been following on social media.

Mentorship with D. Finney.  Danielle is a DC area photographer that I have followed for some time and I had a chance to meet and spend time with her at the Blink! Conference.  She is a super talented women and I plan to pick her brain on some things that I have been wanting to learn from her.

– Learn to shoot film!  I have been wanting to do this for some time but I constantly have digital equipment to buy or update that I didn’t have the time or purchase a film camera to start the process.  For my birthday, my dad gave me his Mamiya 645 medium-format camera to practice on to get a taste of film before I spent money on my own camera.  I am so excited to jump into a new world and challenge myself even more in 2014!

 

So, there you have it.  I have written down some of the things that I have done and other things that I am working on and I will keep the blog updated with my progress.  Take care!