2014 Goals

Happy New Year!!!  

I don't typically post my goals or objectives online. They're usually scribbled in a sketch pad or notebook. 
What makes this year different? I'm hoping to make 2014 my biatch! I say that every year, but actually posting these online makes it so... official.

So here we go:

Photography/Shooting:

• Shoot more personal work- I honestly do not do enough of this. Probably my top shooting priority for 2014.
• Shoot more film and shoot it more often- I want/need to feel more comfortable using the medium.
• Do a 365 photography challenge- This is part of my solution for my lack of personal work problem, and it will also help accomplish my goal for shooting more film. I am going to be shooting 3 frames of film every day for 365 days. If all goes well, I will have shot 1,095 frames of film by January 2015.
• Utilize negative and positive space better.
• Buckle down and shoot with a purpose- I have gotten better with overshooting, but I can still improve.
• Compose more interesting photographs with layers and framing.
• Get better at shaping light- Another thing that I have already gotten much better at, but there is always room to improve.
• Work on posing- focus on the details, details, details!

Business:

• Deliver wedding images in less time.
• Deliver albums in less time- Goes hand-in-hand with above.
• Rework packaging and welcome packets/info- Have already started to do this, but I just need to complete it.
• Get better at emailing people back- There are times when I'm on top of emails, and then there are times when I really slack. I need to be on top of them 100% of the time. No excuses.
• Design and order 2 more sample albums- I only have one of my Signature Albums. Need another one of those and one more of the Basic or Heritage Albums. (Ordered 3!)
• Finish album designs for 2013 clients- I actually should be done with all of these by the end of February. (Predesigns done!)
• Go to more networking events- I seemed to lose time in 2013. I just need to put it on my calendar and get out there.
• Blog more regularly- When there is a shoot or wedding, I'm usually on top of the blog with no problem. I need to just fill in the gaps with personal work or personal posts. Goal is 2 posts a week (Tues/Thurs). 
• Send work to wedding blogs- I am BACKLOGGED! There are 3 weddings I need to send out to get published. I also just need to stay on top of it after each wedding. (1 submitted, 4 more to go.)
• Booking goals- Book/Shoot a wedding on the West Coast. Book/Shoot an international wedding.

Personal:

• EAT BETTER/Cut out the fast food- Good by Chick-fil-a, my love. Less carbs and more protein and veggies/fruit. 
• Take the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) exam and pass- I could technically put this under the business goals, but honestly it is more of a personal challenge than something that will actually benefit my shooting or business. 
• Travel: Iceland, Quebec/Montreal, or Paris- I have the travel bug, and I need to do this PRONTO!
• Try yoga.
• Work on my Japanese- I haven't worked on it in so long, so it is definitely time to refresh my memory.
• Keep on learning to code- I'm already in the process of starting this, but I just need to make sure I keep at it. 
• MAKE time to run and workout on my own more.
• Print some of my favorite images.
• Get caught up on all of the tutorials/reading I have on my computer: I am the worst at reading/watching workshops and tutorials I download. I'm going to start sending what I can to the Kindle.
• Patience- If my dad ever reads this, he will laugh. He had me doing a mantra the other night.

I'll be doing a check-in with these goals in mid-June. So keep an eye out for the progress report!