This Year vs. Last Year: 3 things to improve on

Happy New Year everyone!!!

So it's the new year. As I look back to 2011 in our photo business, we have learned much every year. Some ideas worked well some not so much. Just tossing this out to the business community. For 2012, what is your 3 key areas in your business that you would like to improve or build upon?

For me it would be:

- Client Relations. We want to stay engage with existing clients so that they can act as our 'ambassadors' and spread the word. I'll try to be more open about our photography business.
- Recce more locations. I prefer that our clients to tell us where they want to do the shoots. But there are a few times that they asked us for suggestions therefore it would be great if we can provide various ideas.
- Talking on the phone. I admit that I am more of an email person. But there is something special with that old-school voice communication. One can really iron out so many areas just by speaking. Yet these days it is under utilized.

Huh? No one? Everyone must've reached photography perfection then. hahaha

Mine are easy.

1) Shoot more.
2) Buy less gear.
3) Shoot some more.

I'm not shooting professionally (yet) so I can't really justify purchasing more and more gear (unless there's something specific to what I'm doing that wont break the bank). In honesty though, one thing I want to work with a bit more is getting really good at off camera flash and using multiple speedlites.

1improve my lighting techniques.
larn as much as i can
shoot as much as i can

Pretty much one simple goal here: stay healthy. Between two injuries and four surgical procedures that began last Feb., the year was pretty much trashed for productivity.

Happy New Year and keep up the ideas and goals!!

Mine
Process photos
Promote photos
Process video
Promote videos

shot 100k last couple years and climbing..
cheers
Darrin

1. Get a lot more competent in OCF. (1 and 2 light setups)
2. Shoot more non-Aviation subjects.
3. Start hustling more on the Business side of things.

1. Get ahead of everything this year--I've been playing catchup and it costs me business.
2. Utilize social media better--to stay connected and to generate referrals (hopefully).
3. Weddings--I'm embarking on doing weddings in addition to the other stuff I've been shooting.

I'm not a full time photographer, but I obviously try to come across as professional as possible to my clients - so:

1. Stick to my guns and stop giving away shoots for too little
2. Be more engaged with my clients post shoot
3. Stay away from damn weddings - I always seem to get roped into friends of friends weddings and shooting them for too cheap giving me too much stress and work.

Good idea for a thread! Happy New Year!

1) Get out of my comfort zone
2) Improve my pp skills
3) Shoot more!!