Goals for 2008

I'm going to shoot at least one wedding in 2008 - my first.

Actually, I'm already booked - and it's the 29th December.

I'm doing it for friends - for free (yes, I know ) - and I can't wait.

Prior to that I'll be gaining an extra body (camera that is!), an extra flash, and practising a lot - with your help and inspiration, and the help of other places like 'strobist.com'.

My bride and groom will not be disappointed - they know the level I'm currently at.
So I can only get better!

Right now I'm consolidating a lot of knowledge, reading, and shooting.

I'm learning about light. More importantly, I'm thinking before I press the shutter, learning to see what the sensor wil see - not just what my brain has filtered into it.

I've taken a lot of inspiration from you lot.... I love seeing the photos you post and also the comments and criticism attached to them.

I don't know about you, but the times that I agree with an experienced tog's C&C are very satisfying to me. (Either that or I've been brainwashed!)

Anyway, I've said enough of my goals for 2008 - one wedding. And I promise it will be the best I can do. If I do any more than that then...

Started work on one of our goals for 2008 today which is to have a really nice client area for showing potential and existing clients what we can offer. So 4.5 tonnes of material were delivered today to be used for converting our double garage into the area that we want, nice big LCD/Plasma (still cant decide which) on one wall, a sofa, chairs and coffee table etc ... it doesn't look much at the moment but hopefully it will look the business fairly soon.

One of the reasons we picked this new house is that the layout really works well for our business, come in the front door and turn right and you go into the office we have and then knocking through the end wall takes us into the garage ... so we can work from home but without giving up lots of our house.

Heres how it looks at the moment, ton of work to do but I am already looking forward to having it finished !

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

Oh jesus banbert.... you've left the garage door open!

<cue next photo - empty garage>

spcalan wrote in post #4170546
My dream would be for my full -time job, be my part time, and do photography 5 days a week.

When you work for yourself it id more than a full time job.

I set goals for the next three years. By 2010, I want to go full time and just substitute teach. To get there I need to:

1. Acquire a downtown building. I'm looking at a small but charming little storefront here in beautiful downtown "Mayberry."
2. Commission a logo for my business and use it on every piece of marketing I have, including my website.
3. Speaking of which, I'm going to go with a Big Folio site in the spring in hopes of attracting a higher paying clientele.
4. I'm also raising my prices and will be offering high rez files only with the two highest priced packages so I will have something to upsell.
5. I'm going to participate in a minimum of two bridal shows and will be cultivating relationships with vendors to better attract new business.
6. By next fall, I plan to have at least one sample album from each of the companies I use.
7. Equipment wise, next year's planned acquisitions include either another 40D or the 5D successor, a 70-200 2.8IS, a 35L (or maybe just a Sigma 30mm), and at least one more external flash. I also need to acquire studio lighting and portable backdrops by next spring so I may fulfill my school prom and graduation contracts.
8. I plan to increase the number of wedding bookings but still keep it within reason, as my mainstay has always been portraiture. My main thrust will be with senior and family photography.
9. The sports end is really taking off, also, so I'll probably aggressively seek the sports contract for our local school district.
10. After the studio is open, I'll hire an employee for second shooting, post processing, and general clerical duties. I have a videographer friend who is willing to share a space with me, so his rent can pay my building mortgage.

There's a lot more in the works, but those are the main points.

After a lot of thinking here are some general goals for 2008:

1. Shoot 10-20 weddings in 2008
2. Have a booth in a bridal show
3. Raise my prices
4. Get onto page 1 for a Google search
5. Gain knowledge about off camera lighting
6. Develop my business identity
7. Put together a printed portfolio
8. Create sample albums from: WHCC, ZookBinders, GraphiStudio, Queensberry, and a Matted Album
9. Invest in a spring Google ad words campaign
10. purchase Show It Web Pro
11. Purchase album software
12. Purchase a fisheye lens
13. Purchase a macro lens
14. purchase a tripod

I recently wrote out one, two, five and ten year plans. Thinking only one year in advance is kinda limiting.

tim wrote in post #4174439
I recently wrote out one, two, five and ten year plans. Thinking only one year in advance is kinda limiting.

On the other hand, static plans are more limiting. Long range plans and goals need to be dynamic.

Actually shoot a wedding!

I want to start getting known, improve my ways and technics.
Buy an new body, a better one and an L lens and a better zoom lens.

I hope by mid 2008 i can gave like 2 or 3 weddings booked...

tim wrote in post #4174439
I recently wrote out one, two, five and ten year plans. Thinking only one year in advance is kinda limiting.

I agree, from day one we had a 5 year plan.... just in this thread were talking about our plans for 2008.

Here are some of mine:

1. shoot about 20-25 weddings
2. do about 4-8 weddings as a 2nd shooter
3. Meet with other photogs and other vendors in my area.
4. design and order more sample albums
5. Actually attend a Pictage PUG Meeting
6. Attend WPPI in Vegas next year
7. Attend PartnerCon in Vegas immediately after WPPI
8. DO a local bridal show
9. Destination Weddings!!
10.Review my prices Jan 1st
11. Attend a workshop/Seminar (Mike colon 4 day intensive workshop)
12. Get another 40D
13. I have no studio space but I would like to show off some of my work on print framed enlargements including galler wraps
14. Improve my shooting technique
15. Improve/fine-tune my workflow
16. Get a 50 f/1.2
17. Get a MAC ( i am so done with PCs)
18. Get my wife to shoot with me as my 2nd shooter =)
19. BLOG like Crazy!

A few of the things I listed below I planned to pull-off in 2008, but I thought the time was right so I did it just recently


Purchased a brand new flash website with BiGfolio- DONE!
Purchased DJ's Show-It Web Pro - Done!

1. Book 20 or so weddings (5 booked already, and people here plan very last minute)
2. Get a space to meet with clients and potential clients (we're looking at buying a house and this is one of the criteria)
3. Find an assistant (I've had two bail on me already, no fault of mine)
4. buy a 5D and some more flashes
5. start using off camera flash more
6. try something new every day!

spphoto wrote in post #4177653
1. Book 20 or so weddings (5 booked already, and people here plan very last minute)
2. Get a space to meet with clients and potential clients (we're looking at buying a house and this is one of the criteria)
3. Find an assistant (I've had two bail on me already, no fault of mine)
4. buy a 5D and some more flashes
5. start using off camera flash more
6. try something new every day!

Good goal!

Here's my goals for next year

-Book 10-15 weddings. Already have one booked and have scheduled consults for 3 more.
-Establish my business identity (Merchandise presentation, website, business cards) It's just a mess right now... but getting better.
-Create more buzz.
-Practice lighting techniques! Yeah for Strobist!
-Upgrade my iMac to a mac pro.
-Purchase a 40D and use my 30D as backup and retire the 350D for leisure use.
-Establish a vendor network.
-Help out other photographers as much as I can. Second Shooting, assisting. Because we all know that by facilitating the success of others we also succeed.

Oh and my wishlist of lenses only grows more and more.