As I enter my seventh year in business and my third year as a full-time photographer, I realize how important it is to set forth goals each year. The goals are designed to push limits and extend professional boundaries. The goals are meant to better my business, expand my photography knowledge and skill.

More income. My photography income is getting close to where it needs to be to sustain me, but it’s not quite there. I plan to advertise and market better this year, continue to network, and really push my brand in order to increase my gross sales. I will continue to develop relationships with past clients and find ways to make connections with new ones.

Become certified. This goal kind of goes hand-in-hand with the next, but I think it might need to be the first step to becoming a master photographer. I want to learn in an actual educational setting, as opposed to conferences, workshops, clinics, photo walks, on-line tutorials, and trial and error. I want to be graded on my work; I want my knowledge tested. I want my work reviewed and to be provided with feedback to make it better. This will not only be an asset to my business, but to my clients.

Chase that 80. I did not submit a single image for last year’s WPPI print competitions. Not one. Since I’ve never submitted a physical print (only digitals), I’ve decided to work with a master printer out of New York City. I will have three prints in this year’s 16×20 Print and Album Competition. The deadline for submission is in nine days! It’s important to me to score my first silver award and then to go on to become a master photographer. My highest score ever is a 77—three points shy of the silver award. I need validation in my own head that my work is good.

Attend a bridal show (as a vendor). One of my goals for 2015 was to prepare for a bridal show in 2016. I’m pretty sure I wrote it down and never thought about it again. Then, three days prior to the first San Antonio bridal show, a colleague asked me if I was attending. I panicked. I had forgot about it. I wasn’t prepared. I made a list of things I could throw together last minute and waited for a call back from the wedding show hosts. They never called. It’s probably a blessing. I’m already ordering hand-outs and products for the bridal show next year. I will be there.

Blog on every Monday and three times a week. Blogging on Mondays is not usually fun. Monday is the day when I try to gain steam for the week ahead. Mondays are usually more about planning, mental preparation, and gathering the tools needed to accomplish all the upcoming tasks at hand. I’m not usually ready to jump right in on Mondays. However, if I blog every Monday, I’ll be one-third finished with my blogging goals with only one day into the week. That will be super sweet!

Print more personal pictures. This goal isn’t really professionally-related, but I hardly ever print my own personal images. My goal for this year is to purchase enough matching photo albums to house all my personal pictures PLUS the ones I have to take. Then, I’ll organize them into the albums in chronological order. My youngest daughter was instrumental in helping me organize the attic two years ago, I’ll ask her to help! 🙂

The post, 2016 Photography Goals, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.