-Photography Goals –
2023 saw me take a step back from photography as I redirected my focus to school. In 2022, I enrolled in an accelerated program to finish my bachelor’s degree in psychology and counseling. The college I attended had some management problems. This helped my decision to transfer to a better school. I currently have one more year left! I should graduate in May of 2025.
However, while working on my degree, I have been getting antsy. I like to create and bring my ideas into existence, I like photography. I want to start a project. That being said, I have some goals and aspirations in photography for this year; and while I am a few months late with this post, let us see what they are.
- I will see two projects this year to their completion. These can be small projects, and indeed they are, for the most part. These projects require 5 models at most. The first project is Wind Blown: The Car Project. This is a car-based project where any vehicle can be the location. I have already started this one and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes.
- The second project is called “Angel Astronauts.” This project too has been started and will require roughly 7 models to complete, with at least 8 photoshoots to complete the concept.
- I will 10X my portfolio. I am planning to completely overhaul my portfolio. I love what I have created so far. however, It is time for something new. It is time to grow, expand, experience new things, and create new concepts.
- I will photograph 50 new models this year. Ambitious I know. Yet, if I do not reach for more I will never achieve more, or, even get close to it. This goes into my next goal however, and and may give me the push I need to achieve it.
- I will achieve 75 Photoshoots in 2024. Not all of these sessions need to be with models I have not worked with. A good amount of them can be though. Time, money, and referrals will see me achieve this and the previous goal! Keep in mind that goals 3 and 4 are all for personal projects and concepts. These are not typically paying sessions.
- The last of my personal photography goals is “I will use my film camera this year.” I started out shooting film when I was 15. I loved it, I miss it and I want to start shooting film again.
- Professionally, “I will have at least two sessions every month.” This means I need to put myself out there again. After taking a year and some change off, this will be work but well worth it.
- Goals 7 and 8 go hand in hand somewhat. 7 is: “I will focus on detail-oriented images.” 8 is: “I will improve my retouching and editing skills.” Time to grow and improve.
- Goal 9 is “I will acquire two backup cameras.” My long-term camera was destroyed during a waterfall session back in the fall of 2022. I used a cannon camera for the remainder of 2022 until I moved on to my newly acquired Nikon d7000 in early 2023. As nice as it was to have access to that camera; I had to learn a whole new system on the fly and continue working as if nothing was wrong. Smart Joe would have a backup to finish that session(I finished it on my iPhone and a Polaroid and the client loved it) as well as remain prepared for scheduled sessions in the immediate future.
- Last but not least of my goals for 2024 are: “I will clean up the website.” A much-needed goal, and one that will probably come more towards the end of this year; at least in part. I have needed to do this for some time, and as I rebuild my portfolio, I will prepare to revamp this website. This means I will probably build a new website to separate my SFW portrait sessions from my boudoir and erotic art nude sessions. This will make it easier for me to keep track of everything and more importantly, clients will have an easier time browsing and booking with me.
The Photographers' Poet 