Thinking Out Loud: Setting Goals
Recently, I’ve felt like my photography isn’t really going anywhere. Don’t get me wrong… I feel like I am improving, I still love creating great images and, with all the travel that I’ll be doing in the next month, I’m extremely excited about the photos I have yet to shoot. But, when it comes to turning this into a career, I feel like I’m not really going anywhere. So I started thinking about what I needed to do to go to the next level. Even if you’re not looking to turn your photography into a career, it’s easy to fall into a rut where you feel like you’re just drifting along and not moving forward.
I’ve decided that what I needed was a plan. A quantifiable set of goals and milestones for my photography over the next year. I’ve been thinking about this strategic plan, so to speak, for the last week or two. As I’ve quietly brainstormed the things I wanted to accomplish over the next year or so, I figured I’d share some of the ideas that I might put into my own plan in the hopes that it might help you with yours.
Income
This is really what’s it all about, right? I mean, sure, it’s about the photography, too, but, unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re going to have to sacrifice photo time for money-making time. The goal is to turn your photo time into money-making time. So let’s begin our goal-setting with a real, challenging, yet realistic, income goal. I’m not talking going from $0 one year to $50,000 the next (though if you manage to do this, let me know how you did it). I’m talking about going from selling no photos last year to, say, 5 this year. Or, if you’ve already sold a few photos, consider doubling that amount this year. Write it down. It’s not really a goal until it’s on paper. Hang it above your desk. Put it on a little piece of paper in your wallet or purse. Make sure it’s in your face as much as possible.
Start and complete a project or two
What if you’re not really in this for the money? Or, even if you are, what if you’re still looking for a way to push yourself and your photography to a new level? Obsessing over numbers and sales certainly isn’t going to do that for you, but starting a new photo project might!
Come up with a photo project idea or two and start working on it! This could be something relatively simple like photographing people on their cell phones or something fairly complex like photographing complete strangers with each holding one word of the Declaration of Independence. Imagine how much fun that would be!
Or, if you’re into photojournalism, like I am, the possibilities are endless. Just because you’re not on the payroll of the New York Times or just because it’s not practical for you to fly to Pakistan to cover elections, doesn’t mean you’re not a photojournalist. A photojournalist tells a story through their photos. Think of how many stories you could tell just within your own community! Go down to the local animal shelter and photograph and interview some of the people working there. Go to your local town hall and I’m sure you can find a million stories that could be told through photos. Or, for something even simpler, you could interview and photograph a relative… I don’t know about you, but my grandmother could go on for hours telling stories of her youth and she absolutely loves to be photographed. It doesn’t have to win a Pulitzer prize to be photojournalism and it just might give you the direction and experience you’re looking for.
Finally, if you just can’t think of any cool ideas for a project, head on over to PhotoChallenge.org and participate in their monthly and weekly challenges.
So, go, come up with some ideas for a couple projects and get to work!
Learn from those who are already doing it
This might be the single best thing you could do to improve your photography. Regardless of the kind of photography you want to do, there is certainly someone who is already doing it.
Let’s start with an example that anyone can do… Go to Google and search for “wedding photographers” in your area. Depending on where you live, I’m sure most of you will find more than just a few. What if you reached out to some of them and offered your services as an assistant, and whatever photos you take, for free! Of course, you might want to show them some of your work and they may want to interview you first since weddings are pretty important occasions, but you just might find a few who are willing to take you up on your offer. Sure, you won’t be making any money but think of what you’ll be getting in return… The experience of shooting an important event for a client, lighting tips, getting to see the “business” side of photography, you’ll get to build your portfolio, and so on. And, even if you don’t want to be a wedding photographer, chances are you might want to be open to shooting a wedding or two if, for no other reason, than to pay the bills while you’re waiting on your Reuters contract. 
Of course, those photographers that require special access (such as professional sports photographers, the top political photojournalists, etc) might be harder to shadow, but, if you look and, at least, ask you never know what you might stumble upon.
So, think of what you want to learn, find some photographers who are already doing it, and offer to assist!
Conclusion
In conclusion, remember that actively working toward a challenging but realistic goal, in any area of your life, can be one of the most satisfying things you can do. You’ll be pushing your photography to a new level, you’ll be re-invigorating an already-fascinating hobby, and, you just might end up with a new career!
These are just some of the things I am looking at doing over the next year in an attempt to give my photography some direction.
Do you have any goals for your photography over the next year or two? Share them in the comments!
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May 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I envy all you, whose relatives are willing to model for you. My own parents, my spouse, etc. are all camera shy …
I guess I should start studying how one can make decent self portraits…
What comes to creating income, I guess you can’t avoid the fact that when you eventually quit on your IT career and start life as fulltime photographer, your earning will drop for a while. Only question is that will they ever get to same level that you had in IT and will the happiness about your work as photographer cover the difference.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I’ve been working on a few goals myself lately, one of those was to start the photo blog which I did this week. I’m kicking myself because WordPress and Flickr together make it so unbelievably easy.
I also started working on a printed portfolio this week. I’ve been on flickr for a year but never made any large prints of any of my work until this week, and Mpix cranked them out pretty nicely. I brought it to work and it was nice to get some in-person reactions to my work, and I have some people who would like me to do some work for them.
Juha might want to try that, and even if you’re not paid, it might help you with some skills and help round out your portfolio
Another idea is to join flickr if you haven’t already, and go on photo strolls with a local group. There are groups worldwide on flickr, and between my local flickr group, and photo strolls with my friends — I’ve produced some of my favorite shots!
May 16th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Great Post Shawn – - there is a ton of $ out there for photographers, but you have to be there to get the shot your passionate about- we all get great shots on our travels etc… but its the getting paid for what you love is the hard part- I have had the same bum feeling when your out – shoot a ton of shots, made great images – but who the F wants them – its easy to leave comment and say somethings great art – but to put the greenback behind your art love is another thing – but i digress = ) set goals!! I have done double the business I did last year, the stay home dad gig has run its course, both kids are in camp for the summer, so I have 6 hours a day for 5 days to be constructive, I am enrolled at the cocoran for a class 6/23 for a week of dreamweaver- I have to get my website updated – so that is a goal this summer – I need to have a online portfolio – I am traveling to Maine in June also, taking a lighting workshop at a studio, and hopefully getting those “Maine” shots. and just for kicks by the end of summer I hope to be able to produce the perfect print on my r2400 and not have density issues. So how bout me putting my goals out there on your site, hhummm- let me grab another Heiny— good you did not have a word limit – peace
May 17th, 2008 at 2:14 am
For anyone wanting to improve their techniques, and to learn new ways of seeing things, then I’d recommend getting together with some other photographers, and go for a photoshoot somewhere.
You get the opportunity to talk about gear, maybe try each other’s gear, talk about technique, etc. One of the very interesting things I enjoy is then reviewing each other’s photos after the shoot. Even though you were in the same place at the same time, with similar gear, everyone sees things differently, and composes their photos differently. Seeing the photos from the other photographers can provide you with some new ideas of looking at things, and different ways to frame your photos.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:54 am
@Juha: Self portraits are definitely an art in, and of, themselves. I have never taken a self-portrait that I was happy with. On your other point about income, I am definitely expecting that my photo income will be significantly less than my IT income… In fact, that may always be the case. And it’s scary. I kinda like my current lifestyle. However, I think the extra happiness and less stress will definitely make up for it. I’ve been thinking a lot recently on how much money I really need to live on… Then I’ll have a good idea about when I can actually make the leap. Thanks for the comment!
@Broderick: Excellent ideas Broderick! Congrats again on getting your blog up and running! Isn’t it easy?
I love the idea of putting together your print portfolio… That’s something I definitely need to do as soon as I’m done traveling. Thanks for the reminder! 
@Mike: Wow, you sound busy! We definitely still need to get together sometime soon… As soon as I’m in one place for more than a week. From the sounds of it, that’s going to be July. Haha… A lighting workshop sounds like a great idea. I really need to work more in lighting and familiarize myself with everything. Thanks!
@Martin: You’re right… Meeting up with other photographers in your area is an excellent idea. Excellent point about seeing the same thing differently. That was one of the things I enjoyed the most after our Bethesda photowalk (my first). Seeing everyone else’s photos from the same walk I was on was a really neat experience. So, maybe I should add this: Meet up with at least one other photographer in your area. What do you think? Depending on the size of your “town” that one could easily be fifty.
Thanks for all the comments!!
May 20th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Hi Shawn,
Great article! It seems so logical to have a plan of some sort but often it’s easier said than done. I think I’ll take your advice and actually write some goals down. Continuing with my website/blog is definitely one I’ll pursue; I feel like I’ve found my writing style at last. I also find it a great way to try out new things I’ve learned about taking photos and using different gear. I’d also like to explore the possibility of putting together a portfolio, perhaps on a SmugMug account and see if any images sell. That would</em be inspiring! Oh, and the big one is to actually buy a DSLR.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Thanks Anthea! I hope it helps! I think it’s definitely a good idea to actually write down some of the things you’d like to accomplish… It gives you a sense of direction.
Good luck if you try SmugMug! I can tell you that their customer service is first-class!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
[...] Thinking out loud [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Shawn, Great article…it makes you feel like you’re not alone out there and others have the same feelings. Photography is my hobby so I try to keep that in the back of my mind first and make sure I still have the enjoyment of getting out there and searching for inspiring things to shoot. But making side money for me is important with my photography…I don’t know if I will ever get to the point of quitting my full time gig though. I’d love to be my own boss one day but I’m not sure I will get to that point. I need the balance of hobby/passion and business or it will all become “another job to me.” Enough babbling…my goals are to continue trying new photography techniques that I learn from others, learn how to use studio lighting (with a little help from my friends – (Thanks Mike Palmer!!) and to make enough side money off portraits to be able to buy new photography toys w/o tapping into my salary from my day job!
PS Anthea – smugmug rocks!
May 21st, 2008 at 6:44 am
Hi Jen! Thanks! I, too, am worried that, if I quit my full-time job and go all the way into photography that it will become “just a job”, as well. That’s my biggest fear in this whole pursuit, I guess. Hopefully, though, I’ll find out for sure sometime soon.
Thanks!